Land of the Sky Wings Asheville, North Carolina GWRRANC-I

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1 Newsletter for June, 2016 Land of the Sky Wings Asheville, North Carolina GWRRANC-I GWRRA GWRRA Directors Ray & Sandi Garris GWRRA Chapter NC-I Meets on the 4th Saturday of each month at J & S Cafeteria, Westridge Market Place 900 Smokey Park Hwy Enka, NC Eat at 9:00, Meet at10:00 Ph.: (828) Chapter Directors Tillman & Janet Hill cd@gwrranci.org jantil@ccvn.com (828) REGION N REGION Directors Mike & Angie Mitchel Gwtgger@aol.com Asst. Chapter Directors John & Ramona Williams acd@gwrranci.org williams4822@bellsouth.net (828) Chapter Educator Janet Hill rider-ed@gwrranci.org jantil@ccvn.com (828) Treasurer Ralph & Linda Gilliam LRGilliam11@aol.com (828) NC DISTRICT Interim NC District Directors Bobby & Susan Womack ncdd@nc.rr.com MEC Coordinators David & Dianne Smith wingridernc@gmail.com (828) Newsletter Editor Robin Ferguson newsletter@gwrranci.org mrfergiea10@gmail.com (828) Webmaster Designer Tammy Ferguson webmaster@gwrranci.org tammyferguson@rocketmail.com (828) Ride Coordinator Jerry & Brenda Pitts rides@gwrranci.org jerrypitts@bellsouth.net

2 June, 2016 Everyone ride safe and enjoy this weather. Tillman and Janet Hill GWRRA Chapter NC-I CD Hi All In the past year Chapter I has been lucky to have gained several new members. Thank you for joining us and with your input hopefully we will grow not just in numbers, but in our activities and the fun things that we can all do together. We have been riding more Saturday rides with our chapter members than any other time since we were fortunate enough to have joined Chapter I. We have been on rides for the last 7 Saturdays in a row and we have the next 4 Saturday rides scheduled. Next week, Hillbilly Hoedown, the following week will be our second Saturday ride, the next week end will be our couples ride to Kentucky and Abbington,VA. and then our ride after the meeting on the 4th Saturday. That means that we will have been lucky enough to not just have ridden 11 Saturdays in a row, but to have ridden with our friends from Chapter I. We have several members that have not taken the TRC class. We have sent out several s informing you of an upcoming class in Wilkesboro scheduled for July 16th. Several of our chapter members have signed up to attend and hopefully all of our members that need this class will join us. We as directors understand that some of you are not interested in the GWR- RA levels program, but please consider going to help you become better and safer riders. We ride a lot of miles together and the more that we take advantage of all GWRRA education opportunities, will help us to know what to expect from all the riders in our group. Since we are riding more as a chapter please let us review a few of the things that are very important on these rides. Our ride captain will have a planned ride scheduled for us that he will briefly go over with us before the ride begins. As we ride he will let us know the road conditions and when we will be turning or stopping. If he or any of our riders see an object in the road he will tell us that there is something in the road,(left track, center track or right track) we do need to know details like it is rabbit that lost his right ear. When we are in traffic or on curvy roads that demand we use all of our riding skills and concentration, please keep the chatter on our CBs to a minimum. If we are on an open road with light traffic we will be able to talk a little more on our CBs without causing safety issues. We would like to thank all of our members that are suggesting and helping Jerry plan all of the fun rides that we are and will be doing this year. If any of you that have not been involved in planning our rides have any ideas please do not hesitate to talk to, call or Jerry, Dave Smith or me with your ideas. 2

3 WORDS from JANET Well it is official, I have failed trike riding 101. Tillman has insisted that I learn to ride just in case something happens and the trike would have to get back home. Have you ever seen a white knuckled co rider? Everything was ok while in the school parking lot but when we decided to go out on one of the back roads the fun began. It seems that I was having problems with the clutch. Now I want to tell you that I have driven a straight stick car since I was 15 years old and had no problem. But changing gears on the bike, problem. When I came upon a dead end street and the only place to turn around was a gravel section my co rider became quite concerned and now I know what it feels like to have your co rider hit the back of your helmet, your shoulder or any other part of your body to get your attention. Maybe I hit the gravel a little too fast and the throttle a little too hard but I made it around without a problem. After our lesson and talk about you have to be careful of gravel, I got off the trike and decided it was time to go home. I guess the moral of this story is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. As we who live in or visit the mountains know there are many places our cell phone have no reception. And unfortunately sometimes there are no houses or much traffic in the area. Sometimes we can walk around and find a place that we can get out. If there is a group then one person would ride and get help while the remaining stay with the bike that is in trouble. You would need to be able to tell someone where you re at, so watch for land marks, houses, barns, water other things that would enable you to get help to your location. I know this is common sense. However, when we are riding and are really enjoying the weather and the fact that we are able to be out and about we sometimes forget to take notice of where we are. Well to end this story, I was told that we would try riding again. Maybe in a better maintained area or maybe should consider taking the bike course. Hmmmm--- maybe this would be the answer. It certainly would keep down the, well you know, the slight exchange of words when things are not going well. So please enjoy your rides and always know where you are. On the, oh forgive me for saying this, highways try to know what marker you are at or one that you have passed. Maybe a rest area, visitor look out, even a truck run away ramp. Believe me we know about truck run away ramps as our grandson lost control and ran into one before he was able to stop. Now you want a bumpy and terrifying ride try to go thru one of these in a car. Not going to happen. It is Memorial Day and I am proud to say that we and some of our chapter members are meeting today for a ride for the disabled Marines. We are so lucky that we have great chapter members that support us and participate in our activities. Want to wish you also a safe Fourth of July. If you will be traveling, as many of you will, please be alert. If you are taking a long trip don t forget to stop often and make sure your vehicle or bike is in good condition before you leave. Have your route planned, let someone know how and where you will be going in case something should happen. Try to know your stops along the way, ie: where are the gas stations, rest areas, restaurants and etc. Well enough of this rambling on, but please be safe and have fun riding. After all if you aren t riding safe then there is no such thing as fun. Watch out for the other vehicles because sometimes they really do not see you. The sun may be in the wrong place and I know that the window post on my car can create a blind spot making it difficult to see oncoming traffic. See you all at the big oak tree by the pond. Now, where was that oak tree????? Ride Safe Janet 3

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5 C h a r t e r E d u c a t o r s Motorcycle Safety Tutorial June, 2016 Safety Tips for Motorcycles Inline image Among all motor vehicles, motorcycles are the most vulnerable on the road. Because motorcycles do not have seat belts, you can be thrown off your seat in a crash, which can result in serious injury or even death. Imagine your chance for survival if a truck strikes you, or if you strike it. Hitting a truck is like hitting a steel wall. However, your chance for survival will be increased if you wear a helmet and follow the safety tips below when riding your motorcycle. WATCH THE NO-ZONES Never hang out in a truck's blind spot or "No-Zone." Trucks have large No-Zones on both sides, the front and behind the truck. Truck drivers cannot see you when you ride in these blind spots, which allows for a greater chance of a crash. The front blind spot is particularly dangerous if you need to stop quickly. Because of their lightweight and braking system, motorcycles can stop much faster than trucks. A truck may not be able to stop as quickly as you do, so you need to take special precautions to avoid crashes before they happen. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET Make sure to always wear a helmet. Beware of helmets that do not meet U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. Check for the DOT label inside your helmet. Helmets are the most important piece of equipment you can wear when riding your motorcycle. A helmet could be your only source of protection in a serious crash. DRIVE TO SURVIVE Motorcycles are the smallest vehicles on the road. Unfortunately they provide virtually no protection in a crash. Other drivers may not see you on your motorcycle, so you must be aware of everything on the road. Be extra cautious, paying attention to the signals and brake lights of other vehicles, especially trucks. However, you still need to be prepared in the event their signals or lights don't work. Ride with caution and drive defensively. Even though your motorcycle may be small, you must adhere to the laws of the road. Never ride in between lanes in traffic or share a lane with another vehicle. Don't instigate aggressive driving with other motorists; you will only increase your chance of a crash. 5

6 CHECK YOURSELF AND YOUR BIKE Conduct a safety inspection of your motorcycle before each ride, and wear protective clothing including gloves, boots and a jacket. Proper maintenance and protective clothing will help reduce your chance of an crash or the severity of injury if you are involved in a crash, especially with a large truck or bus. WATCH YOUR SPEED Of all vehicles, motorcycles accelerate the fastest, while trucks and buses are the slowest. Please watch your speed around trucks, especially in bad weather or at night. Colliding with the back of a truck will end your riding days. Always be aware of your surroundings. Janet Ride safe, ride smart and ride at your own comfortable speed Janet Hill GWRRA Chapter NC-I Educator 6

7 Membership Enhancement Coordinators Dave & Diane Smith June, 2016 Hi All, I was out riding Humpty Dumpty through the countryside. It was one of those perfect days when the sun was shining and the sky was blue with puffy white clouds lazily drifting overhead. The farm houses passed by and the road turned and went over a stream with the water splashing over the rocks. Out into the open spaces I rode. I started to pass a farm house when I noticed a young kid sitting on the front porch. I decided to stop for some unknown reason like it was something I just had to do. As I put down the kickstand and dismounted I could not miss the shiny Dodge Charger parked under a shade tree near the barn. I cut through the yard I asked the kid if it was his. He grinned from ear to ear and said it was his pride and joy. I figured him to be around 20 and perhaps 6 2 and 150 soaking wet. He looked solid like he had been working out. He shared with me that he had graduated high school two years ago and that he planned on being a fire fighter but he was just a volunteer for now. He said he was helping out his dad on the farm for now but that he had big plans for the future. We sat in silence for a little bit. You could see down the valley from that porch. The trees were swaying in the breeze and there were horses grazing in the pasture. He had a faraway look on his face. He told me that he had a girlfriend. She really liked riding his car. They started dating their senior year in high school and he hoped that someday they could get married and raise their family here. I said that sounded like a good plan and asked why he was waiting. He said he was nervous about asking her dad if he could marry her. Then he said he wanted to wait until he got back from his trip. I asked where he was going. Iran was his reply. I am going to go serve my country. He was going to be gone for a long time. He was worried about the farm and his dad s health. Would his girl wait for him or marry someone else. That beautiful car would be under a tarp to keep the birds from pooping on it. Things would be different when he got back. His friends would be in homes and start their careers and some would have children. There could be a housing development across the road. He may not even be alive when he comes home. 7

8 As I looked at this young kid I knew that he would return a man. He would see and experience things that will take his innocence away. Today in memorial day and I would hope that you would take the time to say Thank You to a vet. You see the vet that you thank is that kid. Upcoming events: June 11 Second Saturday Ride details to follow June 14 Tuesday, Cook s Night out- Guayabitos in Maggie Valley 6:30 June Over-Night trip Kentucky/Virginia Leave from Roses in Weaverville at 9:30 am June 19 Ice Cream ride (TBA) June 25 Monthly Meeting; eat at 9:00, meet at 10:00; Ride to Hot Springs July 9 Second Saturday Ride July 12 Cook s Night out La Strada, Lake Lure July 17 Ice Cream ride-the Hop, Merrimon Ave. 2:30 (near CVS) July 23 Monthly Meeting; eat at 9:00, meet at 10:00; ride after meeting Aug 31 Sep 4 Wing Ding in Billings, MT. just. I hope that you are able to get out on your Gold Wing this month and then Go 4 It. Stay Safe in your Travels David & Dianne Smith GWRRA Chapter NC-I MEC 8

9 Jerry and Brenda pitts GWRRA NC-I ride Coordinator June, 2016 June Second Saturday Ride Ride to Roan Mountain On Saturday June 11th we will meet at the Burger King in front of the old Rose s location at Exit 19 off I-26 with a departure time of 10:00 am. We will ride west on I-26 to Exit 9 then toward Burnsville on 19. We will turn north at Jack s Creek Rd. and into the back country. The ride will take about 2 hours with very limited opportunities for rest stops. There is a Rhododendron Festival in Roan Mountain the 3rd weekend while many of us are on the Couples ride. I hope some of the plants are blooming on the second weekend. There is a Rhododendron Garden just off our ride that we will try to find. I did not know about it when we did the pre ride. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the Park. We will ride home on scenic I-26 after going through Elizabethton. If you have any questions or see that you will be late call my cell Looking forward to seeing everyone. June 17, 18, 19 Couples weekend. Leaving the former Roses location off I-26 exit 19. See Dave and Dianne s article for details. June 18th For those not going on the couples ride, Schroeder s poker run for Pediatric Brain Tumors starts at 8:00am at Schroader s ends at the Outlet Mall with a Bike Show from noon to 3:00pm. June after meeting: Dave will lead the ride after the meeting. Thanks Dave and Dianne. 9

10 July 2nd Saturday: Janet will be directing Tillman to lead us on a Mystery Ride. Any details will have to come from Janet. Bring a picnic lunch. July after meeting: Open August 2nd Saturday: Larry and Jackie Duppstadt will be leading through the Cherokee area. Details to follow August after meeting: Open September 2nd Saturday. We will ride the Buncombe Turnpike to Hot Springs, back to Waynesville, and to Dipper Dan s, via Hwy 209. We will leave the former Rose s location I-26 exit 19 at 10: am September 22nd ride to Wings Over Smokys. Details to follow. No meeting. October 2nd Saturday: We will ride to Boone for lunch at the Daniel Boon Inn and back on the parkway. Details to follow. October after meeting: Open. You will notice the after meeting rides are Open. This is a great opportunity for you to take the group on one of your favorite rides without having to guide an all day ride. Keep the shinny side up. Jerry and Brenda If you have friends in another chapter feel free invite them to join us. COME RIDE WITH US or MISS OUT ON THE FUN 10

11 Cook s Night Out June 14, 6:30pm Guayabitos Mexican 3422 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley, NC April GWRRA Anniversaries June NO ANNIVERSARIES Please let Diane know if you are coming Hope to see you all there. June Birthdays! 15 Charles Cox 17 David Smith 24 Debbie Durling 25 Bruce Doan Happy Anniversary June Anniversary! 9 Jerry & Pat Harvey 29 Gordon & Mickie Booth Chapter web site is gwrranci.org This is the website for helmet sticker for ICE info. 11

12 Kentucky / Virginia Chapter Overnighter June 17, 18, 19 Plans for our NC-I family weekend trip are close to being completed. A fun filled weekend that will put some miles on your Wing, some good food in your tummy and some serious parking lot tire kicking with your NC-I family. We will be pulling out of the parking lot at (formally) Roses in Weaverville at 9:30 on Friday morning. Under sunny blue skies we will ride up I-26 traveling through North Carolina, Tennessee and into Kentucky. Turning the front wheel off the big road, we will follow green forests and rolling brooks as we meander north to Prestonburg, KY, our destination for the day. The evening begins after a brief rest and shower at the Comfort Suites followed by dinner with your fellow riders. A great time of fellowship complete with jokes, stories and maybe a little stretched truth before a great night of rest. You need to contact Comfort Suites directly to make your reservation. Tell them you are with GWRRA. The cost is $ tax. All rooms are non-smoking with king beds. Call at 606/ Reservations to be made by May 14, 2016 Saturday will begin with the full hot breakfast included with the room. With our kickstands up, we will head out into the back roads of KY. Riding through the sweeping turns and switchbacks you will feel like you are one with nature. One or two stops, still to be determined, will break up the day along with lunch and breaks. Late afternoon will find you emptying out your saddlebags at the Alpine Motel in Abingdon, VA. This quaint motel has lots of history but is still nice and clean and reasonable. The rooms are all double beds and the cost is $ tax. Again tell them you are with GWRRA. Call at 276/ Reservations to be made by May 14, 2016 After dinner with the family, you have two choices to make. First, you can go out on your own or just relax at the motel. Second, you can go out on the town and enjoy a play at the Barter Theatre. They have two shows performing the evening we will be there. One show is Momma Mia which is a musical and the tickets are $39.00 per person. The other show is Greater Tuna which is a comedy and the tickets are $33.00 per person. 12

13 Sunday will sadly be our final day of the road trip. We will again hit the back roads on our return trip to Asheville. What do you need to do to get in on this fun filled weekend? Make two reservations; contact Lura if you want to attend a play. Call or Dave or Dianne to let us know that you are going. Show up with a full tank of gas. That s it. Hope to see our entire NC-I family on this one. Questions just give me a call. Until then just. Go 4 It Dave & Dianne Smith GWRRA NC-I MEC wingridernc@gmail.com 828/

14 Western North Carolina GWRRA Chapter Meetings Asheville Chapter NC-I: 4th Saturday of each month. Eat at 9:00 am, Meet at 10:00 am J&S Cafeteria, Westridge Market Place, 900 Smokey Park Hwy, Enka NC, (828) Call Tillman & Janet Hill at (828) for more info. Or go to our website gwrranci.org Hendersonville Chapter NC-M2: 3rd Saturday of each month. Eat at 9:00 am, Meet at 10:00 am J & S Cafeteria, 30 Airport Park Rd. Fletcher NC. Across from the Ashville Airport on NC280/NC-191. Call Gerry & Rusty Boykin at (828) for more info. Or go to our website gwrrancm2.org Waynesville Chapter NC-G2: 1st Saturday of each month. Eat at 3:00 pm, Meet at 4:00 pm Snappy s Restaurant, 2769 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley NC. Call Mona & Dan Wallen (828) for more info. gwrrancg2.org Just a remainder that? With out you there isn t a Chapter DID YOU KNOW? North Carolina is rated #8 in the nation, Has having the worst drivers. So Stay ALERT and ride SAFE!! GWRRA Chapter NC-I Sponsorship Put your ad in this newsletter, it will be sent 12 times a year (once a month) to our chapter members, All Chapters Directors all over the state of North Carolina, and the NC State Directors and many others. It will also be posted on the Chapter NC-I Website: Your support is greatly appreciated and will help Chapter NC-I to operate throughout the year. Thank You. Pricing: Business Card = $25 1/4 page = $35 1/2 page = $50 Full page = $100 14

15 June 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Hillbilly Hoedown V Second Saturday Ride to Roan Mountian Cook s Night Out 6:30 PM June Over-Night trip Kentucky/ Virginia 18June Over-Night trip Kentucky/ Virginia 19June Over-Night trip Kentucky/ Virginia Ice Cream Ride NC-I Meeting J&S West Ridge Eat 9:00 Meet 10:00 Ride to Hot Springs

16 GWRRA Chapter NC-I Asheville, North Carolina Gold Wing Road Riders Association Robin J Ferguson 75 Fairmont Rd. Candler, NC Gold Wing Road Riders Association Chapter NC-I Asheville, North Carolina gwrranci.org Next meeting: June 25, 2016 Eat at 9:00 and Meet at 10:00 J&S Cafeteria, Westridge Market Place, 900 Smokey Park Hwy, Enka NC, (828) Chapter Directors Tillman & Janet Hill cd@gwrranci.org jantil@ccvn.com (828) Assistant Chapter Directors John & Ramona Williams acd@gwrranci.org williams4822@bellsouth.net (828) Chapter Educator Janet Hill rider-ed@gwrranci.org (828) Ride Coordinators Jerry & Brenda Pitts rides@gwrranci.org jerrypitts@bellsouth.net (828) Treasurer Ralph & Linda Gilliam LRGilliam11@aol.com (828) MEC Coordinators David & Dianne Smith wingridernc@gmail.com (828) Newsletter Editor Robin Ferguson newsletter@gwrranci.org mrfergiea10@gmail.com (828) Webmaster Tammy Ferguson webmaster@gwrranci.org tammyferguson@rocketmail.com (828)