Return-Path: From: east@big.att.com Date: Mon, 24 Jun 1996 21:38:09 -0400 (EDT) Reply-To: east@big.att.com Sender: east@big.att.com Original-From: "McLoone, William J." To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: RCR Trip Report X-Comment: East Coast Motorcyclists Mailing List NOTE: I am posting this to a few places to people with varying degrees of RCR Knowledge so please bare with me. This ended up being long but I think a good read if you want to know about the RCRV Covered Bridge Casual Group Ride and my weekend in general. A special thanks to all that kept me company on the road. Also, for all those in attendance who wanted my (Bill McLoone) email address it's in my sig. block at the end. ***** Bill McLoone's RCRV Trip Report ***** I attended the Fifth Right Coast Ride (RCRV) this weekend and had such a great time I had to share it with you. The RCR is the premiere Denizens of Doom ride on the east coast and was held at Camp WestMar in Thrumont, MD. Lucky for me it was in my own backyard...hmm, wonder where I'll have to run of to next year. I'm a lucky stiff and get to work a full day on Friday and when I finish at the office, only working a half hour overtime which with my salary job equals double what I make on weekends (goose egg), I saddle up and navigate my pre-loaded Yamaha XS-1100 H north to the camp. Leaving the city was a fun ride and reminded me why I only commute into the nations capital on the best days or when special events pop up. I arrive after my draining (can you just feel the sarcasm) trip of about 65 or so miles and immediately see some old friends from the Pine Creek Gorge Run and the HoHoHo both sponsored by that terrific host and NJ Denizen, Howard Carson. Out of close to a hundred folks I find I am welcomed and introduced around and already starting to make new friends. I'm feeling good but can't find my friend Mike Katz who I was supposed to meet no less than 30 minutes earlier. Turns out he saw me after I returned from the men's room and with the amount of sun he got riding the HOG that day, I wonder how I didn't spot him first. People are milling about and when one person decided it was time to eat their was a mad rush of about 40 of us to the local restaurant where I enjoyed the spread at the buffet seeing how my lunch break earlier in the day never happened. After Dinner the group hangs around having a few beers and the comradery begins. I meet folks from all over the east coast and even some from my own backyard. After hanging out a while most people head off to bed and some of us chatted longer as we talked about our plan for the next day. I figured I would get up late and ride to the western pan handle of Maryland and enjoy the day. Well since my bladder has it's limits, I woke up earlier than planned at about 9. Having showered before I went to bed I felt ready to face the day and went to the mess hall, after a brief pit stop, to have a bagel and donut. After eating and getting dressed I meet up with some of the folks I was talking to the previous night as we continue to ponder the plan of the day. We listen to the ride briefs and decide the ride for was the covered bridge tour. Irish Paul, who is so far with out a bike in the states, was looking for a ride and asked if he could join me. Having enjoyed meeting him and owning the closest thing to a goldwing in attendance (I won't insult the Harley riders buy comparing their road sofa's to that of a Japanese make), I offer him the pillion post. So we all suit up start the bikes and get rolling to see some covered bridges in PA. Well the first few minutes started a downward trend as I pass someone who has pulled to the side and later find that Pops also had trouble early on. The rule of thumb is you don't make a turn until you see the headlight of the person behind you. Apparently there where some riders without a thumb or a clue because turns where missed as riders left their post. I must admit that I broke the rule but after 10 minutes of not seeing anyone behind me and knowing that the guys behind me, who ended up disappearing, didn't wait for whoever was behind them, I figured their may not be anyone behind me anymore. Irish Paul and I chat for a while pondering what happened and then, not wanting to have the person in front of us not wait, we ask the nice lady on the lawn tractor to point other motorcycles in the right direction. Irish Paul and I ride off and I think that I should find a copy of the run sheet I printed out and see where we need to go in case the rider in front of us is no longer around. Paul starts to navigate and we continue on. The rider waited and as we discuss what has happened we see the gang approaching and ride off. During this leg we find that a new rider in a black and white jacket has missed a turn and can't be found, did we see her? No but know we understand what had taken so long. We continue on and find our Harley brothers chatting with a couple near a corner and they take the lead. With a slower group behind I follow along doing my best to keep the cruisers and followers all in sight. We pull through a little town and Irish Paul tells me to turn Right at the Light. We'll the cruisers went through the light but I see brake lights as the rest of the group pulls up behind, we had gotten separated crossing a highway, so I make the right. The group follows and we find the lunch spot. Well discussion ensues as we find that people didn't wait, including those in front of the cruisers who never waited at the light and not everybody was accounted for. It seems like two guys got turned around but they couldn't catch the Harleys to let them know. Pops is ticked off that the group was so disorganized so I suggest two smaller groups and I would be willing to lead a slower group after lunch. I get the rundown from the ride leader and Irish Paul is now charged to navigate a group through US country which he has never seen since arrive to the states only 3 weeks earlier. I figure he can read as well as me so I have no problem giving him the job. Besides I only volunteered to lead because the need was there and I had someone who could navigate. Well the quicker group heads out the Harley trio shows up and grabs a quick bite. I make sure everyone is comfortable with the route and I fill them all in on the type of ride I would lead. Since we had some folks who rode conservatively I was going to go the speed limit, I would stop frequently for gas (something about 80 miles a tank and no reserve?) and breaks. I would not make a turn until I could account for everyone, and I wouldn't push the group too much. Well 10 other riders decided they could live with that and stayed with me. The Harley trio had already been where we were headed so they gave me a few pointers and we saddle up and hit the road with Kate riding sweep. Down the road we pick up the riders refueling and in a group of 11, we ride west. Not really having read a map or knowing exactly where we where the road details will be shaky. We end up going through some nice back country where Debby waves at the cows and Mike hears them mooing back. Then through some twistie roads of a state park, down the mountain and head toward the bridge. Irish Paul points it out as I didn't even see it and I turn so people can go back and see it. Over a small grate bridge, I wasn't thrilled, we all gather and say the view was good enough and let's move on. You see this bridge was closed to the public and off the road a ways. Okay, we'll head on 850 north just like the sheet says. Hmm, the sign says east or west. As we dig out a map and see it won't help Sandy says go west. We'll see was right because just then the sport group who has now been through a few bridges comes by and confirms the direction. It's looking cloudy and I have everyone put on their rain gear so we wouldn't have to stop later. We find the next bridge and ride through it, ye-ha. The problem is the Y immediately on the other side and the wrong direction I picked. I went left and now need to find a place to turn around. Well we are on a small back road with fresh rain falling and I'm looking through two windscreens splattered with water. I'm not happy and turn left again to find a place to U-turn. Well I cross the stream and think that maybe this will get us back to the main road. Sure enough it does and we pull over and wait for everyone to catch up. A few minutes and I start wondering what happened. Then Debby (Bandit 600) and Dave crest the hill with Kate behind in sweep. It seems like they stopped to put on their rain gear but I'm not really sure. Anyway we are a group again and start to head back. Well back through the terrific state park it gets sunny again and I pullover in the ranger station to give folks a chance to un-don their rain gear and take a break. Irish Paul and I take turns at the corner pointing people in so they won't miss us. 1...2..3......9 bikes accounted for. Debby (virago) says they where right behind at the crest of the hill. We wait a few minutes and I get nervous and ask if anyone is an EMT. Mike looks at me and says "you are", and while he is correct I didn't want to leave the group. After all I can't lead my people if I leave (not that I was on a power trip). Debby (virago says she is but hasn't been riding long. Okay group, I'll go but stay so I can lead you more when I return. So quickly donning helmet and gloves, I race up the road to see what happened. This part was fun because I had the ability and the reason to open it up a little 8-). Not wanting to run over an accident I took blind turns a little easy and saw Kate and Dave on the side of the road. Everyone's okay, whew, no one's getting hurt on my watch, not that I'm on a power trip. I stop, turn on my flashers, dismount, and start CPR. Okay not really but it would make a great Rescue 911. Talking to Kate I find out that she got a little dizzy and felt she should stop. Since she knows she tends to suffer heat exhaustion I think it was a fine idea. Dave noticed she wasn't behind him anymore and went back to check on her. Well' she can ride with me but we need someone to ride her bike down the mountain. I suggest that Dave fetch a rider and he happily rides at a quick pace to get help although that was just an excuse to clean his tires and do his homework from CLASS. In minutes Dave shows up with Irish Paul, at this point I would suggest to groups that it's a good idea to pack an extra licensed driver for these moments. Paul is happy to ride Kate's bike, but only because he has yet to learn that it has no rear shocks, and we all transit down the hill safely. There is a few moments of warm wishes when the group gets back together and Kate thinks it will take a little while to get herself together. I announce it to the group and let them know that I will be waiting with Kate but if they want to journey on they are welcome to do so. They all stay which brings a tear to my eye as I am now a born leader, my people love me and will follow me to the death. Okay maybe not to the death but at least back to camp, not that I'm on a power trip. I slip Kate a cereal bar, we all hang out enjoying the sun which came out, except for Kate who is in the air conditioned ranger office. Kate's feeling better and it's time to hit the road. Since Dave looked out for Kate he gets a field promotion to sweep, Kate gets to be navigator, and Irish Paul gets demoted to a staff level rider. Not realizing how sore his butt would be later, everyone is happy. We journey on-ward and Kate is feeling better. Now she is feeling like all the water she drank has done it's job and needs to be set free. Obviously I thought she just needed to stretch her bum knee and I stop in a real pretty spot by a dam. Of course stopping there wasn't brilliant since it was on the wrong side of the road with limited parking that drops of quickly into the water, but my people love me and the group follows me to a halt. I learn Kate needs to go and she is off into the woods to go.. she must have been a girl scout. She returns and we all pose for a group picture. BTW if I can ever get a copy I would like one (of course the odds that anyone is still reading this far is slim) We hit the road again and I make a brilliant right turn. Following Kate's comment on how familiar this looked Dave again gets to play with his left hand as he blows by the group leads us to a u-turn spot and tells me I took a wrong turn. We turn around and find a little gas station to refill the I need gas every 80 motorcycle, which was getting close to it's limit. Sandy gets directions from cop and I decide to continue along the same route since we only have 20 miles to go. By this point Debby (virago) is getting very tired since at about 170 miles she has gone much further than her previous high millage day of 20 clicks. I want to keep my eye on Debby and am not confidant I can get back easily since I nor my navigator even knew we made a wrong turn. Since Dave had proven his navigation and riding skills I promote Dave again and let him take the lead. After all if we don't get back my people will not love me and he has a big tank bag with a map case and seems to know how to read it. This is fun because I can follow the group and chat mindlessly with Kate who was enjoying keeping an eye on Paul and her bike. After a little ways, Dave makes a wrong turn and puts us right where the cop told Sandy we should go so She tells him to go straight. I say let's do it and again we are on the road. Almost back to camp we decide to fill up so we'll be ready for the ride home in the morning. Debby (virago) is tired and can't ride any more. Loving my people as I do, Paul will take Debby's bike, Kate will take her bike again, and I will give Debby a ride back. After a brief set of instructions to Debby and lining up I have no been promoted to Passenger Pilot, David finds his home at sweep and I think Sandy or the Harley Trio led us down Rt. 15 to Thurmont. Feeling badly for Dave who is behind me and I am going very slow with Debby riding pillion who is loving it. Taking turns slow and smooth puts a smile on her face and she starts to cheer and clap after each curve. I enjoyed the apperception but was glad to be back and learn that there was still food left. At the end of a long day it turns into a long night with many beer consumed followed by Irish Paul's Peachtree (and I thought the Irish knew how to drink) and some gin. Paul gets a back rub for riding the CM400, I whine and get one of my own 8-). We talk about the days events and Irish Paul gets a lesson on the Birds and the Bees while Muffy rides Mr. Bills bike. The night draws on as friends old and new were getting re-acquainted after a wonderful day on the road. The next day I was waken early and got to sit in the sun as my friends started to head out. I thanked Mr. Bill who did an outstanding job as Grand Omm-Pah and did my share to clean out the cabin. Being so close I felt no need to leave early and waited till almost everyone else left before doing the same. As I traveled some back roads home in the sunshine I thought about how perfect my first RCR was. I was saddened at the thought the weekend was over and smiled at the memories and the sun in my face. I look forward to next year when I will see all my friends again and I can lead another casual ride, after all my people love me and I love them, not that I'm on a power trip. Bill McLoone '82 Susuki GS-450TXz (SOLD) '81 Yamaha XS-11H (50% mine) Burtonsville, MD USA '82 Kawasaki KZ-750E (all mine) 1-800-AMA-JOIN BK-MD I "Ride with Pride"