MOTORCYCLE MINISTRY

Take off those masks!

Wow! One solid year and here we are…ready to take off the masks and get back to life as we know it! Or are we? It has been a long time coming and we are all up to our noses with having to carry on as if all has been for ‘the common good’. Many have lost their battles, many have been affected one way or another. All of us have come together even when apart. But the worst part of all was the masking. Living behind the mask can only protect you for a moment, not for a lifetime. As a matter of fact, it keeps you from freely living and breathing as you were created to live. It might keep dangers from coming in, but it doesn’t allow for the bad to go out. Nope, that just stays there dormant or worse, re-entering and reinfecting you. Some of us wear a mask that isn’t made of cloth or plastic. It’s a mask of deceit for who we truly are. Some of us hide our true selves from others for many reasons. One is so that people don’t really see our pain and struggles, so we put on a smiling mask and act like all is cool. Some of us put on a tough mask and walk around like we have a chip on our shoulders so that no one can come into our heart and hurt us. Those masks are pretty dangerous because they are the kind that becomes the ‘I will hurt you before you hurt me’ attitude and it usually ends up biting you in the backside. There’s one that never has worn a mask…He’s the one that just puts it out there and says, ‘This isn’t the time to be unreal, this isn’t the time to hide behind the mask. This is the time to come out from the shadows and be everything that you were created to be and more!’ Because of Him I don’t wear a mask and am revealing to you my true purpose here…to bring you hope for the future and an expected end. To bring you out from behind your mask and into the reality that you are here for a real purpose. We have been in the shadows for way too long, separated from all that we know and love for far longer than anyone should be, and forced into a place of despair and discouragement that God has not ever intended for us to be. Today, rise up, take off the masks both physically and emotionally and come into your rightful place and purpose! We are here for you … no deceptions, no masks, just the reality that you are accepted and loved by the One Who is more real than anyone on this planet.

COME RIDE WITH US! CMA is a servant minded interdenominational motorcycle ministry with a nondenominational message of hope and love through Jesus Christ. Enjoy the family atmosphere, make life-long friends, and join an army of people dedicated to changing the world, one heart at a time in the highways and byways.

Visit us at www.cmausa.org for more information.

Have a message you’d like to share?

If you have a message that you’d like to share with riders across Ohio and the Midwest, let us know. TRO welcomes the opportunity to work with established motorcycle ministries.

Feel free to share upcoming events with us as well, by emailing information to Events.ThunderRoads@gmail.com

Come ride with us this summer! We have a lot going on and you are always welcome wherever we are! The bike blessings have been awesome, and we have loved seeing you all there! If you didn’t make it, we are out here and ready to bless you anytime you are ready! We will be at the Harley Drags, Allen County AMA Races, Vintage Days in Mid Ohio, and so much more! Join us for our State Rally July 30th-August 1st at Pickerington Church of the Naz. We will be out under the pavilion having a great time or out on the roads riding and taking in the sights! Time to fly…whoops…I think the wind just blew off my mask! Oh well…. Later… Mary G

• WINNERS DRAWN YEAR-ROUND! • SIMPLE DIGITAL CHECK-IN’S! • OVER 1,000 WINNERS IN 2019

OVER 50 EACH MONTH!

Thunder Roads Ohio(TRO)is proud to present the 2021BUCKEYE THUNDER RUN -a state-wide, summer-long riding challengewith YEAR-ROUND opportunities to WIN byhitting the coolest riding destinations and events across Ohio! This is a riding challenge like no-other and features great prizes every month that you earn simply by getting out to rideand discovering new stops ALL ACROSS OHIO and the MIDWEST!

Checking in at Ride Stops! You check-in at designated RIDE STOPS with your phone and through FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER. Simply check in at the location using Facebook and then post a picture of yourself there. You can include your card if convenient. Include #THUNDERRUNin your comments or tag Thunder Roads Ohio in the post. If you’re not on Facebook, you can take a picture of yourself there with your ride card or motorcycle and email it to BuckeyeThunderRun@gmail.com Checking in at TRO Tour Stops! Throughout the year, the TRO ROAD CREW will be hitting rides, rallies, bike shows, and various events throughout the state –and beyond! In some cases the CREW will be attending national rallies and other events throughout the Midwest –including Michigan and Pennsylvania motorcycle events. Anywhere the TRO CREW is at –instantly becomes a RIDE STOP! There is a listing of Tour Stops in the magazine and online each month. You can sign in on the Ride Stop Clipboardor check in with your smart phone. “Make Your Own Ride Stop!” Riders can recommend a RIDE STOP by simply “Checking-In” through their facebook account with the hashtag #THUNDERRUN. Within the post, BTR Riders should say that they are “Making this their Ride Stop” and that we should also. You can also include why –“They have the BEST Bike Night!” or “BEST BURGERS IN OHIO!”Special prizes each month are allocated for these check-in’s and the stop itself can win –if applicable. Selected “MAKE YOUR OWN RIDE STOP’s” have a chance to win up to $5,000 in prizes –and each posting increases their chances to win! In such cases, the person(s) nominating the Stop with their checkin is also eligible for additional prizes as well.

How do you Start?(It's really simple!)

1. Get your Ohio Ride Card! (Online at ThunderRoadsOhio.com, at an Event, or at some Ride Stops!) You can check in without a Card –using Facebook. 2. Like Thunder Roads Ohio on Facebook. 3. Get the list of stops each month from your Thunder Roads Magazine, the website (ThunderRoadsOhio.com), or Facebook. 4. Ride out to these stops and show them your card or check in with the #THUNDERRUNHashtag on social media–Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. 5. And then you win cool prizes, including cold hard CASH!

You can request a Ride Card through our website!

You can now go online and register for your Thunder Run Ride Card through our website –www.ThunderRoadsOhio.com. Simply head to the TRO Online Storeand order your Ride Card. There is a $5 convenience fee for this option –but ALL PROCEEDSare applied to our Warrior Fund, sponsoring charitable motorcycle events and organizations across Ohio. Once you have received your OHIO RIDE CARD, you will not be asked to provide personal information or emails at any location for check-in. You simply enter your ride card number!

PLEASE NOTE -You can stilluse your previous Ride Cards. All Ride Card registrations carry over, however you are welcome to pick up a new shiny one if you’d like. As we mentioned, this is a dynamic event –intended to be tweaked and developed over time. If you have ideas, suggestions, or concerns –please don’t hesitate to let us know. You can email us at BuckeyeThunderRun@gmail.com

For more information, visit us online at www.ThunderRoadsOhio.com

The Bike Show Series

Over the last several years, Thunder Roads Ohio has worked to develop the TRO Championship Bike Show Series as a means of showcasing both the rides that our readers have and the amazing works of rolling art that local shops and builders have been producing in an informal, fun format. Along the way, we discovered that many local riders had never participated in a Bike Show – never considering that their bikes were “show worthy”. It turns out though, that most riders have an appreciation – even a love of motorcycles that goes beyond the amount of chrome on a bike or if there are water spots and dust on them. We’ve hosted Bike Shows at indoor venues showcasing bikes with less than a dozen miles on them – and we’ve hosted Bike Shows at outdoor venues ranging from dealership parking lots to grass fields with countless entries still hot from riding in from across the state! Throughout, we’ve discovered that it’s not always the most polished that gets the attention, but it’s the love and work that goes into the bike that everyone appreciates. Even if you’ve never participated in a Bike Show before, we encourage everyone to participate and have fun with the shows! Chances are that you’ll discover a greater appreciation for what makes your bike unique and meet some other folks with a similar passion. And we’re certain you’ll have a blast! The TRO Bike Show Series features local, regional, and nationally recognized shows that all builders and bike owners are welcome to participate in. Vintage, metric, v-twin, customs, restored antiques, “resto-mods”, trikes, and radicals are all welcome to the show. These shows are RIDE-IN shows, meaning the bikes are expected to be ridden and a little bit of road dust is fine. We don’t split hairs over trailering in bikes, but we do require that all bikes must be functioning. They must start and be able to be safely ridden on the road. Most of the shows include voting by event attendees and weighted judges scores. We use this approach to make certain we include both the “popular opinion” and an objective review of the bikes.

Just visit us online at ThunderRoadsOhio.com and you can register for whichever show you’d like. By Pre-Registering, you are locking in your spot, saving a few dollars, and you’ll even get a FREE T-Shirt! Then come on out to the show! Specifics vary by show, but it’s generally an informal process. You’ll meet other builders and exhibitors – and most likely walk away with more than a few new friends in the motorcycle community.

NEW Vintage Classes!

In response to the overwhelming interest in vintage bikes more classic bikes showing up at our shows - we will be adding VINTAGE RACING and VINTAGE TOURING classes as options for exhibitors taking part in the BIKE SHOW SERIES. As always, we will require at least 3 bikes in these classes to qualify for a BEST-IN-CLASS AWARD – otherwise the bikes will be pooled with other Vintage bikes. Our hope is that we can encourage more Exhibitors to bring out and show their bikes in these classes with us offering new, distinct classes.

For shops interested in participating and possibly exhibiting customer and shop bikes, a limited number of shop displays are available at Thunder Roads Bike Shows. Participating shops and organizations are able to offer special incentives for their customers and members. For more information or to reserve space for group bike displays (i.e. shops, clubs, race teams, etc..) email BikeShowInfo@gmail.com

INTERESTED IN HOSTING A TRO BIKE SHOW AT YOUR LOCATION?

Email us TODAY for more information at BikeShowInfo@gmail.com

TOUR NOTES:

• Vendors and Local Riding Organizations are invited to come out and set up at many of these shows. You must register in advance though, by emailing

ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com

• Tour Series Shirts are now available online at

ThunderRoadsOhio.com or by clicking SHOP NOW on the Thunder Roads Ohio Facebook page.

NEW BIKE SHOWS FOR 2021! And many more in the works!

6/12/2021 BONESHAKERS BIKE SHOW, Caldwell OH – TRO PHOTO SHOOT 6/13/2021 Brooklands Block Party and Bike Show – Benefiting Bikers for Boobs, Akron OH 7/10/2021 M.O.M. Bike Show, Cuyahoga Falls OH 7/15/2021 Quaker Steak & Lube Bike Night Bike Show, Colerain OH 8/28/2021 Fink’s Harley-Davidson Bike Show, Zanesville OH NEW 9/4/2021 Resurrection Island Bike Show, Wheeling WV 10/9/2021 Ashtabula Covered Bridge Festival, Ashtabula OH

NEXT UP: AKRON BLOCK PARTY BIKE SHOW To Benefit Bikers for Boobs Sunday, June 13th Brooklands Bar / Event Center 371 The Brooklands, Akron OH 44305 (330)784-GDYR (4397) Registration 11am-1pm Voting and Awards to Follow Register in advance and get a FREE SHIRT! NOW OPEN at ThunderRoadsOhio.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: A few years back we ran a series of articles focusing on how to effectively plan, organize, promote, and execute various motorcycle events – starting with the Poker Run. After countless requests for reprints and updates we decided to revisit the topic this spring and update the series. For immediate assistance with your next event, please send an inquiry to ThunderRoadsOhio@gmail.com

“A poker run is an organized event where participants, usually using motorcycles, must visit five to seven checkpoints, drawing a playing card at each one. The object is to have the best poker hand at the end of the run.

The event has a time limit however, the participants are not timed—winning is purely a matter of chance.” - From

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

“A poker run is basically a chance for folks to get together and ride, hang out and have a good time for the day – and then end up at a party! And a lot of times, it’s for a good cause which makes it that much cooler!” Bikers celebrate a lifestyle that is built around riding and enjoying the camaraderie of other bikers. With our increasingly hectic lifestyle, few of us have the opportunity to take off on an easy rider style ride. More often we look for local organized rides as a chance to meet other riders and simply get out on the bike. Some of the most popular events are the local poker runs that fill our event listings all summer long. Over the last few years, more and more organizations have taken to hosting motorcycle poker runs as a means to raise funds and spread awareness. In many cases, the poker runs are hosted by local biker bars, but often times the host organizations have nothing to do with riding at all! Despite any stereotypes or media attention otherwise, our society has certainly recognized the generosity of bikers and our willingness to help others. "Years ago, there were four or five biker poker runs that everyone attended.

Now there are a dozen every weekend.

Some of us joke that one of these days we’re going to find ourselves riding on the Wounded Butterfly Run,” one local ride organizer lamented. “It’s not a bad thing, but certainly some runs are better than others. And I’m not just talking about the cause, but the ride itself.” Without a doubt there are many important considerations when it comes to planning any charity event – and there are many unique ones when it comes to planning a motorcycle ride. Even if you’re an experienced rider, that doesn’t necessarily make you competent to host an event. Planning a ride for 1,000, 200, or even 100 riders is a lot different than planning a run for you and a few friends.

“One of the most common mistakes

I’ve seen made is planning a route with cross-traffic stops. For instance, if you’re routing everyone west bound, your stops should be on the north side of the road – allowing your riders to make an easy right turn into the stop.

If your stop is on the other side of the road, the riders are forced to stop and wait for on-coming traffic. This can hold up traffic and cause problems, especially if you have a lot of riders.

And these problems can lead to someone getting hurt or worse.” If this is your first motorcycle event or ride, we would certainly recommend that you find someone with experience in organizing such events and better yet, an entire organization that has the knowledge on such things. There are countless riding organizations out there. From Harley Owners Groups ™ and traditional AMA motorcycle clubs to civil service and military riding groups, there are plenty of experienced groups that can help with your event. ABATE (American Bikers Aimed Toward Education) is a grass roots, non-profit organization focused on motorcyclist's rights and promoting safe riding practices. They have chapters throughout the state and have great resources when it comes to organizing a riding event.

There are also professional organizations and promoters that handle such events as well. As always, it’s a question of cost and return on investment. A grass roots riding organization may be able to bring a lot of volunteers (and consequently riders) to your event – all for a portion of the proceeds or maybe even just for the exposure. A marketing professional or event organizer may do it all for a flat fee – working with your own volunteers or his staff and temps. It all depends upon your situation and the dynamics of it. A 50% split with a local riding organization may end up costing a lot more than a $3,000 consulting fee charged by a professional promoter. But if you find a partner charity with a large volunteer base – they may work a deal that is much more beneficial for you. It all comes back to depending on your specific resources and needs. Most importantly, you need to determine how many people you have available to help plan, promote, and finally host the event. The first step in planning a Poker Run “is making sure that you have enough people to work the event,” according to George. “There’s a lot of work to be done beforehand, which a few hard-working people can knock out, but you’re going to need people to work the actual event.” “From the folks handing out the cards to people flagging the bikes in the lot, it takes a lot of people to host a well- organized run.” Regardless of where they come from, you will need bodies to pull the event off. You need to be confident that you have either the volunteers or resources to pay staff to work your event. If you don’t, there’s no point in going any further. The first group that you need to identify is your key organizers and leadership. If you have a large enough pool – you can set up committees to tackle specific tasks. For large rides with enough key personnel to pull it off, the following are standard committees or areas of responsibility. • Ride Logistics • On-Site Logistics • Registration • Volunteers • Marketing • Sponsorship • Awards • Social If you have enough people, you can set up committees to address each of these areas. If you don’t, a few hard working and dedicated individuals can cover these responsibilities. Either way, they need to be covered.

PLANNING AND SCHEDULING YOUR RIDE

“Start your planning early, so that you have plenty of time to work things out. Everything has to be manageable and the key to that is to keep things simple.” “By the first of the year, we are pretty much booked out with all of our rides for the upcoming season. Many of these are yearround projects for the organizations that host them, some though are smaller efforts put on by a few volunteers or organizers. Many of those take at least 4-6 months of advance planning.” Indeed, after you have determined that you have the people needed to pull off your event – the next step is to determine a date for the event. A date that allows enough time for you to effectively plan,

POKER RUN vs. MEMORIAL or ESCORTED RIDE

There are two basic charitable rides out there – with countless variations of each. There is the Poker Run (or Dice Run, Raffle Ride, Passport Run, etc..) where riders hit various stops and get checked in. On most of these, riders are able to set their own pace and travel with their own groups, others, or on their own between the various stops. The riders have a “First Rider Out” and “Last Rider In” time frame that they can operate within. The alternative is the Escorted or Memorial Ride. This is one big group of bikes – all leaving at once, all riding together. For most this is both a logistical nightmare and a huge safety concern. You need to coordinate escorts – blockers, you need to work with public safety organizations, and you are locked into a more restrictive schedule as far as riders participating. For the most part, if they miss “Kickstands Up” they miss the ride. While Memorial and Escorted rides are impressive, they also represent major safety concerns for those participating. A lot of experienced riders won’t participate in major escorted rides because of the risk presented. Riding closely with unknown riders, risking cars and trucks trying to “cut through” and being locked into a tighter schedule are all concerns for some riders. Memorial and Escorted rides are impressive sights and can provide a stirring tribute to a cause, however we strongly recommend sticking to Poker Runs for organizations undertaking their first motorcycle ride event or those with limited volunteers or resources.

doesn’t conflict with other events in the area, and makes sense in terms of weather. Being in Ohio, there are some fundamental restrictions in terms of our riding season. Traditionally, our season starts in May and ends in October. May and October are both dicey though, as inclement weather can hit us on either end of the season. It’s not uncommon for parts of Ohio to get hit with snow in October and the last few May’s have been amongst the wettest on record. Fall runs get complicated with end of summer commitments, last minute vacations, football, and school being in session - so September and even late August events are more difficult to promote. That leaves us with June through early August as our primary season. This equates to approximately 11 weekends for you and everyone else planning motorcycle events to choose from. So, your next consideration is what else is already going on in your area? For this you need to consult with the various dealerships and venues in your area. You can call them up, check their websites, or just ask around. Veteran riders in your area will know all the big, established events. For instance, in Northeast Ohio the Louie Run is traditionally the first big riding event of the season. Since 1984, The Louie Run has been held the first Sunday of May and attracts around 5,000 riders every year – regardless of the weather. It’s a great time and tradition for most riders in the area. It would be hard to imagine another ride being successful on that same date anywhere close. If you’re planning a first-year event, I’ve found that it’s helpful to follow another event that might allow you the opportunity to promote your run. For instance, if you are hosting a poker run or charity run anywhere close to Sandusky or even Northern Ohio - I’d recommend you getting a booth at Ohio Bike Week. It’s the “Largest Motorcycle Event in the Midwest” and just about any rider within 200 miles is going to be there. It’s a great chance to promote your ride to thousands of dedicated riders. When bikers have a great time at an event, they often get primed for “the next ride” so I’d suggest striking while the iron’s hot. These established events often present a great opportunity for you to promote your ride to a group of riders together, when it’s easy to get everyone to commit. You might also consider offering early registration packages – maybe discounted or including a free t-shirt – for those that sign up at the earlier event. Not only does it lock in riders, It might also encourage them to get the whole gang to sign up. When launching a new ride, it’s worth considering opportunities such as this. Every little thing helps and it’s worth considering not only things that might conflict with your date, but also things that might contribute to your numbers as well. The earlier your ride falls in the season, the less time you have to promote it to riders through other riding events or bike nights. This is especially important to consider for new rides. Lastly, you need to feel comfortable that you’ve allowed yourself enough time to effectively plan and market your ride. If you are an experienced organizer with a solid pool of riders to draw from, (IE. from a riding club, customer base, or larger organization) you may be able to throw together a ride in just a few weeks. If you or your organization are new to the motorcycle community or inexperienced in planning a ride – you need to allow yourself more time to effectively plan the run. If this is a first-year event and you are looking to reach out to unknown riders in the community – you will need to allow yourself at least 6 to 8 weeks. If you are looking to secure sponsorships and outside contributions, you should allow yourself at least 3 to 4 months of advance work. Of course, a lot of this depends on how many people you have working on the Poker Run. If you have a larger organization to draw on for support and contributions, you can organize things much more quickly. If it’s a smaller team project – such as your local bar or local riding club, you will need to allow yourself more time to knock off everything that’s on the list.

Derek Smith is the Publisher of Thunder Roads Ohio and has been promoting events for more years than he will admit to. Along the way, he’d like to think he’s picked up a few ideas and pointers from people far smarter than him. For more information on marketing or planning your event - email: smith.ironcowboy@gmail.com.

ONLINE RIDE REGISTRATION

Offering Online Advance Ride Registration is one of best ways to streamline your event and increase your numbers – and now it’s also one of the easiest! Thunder Roads Ohio has teamed up with ReasonsToRide.com to offer a new system that allowed riders to simply and easily sign up for your event without ever leaving the website – and without having to register on another service. Introduced in 2020, this program was successfully rolled out and tested with several rides and riding groups. In each case the host organizations cited unprecedented ease in handling the ride and increased numbers – much of which they attributed to the online registration and supporting online marketing efforts that came with it. Pre-registration allows you to more accurately for your event by having a listing of participants already committed and invested in it. Pre-registration also helps protect your ride from cloudy days that might also have people staying home, but will choose to still come out since they are already pre-paid. RTR is also able to offer RIDE SHIRTS and PATCHES as part of the process as well. Shirts are a great way to promote your event and offer more value to those participating. With advance sales and riders indicating what size shirts they need – you’ll also avoid having to invest in unwanted shirts. You’ll have exactly what you need. RTR also offers a Digital Check-In System – eliminating any necessary interaction (or STAFFING!) at ride stops! You can’t beat it! For more information on ReasonsToRide.com’s Online Rider Registration programs – email Events@ReasonsToRide.com

Sport Touring Corner

By Norm Kern, MSTA Editor / ReasonsToRide.com Contributor

“Should I buy heated grips or heated

Spring Sport Touring Trip- Back Roads of Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia going South through Winchester and Beattyville, KY. Once we were deep into Daniel Boone Forest, we realized Helene would need gas soon, and that's when I recognized we were in an area where Garmin's GPS maps were inaccurate. The route was taking us to US 421 via a fairly direct route that turned out to be gravel forest roads. We stayed on the paved road and the GPS rerouted us on a more lengthy path. Each time we got back on our original route, we had to detour again to stay on pavement. We finally reached the gas station on US 421 at Stinnett, KY, after going an extra ten miles on reserve. Meanwhile. weather had gotten sunny, roads were great and traffic was light. We continued South on mountain roads through Harlan, KY, Blackwater, VA, and Rogersville, TN, heading east to Johnson City, TN, stopping for the night after 420 miles. We had planned to take two days to get to Helen, GA, but since we were too late the make the rally, we made other plans for the rest of the trip. Day 2: Etowah, TN, is fourteen miles west of Tellico Plains, where the Cherohala Skyway ends. It's closer and much less expensive than Helen, GA, so we chose to go there instead. Starting on back roads out of Johnson City, we passed through Hot Springs, NC, continuing South on NC 209 and 63, enjoying the nice sunny weather. We crossed I-40 at Canton and picked up NC 215, which crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and is one of my favorite mountain roads. At the South end of NC 215 is the small town of Rosman, NC, where we got gas and had lunch at the nice local mom and pop Acapulco Mexican restaurant. Unfortunately, if you want to enjoy NC 215, you've got to pay. The next fifty miles to Franklin, NC, were on US 64, which is a beautiful winding mountain road that is clogged with semis and slow traffic as it is the only EastWest road in this part of the state. Once we got past Franklin, NC on NC 29 toward Robbinsville, NC, traffic thinned out and riding was fun again. We finished with a dash across the Cherohala Skyway and on to our hotel in Etowah, TN, a total of 309 miles for the day. The Red Roof Inn at Etowah, TN, was interesting- very inexpensive, a little run down in some ways but pretty cool in others. Looking

After several April weekends of DualSport riding, I was more than ready for some paved twisties at the April 21-25 annual Motorcycle Sport Touring Association road rally at Helen, GA. I was especially looking forward to this trip because my good friend and super rider Helene Villemure was able to get time off work so we could ride together. Helene and I originally got acquainted through our membership in MSTA. I later learned that she was a certified instructor for Lee Parks Total Control training courses after one of my friends took her course and recommended it. I took the course in 2017, and it made a huge difference in my skills and enjoyment of riding. Afterward, we became better friends and rode together several times with others in groups. We found ourselves very well matched on pace and some riding preferences we don't have in common with many other riders. Helene likes to get in "the zone" and ride a brisk pace. She wants to ride a couple hours, take a short break, ride a couple more, then stop for a longer break and a bite to eat. She can maintain this pace all day. Unless it rains hard, she likes to keep going. If there's rough pavement or an occasional gravel road, that's just part of riding. She's not interested in frequent stops for sightseeing- for her, riding is about the road, the motorcycle, mastery and control. Perfect. That's exactly how I like to ride as well! Unfortunately, bad weather ruined our rally plans with snow, rain and cold temperatures throughout the event. We had to cancel our rally plans and delay our start until Sunday, April 25. Day 1: We left in 50 degree light fog from our homes in Dayton, OH, & Columbus, IN, meeting at Georgetown, KY. We headed East through beautiful horse farm country, using part of the "Hillbilly Triangle" route from the MSTA July Red River Gorge rally,

around my room, I imagined that the hotel owners had gotten one too many complaints about lack of electrical outlets and decided to fix it so no one would ever complain again- There were four outlets on my nightstand and three on the wall right next to it. I counted thirteen total! The shower wasn't fancy but the pressure from the head would put some car washes to shame. Day 3: One of the goals of our trip was to ride the "Cherohala Loop," the best route in the MSTA Helen rally catalog. Since it goes through nearby Tellico Plains, I modified it to start and finish in Etowah, skipping Helen, GA entirely. Starting with an early morning run on the deserted Cherohala Skyway, we headed down US129 to Wayah road, one of the best twenty-five mile stretches of twisty pavement you will find anywhere. Next was our old friend US 64, but West of Franklin, NC, it is four lanes with much less traffic and there are several twisty sections of Old Murphy road that used to be US 64- lots of fun. We stopped at Hiawassee, GA, for lunch on the nice shaded porch at the Sundance Grill, where we met a local couple riding a Goldwing. From there we took GA180 through Chattahoochee National park, Wolf Pen Gap road to Suches, then North on GA 60 to Copperhill, TN. From there we took TN 68 to Tellico Plains. TN 68 is another one of those roads where there are no opportunities to pass and it's the only North-South route in a large area. There were few large trucks, but lots of pickups with trailers. There was also a state trooper ahead of us for over 20 miles. He wasn't particularly slow, but when he caught up to another vehicle, they slowed way down. Back at Etowah, we had dinner at the Farmhouse Restaurant, a local favorite. Lots of good food and country charm! About 270 miles for the day. Day 4: It was time to start heading home. Our route took us Northwest from Etowah, turning North near Cookeville, TN. Rain sprinkles began. After lunch at Celina, TN, the rain picked up a bit so we split from our back roads route and stayed on KY 61. Soon, the rain quit and the pavement dried so we picked up the fun roads again at Columbia, only missing about twenty miles of twisties. We stopped for the day at Danville, KY, about 290 miles for the day. The rain immediately caught up with us and it rained hard most of the night. Day 5: With only 170 miles left to get home, we didn't much care about the rain- we already had our fun the other days. I was prepared- Klim Badlands Pro jacket, Gore-Tex pants and boots, face shield cleaned with plastic polish to repel water, eyeglasses stored in the tank bag with rainproof cover on it, old pair of gloves. (don't care if they get soaked) I zipped up all twelve vents on the Badlands Pro jacket and fastened the collar tight. We said our good byes and left at 8:30 AM, heading North on our respective routes. I made it to Crittenden, KY, before light rain started. Once through Cincinnati, it turned into a downpour. At times it rained hard enough I had to slow down to reduce the chance of hydroplaning. I got home safe, took off the gear and was bone dry underneath. Perfect end to a great trip!

Southwest Ohio Breakfast, 9AM, June 19th Village Family Restaurant 144 S. Main St. Waynesville, OH 45068

Central Ohio Breakfast, 8AM, Juy 4 Portside Cafe 6515 S High St Lockbourne, OH 43137