Cognitions: Issue 6, 2009
Random thoughts from the Northeast Area Director
by Steven Smith #3184
This has sure been a rollercoaster like year for me… you know… lots of ups and downs. The poor state of the economy led to an unplanned sabbatical from work. This quickly put a damper on many of my summer and fall plans, and why I was absent from the rally in Wellsboro. I found solace in the bits of local riding I was able to do until my Connie was plagued with the dreaded hydrolock. I called on the wisdom of COG and received more than enough assistance to get my bike healthy in a few weeks. (thanks especially to Norm for his on-site expertise) As quick as it began, my sabbatical fortunately ended as I took on a new opportunity. Being the that time of year, I reflect back on what I am thankful for… good health, a wonderful family, terrific COG friends, and being among the labor force again. Starting a new job also means no vacation time until July, but this is a sacrifice I happily make. Guy Young tells me I should attempt negotiations for a few days off for Spring Fling rally. I will have to wait to see if this is a viable option, but at least I plan on seeing many of you this summer. Which brings me to an exciting announcement… the summer rally in Vermont that I mentioned in the last newsletter is now locked in. Upcoming events... Check out the ride schedule on page 8 for some of the local winter events coming up in the next few months. 2010 “Spring Fling” Rally – May 20-23. Registration is now open. The rally fee for COG members is an incredibly low $29 if you preregister. Members who register for the rally before the predetermined deadline will get one entry in a drawing for a free suite at the motel for the rally weekend. Please read the rally announcement from Jason and review the registration form in this issue for more information. Remember... you can register online to save time and postage. 2010 “Summer Bash” Rally – August 5-8. The members asked, COG listened, and we are headed back to Vermont. This time we will base the rally in the southern Vermont town of West Dover. I am very excited about this location and think you will be too once you get there. We have arranged several lodging options and several special room rates. There may also be an onsite tent camping/RV option that needs to be worked out. We hope to have complete details in the next newsletter, as well as posted to the online northeast event calendar. 2010 “Fall Foliage” Rally – This event is still in the planning stages and hopefully we will be able to share more details soon. I’ll whet your appetite and let you know the organizer is looking at a well liked facility in the mid-Atlantic region. Northeast Area looking for help… We need member support to fill vacant AAD positions, create new positions, or just organize activities. AADs are needed for Maryland, eastern Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia to mention a few. I would be happy to see other regions in the NE Area have an AAD to cover a region, state, city, etc. You decide how much time and effort to put in and all I ask is for you to organize one activity per year. If you are interested, please contact me so we can chat about your ideas to improve member activity. We are also looking for a web savvy person to take on the Northeast Web Editor position. Knowledge of website page layout and HTML are helpful, but not as necessary as desire to do the job. It is time to submit your ride & activity plans to your AADs or me. The Northeast Area has always had 50 or more activities on our event calendar and I would really like to see this tradition continue. Posting activities to the [online and printed] calendar early provides all members adequate time to plan to attend. You do not have to be an AAD to host activities. Day rides and social meets are a piece of cake. If you have an idea for any type of activity, it is easy to begin the process by contacting me or your local AAD and we can help get you started. Club Happenings – Just a reminder… COG’s membership director encourages all members to create an online member account on our web site. If your membership is up to date, sign up online using the “$0 Forum Subscriber” membership plan. The membership director will verify your membership and will switch you over to full member status giving you full access to the member’s only sections of the web. Creating an online account gives members a method to manage their member profile and contact info, while allowing COG to operate more efficiently. Membership renewal reminders will be emailed automatically so there is less chance to miss a renewal date, and the online membership process is simpler, less costly, and “greener” than mailed notices. Please keep your member profile information up to date, including mailing address, phone, email, emergency contact info, and member directory preferences. You can modify your member profile by going to the COG web site www.cog-online.org, logging into your online, and click on “My Info” from the Member Area menu. In Memoriam... We’ve received some sad news the past few months. Jim Hammond, an avid COG member, passed away on November 29 from a stroke he suffered in September. Jim and his lovely wife, Margarete, hosted several "Wrenchfests" for COG at their home and large garage near Lynchburg, VA. You may also remember a blaze orange helmet on a ZG1000 (quickly leaving you behind) on many COG rides. Earlier this month we were deeply saddened when Guy Young reported that his son, Connor Bayard Young, 16, passed away on December 3, 2009. He is survived by his parents, Guy and Elizabeth “Betty” Young; sisters and son-in-law, Gretchen Young, and Megan and Art Napor. Connor loved music, playing his drums, computers and video games. He had a special fondness for animals. He was a sophomore at Matoaca High School. In lieu of flowers the family recommends donations to the Richmond SPCA, 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23220. Happy Ho;idays… I wish you and your family enjoy a great holiday season and hope you find just a little time to reflect on the friendship and camaraderie of which COG is all about. I am looking forward to see you at one of our 2010 events. Remember… the deadline for the next Northeast Area News is January 31. Until next time, ride safe. Ride Safe and Have Fun!
NE Area STAFF Area Director Steven Smith, #3184 203-720-7575 nead @ cog-online.org Newsletter Editor Neil Baldwin, #5762 905-875-8607 hikerboy @ sympatico.ca Web Editor David Geyer, #8542 Merrimack, NH Assistant Area Directors: Massachusetts (VT, NH, ME) Kevin Martin, #145 Dracut, MA 978-459-6275 cog145 @ verizon.net Connecticut (RI) Norm & Lorie Walton, #7011 Cromwell, CT 860-836-5162 ctaad @ live.com Metro NY/NJ Terry Faherty, #792 Staten Island, NY 718-227-2099 tmcefah @ aol.com NY Hudson Valley Mike Flynn, #4493 Bedford Hills, NY 914-239-3721 Keltwolf @ optonline.net Western NY J.R. Healy, #6591 Hamburg, NY 716-648-6729 Dafonman52 @ yahoo.com Pittsburgh (Western PA) Joe Cyprych, #4665 McDonald, PA 724-796-1401 cyprych @ windstream.net DelMarVa & Philly burbs (PA/NJ) Bob Chappell, #1283 Claymont, DE 302-791-0582 cog1283 @ comcast.net Maryland/Southern PA Help needed—please inquire!! Virginia/West Virginia Kurt & Sue Nordstrom, #6049/A Spotsylvania, VA 540-582-9414 ironhorsefun @ mindspring.com Greater Toronto, Canada Dave Clancy, #5452 Hamilton, Ontario 905-389-7681 davecla2 @ sympatico.ca Eastern Ontario, Canada Ken Fader, #8534 Brockville, Ontario 613-865-7995 kensc14@g.mail.com Page 2
What’s up in Metro NY/NJ by Terry Faherty #792 Greetings to all you Northeast COGgers and I hope your Thanksgiving get togethers were pleasant and filled with good cheer. My Fall ride was one big bust due to back to back Saturday deluges, so we'll have to give it another go in the spring. Before you know it the Javitz show will be rolling into town, and as usual we will be heading off to some highly unhealthy eatery for our late lunch early dinner on Saturday. We meet by the Connie by 2:30pm and head to the eatery of choice. Although my scoot is pretty well farkled and shopping will be at a minimum, its always fun to jump on the latest, greatest and dream a little! I'm really looking forward to the new season, just spooned on a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2's and can't wait to "test" them thoroughly. I'm going to try to get a ride going in April when Mother nature can be more forgiving and should be going to the Fling for more Jasonesque (is that a word?!?) tomfoolery, I hope! Americade should be in the cards for me too, just not for the whole week as in the old days...man this two week vacation thing is a real drag! I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year and any other holiday greeting I might have missed! See you on the road!
Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Coggers by Dave Clancy #5452 The exceptionally mild November, 1st in 39 years it hasn’t snowed, extended riding this year, but by now most of our rides are stowed for the winter. Our monthly meet and greet helps us get to spring. South Central Ontario (GTA) area group continues to meet every month on the second Tuesday at the Mohawk Inn at Campbellville, Jct. 401 and Guelph line. See the calendar for details. For the next two meetings Dec. 8 and Jan. 12, bring your surplus motorcycle related stuff to trade or sell. Hope to see you there. The Motorcycle Super Show at the International Centre near Toronto airport happens January 15, 16, 17, 2010 – note it’s later than in the past. Our group will have a booth there again. We need volunteers, 2 people per 3 hr shift, to man it and a bike for display and transport (trailer) for the bike. Please contact Dave Clancy at 905.389.7681 or davecla2@sympatico.ca for details if you can help. Drop by and say hello even if you can’t volunteer.
Greetings New England Coggers! by Kevin Martin #145 Now that the 2009 riding season is pretty much over for us up here in New England, it’s time to reflect on the rides and events we attended over the past year. We started off our 2009 COG season with our traditional Winter Social at the Lowell Brewery back in March then an off season ride up along the coast in April before heading down to Monson in May for the tech session hosted by Greg Habel and Pat Mulloy. The guys and their significant others do a great job hosting the Northern New England Tech Session, which is becoming an annual event and in fact Greg has already informed me that they’ll be hosting it again next year. Also in May I hosted a COG ride up to the Whitehorse Gear Open House, a bi-annual event open to all motorcyclists and motorcycle clubs in the greater New England area. If you haven’t been to one of the Whitehorse events, you’ve got to put it on your calendar for next year. The food and deals are great and of course you can’t beat riding around the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Finally we wrapped up the month of May up with a weekend ride and camping event at West Thompson Lake Campground hosted by the Habels and the Mulloys. Other rides held during the past year included rides to the Massachusetts Berkshiers, and southern and central Vermont, a ride to the Yankee Candle Factory in central Mass, rides to the New Hampshire Lakes Region and through the White Mountains National Forest, a weekend ride and camp out in Acadia Maine hosted by Mike Benham, followed by a ride to the Nubble Light House along the scenic Maine coast then having lobster lunch overlooking the ocean, then another Maine ride hosted again by Mike to the Mid Coast area of Boothbay and the Permaquid Peninsulas. In late October I hosted a Fall Pizza luncheon and ride in my home town of Dracut, then ending my official riding season just a few weeks ago in early November with my Big Chill Ride into southern NH for lunch at a 1950s style diner complete with waitresses in Poodle Skirts and Big Bopper music. After lunch I lead a ride through some of my favorite back roads back to Mass. Over a nine month period we carried out nineteen rides and events this year, and my sincere thanks go out to those folks who attended our events and who contributed to the success of this year’s event calendar by hosting club events or helping out in some other way. Even though the official COG riding season is over for us up here in the Northern New England membership area, I’m still hoping that I’ll be able to squeeze in a few more rides before the first snow falls and I have to put my C14 up for cold storage. So far Mother Nature has been pretty good to us in November with temperatures averaging around 10 degrees higher than normal. Last year it was snowing the week of Thanksgiving, but this year at the same time it’s relatively mild with day time temperatures around 50 degrees but with off and on rain for most of the week. The holiday weekend on the other hand was expected to be dry and mild so not to be one to miss an opportunity, I convinced a few other area members to accompany me on a ride over the weekend to take advantage of the great pre-winter weather. If this is what they call global warming, keep it coming Mother Nature cause I want to squeeze out as much riding as I can on my ’09 C14. (Continued on page 4) N O R T H E AS T AR E A N E WS
Eastern Ontario Report
What’s Online now at www.cog-online.org
By Ken Fader, #8534 Hi to All from Eastern Ontario, Well it looks like it is time to put Connie away for a rest. And this will give us all time to reflect on the past riding season. For me it was a good year did about 21k, and enjoyed every minute of it. I hope during the winter season to hear from some members in Eastern Ontario and Northern New York, on just what you would like to see happen in 2010. I will be working on a ride for next year but would also like to start a regular get together of members from this area. So Drop me a e-mail and lets get started, Fun is what you make it. Well I will keep this short. Wishing all the best of the up coming season, and don’t let PMS get the best of you.
Connecticut Report By Norm & Lorie Walton, #7011 Greetings All. This newsletter finds us in the middle of the holidays and Lorie and I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year! We had a fairly active year of riding this year with a few interruptions from the weather. I do need to apologize for the lack of events near the end of the season but changes in employment caused me to be unavailable. We had about 22 attendees at the End of Season Bash the food and company was great as usual. I know we were all wish the season was going to continue but cold weather is closing in. I am looking forward to putting together some rides for next season and would like to get some recommendations on destinations. Want to go to a park or museum? Do an overnight? I would love to get some suggestions. Would you like to do a day ride starting in the AM with a lunch stop then split for home or take off mid morning and have dinner somewhere with a ride home in the evening? I can plan the routes and make the arrangements but could use some suggestions so let’s hear them!! Send them to ctaad@live.com (Continued on page 4)
Info and countdown: National Rally Jul 12-16 in Tomah, Wisconsin! Reviews & Updates on the 2010 model Concours 14 Discussion Forums with over 300 active discussions on tech, accessories, riding gear, safety, and much more. The Esteemed Connie Dropper s Anonymous (CDA) forum. Event Calendar Vendors COG Online Store PLUS renew your membership online!
Happenings from Virginia & West Virginia by Kurt & Sue Nordstrum #6049+6049A My last newsletter submittal for August and September some how got lost in Cyber Space. So in this issue you will find a lot of my “hot air and / or ramblings” in print. Well October and November had planned on being busy months here in the southern portion of our region but the nasty weather pattern continued after our September weekend, this really screwed up the riding for many. October historically bring us a Fall Foliage Ride, this year Jimmy “Millerized” Miller volunteered to host this year’s event. Jim always takes great pride in his “WV route”; he never leaves anything on the table, throws everything at us, usually the kitchen sink is included as well. While everything was planned and we were looking forward to a great ride and camping weekend in Harpers Ferry, WV, the weather gods had other plans for us. A huge low-pressure system decided to park itself just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and dump about 10 inches of rain in VA and WV over a two-day period. Add lots of wet leaves, a cold front from the west and WV had a little bit and / or all types of fun (ice & snow) precipitation that weekend. Jim and I had a conference call early Friday morning and made the tough decision to cancel the weekend’s activities. Wet leaves, greasy WV chip and seal roads, ice and snow are just not a good mix for a two wheeled COG event. BTW, The weather service calls these events in our area a Nor’easter; we motorcyclists call them a PITA. November brought us our annual Brrr Ride at the Natural Bridge KOA, which was started by Guy Young II some 14 odd years ago. While Guy was unable to attend this year’s event because of something called “work” the rest of us muddled through the weekend and tried to make the best of it. Here again the weather Gods were being rather nasty again and had parked another Nor’easter just east of the Blue Ridge Mountains and was dumping mass quantities of liquid sunshine on our area. The Gov of VA had considered parts of the state a disaster area, roads were flooded and homes were floating off of their foundations. This couldn’t be, another Nor’easter, another cancelled event? Well I was living off www.weather.com attempting to get the up to the minute weather information; by Thursday afternoon it appeared that the weather was going to be out of the area by Saturday morning. I was really worried about Friday though as many riders take off early and head southwest to Natural Bridge, VA and the KOA. Well I am pleased to say 27 Coggers and many of their friends from the Adventure Riders Forum made the trek, some rather wet but all unscathed. For the riders that arrived early on Friday afternoon Jim Miller had a special surprise as a peace offering for canceled Fall Foliage Ride, it was hot Mr. B’s BBQ as an appetizer before dinner. Many of us pigged out on the fantastic BBQ and almost spoiled our dinner. Saturday morning brought us clear skies, sunshine and low 70-degree temperatures by noontime. We all met at the Pink Cadillac Restaurant for breakfast at 8:00 AM. After breakfast, suggested route sheets were handed out and we all left by 9:30 AM. The route brought us down the Blue Ridge Parkway and then cut (Continued on page 5)
ISSUE 6, 2009
Northeast Area NEWS is a bi-monthly publication for Northeast Area members of the Concours Owners Group. Submissions are welcomed and members are encouraged to share their COG experiences. Please send submissions to: Neil Baldwin RR3, 821717 Sideroad 1 Chatsworth ON N0H 1G0 Canada hikerboy @ sympatico.ca Submissions by email are ideal to cut down on retyping but frankly we’ll take it any way we can get it. If you snailmail something (e.g, picture) please clearly state if you want it returned. Submissions may be edited to fit space. Many of the opinions stated in this publication may make no sense to those sound of mind and may just be conveniently ignored. If you use any of the information in this rag to incur damage to yourself, your motor or any innocent or not so innocent bystanders it is you own fault...you were warned! ©2009 Concours Owners Group Page 3
(New England report, continued from page 2)
(Connecticut report, continued from page 3)
As they say, all good things come to an end, so it won’t be long before the white stuff is on the ground and my favorite sport tourer is tucked neatly and safely away in the corner of my garage, but always ready to go on short notice. In the mean time, thanks for all your support over the past year and I look forward to planning out my event schedule for next season, which will include a Regional Northeast Summer Rally planned for August 5 – 8 at the Mount Snow Resort in West Dover Vermont. I’ll be working out the final registration details over the Christmas break and expect to have the details available in the February Newsletter. I’m really excited about this regional rally cause Vermont is a great place to ride motorcycles and to hold a Club rally. Until then, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all.
Special Note: There will be an afternoon bull session held at Verona Pizza 2211 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Marion,(Southington) CT 06444 (860) 621-1924 on Saturday Feb 6th at 3:00 PM. COG will buy a few pies (free pizza!) and we can put some rides together for the upcoming season.. Be sure to check the schedule at cog-online.org
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Here are some pictures from the End of Season bash:
N O R T H E AS T AR E A N E WS
(Virginia & West Virginia report, continued from page 3) west through Buchanan and we squirreled our way southwest over the mountains and through the valleys for a ride down to Paint Bank, VA. We dined at the Swinging Bridge Restaurant, which is inside the Paint Bank General Store. After a hardy lunch and some scrumptious homemade deserts we all headed back to the KOA. Some of us made a few detours along the route that had many water crossings; and while this group usually breaks up into small groups of 4 to 5 bikes you would think someone on a C-14 would not follow a bunch of dual sport bikes. My hat goes off to Dan for converting his C-14 into a dual sport for the weekend, both he and his C-14 made the excursion, Dan was having words with the leader of the group during lunch and all Dusty could say was “well you were traveling with dual sports what did you except?” After a group dinner Saturday evening we all gathered around the campfire and discussed the day’s events and had many laughs. As usual with this group the discussion soon turned to food. Russell Fleming was making plans to head out at 8 o’clock in the morning on Sunday to Blue Grass, VA for buckwheat pancakes. While I am a connoisseur of buckwheat’s that was going in the wrong direction for Sue and I. Wanting to see the small group off I figured I would get up in enough time. Well at 7 AM I heard C-10’s and C-14’s firing up from the confines of my warm sleeping bag and before I could get up they were gone. I guess Russell’s watch is not set on EST; it’s goes by the growl in his stomach.
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All in all it was a great weekend, the fellows from the Adventure Riders Forum appeared to have a good time with us as well. I would like to send a special thanks out to John from Canada for making the long trip down to the Brrr Ride, its people like you that make this club great, sorry you collected a piece of paper from an LEO on the way home. A big thank you goes out to Ron who owns and operates the KOA. He makes us all feel so very welcome, gives the group all the fire wood we can burn and supplied the ones that didn’t leave with Russell for buckwheat’s; free coffee and donuts on Sunday morning. Since this is the last newsletter of the year Sue and I would like to wish everyone in COGDOM a Happy Holidays and Joyous New Year. Till next year ride safe………..Kurt & Sue Nordstrom
Pics from the Brr Ride:
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PIC 1 & 2—Pink Cadillac Restaurant & Coggers Stuffing their faces. PIC 3 - 5—Paint Bank, VA (General Store with the Swinging Bridge Rest inside). PIC 6—Fog cover Sunday morning in front of KOA office @ Natural Bridge, VA
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C o n c o u r s
O w n e r s
G r o u p
Spring Fling Rally May 20 – 23, 2010
Somerset, PA
Rally Headquarters: Quality Inn of Somerset, 215 Ramada Road, Somerset, PA 15501 814-443-4646 (www.qualityinnsomersetpa.com) A limited block of rooms will be held until 5/13/2010. Room rate: $78.48/night, including tax. Mention Concours Owners Group (COG) to get rooms in our block. Camping available: Pioneer Park Campground, 814.445.6348 (www.pioneerparkcampground.com) Located 7.5 miles from hotel. Special Note: COG Members who register for rally by 3/31/2010 will automatically be entered in drawing for a free hotel suite for the rally weekend. Rally Fee: Non-member and walk-in: $40 per person. COG Member pre-rally fee: $29 per person for COG members, their immediate family or significant other. Refund Policy: Prior to 5/13/2010, fee paid minus $5. No refunds after 5/13/2010. Rally fee covers Saturday dinner, door prizes, AMA sanctioning & insurance, and other rally expenses. Wristbands may be used to identify registered attendees. Riding: Sample self-guided ride routes available. In an effort to “go green” please see rally web page for download info. A limited number of printed copies will be available at check-in. Events: There will be a Friday evening “no-host” social with food and drink available for purchase. The Saturday evening smörgåsbord banquet dinner at the motel will be catered by Oakhurst Tea Room (www.oakhursttearoom.com), followed by announcements and door prize drawing. Questions? Jason Kaplitz 814.535.8669 or cog62 @ kaplitz.com Rally web page: can be found in the online Northeast calendar of events at: www.cog-online.org If registering by mail: complete & mail form below with rally fee payable to “Concours Owners Group” to: Steven Smith – Spring Fling, 39 Alison Ave., Naugatuck, CT 06770-3566
2010 Spring Fling Rally Registration Form (Please PRINT Clearly) Name: (One form per person) ____________________________________________ AMA # _____________ COG #___________ Street: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State/Province: ________________ Zip Code: _______________ Phone: (______)_____-____________ E-Mail: __________________________________________________ Country: __________ I will be a: rider / passenger / guest Motorcycle model: _________________________ License tag # __________________ Emergency Contact Information:
Name:
________________________________________________________
Phone No.:
(______)______-___________ Relationship:____________________
Please read and sign the following Concours Owners Group Release: I understand that the Concours Owners Group (COG) cannot assume responsibility for my personal safety in this event. I choose to participate in this event voluntarily, based on my own assessment of my abilities, the routes conditions and facilities, and therefore assume all risks. I release and hold harmless COG, its officers, agents and members from any and all injury and/or loss to my person or property that may result from my participation in this event. I further certify that my vehicle and I are in compliance with all applicable licenses, insurance and financial responsibility laws applicable to my participation in this event. All participants under 18 years of age must have their parent or guardian sign the following additional release. As the parent or guardian of the above participant, and being informed or familiar with the risks normally associated with motorcycle events, I hereby consent to his or her participation in this event, and accept and adopt all the representations and assumptions of risk set forth in the foregoing release.
Participant
Parent or
Signature: ______________________________________
Guardian (if applicable) ___________________________________
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N O R T H E AS T AR E A N E WS
COG NE Spring Fling 2010 Registration Open.
(More) Happenings from Virginia & West Virginia
By Jason Kaplitz, #62
Ed Note: This report went astray on its way to the previous newsletter… I am printing in this edition so readers will not miss out on Kurt & Sue’s observations. Perhaps looking back on the summer months now will bring some warmth into the winter.
It is mid-November and I am writing this from my motel room while attending the Brrrr Ride at Natural Bridge, VA. It’s hard to believe that another riding season is coming to an end, and it’s even harder to believe that I’m promoting next year’s Spring Fling Rally already! Yep, it’s time to start working on next year’s schedule and you’ll want to mark your calendars now for the weekend of May 20-23 so you can include the Spring Fling in Somerset, PA. We visited this area before, but it’s been many years since we’ve held an actual rally in Somerset. It was so long ago that many of you in the club weren’t even members! We’ve got a great facility in the Quality Inn. It includes an indoor pool, breakfast buffet and lounge! All items COGers seem to appreciate having at a rally facility. Great camping is available just a few miles away. Somerset is a good jumping off location for great riding in any direction. Johnstown, PA, home of the 2004 COG National and all its historic venues is a mere 30 miles north. Tours are available at Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob, homes designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They are a short ride to the southwest. Canaan Valley, WV and all the great riding we did during the 2007 COG National are just an hour south, and the famed Lincoln Highway (RT 30) offers many interesting destinations to the east. And if you didn’t know, on 9/11/2001 Flight 93 crashed just east of Somerset . You can visit the temporary memorial while in town. The permanent memorial is under construction and will be a National Park in 2011. We’ll have new sample routes ready by rally time, and of course you can look up previous route sheets in the www.cog-online.org member library. So, as I’ve been known to say: book those rooms and get your registration in! Use the mail-in form found in this newsletter… or better yet, use the online registration at our web site www.cog-online.org. If you don’t already have incentive enough to register right now, all who register for the rally by March 31, 2010 will go into a drawing. The winner will find out upon check-in that they will receive free lodging for the weekend in a suite at the Quality Inn. Don’t delay - get your registration in soon! I hope to see you in Somerset.
by Kurt & Sue Nordstrum #6049+6049A
Well August and September have been busy months here in the southern portion of our region and for the most part the weather has been in the favor of the motorcycle rider, until this past weekend. August brought us the Dog Days Camp and Ride in Boyer, WV. Sue and I advertised the event as an, arrive on Friday and depart on Sunday but you’ll didn’t listen. 80% of the event attendees showed up on Thursday early afternoon, set up camp and/or checked into the motel. After dinner the talk turned to which route were we going to do on Friday and Saturday; some where staying through Sunday, while others were going to make the best of the state and spend another few days riding the roads on the eastern half of the WV. For those of you that have never attended this event you are missing some of the best roads that the NE has to offer, the fair (food) along the routes is very tasty, usually a home cooked meal that melts in your mouth and the views along the way are breath taking. Many of the attendees made the annual trek to Rella’s Café in Hacker Valley, WV. For those who have never experienced Rella’s all I can tell you is imagine your favorite grandmothers cooking, but only better. Rella’s doesn’t take American Express either………….just bring cash. Others made the trek down to the New River Gorge; it’s a pleasant ride through some beautiful farm country. Depending on which route you take to get there it can be anywhere from 300 – 400 mile trip. By the time you spend some time at the visitors center, take the short 12-mile trip under the bridge, which brings you across the old original bridge, and back up the other side of the Gorge it is a full days ride. The picture “ops” are many, the riding is great, and it’s a must for anyone’s "bucket list". The weekend was a complete success because Pat "Goat Trail" Sprague showed up Saturday morning to lead a contingent of Dual Sport riders on the local "super highways" through the woods. At the Saturday evening campfire there were smiles on everyone’s faces, another successful Dog Days were in the books. September brought us to Breaks Interstate Park in Breaks, VA which is on the KY / VA boarder in the heart of coal country. Special thanks goes out to Clyde Watson for putting this event together. Clyde laid out two beautiful routes through the mountains of VA and KY. This event was a, arrive on Friday and leave on Monday, with two good riding days in between. While some of us did the old super slab to the event (7 hours) others took trails less traveled (14 hours), while others took a few days to arrive driving all the way from FL, all arrived in good sprits, a thrust for an adult beverage and some good food. As with all COG events in the southern half of the region, good food is a major requirement for this bunch, Clyde out did himself by choosing an area with nice lodging, nice camping sites, great inexpensive food, some fantastic views and great roads. Saturdays route was 99% in the state of KY. For those not familiar with this area of the US it is in the heart of coal country, picture the Canadian Rockies (ragged & jutting formations) but on a much smaller scale. The deepest Gorge east of the Mississippi River was located right out our room at the lodge. Back to the riding…………. the route through the mountains of KY was very technical, you needed to be on you’re “A” game (no roads signs stating a curve ahead), either that or have your GPS set at two tenths of a mile so you were aware of what was up ahead. I assume the lack of road warning signs was because of the recession and the loss of jobs in this part of the state. To survive the locals had to put food on the table for their families, scrap metal (aluminum) was at its highest back in the early spring, assuming that the KYDOT had street signs on these corners and curves they had been appropriated by the locals. While all of us set off on the route, some faster than others, we all seemed to get into the same rhythm and pretty soon there was about a one-mile stretch of Coggers cutting through the mountain gorges on their steeds. Remember what I said about good food at the lodge (its an all you can eat breakfast buffet)……………..at about 140 miles into the 210-mile ride we finally found someplace to eat, hurray for the DQ! Though the route sheet claimed the ride was 210-miles, we all got misplaced once, twice or three times. We also encountered a truck including a rather large propane tank on fire; this all but stopped our progress. Because of this flaming truck and Clyde talking to one of the locals; we took an adventurous trip on a one lane paved road (supposed to be two way traffic) through extremely dense fog, that was no wider than a bicycle path, the route ended up being 240-miles. While partaking in dinner on Saturday evening; yet another all you can eat buffet, the discussion soon turned to the up coming weather that was suppose to make it way into the area the next day. Because of the remote location some decided to leave on Sunday to beat the weather or attempt to beat the weather as we soon found out the next morning. Sunday morning brought us rain, followed by more rain, followed by a monsoon. But like all COG events the sun finally did come out late Sunday afternoon while Sue and I eat in the lodge’s restaurant overlooking the picturesque gorge. All in all it was a great weekend, I am seriously looking into this area for a future adventures in the near future. Thanks again to Clyde Watson for organizing this weekend.
ISSUE 6, 2009
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Welcome to Our Newest Northeast Area Members! (since the last newsletter) Coventry CT—Richard Patton #8917 Mechanics PA—Richard Close Jr. #8920 Shapleigh ME—Raul Micheliche Jr. #8921 Montréal-Nord PQ—Michel Levesque #8924 Stowe PA—Steve Long #8927 Butler PA—Robert Cavalero #8935 Locust Valley NY—Matt Ladinsky #8941 Frederica DE—Kevin Williams #8949 Grantville PA—Judson Weiss #8950 Bronx NY—Bruce Yarosh #8954
Sturbridge MA—Gregory Hale 8955 Harwinton CT—Wayne Jenkins 8966 Baldwinsville NY—David Rodgers 8967 Bethesda MD—Chuck Anoff 8971 Gillette NJ—Richard Pfluger 8972 Attleboro MA—Christopher Burbank 8974 Easton PA—Lawrence Malinconico 8990 … and the new member distance award to… Sharjah, United Arab Emirates—Paul Cooper #8923
Northeast Activity Schedule - View the most up to date info on the online Event Calendar at: www.cog-online.org 1.888.432.2267 or online at: reservations.dnr.state.md.us and ask for camp site #230 to #240 area which is close to the (ON) S. Central Ontario Dinner Get-Together bath house. I have made reservation at Woody’s Join us for dinner and socializing. All Welcome. Crab House in North East MD for dinner at 6:30 Meet at 6:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each (CT) Brainstorming Day pm for crab cakes. Woody’s is located at 29 month at the Mohawk Inn, located on the 02/06/10 - There will be an afternoon CT COG South Main Street if you cannot make the ride northwest corner of Hwy. 401 at Guelph Line, bull session held at Verona Pizza, 2211 and want to join us for the evening please let me Exit 312, next to the Mohawk Raceway & Slots Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Marion, know so I can put your name on the list for Entertainment Facility. 9230 Guelph Line, (Southington) CT 860.621.1924. COG will buy a dinner. Sunday morning we have reservations at Campbellville, Ontario. 905.854.2277 few pies (free pizza!) and we can put some rides Pier 1 Restaurant for breakfast at 8.30 am. (www.mohawkinn.com) Contact: Dave Clancy, together for the upcoming season. Contact Norm Which is located at 1 North Main St, North East davecla2@sympatico.ca or 905.389.7681. Walton ctaad@live.com or 860.836.5162 MD. Contact: Russell W Fleming: fleming@qis.net or 410.374.9687; or Kurt & (MD) Crab Cakes Ride Sue Nordstrom: ironhorsefun@mindspring.com 03/27/10 - 03/28/10 – We will meet at Holly's or 540.582.9414 Calendar of Events Restaurant. Holly's is located east of the Bay Bridge on the service road on the north side of (DC) Washington, DC Motorcycle Show 01/15/10 – 01/17/10 - Not a COG event but is Rt. 50 at exit 43B, heading east (exit 43A if you’re heading west). Directions and a map are listed for your information. Purchase tickets available at www.hollsrest.com. We plan to meet online and save $$$. Use promo code for breakfast at 9:00 am and will depart the “necog” (www.motorcycleshows.com) Please check the www.cog-online.org restaurant around 10 am and ride the eastern Event Calendar for the most complete and (NY) NYC Motorcycle Show shore of Maryland and Delaware. The ride will up to date activities listing. 01/22/10 – 1/24/10 - Not a COG event but is end at Elk Neck State Park in North East listed for your information. Purchase tickets Maryland where we will camp for the night. online and save $$$ (use promo code “necog”) Campsites allow 2 tents per site. Hookup with a (www.motorcycleshows.com) For those attending COG friend and make reservations by calling
Recurring Events
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on Saturday, JAN 17, we'll meet at the Concours in the Kawasaki booth at 2:30PM, then get head out for some grub. Contact Terry Faherty tmcefah@aol.com or 718.227.2099.
N O R T H E AS T AR E A N E WS