My Hungry Mother Annual Rain Ride Report...Finally.

[Boxer]

Now that I’m back on line with Comcussed, I can make my report on the recent Hungry Mother rain ride, which BTW did not live up to it’s traditional moniker until late Saturday, sparing us of wet roads for the majority of the weekend.

Having packed and departed my house about 8:30 AM…
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... dytogo.jpg

…I arrived at HM about 3:30 Friday afternoon and met Cooperstein leaving the site, apparently going looking for the remaining members of our party. He turned around and followed me back to the campsites at Loop “C”, giving me aid and camaraderie while I unpacked and set up camp. We then both took off in search of a cooler environ to while away the time before the early-birds returned from their Friday romp. They all made it back eventually and others came in from points farther north…or south…or east…

We all then stood around and discussed those who did not come in some detail after which we all decided to convene at the Appletree restaurant for nourishment.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... gather.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... letree.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... letree.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... letree.jpg

The meal was…err…adequate. I opted for a chef salad for dinner. After dinner we all rode back to the campsite to consume a few adult beverages and again discuss the board members who were not present. Nobody wanted to get wood or build a fire so we just gathered at the outermost site so as not to disturb the one nice camping family that had joined us for the evening. When we got tired of this we wandered to our respective tents and slept soundly (except for Rich) for the entire night. No rain!

Morning brought another desire for morning food so we returned again to Appletree for breakfast.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... nghome.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... machew.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... hnJeff.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... zzycam.jpg

I almost did not get my food. The waitress had to be reminded to bring my smallish 2 eggs and toast finally…after everyone else had eaten. This somehow compelled me to take a photo of the breakfast leftovers, which I almost consumed while waiting.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... tovers.jpg

Outside, the troops were connoitering and planning the days rides.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... hekmap.jpg

Several of us chose to wait for Yong, who was late arriving from Blacksburg for our morning meeting.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... oryong.jpg

Here’s a rare photo of two of our members doing the “Tank-Bag Rain Ride Shuffle”.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... nkbags.jpg

After Yong got to the Appletree he wanted to eat breakfast so I opted to take off alone and catch up with him later. I headed down 16…
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... thon16.jpg

…Soon stopping to smell the flowers.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... lowers.jpg

At Volney I took a right onto 58 and headed toward Damascus, passing the Grayson SP along the way.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... ysonSP.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... stwest.jpg

At Damascus I spied the larger group of our HM fellows parked at a station for gas, etc. I quickly pulled in to join them to find out they were heading down a different road that I had planned to ride. So once again I found myself alone and heading for the shortest tunnel in the world. Possibly the universe.

And here it is! Brokeback Tunnel..or was that Backbone Tunnel? Or Brokebone Bridge? Can’t remember now, but a lot of riders were stopping there to take pics so I did the same.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... unnel3.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... unnel2.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... unnel1.jpg

I made it to Shady Valley just a mere minute before that same group from the station arrived from a different direction.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... allyTN.jpg

After looking at few bikes and talking with s few riders, mchew, cupo, and myself rode back to base camp along the same route I had ridden to get there.
Everyone else eventually showed up as well and we convened at the local Italian restaurant in Marion for a nice dinner. Sorry Cam your experience wasn’t so nice. But my meal was actually very good when I finally got it.

During dinner the wind picked up and brought the downpour to cap off the weekend. We all hurried back to camp to find all was well…just wet…and we proceeded to imbibe some more and listen to the story highlights of the weekend with chibbert entertaining us all with stories of past loves and the need to wear clean socks.

Vann and I left early Sunday morning to head back south toward Asheville on I-81.
Vann had to stop for gas.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... ngasup.jpg

And then we both had to stop for breakfast in Bristol.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... ristol.jpg

Here’s a couple of Goldwings in the Bob Evans’ parking lot. You gotta admire those trailer designs.
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j202/ ... dwings.jpg

All in all a much to short weekend with some good riding and great company. Maybe next year it’ll wait until Sunday morning to rain.

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks Boxer.

I really enjoyed looking through you photos and hearing about the ride...great pics..great bikes.

You guys are having too much fun...thanks..

DJ

[Biff's R]

Phil,
I am glad you and Vann were able to find a Bob Evans. Chibbert and I stopped at one near Bluefield, WV.

DJ, if you have google earth get directions from Tazewell, VA to Marion, VA.

BTW, Did you see the guys checking out my silver star at Shady Valley.

[mnnden]

Phil, Good job, I enjoyed the ride, Thanks Den

[R4R&R]

I finally got around to making this picture up with names. I pretty much have the same pictures as everyone else (only not as many).



Not pictured is Mark Cooperstein (I think he was actually packing his tent when this was taken).

[DJ Downunder]

Thanks John..great job.

DJ

[MikeCam]

Carlos had to leave early. Shannon and Peter had joined us during the day but not at camp. Mark was packing early.

Who took the picture? Hey John, I barely remember deciding not to give the ADVRider salute! But I do remember this: Always pet the dog!

16 guys over 2.5 days and I gotta say, what a great bunch of people decide to buy and ride Roadsters and Rocksters.

[R4R&R]

Carlos had to leave early. Shannon and Peter had joined us during the day but not at camp. Mark was packing early.

Who took the picture? Hey John, I barely remember deciding not to give the ADVRider salute! But I do remember this: Always pet the dog!

16 guys over 2.5 days and I gotta say, what a great bunch of people decide to buy and ride Roadsters and Rocksters.

I knew there were a few others I missed. Who took the picture you ask? Well, with a little computer help the original photographer of THIS picture has been edited back in. Can you tell who it was? (hint - it wasn't me).

[Beemeridian]

567

[MikeCam]

John,

Now that you made me look closer I can see the 'magic'. It was the non-Beakster.

[R4R&R]

John,

Now that you made me look closer I can see the 'magic'. It was the non-Beakster.

The non-beakster? THE non-beakster? There were five non-beaks there in that picture! I think you found it.

[MikeCam]

Yeah but some of us'ns were beaksters and just went away for awhile. This one is a bona fide non-ever-beakster.

[LonestaRR]

Nice report Phil. Nice pics too. I bet I'm not the only one who would love to join ya'll on one of those weekends and would except for the distance.

It's good to be able to put faces with the people I've met on the board, so thanks John for that picture too. I can't figure out who was edited back in, but in looking closer to try to guess, I did discover that it looks like Kevin is sitting on Mac's lap. What's up with that?????

[DSKYZD]

Phil,

Good job on the trip report. Lots of good photos. The ones w/out me in them I mean.

Kristi,

Welcome back! The ghost in John's picture is on the other side, closer to John.


DSKYZD

[LonestaRR]

I was going to guess that was the ghost in the picture. But still, John, you did a great job sticking him in there.

And Brian, thanks for the welcome back (just got home yesterday after travelling 30 hours out of the wilderness). It's sort of okay to be home, but I'd rather be back in the Alaskan remote if I could take the motorcycle and proper PRIVATE facilities with me.

All of the trips you guys in the east take seem to be a lot of fun AND frequent. It seems you take trips once a month.

[R4R&R]

I did discover that it looks like Kevin is sitting on Mac's lap. What's up with that?????

You guys got it - TJ took the picture but I took one right before he stepped in. Since he was there I thought we should include him - even though he has never had a beak (that we know of). I guess the leg gonig into the rock gave it away.

[Beemeridian]

34

[wncbmw]

Phil - nice report and pictures, except for the ones where I don't have on my hat or helmet! )

I echo the sentiment that is a great group and I am glad we can find the oppurtunities to get together for riding and visiting! New members alway welcome!

[CupOHemlock]

Great pics and report Phil!

Despite the rain on Saturday night, I had a blast and will look forward to more camping outings... now that I got this great deal on some second-hand camping stuff from Mike!

COH (Rich)

[taosports]

Great ride report and photos Phil and thanks John for the group photo. It's nice to put faces to all the familiar names on this board.