I'm ready for R.A.A. IV

I know you guys haven't settled on a place and I hate to throw a kink in your thoughts but have any of you considered moving this to the spring? Perhaps May before it gets too hot? And not during Hurricane season? From the looks of this September the darn hurricane's are coming in back-to-back. Just a thought.

Sunshine may have a point there guys. Of course, hurricanes rarely hit Birmingham,even in September, and it would be a chance for the texas and deep southern boys to evacuate the onslought of next years storms in a respectful way, yet still make their escape.
I don't care where, I don't care when. I'm there . Can't wait to see y'all again and renew frienships and make new ones. God bless us all, and let the Lord smile upon us till we can do it again..skip

...I've been to the museum in Maggie Valley.....it's well, a museum. There is a lot of other attractions in Maggie Valley and surround areas as well as nice riding. Don't discount Maggie Valley just because the Museum is moving. The museum will only be a small part...about 2 hours of looking. That's all. I can look at old bikes anytime. Old bikes are like old women....Leaky and tempermental.

I don't care where we go, just so long as it's not Mexico. My Rocket is gas sensitive, PEMEX isn't gonna work even with continual 12 minute tunes.

My vote is still for the Maggie Valley area or Hill Country, Austin, Texas. Remember, Maggie Valley has the Skyway as well as the Dragon, the Parkway, Severville isn't that far if you want Naugahyde and plastic and Dollyworld.

If you decide on Maggie, 3 doors down from the soon to be moved museum is a motel that's owned by a biker. I've stayed there, we can all fit. He even provides a place to wash your bikes and it's a paved lot, not pea gravel so I won't drop mine (like I did at ES).

However, if it's Maggie, I'll probably ride the KLR. There are many off road trails in the area and I know a few KLR riders that are local so while you guys are doing the pavement, I'll be doing the woods.

xhdskip said:

Sunshine may have a point there guys. Of course, hurricanes rarely hit Birmingham,even in September, and it would be a chance for the texas and deep southern boys to evacuate the onslought of next years storms in a respectful way, yet still make their escape.

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I wasn't thinking about just when we get there avoiding the storms. I was thinking about the ones that had to travel through the storms to get to and from the destination. And of course the two from Chicago that turned back due to the storms they had to go through. That way everyone can have a great ride going and coming along with at the actual destination. But considering I bailed out on you guys at the last minute this time I understand if you don't consider anything I suggest.

The good news is that Bear took his bike out for a test spin yesterday afternoon. And he was so happy when he got back. All went well for him and his back and said he felt like a kid with a new toy. He was all grins. So now maybe the two of us can get back to our normal riding. Which will make me all grins again.

RidinSunshine said:

I wasn't thinking about just when we get there avoiding the storms. I was thinking about the ones that had to travel through the storms to get to and from the destination. And of course the two from Chicago that turned back due to the storms they had to go through. That way everyone can have a great ride going and coming along with at the actual destination. But considering I bailed out on you guys at the last minute this time I understand if you don't consider anything I suggest.

The good news is that Bear took his bike out for a test spin yesterday afternoon. And he was so happy when he got back. All went well for him and his back and said he felt like a kid with a new toy. He was all grins. So now maybe the two of us can get back to our normal riding. Which will make me all grins again.

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............But, will you make it next year or will some show with a second rate performer take precident at the last minute?

Personally, I don't care who shows up. I have this commitment and it works this way....

The one thing I'm going to every year is the Rocket Rally. I had to adjust my schedule not only at college but my farming schedule to go. I make a commitment and I stick to it, but that's just me.

As surely as the sun rises and sets, I'll be there and the only way I won't be is a physical limitation. It's all about priorities and commitments.

When my bike's TDU went on the way to ES, I could have turned around and went home. I had a good reason, but I didn't. I kept on going simply because I wanted to see my friends from last year at Nashville and meet the new folks too. That's my commitment and determination to make every rally.

Sidecar Flip said:

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I don't care where we go, just so long as it's not Mexico. My Rocket is gas sensitive, PEMEX isn't gonna work even with continual 12 minute tunes.
I wouldn't be able to get the Bear Man to go there either.

My vote is still for the Maggie Valley area or Hill Country, Austin, Texas. Remember, Maggie Valley has the Skyway as well as the Dragon, the Parkway, Severville isn't that far if you want Naugahyde and plastic and Dollyworld.

Hill Country ok with us simply because it is all beautiful and lots of great roads to ride on and would be cheaper for us. I looked up Maggie Valley and it appears to be in the Carolinas? I have never been any where near that direction so would be fun to see everthing all the way there and have always heard that area of the country is beautiful so would be open to anything that direction, too. So basically you guys choose and the two of us will do our best to make it.

If you decide on Maggie, 3 doors down from the soon to be moved museum is a motel that's owned by a biker. I've stayed there, we can all fit. He even provides a place to wash your bikes and it's a paved lot, not pea gravel so I won't drop mine (like I did at ES).
I would rather ride than wash Paved is good but I already ride in areas with lots of that little gravel so no big deal here.

However, if it's Maggie, I'll probably ride the KLR. There are many off road trails in the area and I know a few KLR riders that are local so while you guys are doing the pavement, I'll be doing the woods.

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I thought this was a Rocket III ride?

RidinSunshine said:

I thought this was a Rocket III ride?

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Not really. It's about fellowship and good times. Last year in Nashville, my friends came with me on HD's. This year we had a Bonnie T100 as well as a Speed Triple along..(look at the pictures...in my album and on the thread, you'll see more than just Rockets.....

It's not what you ride, it's that you ride.

Just because I own multiple motorcycles certainly don't mean I have to bring a Triumph or a Rocket for that matter. I'm sure you'd find it interesting to know that the owner of this website don't even own a Triumph at all, but rather a Honda. Like I said. it's all about that you ride, not what.

Sidecar Flip said:

............But, will you make it next year or will some show with a second rate performer take precident at the last minute?

You don't know how close I came to going ahead and going even though I had cancelled out. That Wednesday and Thursday and Friday I was really wishing I had gone when I was reading what all of you were writing. But we had a funeral thing that happened and then my daughter called wanting me to bail her out of debt. So this trip was just not meant to be for us. And Cher is the only performer I would bail on you guys for. And now that I know she is performing 200 shows in Vegas over the next 3 years I think. I will be better prepared for that. So that won't happen again.

Personally, I don't care who shows up. I have this commitment and it works this way....

The one thing I'm going to every year is the Rocket Rally. I had to adjust my schedule not only at college but my farming schedule to go. I make a commitment and I stick to it, but that's just me.
I plan on trying to save vacation time every year for this trip too. I have so many regrets I couldn't/didn't make this one.

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Ok ignore this part. trying to get the minimum character thing in.

Sidecar Flip said:

Not really. It's about fellowship and good times. Last year in Nashville, my friends came with me on HD's. This year we had a Bonnie T100 as well as a Speed Triple along..(look at the pictures...in my album and on the thread, you'll see more than just Rockets.....

It's not what you ride, it's that you ride.

Just because I own multiple motorcycles certainly don't mean I have to bring a Triumph or a Rocket for that matter. I'm sure you'd find it interesting to know that the owner of this website don't even own a Triumph at all, but rather a Honda. Like I said. it's all about that you ride, not what.

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I knew that there were other people that tagged along for the ride. In fact the wife of the other captain that was coming with us rides a gold wing trike. But I just thought it was about showing off your bike to the others and comparing mods. And yes I knew it was a fellowship. And if I didn't know that already I saw it when reading the post before, during, and after this ride.

I go not because I want to show off anything...I'm too old for that. I go because I want to sell my products........No, not really. I go to see my friends like Painoman and Britman and Rusty and Scot and to get abused by Pigger...

It's really about the fellowship and the fact we all share a common denominator, the Rocket 3 but there is always the underlying fact that we all ride...motorcycles.

The Internet is an impersonal and cold place where people can hide behind Avatars and fictitious names and post to threads with complete and utter anonymity so long as they adhere to the AUP pre-determined by the owner/owners of the website they are members of or participating in. Of course, if they don't adhere to the guidelines set forth by the owner of the website, they will get censured by the moderators...I know, who reads the fine print......

Notwithstanding that,
When you have a rally or get-together, if you will, all the facade of the Internet relationship is removed and you get to interact, one-on-one with real people and to me, at least, that's what life is all about. I've made some good friends within the R3 community. Genuine friendships that will endure long past the time that my R3 is a memory. That. for me, is what it's all about.