GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION TREASURE COAST WINGS FL2-O

Transcription

1 Chapter Director David Morris Monthly Gathering Every 2 nd Weds at Southern Pig & Cattle Restaurant 2583 SE Federal Highway Stuart, FL Socialize 5:30 Dinner 6:00 Meeting 7:00 WEBSITES FL2-O: Florida District: 1 GOLD WING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION TREASURE COAST WINGS FL2-O Volume 35 Issue 9 September 2018 For the record, this was my first Wing Ding. I have been a member of GWRRA for 17 years. I wonder now how I never attended one before the 40 th Anniversary Wing Ding!!! Our chapter was well represented by 13 Chapter FL2-O members in attendance. It was filled with first time experiences including driving the Gold Wing through Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. The ride to Knoxville, to the Smokies and on to the Blue Ridge Parkway was perfect, taking the well planned out route, which was developed by Jim Rich. Jim and Marilyn have lots of experience in the planning it takes to accomplish a long-distance ride. We are grateful to have been able to benefit and learn some of the tricks of the trade. We spent three days in Knoxville and enjoyed the magnitude of the Wing Ding experience. Wow, at least 8000 fellow Gold Wingers were in one place. I was amazed to see all those motorcycles moving around the convention center and made mental note as to the high percentage of them that were trikes and really surprised to see the large number of 2018 models. It looks like Honda has hit a home run with the 2018 Goldwing redesign. I attended the Chapter Director break out meeting. Terry and I got to meet Anita Alkire, president of GWRRA, thanks to Cheryl Smith who brought us up to meet and talk with her after the session was over. It was great to hear Cheryl bragging to Anita about our Chapter! Next, we headed to the Smokies and Blue Ridge Parkway for a day of riding (another first) the twisties. It started with a breakfast at the Pisgah Inn (Thanks to Larry Pounds for this suggestion) and taking in breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. We rode through countless tunnels, around tight curves and one that I called the corkscrew. I remember thinking keep your head up and on the centerline the whole time. It was reminiscent of the riding I did years ago in the Berkshires, Mohawk Trail in Western Massachusetts and the Green Mountains in Southern Vermont. It was thrilling to say the least. Over the last three days we worked our way back home. We spent one afternoon exploring Helen, Georgia. Terry and I had no idea that a place like that even existed. Our second stop was Corky Bells where we all enjoyed the delicious food. On the way to Palatka we encountered the first real rain on the 10-day trip. Jim said that we needed to have a rain riding experience and that no extended bike ride would be complete without it. The rain was just up ahead so we stopped along the road side and experienced the joy of donning our rain gear. Putting on rain suits is surely the most difficult task of the vacation. While we were traveling, Labor Day came and went. We are now officially in the fall riding season and look forward to seeing the snow birds return and hope to have lots of lunch rides. David Morris, Chapter Director FRIENDS FOR FUN, SAFETY, KNOWLEDGE DISTRICT OFFICERS District Director Bill & Cheryl Smith FLDD2018@gmail.com District Rider Educators Rick & Pam Northrup Ricknorthrop13@yahoo.com Asst District Rider ED Ray & Claudia Vega (561) CHAPTER OFFICERS AND TEAM FL2-O Chapter Director Dave Morris dwm8228@gmail.com Asst Chapter Directors Jim & Marilyn Rich Membership Enhancement Terry Henderson Road Captain John DuBose Ride Coordinators Barry Covard,Nancy Karnell Chapter Educators Barry Covard,Nancy Karnell Asst Chapter Educators Larry & Tammy Pounds Chapter Treasurer Kathy Prater Chapter Webmaster Barry Covard Newsletter Editor Barb Parish Tech Herb Metalflake Jebb 50/50 Bud Parish Couple of the Year Jim & Marilyn Rich Person of the Year Bud Parish Spirit Team Chair Sandy Pisano

2 2 ASSISTANT CHAPTER DIRECTORS JIM and MARILYN RICH WING DING 40 TREASURE COAST WINGS 35 No, that s not a football score, it s the anniversaries of our two organizations. The Treasure Coast Wings (FL2-o) celebrated 35 great years and had thirteen of its members travel to Knoxville to help Wing Ding celebrate 40 years. Wing Ding 40 was a great celebration, starting with a fabulous opening night cookout. GWRRA s slogan is Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge and they encourage their members to focus on riding. My take-away from Wing Ding 40 was that it was as much about the journey as it was about the destination. On Sunday morning, August 26, at the recommendation of Road Captain John Dubose, we rode north on Route 95 to Flagler Beach and then headed west on Rt. 100 through Palatka to Lake City. That route had the added benefit of allowing us a lunch stop at Corky Bell s in Palatka. Monday morning, we started north on Rt. 441, where, for the first eighty miles, we encountered a total of three other north bound vehicles. Traffic remained light and we arrived mid-afternoon at the elegant James Madison Inn in downtown Madison, Georgia. After a superb dinner at Mint Juleps Kitchen we strolled about town viewing the antebellum mansions. Tuesday, we continued north on Rt. 441 crossing into North Carolina and riding through the Great Smoky Mountains and down into Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and into Knoxville. Having arrived at 4:30 pm, knowing the opening celebration started at 5:00, we practically ran through the shower and took an Uber to the cookout. The event and the venue were great; we particularly liked the Museum of Appalachia Hall of Fame, featuring such greats as Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, the Carter family and Alvin York. We got so caught up in the exhibits that by the time we walked out most of the folks had already headed back to Knoxville for the night. At the Convention Hall we thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits, the vendors and the classes before finally heading over to the Folk Arts Center outside of Asheville and a sixty-mile ride down the Blue Ridge Parkway. A highlight of the ride down the Parkway was breakfast at the Pisgah Inn near the top of Mount Pisgah. We exited the Parkway in the Nantahala National Forest and rode through the Nantahala Gorge before turning south on Georgia State Route 75 through the mountains to Helen, Georgia. The Bavarian village of Helen, Georgia is always a busy tourist attraction, but on a holiday weekend it was truly wall-to-wall tourists. We had dinner along the Chattahoochee River followed by a stroll around town. Proceeding south out of Helen, we soon picked up Rt. 441 south to McRae, Georgia, where we turned southeast on Rt. 23 to Jacksonville, Florida and around the bypass to Rt. 17 south into Palatka, Florida for another opportunity to sample the food at Corky Bell s. The next morning found us retracing our path across Rt. 100 to Rt. 95 and home. The terrific routes we rode were made even better by the fact that the only real traffic we encountered was in Pigeon Forge and Helen, Georgia and the only rain we encountered was a brief sunshower on the Blue Ridge Parkway and some scattered showers in South Georgia and North Florida kicked up by storm Gordon. The journey was definitely as much fun as the destination. Look for this article in next issue of Wing World!

3 3 September 2018 GATHERING WRITTEN BY Terry Henderson David Morris, Chapter Director, called the Gold Wing Chapter FL2-O Gathering to order at 7pm on Wed. Sept. 12. He wished Kathy Lucas, John Dubose, Jean Maneage & Ray Vega a Happy Birthday and Tammy and Larry Pounds a Happy Anniversary this month. David also introduced a new recognition award called You Make a Difference. He gave Sandy Pisano a certificate and pin in recognition of her excellent work in the creation and facilitation of the Spirit Committee which has been instrumental in so many worthwhile projects for the chapter. David also awarded Sondra and Jim Cuff a certificate and pin for opening their home to the CPR class and for spearheading the Yard Sale which provides additional funds for the chapter. David asked Sandy to give her report. Sandy invited all the women in the chapter to join the Spirit Committee. She said that we have an enthusiastic group that meets on the second Mon. each month at our new location, Duffy s on U.S. 1 in South Stuart. She said that Duffy s has provided us with a very nice, quiet room where we meet and discuss plans for future chapter events including the Yard Sale, March Rally and the Christmas Party. We meet for lunch at 11:30am and the meeting starts at 12 noon. The next meeting is October 8. Sandy continued by reminding everyone that our Christmas party will be held at a new location at the Summerfield Club House on Dec. 12. The theme is an An Old-Fashioned Christmas Sondra Cuff gave a report on the Yard Sale that she is organizing. In May, even though the Yard Sale was washed out by rain the chapter successfully raised $230 in only 2 hours. October 20 should be even better. Sondra asked for volunteers to help by being available to set up and man the booth on Oct. 20 from 7am-12 noon. Please gather all your sale items now. We are looking for household supplies, kid s toys, decorator items, shoes and purses but no clothes. Mark them with a price and bring them to the Yard Sale the day of the event on Sat. Oct. 20. If you cannot be there and have items to sell, please call Sondra and discuss how to get the items to her before the event.

4 4 Barb Parish gave a report about the new chapter shirts which she has ordered and should be delivered soon. Barb also announced that the next Kick Tire will be at Mulligan s in Downtown Stuart on Sept. 26 at 6:00 pm. We are also planning a second First Aid Training course led by Ray and Claudia Vega for Nov. 10. Please save the date! Barb also said that she and Bud met up with Nancy and Barry on their trip to Little Switzerland and Barry had just purchased a new 2018 Gold Wing. Joe Pisano said that they enjoyed their trip to Wing Ding but that they had a small mishap. They were in Palatka having lunch when he looked at his bike parked outside and saw the safety chains were lying on the pavement. The chains had pulled the electrical connections out so that the trailer lights were all frayed and hanging on the ground. When he went out to investigate, he said that there are only two bolts holding the trailer on and one was ½ way out. He walked up to Lowe s and a local hardware store and bought the bolt and other necessary items to fix the problem while Sandy watched over the bike. When he returned, he successfully repaired the problem and they went on their way home. Sandy praised Joe for his keen ability to fix anything including the bike when necessary. She said, all we women in the chapter are so fortunate that we have men that are handy. Bill Smith reported that the Florida District was recognized for having the most attendees at Wing Ding and that Chapter FL2-O was helpful in securing that recognition because our chapter had 13 members in attendance. Don t forget to join in on the District ride to Ocala on Oct. 6. We will meet at Love s Gas Station at 8:30am. We ll see the horses in Ocala and end up at Silver Springs State Park where we have rented a picnic pavilion. It s only $2 to get into the park and for an additional cost you can take a glass bottom boat trip. Look on the calendar for the District rides to Fort Christmas, Florida, where you can get your Christmas cards postmarked. The District Conference is on Jan at the Altamonte Springs Hilton Hotel. Chapter officers and all members are encouraged to attend to learn about the business of GWRRA and what changes have been made. The District Rally is on March at the Altamonte Springs Hilton Hotel so mark your calendars. Finally Wing Ding will be Aug at the Gaylord Opry Land Hotel in Nashville. Reservations are available starting on Oct. 1. Ray Vega will announce future ERC and ARC classes that will take place in the cooler weather. Claudia reiterated the fact that they will do a second CPR class on November 10. ACD Jim Rich announced the next ride will be on Wed. Sept. 19 to CJ Cannon s Restaurant at the Vero Beach Airport. There will also be an overnight ride to Don Garlit s Museum on Oct Metalflake gave a critique of the 2018 Gold Wing and said that it is important to use genuine Honda brake pads. The 50/50 tickets were drawn and the door prize from Bill Smith went to Sandy Pisano. The nice picnic pack from Metalflake went to Bill Smith. An additional door prize went to Marilyn Rich and the cash went to Al and Myrta. The meeting was adjourned at 8pm.

5 5 Why attend Wing Ding By Barry Covard Nancy and I attend Wing Ding because we find just about anything you need or want for your motorcycle available there and at sale prices. We had planned on a new rear tire, new helmet and jacket for me and I wanted to take the Advanced Rider Course. Another big benefit is you get to talk to the experts and try things on and even test ride the new Wings. We did get most of what we wanted, but I didn t get to buy the rear tire or take the ARC class, maybe next year in Nashville. Nancy was so impressed with the new Wing on our test ride she made me buy one. So, I came home from this year s Wing Ding with a new helmet, new jacket and a new motorcycle. Love going to Wing Ding. CHAPTER SAFE MILES PROGRAM 2018 SAFE MILES Please remember to submit your miles each month at the chapter meeting on the sign in sheet or them to Barry Covard the end of each month. barrycov@comcast.net Please put SAFE MILES FL2-O in the subject line. This makes it easier to identify your .

6 6 Breakfast Ride Report Captain s Galley Written by Jim Rich Four bikes and eight riders left McDonalds and rode up Hutchison Island to Fort Pierce and, after a really good breakfast, rode back via the Indian River Drive. Jim & Marilyn took lead with Bud and Barb, Greg and Percy and Dave and Terry as tail gunners. Attached is a picture of us chowing down and Terry's killer waffle. We arrived home with 125 more miles on the bike. LITTLE SWITZERLAND- BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY By Barb Parish We enjoyed meeting Ohio Goldwing friends for our fourth annual trip to Big Lynn Lodge on the parkway. We were able to ride 5 days and each day s route included both the easy sweeping curves of the parkway combined with off parkway roads with the more hairpin curves the better. This year was unique in that we saw bears twice! It was lots of fun to have Barry and Nancy join our group for a day of riding. They were staying in an RV park near Asheville, which is about an hour away. The picture below shows the mountain view from the front porch of our cabin at Big Lynn Lodge. We toured the mining museum at Emerald Village and learned that during the depression, this area was once home to over 700 feldspar mines. Feldspar was used by the Bon Ami Company as an ingredient for their polishing cleanser. It is also used in ceramic and glass production. On the way back to Florida, we took South Carolina route 301. We passed through Bamberg, SC, the hometown of Nikki Haley (UN Ambassador). We got home just in time to avoid traffic congestion caused by Hurricane Florence. FIRST AID IN ACTION! A couple weeks after the First Aid course taught by Ray and Claudia Vega, Bud choked on a pill. We had practiced the Heimlich maneuver in the training and I was able to perform it on Bud in order to successfully dislodge the pill.

7 7 What does 10,033 miles, no rain and a safe return home equal? A GREAT RIDE!!! By Kerry and Glenda Our adventure from Kerry s perspective: New Dunlop Elite 4 tires synthetic oil change, all mechanics checked and an updated nav chip, phone, I-Pad, XM subscription with weather and traffic, tire plug kit, Fix-a-Flat and some tools jeans, shirts, underwear, socks, jackets and rain gear 3 cigars, a lighter and a small flask of scotch and we were ready to go. Oh, I mean I was ready to go. Glenda, with more foresight, added the first aid kit, snacks, water, travel log, laundry detergent, suntan lotion, AAA card, GWRAA card, our hotel discount numbers and over 22 maps. I didn t want 22 maps but must admit they were much better for planning a route than GPS and give you much more perspective. So now we were ready finally after 45 years of WAITING I was finally DOING. The trip was great our country is beautiful, and people are good everywhere. We had one rear tire failure after running over something on the interstate and replaced it in Ottumwa, Iowa with an Elite 3 no problem. Returning home, we added it all up 10,333.4 miles, 59 days, $ dollars per day for everything, 22 states and enough memories to last until our next journey. I m ready now! From Glenda s viewpoint: Our bucket list tour ride from east coast to west coast is now checked off the list. Kerry says it s his high school trip 45 years late. We found lots of wiggle roads, many stunning areas of the country and some total desolation where you have to wonder how anything survives. We even found beauty in the desolation except in the places where small town America has become ghost towns. Miles and miles of deserted backroads stretching out as far as the eye can see give a true perspective of the term ribbon of highway. The vast forested areas of the Pacific Northwest were astonishing, and we loved exploring the Redwood National Forest. We rode the 140 miles of Highway 229, which is nothing but twists and turns, through northern California and came to the Pacific coast on Highway 101 at Arcata. We then took Highway 101 north along the Oregon and Washington coasts and completely around the Olympic Peninsula, then to the east side of Seattle to visit Kerry s daughter and her husband. After Seattle we made our way to Idaho and Montana where we visited friends and then onward through Yellowstone National Park before meandering our way back toward Florida. While the ride is important so are the people we meet along the way. Since we ride alone it s fun to find others to chat with and we enjoy hearing their stories. To accomplish this, we typically eat at restaurant or hotel bars giving us an opportunity to engage in conversation. One stop, where we met a particularly interesting man, was in Redding, CA where the Carr fire burned out of control. It s sad that so much of the area we rode through so recently is now devastated. Let s keep those folks in our thoughts. The attached map shows our routes the last 2 years. The green is this years ride and the orange is last years 6,900-mile ride. The other picture is us at Crater Lake. Let s all stay safe out there and keep the shiny side up. Kerry and Glenda

8 8 Wing Ding Excursion-Aug.28-Sept. 4, 18 by Terry Henderson, MEC The thought of traveling on a Gold Wing to Wing Ding in Knoxville, Tenn. was exciting and, at the same time, daunting! Since I am a comparatively new member of the Gold Wing family, I had only been as far as Orlando on our motorcycle and that was always a big trip for me. Now we were planning to spend 10 days on an excursion that would take us not only to the 40 th Anniversary GWRRA Rally in Knoxville but to the fabulous Blue Ridge Parkway. Our first luncheon stop was Corky Bell s in Palatka where we enjoyed a delicious southern style meal with the best hush puppies I ve ever tasted. Day 2 we traveled on 441, a well-maintained highway in Georgia built over beautiful rolling hills that were a delight to ride. Sometimes the long descent into the valley followed by a rise to the top of the next peak felt like we were riding a thrilling roller coaster. You haven t seen anything yet, David said wait until you get to the Blue Ridge Parkway. We made our way to the James Madison Inn in Madison, GA. It certainly lived up to its reputation as a luxury boutique Inn featuring warm and inviting guest rooms in the style of true Southern hospitality. We took a long walk after dinner to see the antebellum homes that surrounded the Inn. Wing Ding-here we come!!! The weather was absolutely perfect with lots of sun, beautiful cumulus clouds and absolutely no rain all the way to Tenn. The first meet & greet event took place at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tenn. about 20 miles from our hotel. This was my first Wing Ding so I really didn t know what to expect. When we arrived, I was amazed at the sheer number of Gold Wings parked on the grounds of the museum. There was a sea of color as each bike parked as close as possible to the next in order to make room for the thousands in attendance. A meal of pulled pork and chips was rustic and so much fun! We checked out the antique, pioneer buildings & artifacts that were amassed over half a century by John Rice Irwin. We strolled through the village of authentic log cabins and were transported back to Old Appalachia. We enjoyed the Wing Ding experience for three days. David was able to get the electronic connectors necessary to get our CB system working properly and we met up with our Chapter FL2-O friends and shared a nice luncheon with them. Altogether there were 13 Chapter members at this year s Wing Ding. Great turnout! Our return home through North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains was awe inspiring! Winding through the switch back curves and coming up to the spectacular vistas overlooking mountain peaks and valleys covered in soft, fluffy white clouds was truly a sight to behold. One of the highlights of our trip was breakfast at the Pisgah Inn. They call it A Window on the World because at an elevation of 5766 feet, Mt. Pisgah makes you marvel at the forest-clad mountain peaks, the mist filled coves and the slopes of fragrant balsams, rhododendrons and mountain laurel. We relaxed in a rocking chair for a moment and then went on our way home completing our mile journey with a new perspective on our beautiful world and the America that we all love.

9 9 CHAPTER EVENTS September 19 Breakfast ride to CJ Cannon s September 26 Kick Tires Mulligan s downtown Stuart 6pm October 6 District Ride-In (see flyer for details) October 8 Spirit Team, Duffy s in South Stuart (not downtown). 11:30 lunch/12 noon meeting October 10 Gathering Southern Pig & Cattle Social 5:30/Dinner 6:00/Meeting 7:00 October 20 FLEA MARKET Minsky s Gym, Port St Lucie Save your stuff!! October 24/25 overnight ride to Don Garlit s museum December 12 CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY Champions Golf Club Stuart Florida Rally March 21-23, 2019 MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!!! Birthdays October 1 Carol Panicucci October 5 John DuBose October Donna Seeley October 21 Sondra Cuff October 27 Bob Feehrer GWRRA ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 1982 BUD PARISH OCTOBER 2007 GEORGE SCHOLES OCTOBER 2014 JOHN BETTENCOURT Seminole Sports supports the Florida District Rider Education Raffle Sales that fund training for Florida District GWRRA members.

10 10 HAVE YOU HEARD? Fall is around the corner and our Spirit Team is once again working on adding Fun into our chapter events. Stay tuned for details about our Yard Sale (October 20) and our awesome Christmas party (December 12th). Speaking of Fun. Joe and I had a great time attending the Gold Wing Rally in Knoxville. The Welcome Party at the Appalachian Museum was packed with wingers and a hearty barbecue was enjoyed by all., As always, there were so many vendors to peruse and I must say we did make a few purchases. Downtown Knoxville was such a joy to explore. It is a dog friendly town as is evident by the many adorable canines we saw on our walks. There were many interesting restaurants and small shops to explore. We took a bus tour that took us across the many streets of the beautiful University of Tennessee campus. Our riding days on the bike were very pleasant with the temperature being in the mid to high seventies. We did encounter a slight problem with our trailer. Thankfully, Joe was able to make the repair. All in all, we had a wonderful time with our chapter members and those many other Gold wing friends we have made throughout the years. Sandy Pisano (Spirit Team Chair) Remember the finest accessory any rider could ever wish for is a loving and compassionate co-rider.

11 11 DISTRICT RIDE EDUCATOR A few years ago, I had the opportunity to take my education a step further in GWRRA. I became a TRC RCI. That s a Trike Rider Course Rider Course Instructor. I really thought I was getting too old for this stuff but, I found out one never gets too old to learn something! I also found out I was truly ready for a trike. (However, we won t go into all that!) Now for the past few years I have had the honor to conduct numerous TRC classes, not only just around our district but to assist other districts when needed, and also at Wing Ding. For me, the invitation to Wing Ding was a great honor and I appreciated the confidence they had in me. I look forward to conducting more TRC classes throughout our district as we progress. Something I overheard numerous times has been I have been riding since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Why do I need to bother with another class? Well, it s not to insult you, your knowledge or skills, these classes are to hone and re-affirm your knowledge and skills. Let s be honest, there are some things we tend to forget or let slide and maybe don t do just like it should be done best. That s what these classes are geared for. To remind us of forgotten skills, easier methods, and sometimes to actually teach us something we really didn t know. True, I haven t ridden a trike for a million years. Or a motorcycle like Evil Kenevil for ten million years. But, I do try to be safety conscious in my riding habits and try to pass that on in my classes. Being trained through GWRRA Rider Course Instructor Certification Program, (RCICP), I have that curriculum and my background in education to present this in an effective manner. Don t be bashful. Ask your Chapter Director about getting with me about a TRC. If you are on a 2-wheeler we can put together an ERC. These classes are not only a learning experience, but they are also FUN. Ride Safe, Ride Aware, Rick & Pam Northrop Sr District Ride Educators

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13 13 FLEA MARKET OCTOBER 20 MINSKY S GYM 750 SW Darwin Blvd, Port St. Lucie, FL ARRIVE AT 7 TO UNLOAD YOUR ITEMS FLEA MARKET SALES 8-12 PLAN TO ATTEND AND SUPPORT THE CHAPTER FUNDRAISING EVENT SAVE THE DATE CHAPTER CHRISTMAS PARTY WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 CHAMPIONS GOLF CLUB Thanks ~ To everyone who wrote an article for this month s newsletter: David Morris, Terry Henderson, Jim Rich, Glenda Wright, Sandy Pisano, Barry Covard, Barb Parish and Rick Northrop. Thanks for reading!