| Author | Message | ||
     Jb2 |
BRATPAC II is coming to the Blue Ridge Mountains in September of 2006. For those of you who haven't heard of BRATPAC; the title is an acronym for Blue Ridge Adventure Tour - Passion, Adventure, Camaraderie and was also an amalgamation of the ride and the club(PACBOG) who hosted the ride. How many here remember PACBOG? The original ride was held in September of 1999 but was plagued, to some extent, by breakdowns and hurricane Floyd racing up the coastline directly for our intended route. Several canceled but for those who made it, it turned out to be a very memorable. BRATPAC was loosely inspired by the hugely successful Blue Groove and Blue Groove NW with the exception it would be an over the road event, covering new ground each day and staying in new digs each night. At the end of the first event we managed only one day that was uninterrupted by mechanicals or weather, but man was that a day! Ferris Bueller... you guys know Ferris, right? ... and I left with purpose last year and were going to do the Blue Ridge Parkway and do it right but somewhere in Colorado we lost our focus and ended up doing the BRP in a two day burn. Not the way either of us intended. Then there's FMJ... you guys know Fireman Jim , right? .. who promised a repeat if we ever done it again. If you've ever rode with FMJ you know the depth of the enthusiasm this guy has for anything with two wheels and the folks who ride them. Then there's Denise, D. to you guys, who was inspired by Melissa Holbrook Pierson and her book The Perfect Vehicle which recounts the beauty and wonder of this magnificent road and the spell it casts on the people who ride it. I return year after year D. and I hope you guys will repeat again. It'll be FB's third trip. Then there's the Doc... you guys know Henrik, right?... who said he might even bring Melissa this time. We'd love to have both of you. Then there's all the rest of you who hang here at the board who'd like to meet and ride with these fine folks but you gotta do it when you can cross paths with them. Here's your chance. Ferris is a pretty sociable guy given his claim to shyness and we decided to open this up to everyone and make another event out of it. Consider this a personal invite from Ferris Bueller himself and me. This time around were building the whole deal over a bigger allotment of time. Below is a tentative date planner. Lodging and milemarker details will be added as they are developed. Some of you won't be able to secure enough time for the entire ride but we welcome you to join with us on the days you can and then drop off when you have to. We're using up the biggest part of two weeks with three travel days at the beginning and end of the ride. Sept 04, 2006 - Evening gathering in Franklin, NC to kick off the ride Sept 05, 2006 - Loop ride beginning and ending in Franklin, NC Sept 06, 2006 - Loop ride beginning and ending in Franklin, NC Sept 07. 2006 - Blue Ridge Parkway heading north Sept 08, 2006 - Blue Ridge Parkway heading north Sept 09, 2006 - Blue Ridge Parkway heading north Sept 10, 2006 - Blue Ridge Parkway heading north Sept 11, 2006 - Blue Ridge Parkway heading north Sept 12, 2006 - Skyline Drive heading north Sept 13, 2006 - Skyline Drive heading north Sept 14, 2006 - Front Royal, VA Sept 15, 2006 - We may call the event on the 14th but there is a wealth of Civil War history in the Front Royal area and a person can easily spend 3 or 4 days here. We may plan a group event if there's enough interest. We plan on spending a significant amount of time exploring. I don't see any high mileage days even though you'll get a lot of riding in. The BRP doesn't lend itself well to long snake-lines of motorcycles stopping and starting so we'll pair up in small groups of four or less and we'll all do our own ride. We'll kick our days off together and rejoin each night and more than likely cross paths during the day. We're looking for local riders who have intimate knowledge of their leg of the ride for "off Parkway" side trips and sites. We also have access to several trucks but we'd need someone to volunteer piloting the chase vehicle carrying repair items and excess luggage. There's a lot of details to comb and your ideas are certainly welcome. We have plenty of time to make this a once in a lifetime event. I'm leaving for a weekend ride but I'll start ironing out some details beginning next week. Ride Safe... See Ya There, JB2 (Message edited by jb2 on July 30, 2005) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
bring it on!!!  Ferris and Denise | ||
| Awprior |
I'm in. I've 15 weekdays plus whatever weekends come into the schedule. Assuming I'm still working for Uncle John... Short days are great, explore, hang out, ride, celebrate life (party). JB2, Can't wait to meet you, Brother. I'll do a day or two in a chase vehicle, but will be riding there... AWESOME!!! | ||
| Awprior |
And it's my 1001 post!!! | ||
| Firemanjim |
About stinking time--now I can put in for some of that vacation 26+ years of seniority gives me. | ||
| Bomber |
looks like a plan, gents -- | ||
| Xring |
I should be able to join in around 11th and 12th. Sounds like fun. Bill | ||
| Jb2 |
Can't wait to meet you, Brother. Alex, Same backatchya! Couldn't hook up for the benefit ride and there was no way to shrink the miles last year but maybe third time's a charm? A couple of folks have tentatively offered to pilot the chase truck for the entire ride which is what we had hoped for but we'll keep your offer on the back burner until this thing actually starts to roll next September. FMJ, lemme guess... you 'been waitin' with baited breath? Bomber and Xring, lookin' forward! I'm doin' a recon ride over Labor Day weekend to seal up lodging details and pre-ride the first three days if anyone out there in BadWeBland wants to hook up. | ||
| Easy_rider |
I'm going to see if I can't join in. Already expecting a mc vacation in the early summer so it may be difficult to arrange two kitchen passes for the same year. With this much advance notice I've got lots of time to build up the points, though! | ||
| Bartimus |
Well, this is certainly enough lead time for me to get the vacation approved. I WILL see y'all there... Whoretimus | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I WILL see y'all there... VERY cool. FB&D | ||
| Jb2 |
Easy - a few days or the whole enchilada, either way's okay. Bart and Baby Bart on the same ride? I think I recall a health warning concerning this very subject! | ||
| Bartimus |
be afraid, very afraid...  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
i'm a'skeered, i'm VERY a'skeered... | ||
| Denisea |
oh my!  | ||
| Spiderman |
Hmmmmmm, may have to do this instead of LS? | ||
| Ghostrider |
Ok, now that Bart turned me on to this, I am seriously thinking about it. I'm living in LA now, which makes it REALLY far away, but my mom lives in Manassas, VA, so ending up there would be nice. I like the idea of a chase vehicle. If my wife were to tag along, I'm sure I could talk her into driving it the whole time, or almost all of it. She's not really into riding on the back end of the Firebolt! So, all this "Blue Ridge Parkway heading North"... any towns associated with that so I could see where we'll be going? Either way, sounds fun and really what a ride event should be. Hope everyone has fun and turnout is good! | ||
| Bartimus |
CJ, look here: http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/default_old.htm | ||
| Bomber |
ok ok ok -- this threads been pretty quiet for a long far -- is this indicative of anything specific? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Bomber, this ride is on - the dates and details as mentioned in JB2's lead-off post still ring true. see you there. FB&D | ||
| Bomber |
;-} | ||
| Ebear |
Count me in JB2 AND FB&D....I'll hook Tbear too...allready have a place on a river at the base of the Cherohala Skyway..... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
;-} | ||
| Bartimus |
<evil grin> | ||
| Jb2 |
Ghostrider, so far no one has stepped up to volunteer for the chase vehicle job. Can she drive a stick? I had intended on using my rig since it's already set up to haul bikes and gear but if she'd prefer an automatic we could find an alternative. Let me know and we'll make accommodations accordingly. Manassas is very close to the end of the Skyline Drive and we have a couple of unplanned days at the end of the event. I like the way the list of participants is shaping up. This could be more fun than is legally allowed. Sorry I missed activity here but things have been hectic at the Bantz household. More details coming soon including contact info for lodging. | ||
| Duck |
Are you planning on including Willville Motorcycle Resort in your plans? It's a great little campground for bikes only just off of the BRP near Meadows of Dan, VA. It is a can't miss joint if you like touring and camping. You can't bring cars into the camping area, but I've had friends who left them just outside the entrance with no problems. Regardless, I hope to join you for a portion of this trip. Looks like a great opportunity for me to hook up with some new friends I made while on my own epic journey out West. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 sorry Duck, this one's just too good to let go. | ||
| Bartimus |
Hey mr. Yamamotosan, When are you guys heading east? I'll only be doing the first week of Bratpac, as I'm actually doing a job I enjoy and would like to keep this one awhile. It looks like we'll be leaving the morning of the 2nd to head out that way. Have you planned out a route yet? I'd love to hook up with you guys as you pass through.  My S2 is done and will be home this weekend, YeeHaa!!! | ||
| Blublak |
Hey all.. Just a quick note.. While I'll not be able to join you all for the event, I live close to where it ends and would love to show you a road or three up here.. Now On Sept. 17th I have to leave for VIR, doing a couple of days there, then I'll be back for the races (CCS). However, I'm sure I could figure a way to get out on the 15th (and maybe the 16th, but I do need to get my wheels/tires changed prior to the track day).. Let me know.. If it's not going to be easy to hook up, I'll give you a few loops out of the Front Royal/Winchester area that you should find.. Amusing  . As you nail your days and plans down, let me know and I'll see what I can work out.. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Hey mr. Yamamotosan, When are you guys heading east? ...Have you planned out a route yet? Bad Billy, i haven't planned that far ahead yet (not my style, doncha know), but i'm hoping to have enough time off to NOT have to put on the feed bag there OR the way back. Denise is flying east, and i'll pick her up somewhere in the general vicinity of Franklin. haven't researched the local airport situation yet (not my style, doncha know), might even snag her a day or two out somewhere and come in two-up from there. any chance you could leave earlier than the 2nd? btw, Gentleman Jim Attebery will be riding east with me. Blublak, hooking up with you on the 15th sounds like fun. FB |
