 |
Voni and Paul Glaves Summer - 2009 (page 2) |
The BMW MOA Rally and Camp Gears
In 1984 we arrived at a BMW MOA National Rally in Missoula, Montana, bewildered and transfixed; we had never seen almost 5,000 BMW motorcycles in one place at the same time. Voni has attended every one since then. (Paul missed one in 1993 due to a new job and zero accumulated vacation.) When we were working it was The Summer Vacation. Since retirement it is now just one of many places to go and to be; this year at the Appalachian Fairgrounds near Johnson City, Tennessee, and about 9,000 BMW motorcycles.
As in each of the past four years, we started by hosting Camp G.E.A.R.S. (Gaining Early Advanced Riding Skills), a two-day camp for young riders ages 16 through 26, held the two days preceding the rally. Camp GEARS is sponsored by the BMW MOA Foundation. We had a great turnout. Among several training sessions on basic mechanics, first aid, gear for riders, proficient riding, and the like we had two real highlights. BMW motorcycle racer Nate Kern dropped by with his race bike and the new S1000RR for the campers to see. And he talked to them about riding, racing, and safety. Then we all rode off together for a group ride to lunch.
The BMW RA Rally at Canaan Valley, West Virginia
We spent about a week going from Johnson City, Tennessee to Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia for the BMW RA Rally. With only 300 or so miles to go in six days we had to get creative with our route planning to be sure we didn't miss anything along the way. We soon figured out the geography. Long roads running to the northeast were in the valleys. Short little roads connecting the long roads were whoop-di-doos up and down over the ridges. We plotted a torturous zig zag route combining as many little roads as we could to still head generally in the correct direction. It took a few more miles than the shortest route, since Voni kept finding and pointing out interesting places to go see.
In 1984 we arrived at a BMW MOA National Rally in Missoula, Montana, bewildered and transfixed; we had never seen almost 5,000 BMW motorcycles in one place at the same time. Voni has attended every one since then. (Paul missed one in 1993 due to a new job and zero accumulated vacation.) When we were working it was The Summer Vacation. Since retirement it is now just one of many places to go and to be; this year at the Appalachian Fairgrounds near Johnson City, Tennessee, and about 9,000 BMW motorcycles.
As in each of the past four years, we started by hosting Camp G.E.A.R.S. (Gaining Early Advanced Riding Skills), a two-day camp for young riders ages 16 through 26, held the two days preceding the rally. Camp GEARS is sponsored by the BMW MOA Foundation. We had a great turnout. Among several training sessions on basic mechanics, first aid, gear for riders, proficient riding, and the like we had two real highlights. BMW motorcycle racer Nate Kern dropped by with his race bike and the new S1000RR for the campers to see. And he talked to them about riding, racing, and safety. Then we all rode off together for a group ride to lunch.
 |
 |
| Camp
GEARS campers with Nate Kern and the S1000RR Photo by Paul Bachorz |
Headed
off for the group ride to lunch |
| Then the rally started. Among the first people we ran into were Bill and Irene DeWitt. They are special people, still riding well in their 90s. We first met them in a hotel lobby in Windhoek, Namibia. They saw us and the BMWs and introduced themselves. They didn't have their bike in Africa. Instead they were flying around in their airplane for an airplane rally. |  |
 |
Unable to restrain
himself, Paul embarked on some minor maintenance on Voni's K75S.
When you live on the road, on the bikes, there is always something to
check. |
| As in years past, we
presented several seminars. Paul conducted seminars covering
several technical topics and Voni hosted the Women Who Ride
seminar. Voni enlisted several notable women riders to each cover
a specific aspect of motorcycle riding: Karol Patzer - Endurance Rallies Deb Lower - Vintage Racing Elizabeth Clark - Getting Your Bike Ready A lady from the audience - Off-Road Riding and, of course, Voni - In Charge of Magic |
 |
| The
Women Who Ride Seminar |
 |
And then, when the work
was done,
just
a lot of "walkin' around! |
The BMW RA Rally at Canaan Valley, West Virginia
We spent about a week going from Johnson City, Tennessee to Canaan Valley State Park in West Virginia for the BMW RA Rally. With only 300 or so miles to go in six days we had to get creative with our route planning to be sure we didn't miss anything along the way. We soon figured out the geography. Long roads running to the northeast were in the valleys. Short little roads connecting the long roads were whoop-di-doos up and down over the ridges. We plotted a torturous zig zag route combining as many little roads as we could to still head generally in the correct direction. It took a few more miles than the shortest route, since Voni kept finding and pointing out interesting places to go see.
 |
 |
| West
Virginia Roads |
West
Virginia Countryside |
| We arrived at Canaan
Valley and set up camp. As it always does at an RA rally, it
rained. So we sought shelter and went on about our camping
business. Just chilling! |
 |
 |
 |
| Paul
Presenting a Seminar |
Something
Paul
said
about
anti-seize
must
have
been
funny! |
| Meanwhile,
Voni
was
checking
out
the
vendors,
or
presenting
her
own
very
popular
seminar, The Magic
is in the Motorcycle (even though we didn't take a picture; |
 |
 |
And, interviewing author
and motorcycle safety expert David Hough regarding his upcoming
induction into the American Motorcyclist Hall of Fame. Voni's feature article was published in the BMW Owners News in December, 2009. To read the article about
David
 |
| To
Continue to the Next Page |
Back
to Page 1 |
Back to Glaves Home Page |
|
|
 |