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The re-building continues..........

Riding weather is here in KY. I went to Kenlake yesterday and double checked the shelter reservation, power, bathrooms, grill, picnic tables, fireplace onsite. We’re riding some of the planned roads today to make sure no new road damage. It’s been so long since I’ve had two days off in a row I’m not sure what to do with myself. Looking forward to seeing everyone again. I’m hoping this will catch on and become an annual event.

I was on a little nostalgic journey as I sat drinking my coffee this morning. I was thinking about all the wonderful rallies we have had over the years. Then I tried to decide which were my favorites. There have been many great ones from the Tail of the Dragon, the one in Canada, Great times in New York. Of course I'm a bit partial to my Maintenance Days in Ohio. The first one ever at Potato Creek was a great time as well as the one in Galena. I think I have to say though that possibly my favorite two were the one in Colorado and the one at the Hub in Dogpatch Arkansas. I hadn't thought much about The Hub in a while and did a search this morning and it appears that it has closed it's doors. Sad to know. Anyway, I just thought it would be fun to think back. I think what lead me to these thoughts was learning that Star Touring has shut down their site and are closing the doors. I know that some of the chapters are coming up with a plan to keep it going in some manner or the other and I wish them nothing but the best. That also reminded me of the final years of the Motorcycle Touring Association/Venture Touring Society. Many of us fought hard rot keep the VTS alive. That organization was once one of the largest in the nation with, I think, around 20,000 members. They used to give away a new Venture at their yearly annual rally and one year actually gave away two. Anyway, it made me think about how lucky we are to still be kicking after what, about 15 or so years? I hope we can continue this for another 15. What are your most memorable Venturerider Rallies?

Hi all, this is Golf&Venture. Anyone remember me? Been away for a couple 2 or 3 years. Was thinking about the group. I hung up my helmet and my riding rear. I've retired from Boeing after 31 years. This past March joined the 70's club. Included another grandson to my family and am in very good health but did have a full left knee replacement. I still have my 89 VR and my wrecked 91 VR. I can barely put the old VR on the rear kick stand anymore. Backing it up out of the garage is also a struggle. Every couple of months I start the old beast up with a box fan for radiator air flow. Listen to the hum of the engine. Straddle it, put it in gear and let it run for a while. Rev it a few times, bringing back memories. It needs a good carb cleaning. Anyone have a good step by step instructions in how to clean a set of carbs. SkyDoc provided me instructions on how to remove the 4 carbs in tack, as in a complete set without removing everything around it. Sure worked really slick. Don't want to or feel it needs rebuilding, just a good cleaning. Golfing is my main hobby now. I do an occasional puzzle. Hit the Casinos. Learned some cooking skill, by making my very first favorite pie, Apple. Still play my Trumpet, which is now 53 years old. Anyone into trumpets, it an Olds Recording. The only trumpet every made with the middle finger valve extended out a slight bit to accommodate ones middle finger. I Converted my attached 2 car garage into a 1 bedroom apartment and renting it out to the Traveling Nurse organization thru Furnish Finders. Been catching up on yard improvements that I've neglected for the past 34 years, but my 2 goats have been keeping the place at bay from being over taken by black berries and other natural foliage. My good buddy, Kubota, for the past 7 years has been helping me around the yard. Moved some good size boulders, railroad ties and moving some dirt around. Buddy Kubota has been a tremendous help in so many small big and small ways. Adding side boards to my trailer so I can haul free farm dirt from Enumclaw for my soon to be planted fruit trees, and grape vine plants. Oh I forgotten to mention that I've vastly enlarged my Straw Bale Gardening, Love it, no weeding and it grows vegies like crazy. Projects I like to start, some day. 1) Rebuilding of my 68 Kawasaki 90 G3TR, my very first m/c. 2) Still have my 74 Yamaha YZ125 to clean and get running again. 3) Have my first new vehicle a 1976 Chev Luv, a major project now. 4) Get my 1976 AMC Pacer running again, my mother's first and only new vehicle. 5) Have my 1988 Bayliner Capri 19.5 ft with a Chev 305 that I want to restore, which I bought it new. 6) Need to replace my 34 year old deck around my home. 7) Build a deck around my above ground pool. 8)-Thinking of adding a couple of egg laying chickens to my farm of 2 goats next year. 9) But I did manage to re-roof my home and detached garage of nearly 4000 sq ft over a 4 year period prior to my knee replacement. Layed every single composition sheet single handed even a huge 12/12 roof. 10) Almost forgot about my motorhome, getting it back to operational 10) So much to do, yet so little time left, but loving Retirement..

Wowzy! You sure have some plans, me thinks you won't be bored anytime soon.

Potato Creek was a hoot. but Colorado was my favourite for a few reasons.....it was my longest trip on a bike, the camaraderie and of course the Colorado scenery was amazing. Would do that one again anytime.

Our First Maintenance Day, Vogel and Asheville are the best memories for us, we have meet so many great people and visited some beautiful places. Not Rallys but all of the impromptu get togethers and meet & eats have made for some great times as well.

I do. I can't but I want to.

I prefer to be the Tail Gunner, partly because of the "Crazy" factor, and partly because the Jardine Pipes on my bike are pretty extreme, or so I have been told. Personally, I'm basically deaf due to 50 years in factories, so they don't bother me at all, but I do try to be respectful to the other ride members. As long as we all get there, I'm happy with that. Earl

The truth is, like most such organizations, our membership is way down. Maybe as the weather gets better it will pick up a bit. I think that there are numerous reasons. Platforms like Facebook have made it easy for people to set up a group. Though I hate the format and the fact that you can't have different areas for different topics makes it more difficult to organize posts so that they it is easier to find what you are looking for, if you don't mind all the ads and tracking then they are a cheap and easy way to form a group. Another issue is that many of us are getting older and not riding as much and some not at all. Some stay just for the friendships after they quit riding but many don't. I had hoped that the new Star Venture would take off and that would help but it doesn't seem to have done so. Many groups are losing membership. I just recently learned that Star Touring has shut down their site and is no longer an active club. Some of the chapters are attempting to pull together to keep things going in some manner but they had lost a lot of chapters and members. I am told that Alan Cease, who was the leader there, is in bad health and I believe at home on Dialysis. Though I never really knew him and we had a bit of a spiff early on, my prayers are with him and I wish him nothing but the best. All this being said, not everybody puts themselves on the community map. I just looked and we have approximately 350 supporting members at this time. At one time, we were up too nearly 2000. Will it ever come back? I have my doubts. Will I shut down this site because of it? No way. As long as there is interest, we will continue to move ahead and maintain the many friendships that have been made here.

I believe most of what was said above is true. But we've lost so much more. America use to be a melting pot. The beacon of everything good. Gone are the days of : Working together towards a common goal (some are quick to point out our differences.) Personal responsibility for one actions (it's always someone/something else's fault) JFK's “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” (now reversed) Clear cut Winners and losers (no need to try and better yourself) (today everybody gets a participation trophy) Family oriented(peoples lives centered around it) Earning a living and feeling good about ones contributions(why bother, Uncle Sam will send you a check) On paper, it would seem to be easy to fix, but the reality of it is, we'd have to have the same Goal, and we do not. Life isn't meant to be easy, it's our struggles that makes us strong. OK, gonna go hide now.