Joe: Sorry to hear about your Dad. Lost mine 3 years ago and still miss him every day. The world is a lonelier place without parents...
If your schedule permits, the annual Local RIders fall trip to Waynesville and Phil's/Jay's BRMC is the week of Labor Day. Typical ritual is simply pick the group of riders that meet your schedule and roll with them. Folks start dribbling down Sunday-Monday, some Tues-Wed, even a few that only make it for a couple of days on the weekend. Some slab it down in one day, some make the route part of the week's ride and do it in 2 days--that'd be old guys like me who don't want to do a 450-550 mile day. Sunday is the return, usually a twisty route on 209 to Hot Springs and 70/Trail of the Lonesome Pine north, then a slab from the Bert Combs Mtn Pkwy to Cinti. I would have suggested joining the FB forum with the current info, but that obviously won't work. Check out the LocalRidersdotcom site, which is essentially totally dead but you'll find Dave Bannister's post from this month and links to past year's trips for more info. If you decide to join this year, lemeno and I'll connect you to folks who are already planning their trip itinerary.