Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events 2014 Kootenay Rat Raid - Nelson, BC

I'm debating, I've haven't washed the bike in months. If it's gonna rain on me, why bother? right?

Thats right,mine will look more shiney beside yours.

aahh...see how I set you up there. A few more weeks Marty.

Keith...I'm having my bike washed. I finally just paying someone to do it. There may even be some shine left to compete with Marty, if it lasts a month.

Washed you say. So the original colour would be... ? Here I sit down in Victoria after riding through rain on the way here. My bike is not a pretty sight. Not akin to yours Brent, but still not good.

Mine wont even run Brent.

What's up with that, Marty?

Washing the bike...... must be some weeerd North American thing.
and while i'm at it .......SHEEEEEEEETTTT i just remembered, ive forgot to send in my registration again. Liane is it to late

Deal, thanks Liane appreciate it .
Sorted now Mike ,ill be there mate . whats going on wae Martys bike hope its good to go for the Raid. cya s all there

Glad to hear that Mike .

I should know what's wrong with my bike tomorrow. I still plan to be there. I'd sure miss not seeing all of ya.

Maybe you shouldn't have had if cleaned,that'll teach ya.

I think you are absolutely correct.

So...just letting you now...8 more sleeps!

Just putting the finishing touches on a couple of things and I can pack everything up!

Looking forward to seeing all of you who are coming...those of you who aren't, maybe next year! You'll be missing some neat stuff this year for sure!

Ride safe!

www.drivebc.ca/ heres some road info on whats happening on BC roads for all who's heading to Nelson this weekend. click on areas of interest . looks like the road to Kaslo is being paved . See ya all in a few days .

Great website Gordie!

Now if you could do something about these dang fires that keep popping up along the route...

I pick up the bike in the morning and head out to Z's tomorrow night. See you all in a couple of days.

I got your package Marty!! Thank you.

See you soon, Brent. Meanwhile check your FB message, PM here, or your email for important information.

Picked up the bike this morning and it seems to be running great. See you all soon!

Brent

Well i am first i guess! It was awesome seeing you all again, i had a great time shooting the shyte with you and catching up, the ride both there and home (with the exception of about 1/2 hour) was some of the best and hot riding. I hope everyone made it home safe. Keith you were a great host man, thanks very much for the visit and a decent BBQ!!

You are welcome, Mike. You are one of the few ba.com members that's made it to the Skydeck.

The RAID is the one event Karen and I look forward to the most. Mainly because it the one time of year we get to see most of you.

The ride home for us was pretty rough. Karen radioed me to let me know something was stinging her so we pulled off and she whips her helmet off. I saw a fly or something take off and we figured whatever it was was either her imagination or it was gone. A few miles later same thing... this time her voice was panicked and when she removed her helmet she was rubbing her chin and all but tearing up. No redness or welting but there was a small bite mark (kind of like a small scrape). I check her helmet and there was the culprit. She had a stow away wasp in her chin flap. Then the last few hours between just before Vantage and all the way to Cle Elum we got beat up by very high winds and even rain over Snoqualmie pass. We even ran into Brent on the way back along I90. He came racing up behind us then turned off one exit before we stopped for a break from the gale force winds. All in all it was an adventure and we made it in one peice.

We didn't do much riding this year. Mostly due to my back but the one day of riding we did was spectacular as usual. We need to get another sticker for Friar up on that pole since the sign was changed out. Or we can just keep it as our memorial spot.

See you online and at next years RAID (reservation already made at the Adventure since we don't know what will happen with the Hound and the Adventure is newly remodeled).

So sorry to hear what you and Karen had to go through on your way home... the wasp, high winds, back problems and so on. The Raid hold significance to me ONLY because of all of you. I live here and can ride these mountain roads at will, but the friendships we've developed over the years cannot be understated. It's why I attend, that's for sure.

Meanwhile, what's happening with the Hound?

I will find a FJ sticker and place it proudly up at Fish Lake as soon as possible. Meanwhile that road remains in my mind and heart as true reminder of a great fellow who contributed hugely to all things good and Triumph. I am soooo glad I knew him!!

Cheers to life being good and the Raid being a part of that. Thank you one and all for showing up... meanwhile Anne-Marie expresses her sentiments in missing you all this year and hopes to make up for it in 2015.

I think the hound is for sale, i get e-mails about all Kooteney business going up for sale and they were one of them, apparently goes with all the retail space below them as well.

"The Raid hold significance to me ONLY because of all of you"

Ditto Keith, otherwise why would one stand around painfully in a parking lot for 2 days. Ya think the hotel would put something out there for people to sit on or something. I was a little supprised that there were no discounts for us this year at the Grand, i am pretty sure our group puts a few dollars into that place over the course of a few days or so. Aside from being there they don't do much of anything for us outside of normal bussiness.

I wonder what some of the other hotels would do? Things that makes ya go Hmmmmmm. Regardless, the ride is awsome, friends are awsome.....

Mike, before you make an accusation of what the now called Adventure does or doesn't do for us, perhaps you'd like to ask me. They do FAR more than anyone even thinks of. The rates went up because of the renovations and that wasn't a secret. If you don't like the pricing, please feel free to stay at any of the other hotels, preferably the ones that sponsor the event - the Hume and the Mountain Hound.

Seating - where would you expect them to put chairs out in the parking lot when we are trying to fit everyone's bikes in there? I get bitched at by certain people if they have to park on the street already. Putting chairs in there versus bikes...well, I would think you are the only one who might want seating if it was a choice.

As for stating they do nothing but their usual business, I know first hand everything they all do. I depend on Danny for one to deal with all the stuff that is impossible for me to deal with here. Even if I lived there I would depend on him for a lot that makes this event move forward. The staff goes way far and beyond than you will likely ever realize to ensure everyone has a great time. I have sat and watched while trying to sort out ****** that happens with them that NO ONE sees but me.

They have been partnered in this event for 12 years now. The relationship we have with them and what they do for us is bar none. So please don't speak out of turn.

I see nothing but smiles on everyone's faces when I look around. People having a great time. That's what matters. If you have constructive suggestions that we can look at implementing, by all means, email them to me. Just please stop bashing sponsors and partners.

To everyone who made it out, thank you for making this year's Raid one of the best. We had a boatload of new people which was fantastic and they all had such a great time.

Personally, I was very moved by the generosity shown to me with the surprise at the banquet. Still, I don't know what to say but thank you.

I enjoyed all of the great talks I had with nearly everyone. I got some great suggestions from long time participants that could easily be implemented.

Looking forward to next year!

Cheers!

Pardon me! I am pretty certain we all have a right to speak in turn or otherwise Liane without fear of being accused of anything frankly. And i see absolutley nothing written that suggests any form of "accusation" or "bashing" merely an observation which i deem significanlty different. I beleive you are reading something that is not there. I enjoyed the stay, loved the rooms (which i advised many of) As for what they do or don't do, its their business to do just that or don't have clubs out there,pretty simple stuff really, its what they do for a living, as a guest i need not be concerned with such things, its my holiday! And i pay for it. Did not say anything about the pricing just that there was no discount this year, would have been nice, but i paid my bill no tantrum involved and i will stay there again. As for the chairs merely a statement, there was talk of blocking of that street for a while, bikes in there people in the parking lot, how many bikes in the lot were not triumph bikes? Bikes properly parked, left how much room? enough for some tables chair? don't know, again merely posing the question. This is a members forum that affords an opportunity to discuss such things and should be afforded that continuted privalage.Agaion i will say;

"Regardless, the ride is awsome, friends are awsome....."


P.S..... i contributed to your purchase something nice for yourself fund Liane because you earned it and we do appreciate your efforts a great deal....do not mistaken debate, converstaion, observations et all for contempt, unappreciation or other. :-)

Some things that they do for us that are not possible for me to deal with include our liquor license and blocking the parking on the street that we can. We are trying to get that whole street blocked for the weekend but the City isn't going for it at this time. Danny has a lot of pull in that city so if anyone can achieve it, it is him. Trust me, we are trying. Until then, Danny and I tweak to make things more efficient each year. But know they do far more than their usual business for us. Does it benefit them? Sure. It also benefits us.

As for bikes that aren't Triumph, there are people that stay at the hotel that are not on Triumph and we cannot tell them they can't park in the lot. I understand that is a bone of contention for many people, including me, but it is what it is.

Danny and I had a long talk about ensuring that parking is much more organized for next year after Thursday's cluster. We have a plan in place that will hopefully appease everyone as it also includes a dedicated place for non-Triumphs out of the way of the Triumphs.

I don't think we will be able to have tables and chairs outside with the exception of under the tents. The bikes are the number one priority to have as many in the parking lot as possible for various reasons. I think we can all agree on that. But once I am out there next year and Danny and I get the parking plan in place, we will see what can be done. Thing is, given that is a parking lot to begin with, not a patio, there aren't many outdoor chairs to put out.

I am certain you are doing all that you can and in the best interest of the riders Liane, never an argument there from me or anyone i have spoken with, again we appreciate your efforts.

Thanks Mike. And I apologize that I obviously read your comment wrong. That power of tone, or no tone, in typed message. I just know how much some of our sponsors and partners step up to help make the event what it is.

I just noticed Liane's flag is bigger than Mike's