WASHINGTON DC ROLLING THUNDER 2017

Transcription

1 WASHINGTON DC ROLLING THUNDER May 2017 Participant information sheet In order to help make this year s trip safer, easier and more enjoyable for all I have again put together this information sheet. It consists of some contact information, riding tips, itinerary, points of interest, addresses and maps. CONTACT INFORMATION We will be on CB Radio Channel 8 if you have a CB. Len Hoben Tim Borowski The more group rides I m on the more I realize that a lot of riders either forget some basics or never knew them. Some of these basics can help make for a safer ride. So allow me to start by apologizing if you take this as an insult. A review of group riding procedures won t hurt and might help make this ride a safe enjoyable mission. RIDING PROCEDURES Arrive prepared! All riders are responsible for making sure their motorcycles are mechanically up to the task. Before you even meet up on Friday morning, make sure you've fuel tank is full, and that you've taken care of all those maintenance issues. Not sure what to check? Use T-CLOCS. You really don't want to be the reason for stopping the group for something mechanical you could have prevented. The staggered riding formation (see diagram below) allows a proper space cushion between motorcycles so that each rider has enough time and space to maneuver and to react to hazards. The leader rides in the left third of the lane, while the next rider stays at least one second behind in the right third of the lane; the rest of the group follows the same pattern. A single-file formation with a minimum 2-second following distance is preferred on a curvy road, under conditions of poor visibility or poor road surfaces, entering/leaving highways, or other situations where an increased space cushion or maneuvering room is needed. The leader will signal for single file and then to go back to double. If for some reason the line you re in loses a rider when safe move up to maintain the stager. Do NOT switch lanes!

2 While riding, don't fixate on the motorcycle in front of you. Instead, remember your basic training. Look well through the turn to where you want to go. Periodically check the riders following using your rear view mirrors. If you see a rider falling behind, slow down so they may catch up. If all the riders in the group use this procedure, the group stays together. If the person behind you misses a turn because of a light or something else stop before the next turn or light and wait for that rider. Going and return we will maintain the posted speed limit +/- 2MPH unless safety requires a deviation. Remember that riding in a group does not mean you surrender any decision-making when it comes to your safety. Ride your own ride, and don't go any faster than you feel comfortable going. We will utilize a sweep at the rear. He will as required move from side to side and will block lanes for us if we change lanes. When a lane change is made under Normal conditions this will take place only after the sweep has secured the lane. Remember we share the road with many other vehicles, and it's against the law to block an intersection. Slowing traffic for safety is permitted. At intersections where you've come to a stop, tighten the formation to sideby-side to take up less space. As the light turns green, or when traffic opens up, the bike on the left proceeds through the intersection first. When parking, try to get the group off the roadway as quickly as possible. Try to maintain same order as you started the day with. Our moto is Leave No Man Behind, we do practice what we preach. We will gather all your contact information before we depart Friday morning. All events are voluntary if you decide not to ride with the group to an event please notify one of the group leaders so we aren t waiting for you. We will not leave without anyone we start with. Ride Smart and Safe!

3 ITENERARY Friday May 26 Breakfast on your own some of us are eating at the meeting place: Chris's Restaurant, 5635 Tilghman Street, Allentown 0815 Pre ride briefing 0830 KSU next stop Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Bathroom break, There are plenty of clean restrooms available. If you have a Hero s grave you d like to visit please research the location before hand. You will have a few minutes to visit the grave KSU next stop Williamsport MD Fuel and lunch stop at Sheetz, Williamsport, MD 1245 KSU next stop Westin 1445 Arrive at the Westin, Tysons Corner, VA There will be some free time. Dinner will be your option of either a group dinner at Chili s or dinner on your own Shuttle group to dinner at Olive Garden 1845 Pre ride briefing 1900 KSU for the Vigil on the mall 1930 Arrive on the mall free time until Vigil 2100 Vigil on the wall KSU Time is approximate for the Pentagon to visit the Pentagon 9 11 Memorial. We will return as a group after our visit. Saturday May 27 Breakfast at the Westin, or somewhere of your choosing Pre ride briefing 0730 KSU for an early morning visit to The United States Capitol 0800 Arrive at The United States Capitol KSU Washington Harley 1230 Arrive at Washington Harley for a Free lunch there will be time to get shirts, Harley pin etc.

4 1330 KSU for National Cathedral 1400 Arrive at National Cathedral KSU for Westin 1800 Arrive at the Westin After our ride back to the Westin there will be some free time at the hotel with your option of either a group Irish dinner or dinner on your own. Get some sleep Saturday night; Sunday will be a long day Shuttle group to dinner at Paddy s Barry s (Irish) 2100 Shuttle return to hotel Sunday May 28 Early rise the morning of the Demonstration ride, we will be in the Pentagon Parking Lot very early, times to be confirmed Saturday. Breakfast will be available in the lot. There is limited free food available and there are several food stands located in the parking lot, this food you must pay for. Some may want to bring a snack Pre ride briefing 0545 KSU to the Pentagon 0600 Arrive Pentagon begin Parking detail 1145 Pre ride briefing 1200 Demonstration rolls out 1230 Our part of demonstration ride is over and we are parked. Free time for a short visit to Thunder Alley for souvenirs or a bite to eat KSU return to the Westin as a group for a bit of free time We will be having a pool party this year. Monday May Pre ride briefing 1000 KSU for home 1130 Fuel stop route 83, station a little north of the PA Line 1500 Arrival in the Lehigh Valley, Mission complete.

5 MALL POINTS OF INTEREST Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) Korean War Veterans Memorial World War II Memorial Thunder Alley Lincoln Memorial National World War I Memorial Thomas Jefferson Memorial Washington Monument Reflecting pond The United States Capitol All roads lead to the Capitol" since it is the dividing center for quadrants of the city. There are still ladies and gentlemen's galleries labeled in the House of Representatives and Senate (from when gender segregation was enforced). There are old marble bathtubs in the basement that senators used to take baths in. There are many elevators that YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE. EACH vote is still tallied BY HAND even before the electronic vote is recorded. There are private subways that require a staff ID (but if your friend works in the Capitol they can take you!). The Senate chaplain's office has a rare oval window and it is one of the very few that still opens. A reporter once shot a former congressman who attacked him over scandalous stories he had written that ruined his career. The shooting occurred in this stairwell and the permanent stains on the marble stairs are said to be the congressman's blood. When you are done in Congress they just box your stuff up and wait for you to pick it up. Some stuff never gets taken. There are miles and miles of underground tunnels that the public never sees. In the painting on the inside of the dome of the Capitol, Washington sits in the heavens as a deity. The Capitol has its own crypt. It is called that because Washington's body was SUPPOSED to be entombed here. They even had holes dug for a viewing chamber where you could walk by and see him! But Washington's wishes were to be buried at Mt. Vernon. And directly below the crypt there is a nuclear fallout shelter. There are cat paw prints in the floor right outside the old Supreme Court chamber. There is no explanation for this since all the stone was set before it arrived at the Capitol, but some think the paw prints are the Ghost Cat of the Crypt.

6 NANTIONAL CATHEDRAL NATIONAL CATHEDRAL HISTORY The National Cathedral welcomes people of all faiths from around the world to worship in its exquisite ambiance. It s the sixth largest cathedral in the world and offers a dramatic spectacle to all who visit. The cathedral s English Gothic architecture is complemented by wood carvings, gargoyles, mosaics and more than 200 stained glass windows. A listed monument on the National Register of Historic Places, the cathedral is also the designated House of Prayer of the United States. Throughout the years, the National Cathedral has hosted many national memorial services, celebrations and funerals, including the funerals of two presidents, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan. Worship services are offered and available to the public every day at the Cathedral and special events including choir performances, musical concerts and organ recitals take place throughout the year. Eleven years have passed since an earthquake rattled Washington, D.C., and caused more than $34 million in damage to Washington National Cathedral. In the 1980s, while the Cathedral s two west towers were under construction, the Cathedral held a design-a-carving competition for children. Word of the competition was spread nationwide through National Geographic World magazine. The thirdplace winner, Christopher Rader, submitted a drawing of that fearful villain: Star Wars Darth Vader. The fierce head was sculpted by Jay Hall Carpenter, carved by Patrick J. Plunkett, and placed high upon the northwest tower of the Cathedral. There is information available to help with your self guided tour ADDRESS INFO Williamsport MD Sheetz Westin Tysons Corner 38 East Potomac Street 7801 Leesburg Pike Williamsport, MD Falls Church, VA Paddy s Barry s Irish Pub The National Cathedral 8150 Leesburg Pike, 3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W. Tysons, VA Washington, D.C Harley Davidson Washington, DC The United States Capitol 9407 Livingston Rd East Capitol St NE & First St SE, Fort Washington, MD Washington, DC 20004

7 Please use the following signals. If you see the bike in front giving a signal please pass it back.