Gold Wing Road Riders Association Maryland Chapter I. S O U T H E R N M A R Y L A N D W I N G S L E T T E R July 2018.

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1 Chapter Directors Hello Everyone! Well, the 21 st of June ushered in the start of summer. It is the longest day of every year, and starts the descent to winter. So, we have approximately 5 months of riding left to enjoy (unless it s a quiet winter). What are we going to do with it? What are you going to do with it? Memorial Day weekend, Bob, Julie, Rose and I enjoyed the sights of Peaks of Otter area of Virginia. We got an opportunity to see some of Roanoke, Salem and Bedford, VA. Such a beautiful area! Lots of green, up and down the mountains. As has been the case this spring, we saw some rain, which made for dangerous riding, but we enjoyed every moment of the weekend. The month of June has been rainy and there hasn t been much riding. Last night, the night ride was held and it rained. I know some went any way, and saw some great sights. It was pouring when it was time to leave the house so Rose and I didn t go. So, here s the good news, for those who have signed up, the District ride on Saturday appears to be mostly sunny, no precipitation shown at this time. I personally can t wait to get on the bike and enjoy this ride. See you guys on Saturday. July 1 st is our monthly gathering. It also appears to be a mostly sunny day! Who will be riding, at least to the gathering. Later in the month, we have a social on the 10 th, a ride on the 21 st (details coming) and another social on the 24 th. Hope to see you there 2018 Chapter Staff Chapter Directors Roger & Rose TenBrink rtwanderer1@yahoo.com Assistant Chapter Directors Bob & Julie Ahearn avcmawnac@gmail.com Correspondence n Coordinator Gerry Yager bikermom47@gmail.com Treasurer Robin Little rdl@md.metrocast.net Motorist Awareness Bill Little falconwlittle@aim.com Membership Enhancement Bob & Julie A`Hearn avcmawnac@gmail.com CHOY Coordinator Gerry Yager bikermom47@gmail.com Goodwill Ambassador Robin Little rdl@md.metrocast.net Webmaster Tony Fontaine yellowwing10@verizon.net Couple of the Year Steve and Linda Norbrey SteveNorbrey@hotmail.com Ride Coordinator Steve Norbrey SteveNorbrey@hotmail.com Newsletter Editor Charleen Hartman gwrramdinews@yahoo.com Be safe and have fun!!!! Roger and Rose TenBrink 1

2 Assistant Chapter Directors & Membership Enhancement Coordinators Welcome to Summer and July 2018 This month we celebrate our independence on the 4 th of July. According to an article on the Old Farmer s Almanac, The Declaration of Independence is America s revolutionary Charter of Freedom and the document upon which the nation s founding principles were established. The Second Continental Congress made its decree for freedom on July 2, 1776, signing the Lee Resolution. Two days later, on July 4, Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, and the alarm for freedom was sounded at Independence Hall with the Liberty Bell. It was on August 4, 1776, after delegates of the Continental Congress had signed the document, that The Declaration of Independence was made official. Julie is doing well getting around with the Walker and has been spotted at numerous events around the District. She s looking forward to her next Doctor s appointment. If things are going well, she will progress to using a Cane. Last month, Julie and I ran our Chapter Gathering on the 3 rd of June. We managed to pull it off but forgot to mention the Birthday s and Anniversary s. Plan is to catch up this month. Congrats to Bill and Robin Little for 45 years of marriage. Hope we got it right this time. The following weekend, we attended MD-F s Annual Fundraiser at the Family Recreation Park. Julie and I, along with Stan and Shelley represented the Chapter. The weather was nice this year for the gathering and the cookout. We had the Chapter night ride to the Memorials on Saturday the 23 rd. As the weather closed in, I found a big weather cell on the way to the Wawa in Cedarville. Got a little wet, and practiced riding in the rain. Once I arrived at the Wawa, the rain stopped, and was replaced by a rainbow. Steve Norbrey, our Ride Coordinator, arrived a few minutes later. After a cup of coffee, we set off on the ride to the Memorials. 2

3 Assistant Chapter Directors & Membership Enhancement Coordinators (cont.) We found another weather cell in DC, but it was already on it s way out. Steve and I cruised around the Washington Memorial, the WWII and WWI Memorials, and headed to Arlington to see the Woman s Memorial. We wrapped up the night with a visit to the USMC Iwo Jima Memorial. Thanks to Steve for all his planning and leading me around that night. It was great!! Lots of events planned for this month. This schedule consists of: Sunday July 1 st - Monthly Gathering 9 AM at Wicomico Shores. Sunday July 8 th Visit MD-L Easton, MD; eat at 8 AM, meet at 9 AM. Tuesday July 10 th Ice Cream Social, 6:30 PM Bruster s in Hollywood, MD. Saturday July 21 st Chapter Ride (TBD). Thursday July 26 th - Dinner Social, 6:30 PM Boston s in Waldorf. Thursday July 26 th thru Saturday June 28 th NE District Rally, Southbury, CT. Friday July 27 th to Sunday July 29 th All Chapters East PA Rally, Lancaster, PA. Check out the flyers in Gerry s weekly updates, our newsletters and on our Chapter website for more information on all planned events. Membership Enhancement We have four members expiring in July. We ll be reaching out to them soon. We also have a prospect from Callaway, so we ll contact him soon. Enjoy the Summer and we hope to see everyone very soon at one of the many planned events or socials. Be safe everyone!! Robert & Julie A Hearn MD District University Coordinators MD-I Assistant Chapter Directors MD-I Membership Enhancement Coordinators 3

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5 S O U T H E R N M A R Y L A N D W I N G S L E T T E R May 2018 Maryland District Rider Education Coordinator Jackie and I just returned from a fantastic trip to the Smokie Mountains. It was a great time camping and riding with friends in one of the most picturesque regions of the U.S. This area offers some of the most exciting and challenging motorcycles roads anywhere. These roads can really get your blood pumping! As we finished the most famous of these road, US 129 or otherwise known as the Dragon, we make the stop at the Deals Gap Resort. Here you will find riders from across the country and even from other countries telling their stories of taming the Dragon. At the store you will find t-shirt, stickers, patches and other badges of honor to show your success running the Dragon. I know firsthand the satisfaction of completing the 11 miles of curves and switch backs, all 318 of them. As you leave the store there are folks getting their selfies in front of the Deals Gap sign, others are just watching the bikes pull in from just completing their run of the gap. Well if you walk a little further you will find the remains of those bikes that didn t tame the Dragon. This is what is known as the tree of shame. On this tree are the remains of motorcycles parts from the unfortunate who lost to the Dragon. As you look at the various wheels, fenders, gas tanks, and forks you wonder what stories they could tell you. Was the cause from being inexperience, lost concentration, or going beyond their skill limits? US 129 that runs across the border of Tennessee and North Carolina is not a very forgiving road. This is a road that demand respect. Here are some tips for those who want to tame the Dragon: Take a riding course to learn proper cornering. Practice before you go. Know your limits and stay within your limits. Stay focused. Watch for other riders. Avoid the weekends. T-CLOCKS. Wear all the gear! Al General, Jackie Bond MD District Educators 4

6 District/Chapter Couple of the Year & Ride Coordinator Night Ride to the Memorials Saturday, June 23, 2018 Steve and Linda Norbrey 4

7 CHOY / Communications Coordinator There is no article this month. Gerry Yager Where To See Fireworks Fireworks Cruises in Annapolis & Baltimore July 3-4, 2018 Annapolis & Baltimore, Central Maryland Taking guests out on the water to watch area fireworks displays is one of Watermark's specialties. Every year brings several opportunities to view a dazzling fireworks show in both Annapolis and Baltimore. It is recommended that you book your tickets early to guarantee the best seat in town for watching fireworks, as these cruises tend to sell out quickly x100 Fireworks Over The Bay June 30, 2018 (Rain Date July 3) The Town of Chesapeake presents "Fireworks Over The Bay" before Independence Day. You and your guests are invited to take a walk on the Bay Front Boardwalk, search for sharks' teeth at Bay Front Park, and visit the nature-filled scenic "Railway Trail." The water park is open until 9:30 p.m. and offers a fun and unique way to enjoy the annual fireworks display! Celebrate Charles: A Fun-Filled Fourth July 4, St. Linus Dr. Regency Furniture Stadium Waldorf, Maryland Charles County - Southern Maryland Celebrate Charles is a family-friendly Independence Day event with live music, food, amusements and fireworks. Browse local food vendors, plus artisans and crafters in the Best of Charles County section. Rain or Shine th of July Watermelon Bash La Plata Town Hall La Plata, Maryland Charles County Celebrate the 4th of July at Town Hall. Join the Town of La Plata for hot dogs, games, wet fun and plenty of watermelon! 4 th of July Firework Celebration in Solomons Maryland on July 4, 2018 at 9:00 PM The Solomons Business Association (SBA) proudly sponsors the annual Solomons Independence Day fireworks display. Rain date: July 5th 4

8 Webmaster Fun in the sun and the rain. The solo trip to Americade week was fun. Hotel reservations were made well in advance in Jan-2018 because the less expensive hotels fill up very fast. I reserved a room in Super 8 in Queensbury, about three exits south of the Lake George exit. As I mentioned before, the price at the Landmark Inn, where Chapter I stayed years ago, is now around $136/night plus tax. With the GWRRA discount, the Super 8 was around $90/night with tax. High for Super 8, but reasonable and closer than the Landmark Inn. You can rent RV s, cabins, rooms, just about anything you can imagine during the week of Americade. As you can guess, the prices are higher closer to the center of Lake George. The ride up was comfortable with a few showers. The weather improved during the week. Because of jacked up state rental fees, everything at Americade was shuffled around. The vendors were not at the Million Dollar Beach, but down the length of Beach Rd and on the other side of the fort. Parking was not on the grass, but along traffic coned sections of the streets. Because of this, empty parking spots were harder to find. Registration was not at the usual location, the Holiday Inn downtown, but at the restaurant in front of the Fort William Henry Conference center (near the Honda demo ride area). The week started with the Monday night dinner by the lake in the Lion Room of the Fort William Henry hotel. Excellent food and a great view. Opening ceremonies followed with lots of door prizes from Rider Magazine and some of the vendors. On Tuesday, I had my battery checked by Yuasa. It was the original eight year old battery. Voltage was good, but only 50% capability. Luckily they had a replacement, free of charge. If you need one, they give away new blemished batteries that cannot be sold. The rest of the day was spent walking around the vendor area. Tuesday night I programmed the GPS for the unguided tours I purchased. Wednesday was the Star Trek museum mini-tour which started with breakfast at the Historic Grounds restaurant in Whitehall, NY, the birthplace of the US Navy. The current owner has been there for over 4 years. Business has its up and downs, but he enjoys walking around chatting with the patrons. The atmosphere is old time homey and very relaxed. The Star Trek museum In Ticonderoga has tours about every hour (I had to wait a while). The guide was very knowledgeable and willing to take still pictures of you at each stop. A few people had the chance to set off the Red Alert alarm. Did you know that all the automatic doors on the Enterprise were operated by someone pulling ropes via pulleys? The backward air piston sound effect was added later.

9 Webmaster (cont.) Thursday was the High Gaps mini-tour through the Green Mountains of Vermont. Lunch was in Morgan s Tavern at the Middlebury Inn, located in Middlebury, VT. The restaurant/hotel is Victorian styled with slightly upper class menu options. I enjoyed the pomegranate pear salad despite having to spit out the pomegranate seeds. The rest of the week was impromptu rides and more vendor trips. The weather was perfect with plenty of winding backroads. I saw three deer and a black bear during the week. On Saturday morning, I took a demonstration ride on the new 2018 Goldwing. I chose the manual 6-speed transmission instead of the DCT. Both versions have a lot of electronic setup options and menus to learn. One of the Honda personnel had to set the rider only suspension setting before the ride started. I did play with the windshield and riding mode settings during the ride. The windshield is not as wide, so my arms were in the breeze. On the highway, I was impressed with how well the windshield diverted air when it was all the way up. It was extremely quiet, no wind buffeting at all. Shifting, on the other hand, was awkward and a bother. The shift lever seemed closer to the foot rest making it difficult for my boot to fit and change gears. When you reach 1 st gear, the shift lever locks in the downward direction, telling you reached the lowest gear. Mastering the clutch friction zone was not possible during the short half hour group ride. To be fair, a second test ride is planned during Wing Ding. I m bringing a tape measure to check the shift lever clearance. Overall, the bike felt smaller and lighter, more like a sport tourer rather than a heavy cruiser. Tire pressure was soft because of the cool morning temperature and the Honda crew did not check tire pressure on the demonstration bikes. There is a LOT of stuff on the display to monitor. Additional idiot lights for the smart key, clutch temperature, fuel injection monitor, torque indicator, hill start assist, parking brake (DCT only) and more are new. There are settings to pair Bluetooth headsets and connecting your phone. Riding modes are rain, econ(omy), sport and tour. Yes, there is a LOT of new tech on this motorcycle. If you are not tech savvy, do not get this motorcycle. Looking at the owner s manual, the DCT machine needs 5 quarts of oil with oil and clutch filters. The 6-speed manual needs 4 quarts of oil with just the oil filter. Many service intervals are longer. The ride home Sunday was cool and very wet across PA. From Scranton, PA to York, PA were periods of moderately heavy rain. After mostly drying out, there was a warmer patch of showers around Baltimore before reaching home. I missed the night and Hickory Bridge rides. There will be more. Until next time, keep on surfing! Tony Fontaine

10 Pics from Americade 10

11 Come Join Us at the Next Gathering! There are some new fun things going on! 11

12 July 1 8 Anna Grimes 19 Tim Grimes 26 George Hartman 27 Keith & Wanda Johnson 31 Robin Groves June s Gathering Attendance MD-I 15 GWRRA GUESTS 2 VISITORS 0 Vest or Shirt (Drawing) 50/50 Drawing 1 st 2 nd 3 rd Free Birthday Breakfast Not Announced Rider Educator Patch Marble Game 12

13 MD-I Calendar 3 Month Outlook (July September) DATE EVENT POC July Sunday, Jul 1 MD-I Gathering, 9:00 Wicomico Shores Sunday, July 8 Visit MD-L Gathering Tuesday, Jul 10 Ice Cream Social, 6:30 Brusters, Gerry Yager Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood, MD Saturday, Jul 21 MD-I Chapter Ride TBD Thursday, Jul 26 Dinner Social, 6:30 Boston s Restaurant & Gerry Yager Sports Bar, Waldorf, MD Thu-Sun, Jul New England District Rally (see flyer in Weekly Update) Fri-Sun, Jul PA All Chapters East (see flyer in Weekly Update) PA-B August Sat-Sun, Aug 4-5 Trike Trailering Rider Course (TTRC) Jeff & Jeannie Kauffman, MD-F Sunday, Aug 5 MD-I Gathering, 9:00 Wicomico Shores CD / ACD followed by ride TBD Sunday, Aug 12 Visit MD-C Gathering Tue or Thu, Aug 14 or Dinner Social, 6:30 TBD Julie & Bob A Hearn 16 Thu-Sun, Aug America s 9-11 Ride Ray Hartman Saturday, Aug 18 MD-I Chapter Ride TBD Tue-Sun, Aug 28- Sep 1 WingDing 40, Knoxville, TN ( September Sunday, Sep 9 MD-I Gathering, 9:00 Wicomico Shores CD / ACD Tuesday, Sep 11 Dinner Social, 6:30 TBD Cheryl Hartman Saturday, Sep 15 Visit MD-B Gathering Saturday, Sep 22 Ingleside Winery/Boat Ride Tony Fontaine Sunday, Sep 23 Baltimore-Washington Ride for Kids (rideforkids.org) Tuesday, Sep 25 Dinner/Ice Cream Social, 6:30 TBD Roger & Rose Tenbrink Saturday, Sep 29 Fundraiser Triatholon MD-L Thu-Sat, Sep Wings Over the Smokies, Waynesville, NC Legend: Bold & Green MD-I Event/Participation Bold & Black Fundraiser Bold & Purple MDI Visits to other Chapters Bold & Orange MD District & Region Events CD Chapter Director DD District Director ACD Assistant Chapter Director RC Ride Coordinator 13

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24 2007 Gold Wing Trike, Dark Cherry California Side Car (Viper) Package was new last year. Triked by Two Brothers. Level 4 Gold Wing Package (ABS, Heated seats, heated grips, GPS, many, many lights, passenger arm rests, heel and toe shifts, driver highway pegs, etc.) Please contact Myron Benware at workhorse75@msn.com or for details. 24