Bonneville America Forums Forums General Motorcycle Forums Rides, Rallies, & Events Ride to Robert's Town

Link to some photos of our ride to Evansville, Indiana from Merritt Island, Florida. 21 Oct 2003 to 2 Nov 2003.

Enjoy. This is like peering back in time. Seeing our motorsickles in previous attire. Younger faces , simpler times. The Ride to Robert's town has been dubbed the first unofficial bonnevilleamerica.com Rally.

But I'm on the inside, I'm lookin out...

Ahhhh.. sweet memories indeed old friend. Leaving from Dahlonega that oh so cold morning... man! was it dark that morning or what...The plans for the subsequent rallies being hatched over a fire in Roberts back yard. The Yellow Tavern where Vinton set off the car alarm with his pipes.. that night down by the Ohio river.. Garden of the Gods... The "Evansville Eight" I believe was what Edge called us.

Yes indeed. I do know where you live now! I think Lynn and I were already half frozen before we really started out that morning! That ride was the precursor for the Raj Mahal too. At least that was the first time a couple riding a pre-fire 02 Bonneville America stayed there. That sweet twisty ride on 19. Were it not for that roll south on 19, those little sidewall mold lingerings would have never been worn off. I still have those silk glove liners! Snekepete, freezing rain for the dink, backyard bonfires. That ride is when Lynn and I discovered the beautiful land of yota. sans yota Great rally that was.

What took me so long to update the fotopic archives? I have now added the photos taken at the 1st Georgia Rally too. Must be this 8 year old hard drive scaring me into archiving some of my more meaningful photos.

Nice job, Moe. I first began visting the site around the time the ride was getting underway and recall it well. This event was no doubt one of the things that helped to cement this extended family. It was great to see some of that scenery. There were a couple of faces that I didn't recognize. Are all those folks still amoung us?

these are wonderful images, moe. thanks for adding them to your gallery.

...garden of the gods...indeed.

Great pics Moe!!

I was on the site around 7-8 months by this time. I wanted to go with youse guys in the worst way. Friggin work got in the way AGAIN!

Looks like I missed a very good time.....

Ah... alas friend Edge hasn't been around for some time ( he incidently, is the creator of "The Freak" that a lot of you guys have on your bikes)... Vinton makes the rare appearance and Eric (backroads) formerly known as GATBAmerica still checks in with us now and then. The rest are still here..

I believe Pete and Moe have attended the most rallies but I think Greg, (Englishyankee) is trying for the title.

I fell into this ba.com world about a month prior to that gathering. Couldn't believe my fortune of actual pictures of other people riding Triumph motorcycles. Thanks for posting that Chy.

Vinton, Edge, the rider formerly known as GATBAmerica. Never met 'em, but I feel like I know them .

JH

I remember that too. I think I found this site in early 03? Sound right? I remember pat turning around because his bike turned around

I have a question that we were discussing at Pat's this year. I seem to remember hearing about a member getting killed in an accident, and a bunch of people riding down to where he lived, DC area maybe? VA? And Robert riding down also. Possibly BEFORE this ride.... Am I nuts? Hate to bring up bad juju, but I feel like I'm crazy lol

That was Mike Mahon... a van pulled out in front of him down in Atlanta.. Robert came down and rode with the folks for the memorial ride. Squid (another long lost brother) was instrumental in the planning I believe.. there were a few more members there if i remember correctly. Robert had some pics of the ride..

Matter of fact.. they are right here.
March 13 2003..

OMG! A pic of Robert's bike before bobbing (the right one)!!

Check out the bar end mirror and the sprocket cover....



I wonder if it still looks like this?

Yes!! That is it, I knew it was a Mike someone, and whenever I see the corrent member "mikemm03" I think of that guy, I think his username was similar...

Well sorry to bring up some bad memories guys, but maybe some good ones too Great pics!

Talk about bringing up Good old memories! It was really great to see those pics Moe... thanks. I wish there had been some taken on the ride back down South with Vinton, Chy/Di, and me... but we were too wet and cold to hold a camera. I recall buying a cup of coffee at one gas stop and shaking so bad that I spilt half the cup. But it sure felt good on my hands (for a few minutes)

As a coincidence - I was washing the bike a week or so ago and tinkling the bell hanging underneath and thinking of Mike Mahon. His contributions and memory is still vivid to me. We all met up at the Sports Authority with guys from the Atlanta Triumph Ducati shop and rode to the Vortex in Little Five Points (L5P)to drink "fortified beverages".

Vinton was late and we all made our first acquaintance with him. He suggested, that night, why not ride to Robert's town, he rode to ours? If I recall Robert only brought an extra pair of underwear and nothing else to change into. I guess it was a "one underwear ride"! LOL

later,
backroads

Okay, so I missed a great ride. What say we plan to do it again. Surely we can find out where Robert moved to and just "show up" to say hi... he,he,he. I hear Indiana can be beautiful this time of year . Well, maybe closer to summer.... ride safe.... Gordon

Eric! Good to hear from you again..
Yep.. that was an adventure.. snow on the way back from GOG that evening which gave way to the torrential rains that night. Leaving the restaraunt, Robert got to understand front fender removal/pouring rain = can't see a thing for the rooster tail.
The freezing rain and sleet moving in as we were rolling out that Sunday morning. Waiting for the Shoneys in Kentucky to open for some warmth.. inside and out.. The fantastic weather in southern Tennessee then the pouring rain in Georgia. By the time we got home, my leathers were so soaked I could barely lift my leg to get off the bike.
What a road trip...it was a blast..
Seems like there were three other members who met there but didn't attend the rides.. Rapid Roy who was a local police officer and the two other guys who met us at the demo truck. Can't recall their names though.
Lots of pix over in Event Photos .

Hello brother! Long time. Hope you are well and your family too. Was looking at the British in the Blue Ridge pics the other day.

Speaking of bells, just installed one on my sickle. (Thanks Ryan. )

Quote:

---

If I recall Robert only brought an extra pair of underwear and nothing else to change into. I guess it was a "one underwear ride"! LOL

---

That's the way he traveled to the first official Georgia Rally back in 2004 too. Speaking of, here's a shot that will reveal some members not seen in a while. Take a look see. Greg(Bayern710), Ben, Robert, Dave.
Then spiderman, mr. visual artist, dink and Clint Walker .

"The wind that blows, that comes and goes..."

ahhh but he wasn't in Ohio.

I've got 6 rallies plus a Daytona (no patch) under my belt so far. I'll eventually have ride ribbons plastered down my right arm down to the wrist but it might take me a while. One of these days I'll get out to one of the rallies like Idaho.

Sad story indeed. I remember that memorial ride well.
I had been a member of the board for a while at that time.
Benny, bit of a eerie feeling when I read my name attached to this.

Quote:

---

Yes!! That is it, I knew it was a Mike someone, and whenever I see the corrent member "mikemm03" I think of that guy, I think his username was similar...

---

I may have trailered , but I made it.
Sleet , freezing rain , snow and then great sunny weather
after I got out of the mountains of WV.
The people I met at that ralley will be friends for life.
As are most from the other rallies.

NO I did not make it to OH.
and I have no doubt that Greg will "King of the Rallies"
That is unless Moe starts making a few more trips over the
mason dixon line.

Eric,
Great to see you are still around, try to make the GA ralley
next year!!

Sorry about that Mike But I think his name was Mikem or something...

He posted as "gamike". I just looked it up. That was just a couple of months before I joined ba.com.

Wha's up Pete!??

Good to see you still kickin'. Thanks for the note & Shout out.

I'm doin well but with 2 teen age daughters I'm short on riding time - long on worry...

I guess I should change my name from "backroads" to suspicious & watchful LOL

I'll try to make the next GA rally (2007). I missed the last one as I was out of town working. I made the 2005 event but missed the 2004. I guess I'll hit every other one just by default.

Good to hear from you.

eric

Moe my bro!

I've thought of you many times over the years. No, I'm not in love just "curious"...

I forgot all about the "old rangoon"! Thanks for the pic.

I've had to change hunting clubs again. I moved to a new camp about 15 miles west of where I was before...Yatesville, GA.

We have about 5000+ acres to hunt on in mixed forest/pines/hardwood bottoms. I took a doe this past weekend to shut my wife up (proving that I'm actually hunting deer not just screwing around).

Made a huge pot of venison chili which was great in the cool weather this weekend (and helped me force down a few more beers!)

The property is covered up with turkey - which makes me think of you and Robert. All of us being turkey callers/hunters. The bad part(s) of this new club are the extra costs (almost $1K) and that we can't bring guests. I can bring my immediate family but no one else. Sorry buddy, I'd love to invite you up for a hunt but it seems that GA hunters hate guys from FL and AL???

Keep in touch.

eric

Eric - Great to hear from ya. We all missed you in GA. this year. I even asked about you in NY. Hope to see you soon.

Good times.

Ryan

Ryan, Thanks for the personal note. I was thinking of you just this weekend as I was stuck in traffic resulting from the AMS race this past Sunday.

I was at deer camp in the Macon area and had to pass through McDonough, GA on the way back north... traffic is really not the word for it - more like low speed parking!

I'll try to make the GA Rally this next time. Unfortunately I've got to spend $$$ before hand. I need a new chain, new sprockets, new front skin - and who knows what else will come up before the rally.

Great times!

eric

Luckily, that is not "our" track, but I know that they have terrible traffic problems.

Ride and hunt safe.

Ryan

Not to make you old guys feel old or anything. But after reading this thread I realized this ride took place the year after I got out of high skool.

There's always the Nor'East in September Greg, don;t forget that.

If I was born I would have been there!!

oh snap!

Okay I'm on Pat's side on this one....boy.

I thought you just choose to have short hair...that must get cold in the northlands.

The hair on my head is just migrating south as I move from the summer of my life to the fall.