BMWRSM DownEast Rally

[garry_kramer]

Any other Canadians going to the DownEast Rally? We just registered and now on the list.

Garry & Esther

[DentalFlossTycoon]

Sounds interesting but it's during the May 24 weekend. The holiday Monday is my birthday and I will probably be in no shape to do much of anything. :beer: :beer: :beer:

Have a safe trip and let us know how the rally was.

[garry_kramer]

We are going down on Thursday/Friday and coming back on Sunday/Monday.

[BlackWing18]

Well I would love to but I'm leaving May 16th for Dallas Tx, Early Iowa, Duluth Minn., Thunder Bay, Wawa, North Bay, then home on June 01.

Probably the rally will be over by the time I could get there, no?

I am planning on Aug 04 to 19th in the Florenceville N.B., Grand Digue N.B., Windsor N.S., areas...and anywhere else that seem like fun.

Can't miss the 'Fete Acadian' and the opening of the lobster season !!!

Jim W.

[Knobber]

I am a brand new owner of 2004LT and just learning the ropes. Beautiful black beauty with HIghliner package and 26K. I am heading to the east coast with a group from Peterborough ON, to do the Cabot Trail first week of June> I have heard of the rally and hear it's now mixed bikes. I will be reading to hear how you enjoy. This will be my first big trip with the bike and will post to let people know how I make out.

[garry_kramer]

I am a brand new owner of 2004LT and just learning the ropes. Beautiful black beauty with HIghliner package and 26K. I am heading to the east coast with a group from Peterborough ON, to do the Cabot Trail first week of June> I have heard of the rally and hear it's now mixed bikes. I will be reading to hear how you enjoy. This will be my first big trip with the bike and will post to let people know how I make out.

Congrats on the new baby! There are not many of us around and on the site. I know of about 7 in the TO area. We were up your way couple weeks ago at Bobcagon for a seminar on Confederation Log Homes. Last w/e I was at a friends cottage just north east of Peterborough.
This will be our first time there (Down East Rally), Since we will not be doing a big trip this year we decided to do this one. Last year's trip we did about 12,000 km around the US. The year before we went to TO to Victoria to TO to Boston area then back to TO. Are you new to riding big bikes? It takes a little getting used to expecially in parking lots and stop signs on gravel roads. I have done quite a bit of work in Sydney CB. Cabot Trail is a Great place to ride.

[Knobber]

Garry Kramer,
I have been riding since I was 16 so that makes it 40 years. Dirt bikes, cruisers, and now my LT. I still have a 98 Valkyrie that I am thinking of selling. I rode the Cabot Trail 2 years ago but this time we are going in a fairly large (10) group. I love the east coast and would consider retiring that way. I will drop a post when I get back and let folks now how I made out. If you are up Peterborough way give me an email and let me know.
robert.keay@sympatico.ca

[garry_kramer]

Well we are back. 27 hours of riding, 15 hours in the rain with temps of 3-6c otherwise we had a good time.

We departed Thursday about 4:30 pm and got into Syracuse about 9:30, had dinner then a few drinks with Bill Hanna from this board. We departed Friday morning about 9:30 am. Weather was good till we got to Mass. where it started raining. From there to Bath Maine it was rain and drizzle all the way. We got to Bath (about 20 minutes from the campgroud) and we decided that we were NOT going to pitch a tent in the rain as we were wet and cold. We pulled into the Holiday Inn and booked a room. We had supper and dried out our gear and had a nice comfy sleep in a king size bed. Saturday morning we packed up and headed to the camp ground. When we got there we were greeted by the Rally people and settled into a camping spot, set up the tent and then back to the headquarters. Sat was a nice day, no rain. We did a little ride around the point and stopped and had some homemade pie at a local resturant. While we sat there we watched dozens of seals popping there heads out of the water while they were getting fish for there supper. Back to the camp we went for the Lobster dinner at 5:30. We met some people from Quebec and had a great time with them. Everyone was up to their elbow in lobster. After the dinner the awards were given out. We won the GREATEST DISTANCE AWARD. Not to bad for our first rally. Found out that the Quebec people are haveing a Rally mid June, we won't be able to go, But, BMWOV will be having a rally mid Sept in Vermont. I think we will be going. If anyone wants to come let me know. On the way back we stopped in Stowe at Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and then found a great B&B Inn in Bolton Valley for the night. Monday we headed out about 9:30 am and got back to Caledon at 9:00 pm. Lots of riding, butgood fun!

A day on the bike in the rain is better than a day at work!!!!!!!!!!!

Garry & Esther.

[wjhanna]

Garry and Esther,
Sounds like a great trip! Enjoyed meeting you and your better half in Syracuse. I trust the Ramada took good care of you there. Sounds to me like rain is the rule in Maine. We hit rain of nearly biblical proportions on our trip there. I say nearly because we hit the real stuff on other rides through PA and NC. Best regards to you both and I hope to get out for a ride with you guys sometime in the future!