Return-Path: Date: Thu, 13 Feb 1997 17:25:28 -0500 (EST) Reply-To: east@dnrc.bell-labs.com Sender: east@dnrc.bell-labs.com From: Martyn Wheeler To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Midwest "RCR"??? X-Comment: East Coast Motorcyclists Mailing List Thanks, folks, for the support. It saves me having to respond to the flames and personal attack. ;-) I do have something constructive to add: It's not really a one-day ride for me, either. The longest day I can realistically do and still have fun stops around 450 miles. I will probably be heading out in one day because I want to get there at least a day early to try to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. That's my choice. For the rest of the folks who don't want to do it in one day (which I expect to be a lot of you): I'm looking at the RCR the way some of the participants have in the past: the trip there and back is part of the *ride* in "Right Coast Ride". Think of it this way: you're *riding* to the RCR. So it's going to be a long trip: kick back and enjoy the ride. When you get there, if you need to rest before heading back, don't ride on Saturday, just hang out at the site and spend more time with the folks -- isn't that why most of us go anyway, to meet old friends and make new ones? If I were just attending the RCR this year, instead of OomPah-ing, I'd do this: get a whole bunch of the local RCR-er's to ride together for the trip. We'd pick a stopover point near the mountains, like Rider's Roost for example, and plan on getting there early enough to strafe a few mountain roads in the late afternoon. Maybe if we're lucky, we'd have coordinated with some of the Virginia and DC folks so they'd be spending the night there too. Early morning, we'd head out and hit the road for KY. Maybe (if we were lucky) we'd have a dozen or so bikes, new friends to get to know at gas stops, enough folks around so that new riders feel comfortable that if they have difficulties they have lots of support. Heck, if it came to that, I'd be willing to switch bikes with a sportbike rider for a while so they could stretch their knees out on the Guzzi. That's what riding *with* folks is about. That's how I'd see it. So I'm weird. :-) But I *do* like meeting friends, old and new, and maybe riding with them. That's what the RCR is about for me. There's no reason the Right Coast Ride can't start the moment you leave your driveway. It all depends on your attitude. Martyn --sasmjw@unx.sas.com--(Martyn Wheeler)--SAS Institute Inc.--DoD #293-------- "I have a vision of a very calming place" -- single gun theory "Life has a funny way of helping you out" -- Alanis Morissette "Can't fight the Seether" -- Veruca Salt