BMW MOA Miscellany

[hschisler]

Went to the 34th Intl Rally in VT; attended Thursday and Friday, left for home this morning, even though the event wraps up today. We had seen everything we needed/wanted to see. If I win one of the many grand prizes and it's one of those for which you must be present to win... my loss.

Saw mikeinpgh, Don Norwood (bamalt) and Steve Johnson (LTer who attended STC II).

I took many pics, including some unusual bikes, paint jobs, odd people, farkles, etc. A couple of my favorites are attached. (the pics of Don and Mike are not to be inferred as belonging to the "odd people" group!)

I thought of all you guys who are reluctant to take a GT test ride when I took the last picture. It seems to fit perfectly! :cool:

[SanMan]

You don't sound overly thrilled about the experience Howard.

Scott

[FredR]

Shucks Howard you missed the best part. The walking around in the rain and mud Saturday afternoon, evening and breaking down the tent Sunday morning.
I looked for you but didnt see you so maybe at STC III.

[hschisler]

You don't sound overly thrilled about the experience Howard.

ScottSorry about that. I sent that from the hotel late yesterday after a long day of driving. I wanted to share just a couple of fun pics with everyone and didn't want to take the time to create a lengthy post.

I actually enjoyed the event a ton, especially the seminars -- very informative, for the most part. I'll go again, but I'll be sure to actually take the bike next time, and that IS one thing I'm still bummed out about. Let this be a lesson: for many reasons, and on several levels, it is much better to have a bike at a bike rally. Mandatory, as it were. I kept watching guys come and go on their bikes all @#$% day long and I'm getting picked up in a car at the front gate.

[hschisler]

Shucks Howard you missed the best part. The walking around in the rain and mud Saturday afternoon, evening and breaking down the tent Sunday morning.
I looked for you but didnt see you so maybe at STC III.Thursday and Friday were perfect days weather-wise; we drive home in all that crap on Saturday. I kept an eye out for you, too, but didn't see you. Next time!

[glenhinegardner]

Hey Howard

Sorry I missed you! Got there Fri and left this morning. But I can tell you that you did not win a prize! and neither did a whole lot of other wet riders (me included). But like you, it was my first and I think I can see another in the future?

Glen
05KLT

[messenger13]

I'll go again, but I'll be sure to actually take the bike next time, and that IS one thing I'm still bummed out about. Let this be a lesson: for many reasons, and on several levels, it is much better to have a bike at a bike rally. Mandatory, as it were. I kept watching guys come and go on their bikes all @#$% day long and I'm getting picked up in a car at the front gate.I tried to warn you, but NOooooo! You didn't listen. Tough love just didn't work on you. :)

Sorry I had to miss it, and most likely always will. The family vacation always starts the Friday of the National Rally...and well...some things are just more important.

Typing this from lovely Ocean Isle Beach, NC. I think I need to go get some coffee and walk the beach before the family wakes up. Adiós. :)

[tarheel_rider]

Typing this from lovely Ocean Isle Beach, NC. I think I need to go get some coffee and walk the beach before the family wakes up. Adiós. :)

That's our favorite beach. Very family friendly, even if you have to drive for most restaurants. If you haven't tried Cinelli's, check it out. I haven't been to the one on Ocean Isle yet, but there are a couple in Raleigh and they are terrific. Enjoy!

[hschisler]

Hey Howard

Sorry I missed you! Got there Fri and left this morning. But I can tell you that you did not win a prize! and neither did a whole lot of other wet riders (me included). But like you, it was my first and I think I can see another in the future?

Glen
05KLTI was wondering if I was a Grand Prize Winner. Thanks for letting me know. I take it they called the prize winners by name, and not by registration #. Good to know.

Sorry I missed you.

[hschisler]

I tried to warn you, but NOooooo! You didn't listen. Tough love just didn't work on you. :)If you call hitting me with a boatload of zingers for not taking the bike "warning" me, then I was "warned"! :D

As I mentioned, there were only 2 choices: attend without the bike, or don't attend. We chose Option A.

[hschisler]

That's our favorite beach. Very family friendly, even if you have to drive for most restaurants. If you haven't tried Cinelli's, check it out. I haven't been to the one on Ocean Isle yet, but there are a couple in Raleigh and they are terrific. Enjoy!That's a great looking avatar, Joel. I wonder where that was taken, and who the photographer was?? :cool:

I still enjoy thinking about the ride in the rain that day on the Cherohala Skyway. Beats doing about anything else...

[GoldRush]

I attended the Rally from central MA and blasted up I91 & I89 in 3.5 hrs, non-stop Thursday night after work. Arrived right before sunset and pitched up on the hill a bit past the livestock sheds. What fun!

That the National rally was in “my backyard” and I wasn’t going to make it there on my K didn’t make sense somehow. I told myself I had to go plus none of my regulars (SO and beemer friend) wanted to come alone only made me want to get up there that much more, but I didn’t really want to go alone. In the end, I teamed up with a fellow Yankee Beemer through their site the day before who rode an R650. What fun!


It was a great rally, since the setting could accommodate everyone and there was so much going on all the time. The food was good too! Met some great people from all over the US & Canada. DEMOed the RT on Friday and then the GT (WOW) on Saturday!! While on the GT my thoughts strayed, I found myself very happy and at one moment was actually composing a possible future LT For Sale ad in my head as I drove along. Forget about worrying about all the weight of the LT. It wasn’t there. What fun!


For the BMW MOA rally in Wisconsin next year, 1,400 miles away, it could be a Fly/Rental car for us just to attend, but I know what you’re talking about. It’s all about the stories. The fun part is exchanging the riding stories with the people you meet. You want to fit in. One that I told was the 2003 BMW MOA Charleston Rally story and the violent weather that Friday night. On the same trip losing the left bag off the back of our 93 KLT, 30 miles from home on the way down, that contained my SO’s clothing, and how we laughed about it all the way to Charleston-800 miles! Boy, I paid big time for that. What fun!


Another fun thing was volunteering for security at the beer tent, this past Saturday night for 3 hours. Stood in the rain checking attendance bracelets, scored a few free beer tickets from some people who were heading home, and somehow it all made motorcycling sense as I continued to get wet. Never felt happier and what a way to top a day that started at 4:30AM for the DEMO Ride line. Listening to Dave Broomberg and a few night caps before bed crowned the day. What fun!


This rally was great, as was the ride up, the ride back (straight down VT 100) and all the new contacts that I made plus the old ones that I got to see again. What fun!


Don’t kick yourself too hard for not having your ride with you. At least you were there!!

[tmgs]

Went to the 34th Intl Rally in VT; attended Thursday and Friday, left for home this morning, even though the event wraps up today. We had seen everything we needed/wanted to see. If I win one of the many grand prizes and it's one of those for which you must be present to win... my loss.

Saw mikeinpgh, Don Norwood (bamalt) and Steve Johnson (LTer who attended STC II).

I took many pics, including some unusual bikes, paint jobs, odd people, farkles, etc. A couple of my favorites are attached. (the pics of Don and Mike are not to be inferred as belonging to the "odd people" group!)

I thought of all you guys who are reluctant to take a GT test ride when I took the last picture. It seems to fit perfectly! :cool:


I see Don rode his yellow bike this time

<grin>

[UncleRock]

Missed it, Like Joe I had the family thing going on, someone had to show up and remind them why they only get together like that once a year. Think I counted 27 kids running around.
I did get to ride my bike there and back, just under 400 miles, so it wasn't a bad day at all.
Rock

[tarheel_rider]

That's a great looking avatar, Joel. I wonder where that was taken, and who the photographer was?? :cool:

I still enjoy thinking about the ride in the rain that day on the Cherohala Skyway. Beats doing about anything else...
No room on the avatar for cites but it did turn out to be good picture - thanks! That was a nice day of riding.