2020 - Issue # 3
COGnitions: Ramblings from the Northeast Area Director Welcome to Summer!! If not for the heat and humidity I may not have known it arrived. Up to this point, things that makes it feel “summer” to me have been affected by the virus lockdown. Two of them are instructing rider training and COG activities. Both have been canceled since March. It seems we are at a point where some restrictions are beginning to relax, and the slow, phased approach to reopening has begun. The state motorcycle training program will be allowed to begin running classes later this month, as the community college begin to allow staff and students back on campus in a limited capacity. To me, it is like seeing the first robin in the spring. Many roadside restaurants are open and have outdoor or limited indoor seating. This will make it a bit more accommodating for a small group ride destination activity. There are reports of COG friends who have been meeting up for an unofficial ride here and there. Even as club activities begin to spin up Steve Smith #3184 remember that participation is a personal choice – both for the activity host and Social Distancing M-F the attendees. I have participated in a few rides with friends and have seen firsthand that it can work. I want to send along a big “thank you” to Coop, Greg and all the 21 attendees of the June 13 “Rhode Island Romp” for demonstrating it is possible to run a scheduled activity and be health safety minded. In this issue Greg will report about this ride and his plans for hosting scheduled July and August rides in Northern New England. I believe this was the first activity from the schedule that was not cancelled. I hope this can become a trend. This past weekend was the “4th of July Weekend Thrill Ride” in Marietta, OH organized by Jason Kaplitz. Rumors have it that there were close to a dozen attendees. Not too shabby for a wicked hot weekend and the motel pool being closed due to COVID. Also in July was the “Bag Lunch Meet and Greet Quabbin Reservoir ride, the “Sport Touring Camaraderie Moonlight Ride” and “Southern Maryland Meet & Greet / MIR Ride.” During August there are five planned activities: the “Triple State Gallop” that Greg mentions in his report, the “Ephrata Bikers Breakfast”, two different Ontario meet & greets, and “Dog Days Weekend.” Jason recently spoke to the motor inn. Renovations at the inn continue, and the best news is that the outdoor swimming pool will be open. So far there are 22 registered for the weekend event. Jason says that only a few rooms in our block remain. Book your room now. The Dog Days event has been around quite a few years. It was first organized and run by Pat Sprague during August 2004 at Boyer Motel and Campground in Arborvale, WV. Pat stated… “The geological survey base marker in the cement porch at the adjacent church, shows 2600' elevation. This location was the hope to get out of the hotter weather in VA during the dog days of summer.” The event has been held annually almost every year since then. Boyer Station was home to the event until 2012 when it was moved to Marlinton, WV for a year, and then Snowshoe, WV the following year. For 2015 it moved to Staunton, VA where a nice downtown and inexpensive motel were the draw. This year marks the long overdue return to the cooler mountains of West Virginia at the renovated Marlinton Motor Inn for a real escape from the dog days of summer. Last month I provided a brief update on the web migration project, and it is still chugging along at a slow, steady pace. I have been assisting on different assigned tasks, including migrating content from the old, current site. The team has set September 30 as completion and cut-over deadline. The club’s new IT Officer penned a report that will be in the next Concourier magazine. One thing I am happy to see is an effort to bring back use of the concours.org domain for our internet presence and email. Contact the IT Officer if you have tech skills you would like to share with the club. photo courtesy Bob Barbanti #7134
BREAKING NEWS: 2020 COG Northeast Fall Rally has just been cancelled. Please read the notice in this issue from Kevin Martin. For all activities, be sure to check the online calendar and watch for email updates from the staff and ride hosts. That is all for now. Stay healthy and ride safe.