| Author | Message | ||
     Blublak |
Oh, and I should be up that way this weekend, so I'll look at a few hotel/motels and see what I find for ya.. | ||
| Jb2 |
Peter, you have mail. We also have no lodging plans for the 13th in Front Royal but we'll probably be looking for a Comfort Inn or something of that nature so we can catch up on some laundry after many days of primitive camping and lodging. Is there one close to the entrance of the Skyline Drive? JB2 | ||
| Jb2 |
P.S. note to lurkers. If you're hooking up with us in Franklin, NC on the evening of Monday, September 4th ping Ferris or myself so we can get an accurate headcount. Thanks, JB2 | ||
| Bartimus |
<lurking> Leaving for the east coast as soon as I log off. Ferris, as you spread them spidey stickers across the country on your last ride, I'll be spreading USMC stickers where ever I stop. We'll be staying in Franklin Sunday night.  Wish I could have delayed the ride another two weeks so I could ride with ya, but I've already delayed two months, and I really need to get up to New England to see my Mom. Y'all have fun, ride safe and down many for me. Ferris, I'll look for you when I get back in town the 28th. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Bart, ride safe, have fun, see you soon.  FB | ||
| Prior |
Bart, Have a blast with my Brother Brian, the kid is a riot. After you meet him, you'll understand why the both of us are the way we are. Wish I could be there. FB, JB2 and Atterbury, So glad you guys are going to be able to make it up to see Matt, wish I could make it along for the rest of the trip, but this will be a very special time. Crazy how things come full circle in life... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Alex, it'll be good to see you again, my friend, and VERY cool for us to be able to connect with Matt. see you soon. FB | ||
| Berry |
Alex, Ditto what FB said JIM A | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
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? ...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. good morning all! JB2, you spoke the words above to start this thread and to announce this ride. you'll forgive me, i trust, if i might seem a little amped this morning, but by this time exactly two Mondays from now i'll be on the road and in the wind, heading to South Carolina to spend a weekend with my son, and then joining some kindred spirits for BRATPAC II, and i am, honestly, officially Getting Excited! hey Jim Attebery, how cool to see YOUR name pop up on these hallowed pages! i know you lurk more than you don't, so i consider it an honor to see you here, and it's also an honor that we're still "doing this" together after all these years! i dug out a few memories from my PACBOG scrapbook this morning, thinking back to good times, and looking forward to MORE good times!  this is from Thunder Press circa early '97, advertising the upcoming Blue Groove Northwest ride. the photo was taken on the starting line of the dragstrip at Seattle International Raceway, and the occasion was PACBOG's very first organized group ride, which culminated at SIR to watch and cheer on Buell racer Scott Moon. this photo means the world to me. it was the club's first event, and considering this was clear back in October of 1996, to have eight Buells show up (nine, including Moon's), was pretty impressive. Blue Groove Northwest celebrates its ten-year anniverary next July, and the ride this event spawned - SPLASH - is still going strong, a testament to the wonderful friendship and camaraderie that this sport consistently generates among the faithful.  and in the pic, third and fourth from the left, are none other than Jim Attebery and yours truly. Jim, you've been along from The Very Beginning, my friend - VERY cool!  in this pic (sorry for the thumb, someday i'll get a scanner...), taken during another early PACBOG ride, is Gentleman Jim and the gang, pondering the effects of a northwest monsoon on the forward progress of our group ride. it was a typically cold, wet NW winter day, but there were troops on hand from as far away as Oregon, and altho it's hard to tell in the pic, there wasn't a long face in the bunch. that's Mr. Attebery second from the right.  and who can forget the legendary Fran Crane? not only was she a giant among the endurance motorcycling community, she was an epic individual in the eyes of EVERYONE lucky enough to know her during her too-brief stay on this earth. this pic was taken during yet another PACBOG ride, this time to Yakima, Washington to cheer Fran on during the Iron Butt Rally. to Fran's immediate left is Mr. Attebery again. this was a memorable day, in many, many respects, and i'm glad we were able to extend the hand of compassion and friendship to Fran on her way thru the northwest. well, i should be getting on with my day. the Big Brown Truck is bringing some last-minute treasures from Aerostich this afternoon, the bike is ready, and the days are counting down. Mr. Attebery, i'll see you soon. looking forward to yet more memories, sir! JB2, thanks for organizing and hosting this gig. it was also thru PACBOG that we met, and altho the years have rolled on, and the wheels that carry us have changed, our friendship has stayed true and strong, yet another gift of many that this sport has brought our way over the years. see y'all soon. FB (Message edited by jerry_haughton on August 14, 2006) | ||
| Jb2 |
"JB2, thanks for organizing and hosting this gig." No thanks necessary. Can't wait until this ride gets underway. There's gonna be enough twists and turns to satisfy even the hardcorest of riders but in the end the camaraderie will be the best part. | ||
| Jb2 |
Here's a quick update on lodging. All lodging to the 7th is posted below also. On the 8th we'll be staying at Bluffs Lodge in Doughton Park. There are very few rooms left so get your reservation now. I have a double room and am in need of someone to halve the room if anyone is interested. The same cancellation policy applies to Bluffs Lodge as Mt Pisgah. Sept 4th, 2006 Franklin Motel Sept 5th, 2006 Franklin Motel Sept 6th, 2006 Franklin Motel Sept 7th, 2006 Mt Pisgah Inn Sept 8th, 2006 Bluffs Lodge Franklin Motel 800-433-5507 Mt. Pisgah Inn 828-235-8228 Bluffs Lodge 336-372-4499 Mention BRATPAC or my name and they'll try to group us together. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Ride hard. Don't even ask why. Ride hard. You might give it a try. Ride hard. You can rest when you die. Ride hard. Lou "Mystic" Usher, ladies and gents, with words to lean by. nine days and counting... | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Henrik:  !!! FB | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
"The little things of life are the great things of life. There is no essential difference between your riches and the riches of the millionaire. The millionaire has more things to look after, more things to worry over, more things to keep him from the presence of the sun, moon and stars, the great beautiful forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and fields; the songs of birds, the laughter of childhood and the poetry of the common people. Envy him not, rather wish him well." -- Woodbridge N. Ferris, 1909 | ||
| Henrik |
Yep - I'm in!! Just a few details to take care of before I head out: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/47623/216665.html?1156194649 Henrik | ||
| U4euh |
Hello all, I am in central NC. About 2-3 hours south of the Blue Ridge on Hwy 220. If anything happens and someone needs something, don't hesitate to call. Jim HM-910-673-5499 Cell-910-585-1024 | ||
| U4euh |
And if you click over to Carolina Corner Carvers ask for M2NC, he is very familiar with area's in or around the crossover from NC to VA. And Rubberdown lived in the Asheville area, so he could probably point you to some good off BRP riding! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Henrik, you HAVE been busy! good on ya, mate, looking forward to riding with you again. btw, do you have the "Signature Series" kit for your S2, the one that came with the commemorative timer cover? U4euh/Jim, thanks for the info and your contact numbers, much appreciated. FB | ||
| Henrik |
Jim; thanks for the phone numbers and offer of help. Since we're only a hop, skip'n a jump away, why don't you play hookey one day and meet up with us for a quick ride? Jerry; busy indeed, and more so the next 9 days (gasp). I bought a Signature Series kit off ebay awhile back, so I have the bits, but unfortunately not with my own VIN. Henrik | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Henrik, cool beans on the Signature kit. i have two; the original one for the BLURR, and another that i bought several years ago, and was going to bring it for you as a gift, but it sounds like you're already set in the "Yes, I have the Signature Series kit for my Thunderbolt S2 but it's not the right one" department. Jim, what Henrik said. T-minus six days... | ||
| Jb2 |
Six days? You ain't left yet? SHEESH! Henrik, Ferris said the last one to get to Franklin was buying the beer. We'll have our order in early Monday and all he'll have to do is pay the tab and haul it to Mike's. T-minus 11 days and counting down.  | ||
| Henrik |
Pending re-asembly of the bike I'm leaving Saturday morning giving myself 3 days to reach Franklin, so maybe Ferris should just phone in his credit card number and get it over with Henrik | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
maybe Ferris will swing thru Franklin on Friday on his way to Columbia, just to say he got there first. besides, ain't Franklin renowned for its FREE beer??? | ||
| Jb2 |
"Free beer"... one of many words that can be spelt with the letters in "Ferris Bueller". | ||
| U4euh |
Thanks for the offer, I might have to make the short trip a day run. I'll see if I can coordinate my schedule and pop in for a few hours. JIM | ||
| Blublak |
Just a thought.. When you're on the BRP about 20 or so miles from the Northern Tip (I-64).. Drop off onto Rt. 56(I'm pretty sure that's the number) - Turn right at and go under the bridge and make a little run down to the country store for a soda.. Don't worry.. If you are concerned about gas consumption.. you'll only need the throttle to come back up to the BRP. You will however, probably want to use the brakes a good deal.. and uh.. make sure everything is properly balanced for multiple swings from left to right.  Enjoy! | ||
| Jb2 |
Peter, Thanks, we'll give it a shot. Still riding with us on the 14th? Ever been to Steele's Tavern? Talk about stepping back in time... | ||
| Spreadem |
FB, FB2 and Jim Attebery will be having dinner at Liberty Tap and Grill (828 Gervais St) in Columbia around 6 or 7 pm on the 2nd (they just don't know about it yet :c) Good place with plenty of atmosphere and a ton of brews on tap. Anyone who'd like to come down and share some stories/food/cold beer is more than welcome and it would be a great chance for anyone who can't make it to BRATPAC to at least meet a few people. If you'd like to ride on down just give me a heads up so I can update the reservation...hope to see a few of all there! FB2 | ||
| Jb2 |
FB2, Fatten your pop up good. Lots of bread and cobbler, easy on the beer. There's a Virginia black bear that's got him scheduled for supper one night. I wished I could make it to Columbia that night for the get together but I can't. Hoist one for me! JB2 | ||
| U4euh |
Is that Columbia, NC or SC? |
