Evan

I'm with Cowpuc. My dad passed in Feb, holding my hand. Until his major heart attack, we spent several weeks every summer touring together. My memories are precious. Enjoy!!

Dave, want you to know how thrilled I am for your and your riding partners. Great trip, great blog - read every post. It really is special for the rest of us to be able to follow a fellow rider on a trip like you just experienced. I look forward to catching up and hearing more stories when we get together at the Ontario Rally.

Caught up again Dave. Some fab stories and pics. Many like Bryce and Yosemite bring back such good memories. Hope every day brings you and your buddies unexpected pleasures.

We stumbled across that road by accident on our Venture South. It ended right where we pulled in to stay the night. Rode it the next day, just a few days after doing the Tail of the Dragon. It's a great ride.

Yes, Ben, I was solo. However my wife Anne just happened to be returning to the city in our vehicle and saw a motorcycle on its side and a guy plus two officers close by. Then she noticed it was me. By then, I was able to tell her that I was not damaged. I will go to the collision reporting centre tomorrow and get the ball rolling re repair or not.

My favourite motorcycle that I have owned over my 52 years of owning and riding was hurt today, and this was my first riding accident in those 52 years. A guy in a new F150 did an illegal right turn at an intersection right in front of me and my only option was to crash into his front fender at about 30 mph. Several pedestrians saw the incident and were shocked that I was not seriously hurt. I feel that the accident would have been much worse on most other bikes and I was able to walk away after being thrown from the bike. I sure like my 88 VR and I hope it can be restored, although I am not optimistic that will be possible. Here is a pic of the guy's fender.

My plan was to join up with you folks from SW Ontario for the ride to Maintenance Day but my father-in-law has just passed away so instead, I wish you all good weather and a safe ride. Enjoy!

Like others, I have been excited about making it to Maintenance Day again this year but unfortunately, my father-in-law has just passed away and I will not be able to join the group from SW Ontario. Best wishes to all for good weather and even better fellowship. It's a great event!

Ditto!

did you say ice-cream! Looking forward to this great event, including the ice-cream. Hope marca gives you good instructions.

Great post Dave. Yes, hat's off to Saddlebum. Also, glad you are back on the road.

Not sure whether Anne will be joining Marca as her situation is day to day. She has been caring for her father for the past two weeks who is close to 97 and could pass any day now. Yesterday, Anne's mother told him that the Lord is preparing a place for him. Depending on timing, I may also have to miss this year's VentureIn.

Think you already know Dave how thrilled I am for you and your buddies, especially as it is the best way I can think of to celebrate a great career. Also excited about your blog which I have already checked out and will follow. Your note about possibly going to Glacier National Park and doing the Going to the Sun ride (which I strongly recommend) triggered a specific and special memory from our own Venture West. I believe that one of the best places by far to stay while in that area is East Glacier. The town itself is amazing, and also close to the eastern end of the Sun road. I specifically recommend checking out the cabins at the Dancing Bears Inn. In fact, I recommend that you ask the owner about his own cabin a mile or so from the Inn that they also sometimes also rent out. It was the best place that we stayed at on our entire 5 week trip and would be fabulous for your group of guys, and the price is right.

Right on. I did a Skydoc clutch fix on my 88 1st gen at least four years and many roads ago and still performing great!

Ditto re quality and fit. However, I use my Nelson rig half cover most of the time (especially on the road), and really love that cover.

Condolences already sent. One of the things I learned at the funeral was that Marca!s mother enjoyed riding around on her scooter wearing a bright orange (I think) helmet.

Same thing here Ben.

Anne and I look forward to this event every year. Great event, great people, great everything!!!! This year, I hope to bring my sister and her husband along. My sister took over my Suzuki 500 in the late 70's and just last year, they acquired another bike (an older Silver Wing) and love riding.

Well,it happened and for those who were able to make it, it was a great event. Thanks again to Carl for making it happen.

--- and once you bolt in on, you will be amazed by the difference. It is one of the best mods I made to my 88.

Ben, your wife has discriminating taste with people. Yes, it was great to see and spend some time visiting with the gang.

Like Dogman, I have been off the site for a while, but not for lack of interest or enthusiasm. In fact, rode right up to Christmas day. My hope was to get to the Bike Show on Friday, as I have every year, but that is now changed due to my dad's situation. Instead, hope to go Saturday and in any event, Anne and I are looking forward to this 5th annual meat and eat.

Been silent so far as my chance of attending is not that great, as much as I would like to. However, I have been able to make the WNY rally each year and I support Jim's comment. So, my hope is that the dates for these two events will be coordinated and, with a bit of luck, I can make both events in 2016.