First wake up this morning was around 4 a.m. -- to a thundershower. Not good. But the bike was covered so things didn't get too wet. About 8 a.m., I went across the street to the Dollar General for some supplies while Steve took his shower. Tried to find the nearby cache while across the street, no luck yet but I'll give it another try tomorrow morning before we leave. Then we continued getting ready for our day, went to the lobby for the continental breakfast.
By the time we were ready to hit the road, it was almost 10 a.m. The seminar we wanted to go to started at 10:30. So the Virginia caching will have to wait until tomorrow. We made it down to the fairgrounds only a few minutes later than we planned. Steve dropped me off, then went over to the BMW Motorrad area and signed up for the demo ride he wanted to take. Guess what, he signed me up too! As his passenger of course. I had thought I'd have an hour to hang out in the internet area.
The seminar was on traveling by motorcycle in Europe. Interesting info, hope to be able to use it someday, especially while Scott is still in Germany. After the seminar, we wandered around some of the other vendors while waiting for our turn for the demo ride.
Finally, at 1 p.m. (just after another passing shower) it was our turn, along with a few dozen others, split into three riding groups. We rode a R1200RT, same as we already have. Steve wanted to see if what he was hearing was common to all those bikes or just his. Bottom line, just his, most likely. Someone tonight suggested he do his own valve job, and the right valve job may just take care of the trouble. Hope so. The ride itself was curvy and twisty. Not so bad you think. But this RT did not have a tail trunk and therefore no backrest. I had to deal with those twisties by just holding on to the passenger side handles and praying I wouldn't be bounced or slidden off. I was finally able to relax my grip just a bit by the second half of the ride, whcih was about 45 minutes long.
After the ride, and our returning our riding gear to our bike (instead of carrying it around) we did a bit more vendor shopping. Decided to invest in some "Butt Buffers" which are a gel-based seat pad. Similar to what is used to prevent bedsores in patients. The selling points were two: the guy slid keys under the pad while I was sitting on it, and I didn't even feel them, OR the metal parts that were already underneath before I sat down. The other was that they were satisfaction guaranteed. If we ride home and don't like them, we can get our money back. Or even later if we change our mind. That sold me. Definitely worth a try. And now I can throw away this really ugly piece of foam that I rode down here on.
We also (well, Steve didn't know he was going caching until we were at ground zero) did a cache that was located in a bison tube on top of a fence. We (I needed my tall hubby to check some places I couldn't reach) couldn't find it at first, then I finally spotted it. It was tough to retrieve, Steve finally pushed it out and, you guessed it, it landed on the other side of the fence. Nearby gate closed and locked, of course. Finally had to ask a passer-by to retrieve it and bring it to me. Steve said that one of the "shuttles", a glorified hay wagon, passed by and people were sure giving me strange looks!
After this adventure we went off to see a display of vintage BMW's. Steve has a particular interest because he restored a 1962 R60/2 back in the 80s when we were first married. Lots of neat old bikes. Probably one of our favorite parts of the rally. After this we decided it was time to get some "real" food as opposed to fair food and fast food so headed down into Johnson City and ended up at Bob Evans. We were surprised when we left that it had rained again while we were inside.
Sooo...found out our new "Butt Buffers" were also great cooling pads when wet. No, we hadn't put on the cover as it didn't look like it would rain more when we went inside. Also - our helmets are great cool-downs when the lining is wet because they were hanging on their hooks on the back of the bike. See previous note about not putting the cover on.
Back to the rally where we were to meet the rest of the riders here from our "club" at the beer tent at 7 p.m. There were about a dozen or so of us that sat together and visited for about an hour and a half before some of us left. Some may still be there for all I know. We wanted to get back to the hotel before dark. (They did sell other beverages - and Steve and I both had tokens for a free beverage because it was our first rally. )
Back to the hotel, we know the way now! Toilet got stopped up and we had to call maintenance. That's always fun. not. But it seems to be working now. Then our nightly routine of getting the bike closed up for the night, and me using the wireless. It sure is nice to have my computer with me on a bike trip!
Tomorrow morning's plans include packing up the bike, then heading for that Virginia cache then towards home.
Went back to
By the time we were ready to hit the road, it was almost 10 a.m. The seminar we wanted to go to started at 10:30. So the Virginia caching will have to wait until tomorrow. We made it down to the fairgrounds only a few minutes later than we planned. Steve dropped me off, then went over to the BMW Motorrad area and signed up for the demo ride he wanted to take. Guess what, he signed me up too! As his passenger of course. I had thought I'd have an hour to hang out in the internet area.
The seminar was on traveling by motorcycle in Europe. Interesting info, hope to be able to use it someday, especially while Scott is still in Germany. After the seminar, we wandered around some of the other vendors while waiting for our turn for the demo ride.
Finally, at 1 p.m. (just after another passing shower) it was our turn, along with a few dozen others, split into three riding groups. We rode a R1200RT, same as we already have. Steve wanted to see if what he was hearing was common to all those bikes or just his. Bottom line, just his, most likely. Someone tonight suggested he do his own valve job, and the right valve job may just take care of the trouble. Hope so. The ride itself was curvy and twisty. Not so bad you think. But this RT did not have a tail trunk and therefore no backrest. I had to deal with those twisties by just holding on to the passenger side handles and praying I wouldn't be bounced or slidden off. I was finally able to relax my grip just a bit by the second half of the ride, whcih was about 45 minutes long.
After the ride, and our returning our riding gear to our bike (instead of carrying it around) we did a bit more vendor shopping. Decided to invest in some "Butt Buffers" which are a gel-based seat pad. Similar to what is used to prevent bedsores in patients. The selling points were two: the guy slid keys under the pad while I was sitting on it, and I didn't even feel them, OR the metal parts that were already underneath before I sat down. The other was that they were satisfaction guaranteed. If we ride home and don't like them, we can get our money back. Or even later if we change our mind. That sold me. Definitely worth a try. And now I can throw away this really ugly piece of foam that I rode down here on.
We also (well, Steve didn't know he was going caching until we were at ground zero) did a cache that was located in a bison tube on top of a fence. We (I needed my tall hubby to check some places I couldn't reach) couldn't find it at first, then I finally spotted it. It was tough to retrieve, Steve finally pushed it out and, you guessed it, it landed on the other side of the fence. Nearby gate closed and locked, of course. Finally had to ask a passer-by to retrieve it and bring it to me. Steve said that one of the "shuttles", a glorified hay wagon, passed by and people were sure giving me strange looks!
After this adventure we went off to see a display of vintage BMW's. Steve has a particular interest because he restored a 1962 R60/2 back in the 80s when we were first married. Lots of neat old bikes. Probably one of our favorite parts of the rally. After this we decided it was time to get some "real" food as opposed to fair food and fast food so headed down into Johnson City and ended up at Bob Evans. We were surprised when we left that it had rained again while we were inside.
Sooo...found out our new "Butt Buffers" were also great cooling pads when wet. No, we hadn't put on the cover as it didn't look like it would rain more when we went inside. Also - our helmets are great cool-downs when the lining is wet because they were hanging on their hooks on the back of the bike. See previous note about not putting the cover on.
Back to the rally where we were to meet the rest of the riders here from our "club" at the beer tent at 7 p.m. There were about a dozen or so of us that sat together and visited for about an hour and a half before some of us left. Some may still be there for all I know. We wanted to get back to the hotel before dark. (They did sell other beverages - and Steve and I both had tokens for a free beverage because it was our first rally. )
Back to the hotel, we know the way now! Toilet got stopped up and we had to call maintenance. That's always fun. not. But it seems to be working now. Then our nightly routine of getting the bike closed up for the night, and me using the wireless. It sure is nice to have my computer with me on a bike trip!
Tomorrow morning's plans include packing up the bike, then heading for that Virginia cache then towards home.
Went back to
Have just finished reading all 3 days + Eric birthday blogs and really did enjoy them all.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are having a great time. call me on my cell when you are back home. we are now at todds and go back to columbus wednesday. Love Mom