2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

RAM Mounts Ad

3TOURING NEWS

In Every IssueBiker Billy 26-27Classified Ads 7Event Listings 13Gold Rush Registration 11Gold Rush - Billings, MT Info 10GWTA Business Members 19GWTA Contact Information 31Honda Tech 28In Memory 6Insurance Talk 24New Member Listing 252010 RaveNRide 30

Touring News is published 10 times per year for Gold Wing Touring Association (GWTA) in the United States of America. The knownoffice of publication is GWTA, 2415 Directors Row, Suite K, Indianapolis, IN 46241. $39 of the annual membership dues go toward aone-year subscription to GWTA’s Touring News Magazine; however, the subscription cannot be deducted from dues. Postmaster: Sendaddress changes to: GWTA, P.O. Box 42403, Indianapolis, IN 46242-0403. Periodicals postage paid in Indianapolis, Indiana and atadditional mailing offices.

Add-On Accessories 27AIM 23Americade 15Andrus 7Arai Helmets 5Big Bike Parts 6Biker Billy 26Cartier Marketing 19Chapel Australian Bike Tours 4Chrome Crazy 24Diamond Gusset 7Lawrenceville Honda 21Leisure-Lite 28Markel American Insurance Co. 32Neosho Fiberglass 22Powerlet 15RAM Mounts 2RoadRUNNER 18The Engraver 13Time Out Trailers 15

Advertiser ListingGWTA DepartmentsGWTA DepartmentsGWTA DepartmentsGWTA DepartmentsGWTA DepartmentsHelping Hands 6Region A Board Member Introduction 25Rider Education 12Webmaster 8-9

FeaturesFeaturesFeaturesFeaturesFeaturesRegion D Feature 20-23California Dreamin’ 26First Responder 14-15How I Survived NV Hwy 50 29Illinois Chapter H Food Drive 7Northeast Tennesse’s Best Rides 19Playtime in the Smokies 16-18

Canadian members: Beginning April 1, 2009 an additionalpayment of $40 USD is required annually in order to receiveTouring News Magazine. This additional fee exclusively coversthe extra postage required to mail Touring News to Canada.

Send articles, photos & changes to:Touring News Magazine, P.O. Box 42403

Indianapolis, IN 46242-0403Email: touring.news@gwtaco.com

4 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Last _______________________ First _______________________Last _______________________ First _______________________Last _______________________ First _______________________Last _______________________ First _______________________Last _______________________ First _______________________Last _______________________ First _______________________Mailing Address__________________________________________City ______________State/Province ______ Zip/Postal __________Home Ph. ___________________ Work Ph. ___________________Email __________________________________________________Membership dues: $ __________ for __________ years.I would also like to make a donation of $ _____ to Helping Hands.Total $ _________ (Please make checks payable to GWTA)The following information must be filled out if paying by credit card:

VISA/MC/AMEX _________________________________________Exp. Date __________ CVV2 (3 or 4 digit code on back) _________Billing Address _____________________ Billing Zip ____________Authorized Signature _____________________________________

Memberships: 1 Year 2 Years 3 YearsIndividual $45 $90 $120Family $55 $110 $150

GGGGGWWWWWTTTTTA MemberA MemberA MemberA MemberA Membership Applicationship Applicationship Applicationship Applicationship Application

PLEASE NOTE: All funds must be payable in U.S. Funds only.DO NOT SEND CASH.

Mail completed form to:G W TA Membership Services

P.O. Box 42403Indianapolis, IN 46242-0403Toll Free: 1-800-960-4982

Ph: 317-243-6822Fax: 317-243-6833

Email: membership@gwtaco.com

For the Blue Line (toll-free helpservice), the services I can provideare as follows:___ A - Bike/Trailer Pickup___B - Phone Calls___C - Tent Space___D - Lodging___E - Tools___I/we cannot offer services forthe Blue Line.

Note: $39 of annual membership dues in-cludes a one-year subscription to GWTA’sTouring News magazine. Subscriptioncannot be deducted from dues.

Recruiting credit to_______________Membership # ___________________

Please assign me to chapter ____in the state/province of _________.

___ N E W___RENEWAL: Mem # ___________

Updated 7/2009

Gold Rush XXIII Scrapbook RulesGold Rush XXIII Scrapbook RulesGold Rush XXIII Scrapbook RulesGold Rush XXIII Scrapbook RulesGold Rush XXIII Scrapbook Rules

Scrapbooks can be entered in the contest by a chapter, state or

region. Bring your completed scrapbook with you to Gold Rush

in Billings, MT. All scrapbooks will be judged on the following:

Theme: The theme of each scrapbook should be about

GWTA events (it does not have to be the same event and

may include several different GWTA gatherings.)

Creativity: How well the embellishments are used along

with color and design of each page.

Neatness: Pages must be 12" x 12" (standard size); Is the

scrapbook easy to understand? Are the pages in order?

Do the pages stay intact as they are turned?

Events: Labeling of events such as the date it took place

(only year and month needed) and where the event took

place.

Questions? Contact Tony & Diane Manry

at 765-934-4696 or tdm4696@embarqmail.com

5TOURING NEWS

IT’S NOT JUST A WHOLE NEW HELMET, IT’S A WHOLE NEW CLASS OF HELMET:

Simple complexityIts “Arai look” can underwhelm at fi rst and

hide its seriously advanced performance because Arai’s mantra is rider protection above

all, not molded-in wings or shell gimmicks.

Rock-solid street stability Sculpted Lower Hyper-Ridge anchors stability

with the top diffuser and lowers center of gravity for a very lightweight feeling.

Extreme peripheral viewSame expanded side-to-side awareness as

Corsair-V racing helmet.

Extraordinary comfort and quietNewly-sculpted cheekpads actually cradle your head from underneath, while also blocking the

major source of wind noise.

A New Benchmarkin street helmet design, comfort and function

as only Arai can do it.

THIS COULD BE YOUR FIRST ARAI OR YOUR TENTH.

BUT SLIDE THE LATEST RESULT OF ARAI’S DECADES OF HANDMADE

CRAFTSMANSHIP OVER YOUR HEAD, GO FOR A SHORT RIDE, AND

YOU’LL KNOW. YOU’LL JUST KNOW: IF I’M GOING TO SPEND MY

MONEY, I WANT SOMETHING THIS GOOD TO SHOW FOR IT.

CHEAP FALLS APART, GETS LOOSE AND NOISY, FITS FUNKY,

SHORTENS RIDES. GOOD FITS. GOOD FEELS BETTER. GOOD LASTS.

THE RX-Q ANSWERS TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS:

HOW DO YOU DESIGN A HELMET OPTIMIZED FOR THE STREET?

HOW CAN ARAI DO IT THAT MUCH BETTER?

BECAUSE ARAI CONCENTRATES ON THE DETAILS, NOT SHORT CUTS.

BECAUSE EVERY ELEMENT IS CREATED TO PERFORM BEST

AT REAL-WORLD SPEEDS.

ROCK STABLE AERODYNAMICS.

FRESH AIR EVERYWHERE.

EVEN MORE COMFORTABLE.

AND VERY, VERY QUIET.

ARAI’S BRAND NEW

Convince yourself at www.AraiAmericas.com/RXQ

6 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

There have been many people ask us for the names of thepeople who have received grants from Helping Hands. For privacyreasons, we never release the names of the people who havereceived a grant, but I will tell you a story about one couple whoreceived a Helping Hands grant over eleven years ago. They received a grant after their daughter broke her neck whenshe dove into their swimming pool one August afternoon afterschool. Thankfully, she was swimming with a friend, Paul, whowas able to get her out of the pool and get help. That one small accident left her unable to walk on her own forthe rest of her life. Her recovery involved surgery, several weeksin rehab, and a wheelchair as her main means of transportation. After rehab, their home needed a ramp so she could get inside.A bathroom remodel was needed and involved widening the doorso she could get in, a new sink, because the old one blocked toomuch of the space to get to the tub, then they needed a new floorbecause the builder did not place the flooring under the old sinkand the new one was much smaller. Next they needed a new bed,because she could not get into the old one. The parents needed tomove into her old bedroom because the only bathroom doorwaythat could be enlarged for the wheelchair was the bathroom inthe master bedroom. Because she needed someone to stay at the hospital with herfor about two weeks, her mother missed work and did not get

paid because she had no vacation time to use. Meals out, trips toand from home to the hospital and then to rehab all added up. So you can see, even with both parents working and insurance,there are so many things that just don’t get covered and theexpenses can add up rather quickly. Thankfully, they received a Helping Hands grant and lots ofhelp from their friends at both their new and old GWTA chapters.Kentucky also raised some extra cash for them at their state rallyand their family helped with all kinds of support. This story does have a happy ending. Our daughter, Adriane,has finished college, is married and has a son who will soon befive. So, if you didn’t already guess, we are the couple who receivedthat Helping Hands grant over eleven years ago. Now it’s time to send a big “THANK YOU” for your donation toHelping Hands. Our thanks go to Chapter A in Colorado, FrontRange Gold, Chapter Z in Washington, Sequim Valley Wings, JackChaney and Ruth Dawson of Chapter I in Iowa. We also receiveddonations from Wings over Dixie, Chapter A of Alabama andNishna Valley Wings, Chapter P of Iowa. Donations were received in memory of Joe Mitchelem from theSequim Valley Wings, Chapter Z , Washington, Richard andMargaret Finch of Omak, WA and Joel and Jennifer Dakers ofLansing, MI. Thank You All.

Dennis & Nancy SeeryHelping Hands Directors

Charlie DickersonCharlie DickersonCharlie DickersonCharlie DickersonCharlie DickersonRich MillerRich MillerRich MillerRich MillerRich Miller

Mary PorterMary PorterMary PorterMary PorterMary PorterBruce WatsonBruce WatsonBruce WatsonBruce WatsonBruce Watson

7TOURING NEWS

For Sale: 1993 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500cc. Windshield, saddlebags, water-cooled. Asking $2700. Contact Roger or Carolyn at801-390-6407 or 435-833-9239.

For Sale: 2002 Kawasaki Nomad 1500FI, 19,000 miles. Includestrailer hitch, luggage rack and oversized lowers. $7500. ContactChuck Holland at holland_chas@hotmail.com orgeorgannel@aol.com.

For Sale: 600 VLX Shadow Deluxe, 2007, pearl blue, runs great,2300 miles, always garaged. Saddle bags, windshield and otherextras. Great mileage. $5200. Just like new!! Contact Richard orLynn at 417-877-1561, 417-838-8067 or richard-lynn@att.net.

For Sale: 2004 Suzuki Volusia, white and grey with Romani Lehmantrike kit added at the factory. This trike has only 2940 miles andresides in Sequim, WA. The upgrades include: floor boards,crash bars, riding bags, luggage rack with carrying case, LEDbrake lights which are attached to the luggage rack for bettervisibility, leather tank and windshield pouch, and blue light groundeffects. Asking $15,000. Please call Jennie at 425-422-1827 orEd at 425-231-4000.

Every year the food pantries in our area get stocked by thelocal high schools. They have a big contest with local mediahelping to promote the effort. Schools compete fiercely forbragging rights as the school collecting the most food donations. There are frequent news stories and additional fund raisingefforts going on to help increase public awareness. The food pantries problems come during the summer whenschools are not in session. That is when people get involved withother activities and the donations dwindle down to almostnothing. Add to this the economy issues we are facing and itpaints a very bad picture: People in need and pantry shelvesalmost empty. As a chapter, the River City Riders chose June as the month tocollect food. No newspaper, radio or television stations werecalled. This was a community service effort and not focused onpublicity. In situations where a can or two is usually collectedthe chapter responded with bags and cases full. Pictured below are some of the members loading the donationsfor delivery.

IL Chapter HIL Chapter HIL Chapter HIL Chapter HIL Chapter HRiver City RidersRiver City RidersRiver City RidersRiver City RidersRiver City Riders

FFFFFood Driveood Driveood Driveood Driveood Drive

8 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Welcome to the 1st of many articles. Here youwill find information about web site development,computer graphics, fonts, email etiquette, what toolsto use, and more. To begin with, I am not an expertby any means. This will be a place to share tips,tricks and ideas that should benefit most of youwebbies. I love to be creative. Art has filled my life sincegrade school. And I absolutely love Photoshop. Inmy opinion, it’s the best application ever developed.So, you’ll be seeing a lot of tips and tricks aboutthat. Being into graphics helps immensely with

creating web pages. They depend heavily on images, colors and fonts. And being able to work images, only enhance your capabilitiesof creating “the” page. We’ll talk about the present website and what’s in store for its future. Times are changing so we need to keep up with currenttechnology. From time to time I will include a list of helpful items that you will find on our website for printing if you like. They willbe marked to indicate that. Our website is loaded with lots of goodies and information. If you are not familiar with GWTA.org, you should browse thru it.Check out the ‘Directors Desk’. It’s basically a graphical site map. It’s fun and easy to use. We have a trike site, document area, eventpostings, and classified ads section. You can even order apparel, patches, badges, and stickers on line. There’s something foreveryone. One feature that isn’t used much is the Message Board. Those that use it now are very friendly and would love morecompany. Dive in, give it a go. See what you can start. You’ll be surprised how many others share your interests or viewpoints.

Let’s get into some tips and tools. We’ll hit some of the simple stuff first. Developing web sites is very rewarding and challenging. Working within your comfort zone, what ever knowledge level that may be,will still produce a functional website just by following some simple rules.

• Use jpg images if you want lots of color (i.e. photos, detailed images, etc)• Use gif files for items that do not require a lot of color (i.e. buttons, pointers, etc)• Group your content in cells to keep your paragraphs from bunching up on each other• Minimize the use of animations and flashing text• Most importantly, keep it up to date

OK, now what? How about terms and acronyms? Do you know the meaning of the web terms you see all the time that you never paid too muchattention to? Lets check some out.

Web Available

Web client - the computer and software you use to access Web pagesHypertext - documents containing embedded links (hyperlinks) to other documents or other parts of the same documentURL - Uniform Resource Locator, the address of a document on the World Wide Web. Browsers allow you to enter a known address ofa Web server or a specific document within that server. Addresses begin with http://, ftp://, gopher://, WAIS://, file://Protocols - sets of communication rules that allow clients and servers to communicate accurately with each otherLynx - a text-only browserWWW – World Wide Web. Not the same as the Internet. It’s the way to access the information on the Internet. It’s like your secretpassword decoder ring that allows you to tap into the info on the Internet and interprets it into a format that you understand.HTTP – Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. It’s an agreed-upon method for formatting and transmitting messages on the WWW.HTML – Hyper Text Markup Language. It’s the language used to build websites. Next time you are on a website, go to your browsersmenu and choose View, then Source. A window will open showing you the html that is used to put that site together. It’s not veryexciting to look at unless you’re a programmer and like that kind of thing ;-)FTP – File Transfer Protocol. When your site is complete, this is what you will use to transfer your web pages to a server so they canbe accessed by the Internet.

Domain Extensions that are available to the public:

.com = commercial

.net = network

.org = organization

.info = information

9TOURING NEWS

.biz = business

.name = name

.pro = professional

The following extensions are not available to the public. You have to be a part of that specific institution in order to use itsparticular domain extension.

.gov = government

.mil = military

.edu = education

.aero = aerospace

.coop = cooperatives

.museum = museums

The following file types and extensions are image related.

We’ll start with Lossy first since it will be mentioned in the items below it.

LossyLossy file compression results in lost data and quality from the original version. Lossy compression is typically associatedwith image files, such as JPEGs, but can also be used for audio files, like MP3s or AAC files. The “lossyness” of an image filemay show up as jagged edges or pixelated areas. In audio files, the lossyness may produce a watery sound or reduce thedynamic range of the audio.

Raster ImageMost images you see on your computer screen are raster graphics. Pictures found on the Web and photos you import fromyour digital camera are raster graphics. They are made up of grid of pixels, commonly referred to as a bitmap.

Vector GraphicsUnlike JPEGs, GIFs, and BMP images, vector graphics are not made up of a grid of pixels. Instead, vector graphics arecomprised of paths, which are defined by a start and end point, along with other points, curves, and angles along the way.

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)GIFs are based on indexed colors, which is a palette of at most 256 colors. This helps greatly reduce their file size.

JPG (jpeg) (Joint Photographic Experts Group)While JPEG images can contain colorful, high-resolution image data, it is a lossy format, which means some quality is lostwhen the image is compressed.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)This format was designed as an alternative to the GIF format (which has been plagued by copyright issues). Like GIFs, PNGfiles are lossless, meaning they don’t lose any detail when they are compressed.

TIF (tiff) (Tagged Image File Format)The TIFF format can handle color depths ranging from 1-bit to 24-bit.

BMP (Bitmap File Format)The BMP format is a commonly used raster graphic format for saving image files. It was introduced on the Windowsplatform, but is now recognized by many programs on both Macs and PCs.

Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?

You will find the above available on the website with more details from alink on my web page. This link is found on our main page listed as ‘Web DevTips’. On my page you will also see references for all kinds of cool stuff.http://www.gwta.org/webmaster/index.htm

I hope you’ve found this article useful.

Thanx for coming.John Hunrath, GWTA National Webmaster,Email comments or questions to hunrath@comcast.net

10 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

11TOURING NEWS

Gold Rush XXIII: July 19-22, 2010Gold Rush XXIII: July 19-22, 2010Gold Rush XXIII: July 19-22, 2010Gold Rush XXIII: July 19-22, 2010Gold Rush XXIII: July 19-22, 2010

Make checks and money orders, US funds, payable to: GWTA

Visa/Mastercard/Amex #_________________________________________Expiration Date_______

Address_______________________City_____________State/Province_____ Zip/Postal_________

E-mail_________________________Will you use: Motel Campground Other

Name ( A C R P )__________________________Name ( A C R P ) __________________________

GWTA Chapter/St./Pr._______________ Membership #__________ Other Affiliation______________

Name ( A C R P )__________________________Name ( A C R P ) __________________________

Circle appropriate codes after name: A=Adult, C=Under 16, R=Rider, P=Passenger. Use name wanted on ID

x

Children under 16 free (not eligible for drawing)

=

= $=

x$

free

xGWTA MEMBER Registration before 3/1/2010 $50

HOST HOTEL - Crowne Plaza Hotel: 27 N. 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101 406-252-7400; $92 per nightmention Group Code GA312930 / Wash 0Best Western ClockTower Inn: 2511 1st Ave North, Billings, MT 59101; 406-259-5511Reservations 800-628-9081; $81 per night plus tax.Boothill Inn & Suites: 242 E. Airport Rd, Billings, MT 59105 406-245-2000; $79 per night plus tax.Dude Rancher Lodge: 415 N. 29th St., Billings, MT 59101; 800-221-3302; $69 per night plus tax.

$

Billings, MT

Billing Address____________________________Billing Zip Code __________CVV2 Code_______

Cardholder Signature______________________________________________________________

REFUNDS MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING BEFORE JULY 1, 2010. NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUEDWITHOUT WRITTEN NOTICE. CONFIRMATION POSTCARDS WILL BE MAILED FOR ALL REGISTRA-TIONS RECEIVED AT THE OFFICE. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION POSTCARDCONTACT THE OFFICE BEFORE THE NEXT CUT OFF DATE!! PLEASE NOTE: CONFIRMATIONEMAILS FROM ONLINE ORDERS ARE NOT SENT FROM THE OFFICE AND DO NOT CONFIRM THATYOUR REGISTRATION WAS RECEIVED & PROCESSED.

1-800-960-GWTA (4982); www.gwta.org; P.O. Box 42403, Indianapolis, IN 46242

T-shirt Pre-orderQty Size

MDSM

LGXL2XL3XL4XL

GRXXIII

PreOrder

T-shirtsTotal $

Welcome Dinner; Sunday, July 18th$12 x Gold Rush XXIII T-Shirts $$15

=

Welcome Dinner will be Sunday, July 18that the Crowne Plaza (Host Hotel). Time TBA.

NON MEMBER Registration $60

x $=

12 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Rider Education Levels attained since November-December 2009Touring News:

Commitment: Joseph Weishaar, Region F, MI, Chapter M; LouKulcsar, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lynne Kulcsar, Region F, MI,Chapter M; Larry Seden, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Henry Mellott,Region F, MI, Chapter M; Denise Mellott, Region F, MI, Chapter M;Wayne Walters, Region F, MI, Chapter M.Level I: Joseph Weishaar, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lou Kulcsar,Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lynne Kulcsar, Region F, MI, Chapter M;Larry Seden, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Henry Mellott, Region F, MI,Chapter M; Denise Mellott, Region F, MI, Chapter M; WayneWalters, Region F, MI, Chapter M.Level II: Joseph Weishaar, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lou Kulcsar,Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lynne Kulcsar, Region F, MI, Chapter M;Larry Seden, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Henry Mellott, Region F, MI,Chapter M; Denise Mellott, Region F, MI, Chapter M; WayneWalters, Region F, MI, Chapter M.Level III: Doug Sullivan, Region C, NE, Chapter W; Michelle Sullivan,Region C, NE, Chapter W; Joseph Weishaar, Region F, MI, ChapterM; Lou Kulcsar, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lynne Kulcsar, Region F,MI, Chapter M; Larry Seden, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Henry Mellott,Region F, MI, Chapter M; Denise Mellott, Region F, MI, Chapter M;Wayne Walters, Region F, MI, Chapter M.Level IV: Doug Sullivan, Region C, NE, Chapter W; MichelleSullivan, Region C, NE, Chapter W; Joseph Weishaar, Region F, MI,Chapter M; Lou Kulcsar, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Lynne Kulcsar,Region F, MI, Chapter M; Larry Seden, Region F, MI, Chapter M;Henry Mellott, Region F, MI, Chapter M; Denise Mellott, Region F,MI, Chapter M; Wayne Walters, Region F, MI, Chapter M. Well winter is here. Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Yearsparties are behind us, so it’s a great time to start planning toattend Gold Rush in Billings. Go on the internet and type “thingsto do in Billings, MT” and you’ll be surprised when your screenlights up with so many pages to look at. Next look up all of thestates between your home and Billings and then look up all of thegreat places along the way to visit, including alternate routes.Now is the time to start planning for a fantastic trip and whatbetter thing to do, on a cold winter day, than to just sit aroundand dream. During Gold Rush Wednesday is always dedicated to Safetyand members are asked to wear their Safety shirts if they havethem. Some may not know that we introduced a second color(lime green) as a choice in your Safety shirt selection. You cancontact the National office and place your order now for yourchoice of the traditional orange or a new lime green shirt to wearon Wednesday at Gold Rush. Safety shirts are available in a poloor a long sleeve t-shirt. As a part of our Safety training we have always included First

Aid/CPR, but a California member, John Reynolds, brought to myattention we haven’t addressed “First Responder Training.” Lookfor a series of articles in the future months addressing just thatsubject. It’s of prime importance to know and understand theproper sequence of the way to respond at an accident scene. Themore organized a person is at the scene of an accident the betterchance the victim has for a full recovery. I recommend that the Chapter RED’s save those articles andthen use them at a practice session during Chapter training.Proper response can mean the difference between life and death. As always, Judy and I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable rideevery time. The most important part of any ride is to arrive atyour destination safely.

In Friendship,Don & Judy Coonskf6ctj@charter.netGWTA National Rider Education Directors

Editors Note:

In the October 2009 issue we failed to include the winner ofthe chapter newsletter competition with the Gold Rush Recapinformation: Congratulations to Rachel Shaddix of AlabamaChapter A!

Also, a correction in the Bike Show awards - Robert Lindseyreceived 2nd Place in the Trike category.

We apologize for these errors and thank you for bringingthem to our attention.

13TOURING NEWS

GWTA NATIONAL EVENTSGold Rush XXIII July 19-22, 2010. Billings, MT. Gold Rush XXIIIwill be held in Billings, MT in 2010. The host hotel is the CrownePlaza. Please see the registration form in this issue of TouringNews for hotel and rally info or contact the GWTA National Officeat 800-960-4982.

REGION AGreen Freeze XXIII, January 16th, February 20th, March 20th, 2010.Auburn, WA. It’s time again for our annual Green Freeze. It is our23rd year and we have a new ending location for you. Come andjoin us the 3rd Saturday of January, February, and March. Startinglocation is the same at Hinshaw’s Motorcycle Store, 1611 W.Valley Hwy S., Auburn, WA 98001, 253-939-7164. Registration isfrom 9am – 10:30am. $20 still gets you all 3 rides (kids 15 &under $10) but with a new ending location this year we mustcharge $10 for the wonderful lasagna banquet you have all cometo love. We hope you will pre-register by the February ride so weknow how much to make. Banquet is optional. Registration formsavailable at www.auburnvalleywings.org. Send your registrationto: Lisa Alberts, 33404 40th Ave. SW, Federal Way, WA 98023. Anyquestions please call 253-874-9787 or Cameron at 253-208-9867.REGION BBike Day at Buckle & Belts. So. California. March 7, 2010.Chapter Q Charity Poker Run. So. California. April 24, 2010.Ho Bo Reunion. Bishop, CA at Brown’s Campground. May 1 - 2,2010.2nd Annual SunRunners Rally & Ride. Alamogordo, NM. May 7-9,2010. Friday includes guided and self guided rides and an eveningmeet and greet dinner. Saturday includes more rides or anoptional poker run to benefit the GWTA Helping Hands programand celebrate Alamogordo Cycle Center’s 11th anniversary. Sundaythere will be more rides. Host hotel to be determined. Camping –Road Runner RV Park 575-437-3003. For more info contact JohnGilsdorf at 575-491-0994 or jgilsdorf@tularosa.net.Chapter O Straw O Berry Ride. So. California. May 16, 2010.Memorial Day Weekend Run for Charity. So. California. May 28-31, 2010.Chapter J Watermelon Run for Charity. So. California. June 6,2010.Chapter L Fun Run. So. California. June 12, 2010.SO CA State Poker Run. So. California. August 29, 2010.State Picnic. Tehachapi, CA. September 16-18, 2010.Chapter W Poker Run. Southern California. October 24, 2010.

REGION BChapter L Support Our Troops Run. So. California. Nov. 14, 2010.

REGION CGWTA Chapter NE-W’s Cold Tush Challenge 2010, “Happy NE-WYear!!”, January 1, 2010. Location – anywhere, as long as it getsthe bike outside the garage. On New Year’s Day, get on your bikeand ride to a destination of your choice as weather and roadconditions permit – Safety First. Ride with a group, a chapter, afriend, or alone. Email a picture of your “event” to Michelle Sullivanat u2farmer@wirelessinet.net and we’ll make a slideshow of allthe participants!Iowa Chapter ‘I’ 6th Annual February Thaw, February 13, 2010.Des Moines, IA. Theme is Love “bears” all! Location is the BaymontInn, on NE 14th St., Des Moines, IA. For more info contact DennisIrvin at gwtaiowachapteri@gmail.com or 515-402-5189.

REGION DWings Over Dixie Mardi Gras Event, February 12-15, 2010, Mobile,AL. GWTA Chapter A, Wings Over Dixie Dragons, are cordiallyinviting GWTA members to join us for a special Mardi Gras event.“The Biker’s Ball” sponsored by ABBA Shrine (Charity Event). OnThursday night be our guest at a get acquainted supper. Fridayevening is steak night and street dance to a live band. $12 perplate at the ABBA Shrine. On Saturday there will be a poker run,bike show, games and vendors. Saturday evening is the Biker’sBall. Buffet style dinner included. Your ticket, $100 per couple,includes a chance to win a 2010 Harley Soft Tail. Sunday is apolice escorted all bike parade through Mobile. Reservationsare required and limited. Call Jerry or Liz at 251-679-8580 forinfo. Camp sites and housing available.2010 GWTA Tennessee State Rally, May 21-23, 2010, RaccoonMountain Campground, exit 174 on I-24 just outside ofChattanooga, TN. Friday night will be social time. Saturday is agroup breakfast, quick meeting, then a poker run to raise fundsfor Helping Hands. Saturday evening we will have a catered mealat the campground followed by some go-kart races and socialtime and maybe some off-bike games. Sunday you can do someother site seeing before heading back home. We will have agroup of reserved campsites available. Larger RV’s can have aspot for $30/night, smaller RV’s can get a spot for $28/night. Pop-up motorcycle campers can share a spot to save costs, no morethan 2 campers per spot. For more info on the campground seewww.raccoonmountain.com. Contact Bryan Seery, TN StateDirector, at 615-216-5881 or BSeery@gmail.com for more info.

14 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

This month and in upcoming issues we will review the steps involved in being a “First Responder” to the scene of an accident. Pleasetake the time to review this information and pass it along to others.

As motorcycle riders we are all aware of the inherent dangers and risks that we take when we mount our bikes and head out toenjoy a good ride. These dangers and risks become all too apparent when we are faced with situations when a fellow rider is involvedin an accident. The first hour of trauma is termed the “Golden Hour” by the Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Trauma victims have the bestsurvival chance if they are in surgery within one hour after the accident. Qualified medical personnel are really the people whoshould be handling everything, but until they arrive there are things that we, untrained motorcyclists, can do to help the medicalprofessionals before they arrive. At an accident site, peoples’ adrenaline will be going full-blast and the most important thing is for at least one person to keepcalm and to think. The first thing you need to do when arriving on an accident scene is to stop and take two deep breaths to help youremain calm. This is especially important if you fit the ‘bad biker’ image; the sight of you being overly excited would not be terriblyreassuring to anyone. All the other people who are pumped and want to help will do whatever they are told to do by a calm personwho seems to be in control and knows what he or she is doing. If you’re excited and out of control, everyone will run around wastingprecious time in an unorganized fashion.

1. Get to victim, establish communication, reassure

After a person has gone down, they will be in a confused and scared state. They probably don’t know what happened whenthey went down. They may be confused, frantic, etc., and often the only thing on their mind will be their bike. It is importantto reassure them and to make sure they will not try to move or get to their bike. Say something on the order of, “You’ve beenin a motorcycle accident. It is important that you do not try to move. An ambulance is coming. My name is ______” Be careful what you say around the victim, even if they are unconscious. Hearing works in the unconscious state and ifyou say something like, “Boy, is this dude messed up bad! Maybe we shouldn’t call an ambulance after all!”, it’s going toregister at some level with the person and can do nothing but harm. How you say things will be important as what you say;keep (or at least sound) calm and it will reduce the panic of everyone else present.

2. Safety factors

An accident scene can be a hectic place with a lot of things going on at once. It is important to keep safety in mind; if youare helping someone lying in the middle of the road and a semi comes barreling down on both of you, you aren’t going to dothat person much good.

a. Traffic. If people are available, get someone up road and down road to wave down traffic. This is especiallyimportant in tight twisties where they may not have time to stop after seeing the accident site.

b. Hazardous material spills (gas, oil, brake fluid). People and vehicles will slip on this stuff. If ambulance personnelslip on oil while carrying the victim, it is bad. Either clean it off the road or indicate to everyone where it is.

c. Power lines. If power lines are down around or near the victim, ambulance crews may not be able to get near theperson until they are shut off. It is important to call the local utility company to get these live wires turned off at thesame time an ambulance is called. If the ambulance arrives and they are still live, they will have to call the utilitycompany and wait for them to come out, wasting a lot of precious time in the Golden Hour.

d. Fire. People who smoke tend to light up under stress. Ask these people to either extinguish their smokes or moveaway from the flammable materials and/or bikes. It is easy to forget something obvious like this in a stressfulsituation like an accident scene.

e. Safety circle. Establish a few people around the immediate accident scene to help direct traffic, to point out fluidspills, and to warn people who may want to light up cigarettes.

f. Bike. If the bike is not severely damaged, and looks like it will roll, get a couple people to pick the bike up and rollit to the side of the road. Leave a rock or other marker if necessary to document where the bike was.

First RespondersPart 1 of 4

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g. Best-trained individual (medically-wise)attends to victim (U-ABCC).

The person with the most training (first aid,CPR, etc.) attends directly to the victim. Assumingthe victim is lying on the ground, this personshould sit behind their head and shouldstabilize his or her head to avoid unnecessarymovement (i.e. hold their head still). Assumethe person has a back/neck injury and anyunnecessary movement could risk paralysis.

This person should be doing “U-ABCC” at thearrival on the scene and every 5 minutesthereafter

§ U - Urgency. Try to determine if theperson’s injuries are (a) minor or (b)major, i.e. urgent. If unsure, it is urgent.

§ A - Airway. Is there something to impedetheir airway? Gravel in the helmet,something down the throat? This needsto be cleared immediately, withouthelmet removal if at all possible.

§ B - Breathing. Is the person breathing?Determined by listening, watching theirchest, feeling for breath, etc.

§ C - Circulation. Check the pulse on thethroat initially and subsequently ontheir wrist. This is the carotid artery,right next to the wind pipe/adam’sapple on either side. If pulse is notpresent, remove helmet if necessaryand begin CPR immediately. Whenchecking pulse on their wrist, do notcheck with thumb; use the two fingersnext to the thumb.

§ C - Cervical Spine Immobilization.Support the victim’s head and makesure they don’t move it. Consider everymotorcycle accident a head injury,consider every motorcycle accident acervical/back injury! This is importanteven if they feel they can move theirhead normally! When you talk to thevictim initially, add on a short bit toreassure them; “You’ve been in amotorcycle accident. It is importantthat you don’t move. My name is Jason.Answer me without moving your head.We don’t know if you have a neck injuryor not. An ambulance is on the way.”

In the next issue steps 3 through 7 will be reviewed. This informationwas taken from molenda.com/accident.html.

16 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Remember recess? It was every kid’s refuge from the old threeRs. Fresh air and freedom reigned and rules were the exception.Unwinding was your sole responsibility and frolicsome fun ensuedfor no apparent reason. Most motorcyclists know how to get thatfeeling back and many of them head for the Western NorthCarolina Mountains to romp on the adult equivalents of those oldchildhood playgrounds. The only bad part about recess was toughing out the last fewminutes before the doors were flung open. The big hand’s lethargic

crawl only heightened the intensityof the teacher’s eyes prowling theroom, searching out furtive glanceslike a pair of spotlight beams in TheGreat Escape. Avoiding her piercinggaze just before the big breakoutseemed as fruitless as squirmingto dodge the bullets of a firingsquad. All you could do was avoideye contact, envy the kids that gotto go outside a period earlier, andpray you wouldn’t be the last onecalled upon to answer any mathhomework questions. And whenthat bell did ring, the simultaneous

release of tension and energy gushed forth in a wave of relief thatwas almost palpable. Funny how some things never change. In the last few daysbefore Kathy and I were scheduled to leave for our Shamrock Tourin Bryson City, North Carolina, the clocks ticked slower, the easiestchores were studies in tedium, and more than once I cursed thepeople who had the foresight to schedule their trips a week earlier.Then finally, after rabid bouts of intensive doodling, Internetnoodling, and prolonged fits of grumbling and gnashing of teeth,the bell finally rings—and the calendar sets us free to speed west

from Winston-Salem on the nimble Triumph Sprint ST,giddy with the excitement of having four days of moto-playtime.

The Skyway: A+

Our first day dawns a little chilly and a lot foggy.But having once lived an hour east of here in Asheville,we know this is a temporary situation and not theleast bit uncommon in early May. We breakfast in theFryemont Inn’s restaurant and wait it out with an extracup of coffee on our cabin’s private balcony. By 9:00,pats of blue emerge and expand as the fog burns offand the Sprint’s eager triple quickly barks to life.Within minutes we’re motoring southwest on Route19-74. By the time we reach the Nantahala Gorge, theblanket of haze has melted away, exposing a brilliantsky. We ride into the valley’s dense tunnel ofhardwoods, where the sunlight spilling through thethick boughs mottles the narrow two-lane road and

shimmers off the roiling Nantahala River. This tributary isnationally recognized as one of the finest whitewater rafting areasin the United States. Numerous outfitters along the way offeradventure-soakers ample opportunity to grab a paddle and get afrosty mountain dousing. But from our point of view, even thoughthe midmorning sun is hard at work, the cool temperatures aremuch more conducive to running asphalt rapids. As 19-74 leaves the gorge, it turns into a divided highway. Butwith ample mountain scenery, even the four lanes in these partsaren’t that bad. Just past Murphy, we swing a right on to Route294 and getback to the twolane. The ride iss u r p r i s i n g l yrelaxing untilwe cross intothe VolunteerState and pickup Route 68.Though rathersedate lookingon paper, thisstretch of Tennessee tarmac pitches us into a deceiving blenderof twists and scenery that challenge the chassis and ourconcentration. After braking way too late and nearly overcookinga hard right-hander, I get a slap to the side of my helmet. It’sKathy’s way of telling me to either slow down and enjoy the viewsor to keep my focus as sharp as the pace merits. She knows it’sdangerous for me to do both and isn’t the least bit hesitant tokeep me honest. We ride into Tellico Plains in time for a late lunch and grabgood sandwiches at the Town Square Café and Bakery. Knowingthat the sun’s rays are at their warmest this time of day, we decide

17TOURING NEWS

not to dawdle as our next stretch of road, the Cherohala Skyway,packs an altitudinal punch and can be a little chilly in spots.Completed in 1996 after 34 years of construction, the Skywaynow connects Tellico Plains and Robbinsville, North Carolina.Because it is built entirely on federal land through the Cherokeeand Nantahala National Forests, the Cherohala’s only distractionsare its voluminous curves and spectacular views. The Sprint slingsus across mountains that reach altitudes of 5,400 feet, treatingus to grand panoramas around every corner. When here, keep inmind there are no services other than a few restrooms; so be sureto gas up, allow plenty of time, and keep the camera handy. Underno circumstances should a ride in this region preclude theCherohala Skyway.

The Dragon: A++

Our second day breaks much brighter and we both have javaon the brain. During our stroll about town last evening, Kathyand I discovered Mountain Perks Espresso Bar and Café justacross from the Great Smoky Mountain Railway depot. Afterdowning cappuccinos, we don our armor, mount up, and head offin search of a Dragon. Peeling off of 19-74, we get a little warm-up on the sinuous Route 28 and then steer toward our meetingwith that infamous section of Route one-two-nine. Perhaps the most famous 11 miles of motorcycling bliss in theUnited States, the Tail of the Dragon is actually a section ofHighway 129 hugging the southwestern tip of the Great SmokyMountain National Park. This marvelously engineered ribbon ofasphalt rockets riders side to side 318 times in those 11 miles,and the deep, shady forest that arches over the pavement givesthe journey an oddly mystical quality. And the best part is thereare no buildings, driveways, or cross streets to muck up the works.This being Kathy’s first trip here, she’s none too happy when we’reslowed by a pickup and trailercombination. After my explanation thatRoute 129 is a public highway, open toall vehicles and not just sport-ridingenthusiasts, she takes back most of herexpletives and insists we go back anddo it again before continuing on. Yesboss, no problem—which works out to954 curves in 33 miles. Now that’s anarithmetic lesson I can easilyunderstand. The Dragon is a mecca for riders andmachines of all types from all over the country, and it’s certainlyworth the journey. Just remember, this is an extremely technicalbit of road and can be dicey, especially on weekends when it’smore crowded. Always exercise restraint and, by all means, rideyour own ride. Those three white-knuckled runs across the serpent’s fieryspine have the adrenaline pumps working overtime. Timing is onour side though, as our next leg has us traversing a perfectdecompression chamber, the Foothills Parkway. This stretchbegins almost where the Dragon ends and weaves a gentle paththrough the western foothills of the Smokies. The sweeping bendsand absence of traffic relax us and the views from the overlooks,especially those facing the Tennessee Valley to the west, areimpressive. By the time we head back east on Route 321 for the

return run to Bryson City, snacks, frosty beverages and the tworockers on the porch are utmost on our minds.

The Old Favorite: A+

Caffeine’s hot and foamy siren song, along with cheddar-and-jalapeno bagels slathered in veggie spread, lure us back to thecafe. Fueled and stoked,we hit the road. InCherokee, running thegauntlet of tacky, but funsouvenir standsoverflowing with“genuine NativeAmerican crafts” neverfails to amuse us. Try aswe may, it ’s hard topicture the CherokeeNation’s elders handing down the ancient secrets of patientlycrafting plastic snow-globes and pink, feathered key chains thatlook suspiciously like roach clips. But once we pass through theentrance to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on Highway441, the kitsch disappears and nature makes a grandreappearance. Deep, nearly impenetrable stands of oak, maple,and mountain laurel drape gurgling streams and splashingwaterfalls. Deer graze nonchalantly at the far end of smallclearings and road signs indicate that black bears are about.Reaching the breezy summit of the 5,448-foot Newfound Gap, wenote that the trees have yet to sprout their summer leaves eventhough it’s already May. On the west side of the park, the Triumph noses toward arendezvous with another section of Route 321. Rolling slowlythrough the tourist-choked town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we

pick our way through a manmade valleyof tall buildings strangled with neon lights,primary colors, and varieties of signageall designed to separate unwittingvacationers from their hard-earnedgreenbacks. Never have we seen so manypancake and steak houses duking it outfor supremacy on the buffet battlefield.And judging by the depressing number ofMTV fashion disasters waddling thesidewalks, business is good. After a couple of thick, juicy burgers at

Tucker’s Main Street Cafe in Newport, we begin the return trip. Theeasy bends of Route 25 follow the French Broad River to the smalltown of Hot Springs just over the North Carolina border. Thiseclectic little crossroads is as popular a waypoint for hikers onthe nearby Appalachian Trail as it is a rest stop for areamotorcyclists and river runners. Having spent many an afternoonhere years ago, we barely slow down making the familiar turnsouth on Route 209. This great, old byway hasn’t lost a bit ofcharm, right down to its the notoriously gravel-strewn hairpins.Concentration can’t lapse for a second here. The same precipitousdrop-offs that offer stunning views of the deep valleys below canswallow bike and rider in the blink of an eye. Stay focused. Fromdecreasing radii to wicked curves ringing sheer rock faces, theroad flings one challenge after another. On pillion, Kathy is

18 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

working just as hard as I am until the winding tarmac abruptlystraightens out and offers a much-needed breather through SpringCreek. Then, as quickly as it started, the asphalt whirlpool sucksus in for another good thrashing across Betsy Gap before slowlywinding down into Lake Junaluska. Yeah, there are many reasonswhy this road has always been at the top of the list.

The Parkway: A-

We awaken to another whitish sky, but this time real cloudsand not morning fog obscure the blue. It’s gotten significantlycooler too. When riding these hills, it’s good policy to be preparedfor any weather condition. We layer up and head toward Cherokeeand the terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Almost immediatelythe climb begins and the temperatures fall. Laden with numerouspullouts and boasting altitudes climbing to over 6,000 feet, this

historic route offerscountless views of theA p p a l a c h i a nMountains’ amazingsprawl. And just aswe noted aroundNewfound Gap, manyof the trees have yetto sprout theirsummer garb. At thehigher vistas, it’s neatto look out across the

valleys and see the demarcation line between foliage and barebranches with the late-spring greenery creeping its way up theslopes. By the time we reach the Richland Balsam Overlook, thehighest point on the Parkway at 6,047 feet, Kathy has about hadit with the unseasonable chill. And honestly, I’m having a hardtime disagreeing. With temperatures now in the 40s, we’veachieved the point of true discomfort, despite our layers andliners. Many fabulous views are bypassed as we hunker downand make a beeline for Beech Gap and our ticket off the nippyBlue Ridge. We both heave a great sigh of relief when the sign forRoute 215 comes into view. Normally, this serpentine funfest is quite entertaining, but numbfingers and toes make it difficult to enjoy. After a few miles, theroad’s decreasing elevation plunges us into what feels like thetropics in comparison, although the mercury is only hovering inthe mid-sixties. We stop in a sunny spot to shake off the cold,delighting in the tingle of feeling coming back into our fingersand toes. T imes like this truly define the charmingunpredictability of motorcycle travel. Near Rosman, we bear right on Route 64. What should normallybe a superb ride has recently fallen prey to more traffic than itsglorious curves can handle. An influx of country clubs and luxuryvacation developments has stretched the number of blue hairs,white Lincolns, and Florida tags completely out of proportion.The mild summer weather has attracted an unprecedented numberof drivers who are incapable of handling the gentlest of mountaincurves. No worries though, all along the way, thick groves ofrhododendron encircle splashing streams, waterfalls, the smallponds, and tumble over mossy, weathered rock formations. Enjoythe scenery, it’s wonderful; but give the cars plenty of leeway, theyneed it.

After another late lunch of barbecue and sweet tea at theCarolina Smokehouse in Cashiers, we shoot down Route 107toward Cullowhee and Sylva. The cold morning and four days ofintense riding have taken their toll, and we have no qualms aboutjumping on Route 441, the quick route back to Bryson City. Oh well, recess is over—and though the bell is sending usback to class (work), we had a blast exorcising a winter of pent-up frustrations. For us, this was our first time out on theplayground together after several months inside. OK, there’s nograde for recess, but if there were, we started this year with a fatA scrawled across the calendar.

Reprinted with the Permission of RoadRUNNER MotorcycleTouring & Travel magazine, published 6x per year for $24.95.Visit us online at www.roadrunner.travel.

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19TOURING NEWS

In early November I had a chance toride Northeast Tennessee. Tallie Shelton ofthe Johnson City Convention & VisitorsBureau and local riders had put together a12 pact of the greatest rides in NortheastTennessee. With some names like, TheSnake Ride, Top of the Roan, Vinegar Pie,Mountain Ribbons, and Two Rivers, OneMountain and Ten Million Trout Eggs howcould you go wrong? Our leaders were local H.O.G. members,Paul & Sherrie Greer and Lloyd & Judy Reed.3 other organizations were also inattendance: Florian Neuhauser ofRoadRUNNER Magazine, Jim Randall ofMotorcycle Sport Touring Association, andArt Gibson of Christian MotorcycleAssociation. On Tuesday we left the Holiday Inn inJohnson City and headed to the Snake Ride.Now, being a flat lander, I didn’t know whatto expect. Our leaders told me to ride myown ride and not to try to keep up if I didn’tfeel safe. For those of you who have riddenthe Dragon you have to ride “The Snake”. Amere 468 curves. We snaked our waythrough the Tennessee Mountains withcurves of all kinds. Once I thought I couldsee my own tail lights. On Wednesday we had a new leader,Dennis Beamer. Dennis is the ChapterDirector of the local H.O.G. Chapter. Dennistook us for a tour of the AppalachianFairgrounds, and to Bristol MotorSpeedway. The ride from Johnson City toBristol was great. A lot more curves. BristolMotor Speedway sits on a mountain andin back of the speedway is Thunder ValleyDrag Strip. After riding around BristolMotor Speedway, we headed toJonesborough Tennessee for lunch.Jonesborough is the oldest city inTennessee and is also known as the “StoryTelling Capital of the World.” After a great

meal we were off to Two Rivers, OneMountain and Ten Million Trout Eggs. I am not going to ruin your ride byexplaining this ride. You have to experienceit yourself. But again, more great curvesand beautiful scenery. With all the big name restaurants alongwith many local, family ownedrestaurants there is no shortage of goodfood in Johnson City. Most of the top namedmotels are there as well. With no shortage of good food, goodmotels and great riding what is stoppingyou from planning a trip to Johnson City,Tennessee? For more information aboutthe Johnson City rides visitwww.ridejohnsoncity.com.

Tony ManryIndiana Chapter P

Pictured Above (left to right): Jim Randall-Motorcycle Sport Touring Association, FlorianNeuhauser- RoadRUNNER Magazine,TonyManry-GWTA, Art Gibson-Christian Motor-cycle Association, Dennis Beamer-PresidentJohnson City , TN HOG Chapter

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HappyValentine’s

DayFebruary 14th

20 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Riding the “Famous” roads in Region Dby Bryan C. Seery

Read any motorcycle magazine and you will see the articlesand the advertisements; “Ride the Tail of the Dragon” they all say.According to the website TailoftheDragon.com, “The tail of theDragon at Deals Gap, with 318 curves in 11 miles, is America’snumber one motorcycle and sports car road. The nearbyCherohala Skyway is quickly becoming number two with itsremote 60 miles of scenic mountain highway. The area also hasother incredible roads like The Hellbender, Devils Triangle, TheSnake, Blood Mountain, and some great dual-sport riding.” While Deals Gap and the Tail of the Dragon receive the majorityof the press and chatter on the web sites as being the premiermotorcycle road in the United States, I say there are better roads

out there to be ridden. Yes, theDragon is a nice 11 mile bit oftechnical riding with 318 tightcorners, decreasing radiusturns, turns that take you 180degrees and up and down inelevation at the same time, butit’s not the “best” road. It’s verycrowded on the weekends withmany sport bike riders and racer“want to be’s” trying to provethemselves. Theiraccomplishments can be seenon YouTube and other web sites

while their downfalls canbe seen at the Tree ofShame at the Deals GapMotorcycle Resort andread about in the localnewspapers – “Anotherrider dies in motorcyclecrash at The Gap.” I do highly recommendriding the Tail of theDragon at least once, and say that is should be done in bothdirections (with a little break in between). It is very challengingand demands 100% attention while riding. People have asked“How’s the scenery?” I wouldn’t know. The road and traffic andyour motorcycle demand all of your attention and skill unless

you putz around at 15 mph. Scenery?? You won’t see any unlessyou are the passenger. Now, for scenery try the Cherohala Skyway. The Skyway goesbetween U.S. 129 starting just north of Robbinsville N.C. and takesyou to Tellico Plains, TN. The elevation changes, long openstretches of great paved roads and speed limit much higher thanthe 30 ish in The Gapmakes this a muchmore scenic andpleasurable ride.Make sure to be filledup as there is a 50 -60mile area with no gas,and dress in layers aseven during thesummer day I rode theSkyway the tempstarted at 80 degrees,dropped to 62 at the top and back to almost 90 by the time wepulled into Tellico Plains. Blue Ridge Parkway (http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/) isprobably one of the best scenic roads in the entire United States.Starting at Front Royal in Virginia there is a 105 mile road knownas the Skyline Drive that follows the Shenandoah National Parkand takes you to just outside of Waynesboro and the beginningof the Blue Ridge Parkway. The BRP continues south for another469 miles and elevations that average in the 2000-3000 footrange and go up to 6047 feet ending just outside of Cherokee, NC(not far from U.S. 28, U.S. 129 and the Cherohala Skyway). Thespeed limit in most areas is 45 MPH, and the road features verysmooth pavement with gentle curves, majestic scenic views andplenty of places to stop and look at the world around you. As mentioned above there are a few other roads in Region Dworthy of some praise. The first one is my favorite – U.S. 28, a.k.a.“The Hellbender”. Taking its name from a local amphibian, TheHellbender is a fantastic bit of exceptionally smooth pavementthat races through the forests of the Smoky Mountains. You canpick up U.S. 28 at U.S. 19 just outside of Bryson City. From there toJohnson’s Gap it’s a nice 4 lane road with 65 MPH speed limit.The Hellbender and its 22 miles starts out around N.C. highway143 at Johnson’s Gap, and really gets going when it narrowsdown to a two lane road that takes you near Fontana Lake andFontana Dam, Rainbow and Twenty-Mile Falls, Fontana Villageand ends up just feet from The Tail of the Dragon Store on U.S. 129and the start of The Tail of The Dragon at Deals Gap. U.S. 28 hasa speed limit that is 50 MPH and has much better curves, turnsand is an overall better ride in the opinion of many than that of

21TOURING NEWS

the Dragon. The motto at http://helbender28.com is “Quit counting curves,let’s ride!” is a poke at the notoriousDragon and the 318 curves mentioned inevery advertisement around. Very quick,very scenic and very fun, U.S. 28 get’s myvote as best “sports riding road” in RegionD. Heading northeast from Deals Gap takesyou up through the Gatlinburg and PigeonForge or you can turn east and see thesights at Clingman’s Dome. Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are towns filled with every touristtrap spot known to man. To me, they are towns to avoid onmotorcycles as traffic can be extremely heavy during the weekendsand make it very slow going. Now if you want to see Dollywoodand the many amusements and tourist spots then that is the areato be, but I prefer to ride scenic roads instead of stop and shop.Continuing north-north west you will go around Knoxville TN andhead towards Oakridge and the Devil’s Triangle. The Devil’sTriangle is a 45 mile loop with TN 62 and TN 330 making up thesouthern edge, TN 116 on the Northeast and Northwest side. WhileI have not ridden this section yet I am told that TN 62 is nothingexciting but the TN116 section has some nice twisties and goodelevation changes. You will ride past Brush Mountain State Prisonand near Frozen Head State Environmental area. For the science/ history buffs Oak Ridge in Tennessee is a worthy spot as it is thearea where uranium was enriched and is the birth place of theAtomic bombs that helped bring an end to WWII. Leaving the Devil’s Triangle and heading Northeast on US 25W,follow that to TN 90 and cross the border into Kentucky. Whilenot actually in Region D, the Middlesboro KY area is home to theCumberland Gap and the history and scenery of such. From theCumberland gap jump over to Virginia and follow U.S. 58 and 421also known as The Daniel Boone Trail. From there you can decideto head north into the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginiaor head east towards the Civil War history rich areas of SouthernVirginia. North east takes you to Washington DC and the great

All photos are courtesy of Bryan C. Seery

sites of our country’s capital. While notmuch of a motorcycle riding area, these arethings to consider if making Region D thehome of your next week long motorcyclevacation. And speaking of making Region D younext motorcycle vacation, here is myrecommendation. Take the Blue RidgeParkway south to the Nantahala NationalForest, taking 2 days to fully enjoy the BRP.Take a day or 2 around the Cherokee or

Bryson City area as there are plenty of things to do. Tube or whitewater raft at the Nantahala outdoor center, take a jet boat ride onthe lake or spend ½ day on the Smoky Mountain Rail Road. Exploreparts of the Smoky Mountain National Park including Clingman’sDome and just find some nice back roads to explore. After thatride U.S. 28 up to Deals Gap and ride the Tail of the Dragon northinto TN, and then back south again. Follow the Cherohala Skywayover to Tellico Plains for lunch and then head toward Lenoir Cityand north to the Devil’s Triangle. After that ride over toCumberland Gap and from there decide which way to head home.That’s a nice 4-6 days of riding the Appalachians and the SmokyMountains, and when you are done you may look forward to anice piece of straight flat highway to let your pulse come backdown to normal for a while.

22 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

“Sweet Home Alabama where the sky is so blue” as sung byLynyrd Skynyrd is oh so true. The RegionD Alabama chapter of GWTA welcomesyou to tour ourbeautiful state. Starting with the“Alabama Scenic River Trail” This is whatadventure is all about. You’ll findbeautiful back country river sections justwaiting for exploration. The scenic rivertrail includes some of the bestrecreational river lakes in the state. We have “Scenic Driving Trails.” Manypeople just passing through Alabama canenjoy rolling hills and lush green forestsabundant with long needle pines. Picturesque farm lands dot the countryside. The “Aabama Black Belt Nature Trails”is named for the rich black soil that grewsuperior cotton during the Civil War. Thistrail left a legacy of “soul food” cooking. Soul food is the art of cooking from foundmaterials. “Alabama Civil Rights Museum Trail”beckons you to visit the many battlegrounds that were part of the Civil Rightsmovement in 1955 to 1965. Here are theplaces to learn about Alabama’s part inchanging the world of civil rights. “Civil War Trail” is as diverse andcomplex as the land itself. The roots ofthe Civil War conflict are entwined in thevery fabric of our state. Step back in timeand visit our famous battlefields, our

antebellum homes historic residences and our museums. TheWhite House of the Confederacy is right here in Alabama as ishistoric Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan. “Damn the torpedoes, full

speed ahead.” “Native American Trail” for manythousands of years, prior to the coming ofthe white man, this place called Alabamahas been home to many different culturalgroups of Native Americans, four differentregions of battles and conflicts can befound in Alabama. They are “The Trail ofTears”, The Creek Indian War Trail”, TheMound Builders Trail” and “Red Eagle’sTrail.” “Fall Color Trail” - Many people aresurprised to find we have 4 seasons,one of which is rich in color as any youwill find North of the Mason Dixon line. You can enjoy the yellow poplars andscarlet dogwoods, orange maples andgolden hickories. Alabama unfolds abrilliant patchwork of color. “Alabama Birding Trail” is the mostnotable birding trail in the state. It loopsaround the delta bottom lands, Mobile Bayand the sandy terrain bordering the Gulf ofMexico and includes road signs identifyingeach of the 50 birding sites. Four otherbirding trails stretch from the mountainsof North Alabama to the gently unfoldingfields and forests toward theChattahoochee River Valley ofsoutheastern Alabama. The “Covered Bridge Trail” - From one ofthe highest covered bridges to one of thelowest in the region, you’ll find some ofAlabama’s links to the past on this trail.Marvel in the construction techniques andenjoy the scenic beauty of these bridges andthe areas where they can be found. “Alabama’s Gulf Coast” - Somethingmagical happens when you arrive on theAlabama Gulf coast. Your troubles justseem to fade away. Hear the lapping of thewaves and see beautiful white sugarsand and emerald waters of the coast. Orange Beach offers nonstop activity whileDauphin Island offers peaceful serenity andhistory. Whatever trail you follow in Alabama,you’re sure to enjoy the beauty of our state. As we know in GWTA everything is richer,cleaner and vibrant when seen from the seatof a motorcycle or trike. Come visit us inAlabama. The red carpet is out. Submitted by, Liz Neisen

Sweet Home Alabama

23TOURING NEWS

Do you ever just want to get away from it all?Not just your job, but all of the hassle andpressure of life today? Well then, just take a tripdown the Natchez Trace and enjoy a trip throughhistory. Rolling green hills, sunlight filtering throughthe leaves, the sound of your tires on the asphaltand the sweet sound of the birds singing are theonly sounds you hear. Time seems to slow downas you just glide around the gentle curves. TheNatchez Trace is 444 miles of peace and quiet.Stretching from Nashville, TN to Natchez, MS theTrace takes you away from the hustle and noise oftoday and back to a time of Native American burialmounds and antebellum mansions. We only had a three day weekend to explorethe Trace, but if you really want to enjoy all of thesights along the Trace I would suggest you take at least four orfive days and see all of the sights. We had already seen someparts of the Trace and wanted to skip someof the sighs, but I wish we could have donethe tours of the mansions in Natchez, MS. To see the best the Trace has to offer, Iwould suggest you look over the calendarof events along the Trace and time yourtrip to enjoy the special events as well asthe natural beauty of the landscape alongyour route. The Natchez Fall Pilgrimage atthe end of September to mid Octoberallows you to view some of the privatelyowned mansions in Natchez that can’t beviewed at any other time. I don’t have the time or the words toexplain all of the sights along the Trace,so I will just peak your interest with a fewof my favorites. For Elvis fans, there ishis birthplace in Tupelo. If you are intoNative American history, the Trace hasseveral sites, including burial mounds. Ifound the Emerald Mound veryimpressive. It was the Chickasaw, Choctawand the Natchez tribes that first used theTrace as a trade route. Next the Trace wasused by the trappers and the “Kaintuck”boatmen, who floated their goods downthe Mississippi in Natchez and NewOrleans and then walked home on theTrace. Andrew Jackson marched histroops down the Trace to the Battle of NewOrleans. Meriwether Lewis’ life came toan end at an inn on the Trace and now helies at rest in the Meriwether Lewis StatePark. The Trace was used for a time bymail carriers long before the Pony Expressroute. Several Civil War battles were waged along the Trace. But

the steamboats on the Mississippi River brought an end to theTrace.

If you are into arts and crafts, be sure tostop in at the Mississippi Crafts Center atJackson, MS. For some great southern bar-b-queue, try the Pig Out Inn in Natchez, MS.Mount Locust, French Camp and themansions in Natchez give you a great lookback into the homes that were common alongthe Trace. The best spots to enjoy the natural scenicbeauty of the Natchez Trace are BirdsongHollow, where you can get a great view of thehollow and the double-arched bridge, theCypress Swamp and riding along the side ofthe Ross Barnett Reservoir. The whole Traceis unbelievably beautiful. Over 136 types ofbirds, fox, deer, armadillo and coyotes callthe Trace home. Wild turkeys, blue heronsand bald eagles can been seen on the Traceand if you want to spot a gator or two, try theRatliff Ferry campground (just don’t expectany up-to-date luxuries). So if you want to get away from the traffic,noise and the rat race we call life today andtake a trip into the past, I strongly suggest atrip down the Natchez Trace.

A TRIP BACK IN TIME

24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Will Improving Your Credit ScoreLower the Premium for Your Motorcycle Insurance?

It just might. Always trying to win your business with lowerrates, insurance companies have found a better formula, usingelements of your credit score, to predict how responsible a rideryou are, and the likelihood that your riding will result in a costlyclaim. Imagine a perfect world, one where your insurance companycould actually see into the future and know for certain that youwere not going to have an accident during the upcoming policyyear. Your premium could be set very low to cover overhead andhandling costs only. On the other hand, if they knew for certainthat you would have an accident in the coming year, the premiumcould be set high to cover the entire costs of the claim that wasgoing to occur. Claim-free riders would never have to contributeto the claims caused by other riders. Obviously this perfect world scenario is not possible. But someinsurance companies have been using a better formula to helpthem predict the risks of having to pay out claims, which translateinto lower rates for responsible individuals.It’s called “insurance scoring” This better formula is called “insurance scoring,” and it’s basedon parts of your credit report. Financial responsibility has provento be an effective predictor of an individual’s responsibility inoperating a motor vehicle — and the likelihood of causing acostly accident. Combined with the other criteria used byinsurance companies in computing your premium, your insurancescore usually makes use of the following five categories (visitInsuranceScore.com/improvescore.aspx to learn what is includedwithin each category):Payment historyAmounts owedLength of credit historyNew credit recently openedTypes of credit used While the rules vary from state to state, the following itemsare among those not used to calculate an insurance score: race,age, address, gender, marital status, national origin, religion,employer, salary or wages, whether you’re seeing a creditcounselor, and any other “non-responsibility type” informationnot proven useful in predicting insurance risk. In addition, Markelis one company that does not cancel or refuse to renew based onthe credit-based insurance score.Why Insurance Scoring is good for you What does insurance scoring mean to you? There are severalimmediate benefits: · Insurance scoring means you’re not given a rate basedsolely on the typical criteria of age, accident record, trafficviolations, claims record, etc.

· Insurance scoring provides an additional way for

insurance companies to measure your responsibility.

You can improve your score and lower your rates It only stands to reason that if you can improve your creditscore, you might also be able to improve your insurancescore…and lower your premium. According toInsuranceScore.com/improvescore.aspx, there are five tips thatcan help you work towards a lower premium:

1. Pay your bills on time, and if you’re behind, getcaught up.

2. Keep balances low on credit cards and nevermove debt from one card to another. Also, don’topen new credit cards that you don’t need (thisincludes store-specific or gas station cards).

3. If you’re young and are just establishing yourcredit, don’t open a lot of accounts too quickly.

4. If you are looking for new credit, do your rateshopping first and then make a singleapplication…rather than making more than one.Multiple credit inquiries to the credit bureaus canbe a negative.

It’s important to note, however, that when an insurance companyaccesses your credit report to develop an insurance score, it’sconsidered a “soft hit” on your credit and does not affect yourcredit score. This is also true of “promotional” inquiries — forexample, a credit card company approaches you to sign up andtells you that you’re preapproved.

5. Having credit cards and installment loans canimprove your score if you’re always on time withyour payments. Don’t just open accounts to tryfor a better mix: it probably won’t help.

Bottom line: insurance scoring helps make sure you’re notpaying more than you should for your motorcycle insurance.Since the majority of people have good credit, the addition ofinsurance scoring means most people will pay less for insurance. If you have any additional questions, call us at 800.236.2453and we’ll get you an answer. And be sure to visit our Web siteMarkelInsuresFun.com for a lot more helpful information.

25TOURING NEWS

State City Last Name First NameAR Texarkana McGavock BillyAZ Mesa Bachicha Barbara & JohnCA Marysville Hudson Tom & VirginiaCA Paradise Lemmus, Jr. OmelioCA Auberry Parker Jim & KathyCA Clayton Gierak Richard & Becky Doherty

CA Chico Thompson Michael & KellyCA Paradise Davis ChuckCA Lancaster Tiede Eugene & EvelynCA Cottonwood Ames Edward L.CT Colchester Duff BethannIL Moline Anderson DaveIL Addieville Tiemann Gareth & NathanIL Fayetteville Theismann Ken & PamME New Gloucester Blake Herbert & SusanMI Michigan Center Reimers Timothy & JeanneMO Springfield Douglas Kenneth & CecilNE Omaha Stevens Kim & LianneNE Plattsmouth Gleason GuyNE Blair Emslie John & Martha-JeanNM Alamogordo Longley LarryOH Avon Lake Billington Gary & NancyOH Dayton Packer Joe & DebraOH Centerville Frawley RalphOH Springfield Ehrle KenOH Urbana Smart Gary & SharonON Nottawa Deleskie GerardON Holland Landing Haslam AnthonyON Richmond Hill Zaretsky Al & RobinOR Central Point Gramento Eric & BarbaraOR Grants Pass Evensen Bill (Happy) & NonnieOR Medford Buckner Charles & PaulaSD Madison Cuesta Anthony & MannyTN La Vergne Carpenter TonyTX Plano Kemp Les & Mary EllenWA Lake Tapps Kronlund Terry & JanisWA Kent Stock Jennifer & TomWA Tacoma Thompson TerrieWA Tacoma Prunty Vince & SindyWA Auburn Dicken Dennis (Dick) & JeanieWA Anacortes Gibbons Gregory & ConstanceWA Federal Way Thiederman Rick & JenileeWA Chehalis Andrews Bill & PattyWA Tacoma Darling Barry & Charlene

My name is Ray Phillips and as the son of one of the foundingmembers of GWTA I have grown up and around this organizationsince the beginning. I finally purchased my first Goldwing in

2002 and have enjoyed beinga member since. I have threewonderful boys, Marcus whois 12, Justin who is 15, andRyan who is 18 and I am alsoblessed to be married to mywife Floramie for 21 yearsnow. The only tough part ismaking sure each has timeto spend on our newGoldwing as I enjoy every

minute I get to ride with any of them. Although I started by payingannually I am now in the last of three payments into my lifemembership and I look forward to being a part of GWTA for manyyears to come. I guess I just fell in love with this family and thatis why I put my name into the running for the representative forregion A. In my short time within GWTA I have already held both a chapterposition as webmaster and now the same position for Region A. Ihave enjoyed the opportunities to use some of my computer skillsto fill a need within our organization, and now look forward totaking my experiences from previous boards I have served onand applying them to our board of directors. Everyone comeswith a certain set of skills and/or abilities, and I am excitedabout continuing to use mine in a way that can benefit GWTA. As a member of the board of directors I am interested in thefuture of our organization and some of the great areas that wecan grow with the next generation of members like myself. I willwork hard to increase our membership for the stability of GWTAfor years to come. Some of the areas I am interested in are togrow the younger sector along with reaching out to those of uswho are just now at a place where we, too, may enjoy theownership of a Goldwing. I am also interested in working withother motorcycle groups that are looking for a stronger family tobe a part of. Although membership growth and stability is of highimportance to me, I am also committed to the foundation of whatGWTA is and the reasons we have what we have today. Thesevalues and commitments that started GWTA still hold us togethertoday and I will do everything in my power to keep this foundationstrong for these three years and many more to come. We really have a great family here in GWTA and I look forwardto assisting our organization so my kids can also be a part ofthis. How great is it when the third and fourth generations cancontinue what we have started. My oldest is already looking atmotorcycles and how awesome is it that he wants to be part ofthis already? Thank you for your support and for allowing me to be a part ofthe GWTA Family.Sincerely,Ray PhillipsRegion A Board Representative

Introducing the newIntroducing the newIntroducing the newIntroducing the newIntroducing the newRegion A Board RepresentativeRegion A Board RepresentativeRegion A Board RepresentativeRegion A Board RepresentativeRegion A Board Representative

Ray PhillipsRay PhillipsRay PhillipsRay PhillipsRay Phillips

26 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Chilling Our Wheels

It’s January 2010 and another year has passed like a well-wornslab of asphalt beneath my wheels. As the old adage goes, “Timesure flies when you’re having fun,” and even if you aren’t havingfun, it still seems to move too fast anyway. Some days I feel likea fly caught on the front end of a top-fuel drag bike—just when Isettle down for a moment’s rest, I’m rocketing off in an unexpecteddirection. Even then, it sure is one hell of a wild ride and any rideis better than none at all, which is what most riders will getduring this most frozen month. However, I think there are hiddenpurposes in this weather-induced downtime.

Though I have never put my bikes up for the winter season—thereare always some incredibly beautiful days of unseasonably warmweather that just must be used for riding—there are a few weeksthat my bikes can be “taken off line.” January seems the bestmonth to idle them for any updating or customizing that I havebeen considering, along with a yearly deep cleaning, waxing, andinspection. If you have had your machine for a few years or area high-mileage rider with a new bike, you will always be surprisedby something you find during the process. It is so much better tofind that loose fastener or frayed wire in the comfort of your

Two Quintessential California Motorcycle RoadsThat Will Have You “California Dreamin’.”

by Bill Belei

How often do you encounter a road sign warning of continualtwisty road conditions for say the next 100 miles?! In northern

California there is a twisty-lover’s dream roadaptly named for the message on the road sign youwill see as you approach - “Twisty Road next 140miles”!!! This 140-mile path traverses alongCalifornia’s Route 36 through the Shasta-TrinityNational Forest and the Cascade-Sierra mountainsof northern California between the famous USHighway 101 and I-5. You’ll primarily be traveling

through mountain pine forest scenery yet will travel through somestands of lush Redwoods as well. The road’s surface conditionsare reported to be good for the most part yet there are somerough patches as you travel on the western leg of this route.Overall the road earns a 5-star motorcycle road quality ratingbecause of the nearly endless buffet of twists and turnsmotorcycle riders will enjoy while traversing this motorcycleroad. Motorcycle riders describe this road with words like“rollercoaster,” “never predictable,” “twisty heaven,” and warnthat it can even leave the faint-of-heart “queasy.” Although thescenery and road quality aspects of this route are outstanding,the roadside amenities aspect is wanting … when its time to pullover and take a break from the turns you’ll have few options. Theroad travels through generally remote areas offering a few gasstations and places to eat along the way. If endless twisties are not your thing and you are looking for aCalifornia motorcycle road that is heavier on scenery androadside attractions then the “Pacific Coast Cruise – Highway 1”is the route for you! This classic American coastal drive travelsalong California’s Pacific coast and is recognized by manyauthorities as one of the most famous American scenic drives.The scenery is a solid 5-stars as you’ll be treated to limitlessviews of the Pacific Ocean to the west and rolling hills andmountains to the east … time your drive with a sunset in mindand you’ll no doubt have some memories and photos that will beamong your favorite. And, not only will the scenery be among thebest you’ve experienced but the attractions and road sideamenities along this path are also amazing. You’ll pass throughgreat bay/coastal towns like Morro Bay and Monterey and havethe option of stopping at any of the seven California Stage Parksalong the way. Additionally, a gem of an attraction along thispath is the incredible William Hearst Castle. This 127-acrepalatial estate took the early 20th century publishing tycoon (andan army of craftsman) nearly 30 years to build and is a granddisplay that consistently delights the 800,000 plus annualvisitors. The pavement that strings these towns and sites togetheris in very good shape due to the road’s status as a Californiashowcase road. A few sections present motorcycle riders withtight turns but generally the ride features slow sweepers withgentle climbs or descents. For a route map for these and other popular Californiamotorcycle roads and trips, as well as pictures, videos, andinformation updates from other riders, just go toMotorcycleRoads.com and click on ‘California.’

Bill Belei is the founder & editor for MotorcycleRoads.com.

27TOURING NEWS

garage rather than in the middle of Outer Bum Luck, Egypt. If youhave ever spent valuable vacation days chilling your heels insome highway motel, waiting for your bike to be repaired, youknow what I mean. If not, well, trust me.

When the bikes are idled by the snow and ice, it is also a greattime to do some dreaming of places you would like to see andexplore, whether it is far-off places like Europe or Hawaii or ahistoric or scenic area just a few hundred miles away. Cold,dark, winter evenings are at their max in January, which makesfor a perfect time to settle in front of the fireplace with somemaps and travel guides (or your laptop and the Internet). Heck,with a few mouse clicks you could have a great summer adventurelined up for you and your bike. As the years roar by, I have foundthat if you don’t plan that big trip, you simply won’t take it—someother thing will crop up and fill the time. It really is funny howeven a few dollars of reservation deposit will keep you committed.

This is also a good time to take a good hard look in the mirror.No, not to admire your striking good looks or six-pack abs (whetherbeer or gym style). Rather, to reflect on the past year’s riding. Didyou have some close calls on the road? More so than the yearbefore? Have you ever scared yourself with your riding? Or didyou indeed have an unintended impact with the ground orsomething else? No matter whether you are a new rider freshfrom an MSF course or a grizzled veteran from the old school, yousurely have picked up some bad riding habits during the lastseason. Now is the perfect time to make a reservation for the verydesirable spring season of your local rider-education classes.You’ll be a better rider for it and probably add years to yourriding career. Enough said.

Lastly, there is another hidden purpose in these cold, dark days.Do some thinking about how rotten it feels to not be able to ride,and then pause to consider a serious “what if.” What if yourriding opportunities were not guaranteed to return like the warmdays after the winter? What if you were not allowed to rideagain? What if your beloved bike were considered unsafe and

Column copyright Bill Hufnagle 2009. Recipe reprinted withpermission from “Biker Billy’s Roadhouse Cookbook”, publishedby The Globe Pequot Press, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437Copyright © 2009 by Bill Hufnagle

banned, or required modifications that you could not afford? Iknow some of you believe that will never happen, but if you arecorrect, it is because of the hard work of dedicated riders allacross this nation who volunteer their time to support the effortsof the groups like the AMA, CBA/ABATE, MMA, and the MRF. If youdon’t know what those initials stand for, shame on you. If you doknow, this is the perfect time to find your local chapters or contactthe national offices and get involved. Like all great freedoms, thefreedom to ride is never free. Volunteer, or at least join amotorcycle rights organization and stay informed about what ishappening in your favorite sport, or, more appropriately, yourlifestyle.

The Mess - White Grill, Nevada, Missouri

2 tablespoons oil or butter4 cups diced potatoes1D4 cup chopped onions1 cup chopped cooked ham (or precooked bacon or sausage)2 medium eggs4 slices American cheese (or your favorite cheese)

In a large frying pan, heat the oil or butter over high heat. Addthe potatoes and onions and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or untillightly browned and tender, stirring often. Place the meat ontop of the hash browns and stir in. Break the eggs over themess and then stir in. Cook, stirring gently, until the eggs aredone, about 2 to 3 minutes. When the eggs begin to firm,cover with the cheese, reduce the heat to medium, and cover.Continue cooking until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.Serve immediately.

Makes 1 large Mess or 2 regular servings.

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28 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

American Honda Motor Company’s Powersports Divisionannounced the release of the much-anticipated 2010 VFR1200F.

“This is one of the most exciting motorcycles in Honda’s history,”said Powersports Press Manager Bill Savino. “The VFR1200Festablishes a whole new definition ofperformance motorcycling, one that taps intoHonda’s rich V-4 VFR heritage and extends itinto the future of Honda motorcycling. The newtechnology within this motorcycle is flat-outamazing and it all works together in a mannerthat takes the VFR1200F strides forward in howa high-end machine looks, works and feels.This is a sport motorcycle that will leave yousmiling and ready for more even after you’vebeen riding for hours on end.”

VFR1200FThe 2010 VFR1200F embodies the next generation of newmotorcycle technology, resulting in unsurpassed rider benefitsfor those in search of a sporting motorcycle that truly transcendscommon bounds. Honda’s V-4 heritage has been re-invented inastonishingly innovative form through the fusion of advancedtechnology to craft a futuristic sport motorcycle created for thesheer joy of riding, custom tailored for experienced hands whoride hard, ride long, ride far and ride often.

Just a few of the incredible features and benefits found in theVFR1200F include Honda MotoGP engine technology and

architecture; a light andcompact 1237cc liquid-cooled 76-degree V-4 thatpumps out amazing levelsof power; Throttle By Wirefor next-generationthrottle response;lightweight and compactUnicam® valvetrainallows for significantlysmaller cylinder heads;optional Dual ClutchAutomatic Transmissionwith manual mode and automatic mode with two D/S modes andpaddle-style shifters; Honda slipper clutch in the manual-shift

VFR1200F; GP technology layer-concept aerofairing for unrivaled air management andfuturistic style; next-generation shaft drivesystem with offset pivot point and slidingconstant-velocity joint for a new level of shaft-drive performance and control.

The VFR1200F will be available at Honda dealersin Spring of 2010. For more information go towww.powersports.honda.com.

This is truly an amazing bike. Honda has provideda ton of tech information on this bike and there

are many firsts, which we will go into in an upcoming issue.Meanwhile… most of us are hiding out where it is warm, so thisintroduction will give us something to look forward to. And justimagine for a second if they used this platform to update theST1300. Wouldn’t that make for am awesome sport touring bike?

Ride SafeRandy

2010 VFR1200F

HONDA TECH COLUMNISTRandy Rundle415 Court Street

Clay Center, KS 67435(785) 632-3450

Fax: (785) 632-6154fifthave@oz-online.net

Photos courtesy of American Honda Motorcycle Company Call for nearest distributor

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29TOURING NEWS

HOW I SURVIVED NV HIGHWAY 50HOW I SURVIVED NV HIGHWAY 50HOW I SURVIVED NV HIGHWAY 50HOW I SURVIVED NV HIGHWAY 50HOW I SURVIVED NV HIGHWAY 50THE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICATHE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICATHE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICATHE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICATHE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICA

By Gene HyrupOR Chapter M - Mountain Valley Riders

I heard about Nevada Hwy 50 in Fortuna, CA. We had left theFallen Rider Memorial Run in Redding, CA and headed for thecoast for the night. We met some bikers there who had returnedfrom the Hwy 50 ride. Randy Bates talked to them and foundout all the details. The following week Randy called and asked if I wanted to gowith him on that ride. He has a 2001 Gold Wing 1800. Since hedidn’t want to go alone, and it sounded like fun, I said yes. Wewere going to go over the route together, but my wife Dorothygot sick on Mother’s Day and spent the night in the hospital. Ispent my time with her so we never got together to plan. I toldhim to go ahead with the planning, but to keep in mind I canonly go 160 miles on a tank of gas. We were to leave May 24th, but Randy’s plan was to leave onthe 21st. I had to have my 1998 Honda Valkyrie serviced which Ifigured might be a big problem since all the shops were gettingbusy. I talked to Rod at Kawasaki Honda of Medford who wasalready making an exception to get it done by the 24th. When Itold him I belonged to the Mountain Valley Riders, he reallymade an exception and got it done on the 20th. Day One: With me not knowing the route we took off at 7:00

am on OR Hwy 140. Werode through Merrill, ORwhich was familiar to mefrom last year’s PotatoFestival Ride. That wasthe last familiar place Isaw. We took 395 toAlturas, then on to Fernlywhere we got the firststamp for our SurvivalGuide booklet. Theweather was nice and

warm. We stopped at Fallon for our second stamp and found aplace to stay. At 7:00 pm we were both asleep. Day Two: The next leg of the trip we went to Austin for thethird stamp. We ate breakfast there and met a couple whosuggested we take the alternative route of 50, the old highway.It is the same distance but has nice scenery. We went through abeautiful canyon and saw many rock formations. We could hearwater, and Randy wanted to investigate the source. We met acouple of guys from Colorado who said their first day out was900 miles. They were able to tell us more about the road. Theweather was nice, 58 to 82 degrees.The next stop was 70 miles to Eureka, and another stamp. Wetoured the museum and the old courthouse. Thunderstormsand rain started so we got on the road quickly. Our last stop forthe day was Ely. We stayed at the Nevada Hotel for $40 a night,plus a 10% discount because we had bikes. They told us to park on the sidewalk because there was nolighting in the back. In the early 1900’s the hotel was the tallest

building inNevada. Moviestars stayed thereon their way toLas Vegas. Therewere pictures ofmovie starsinside, and evenstars on thesidewalk. Thiswas our shortestday; 300 milesand lots of stops. Day Three: I had no concerns with fuel up to this point. Thewind started to really kick up and my mileage had really dropped.When riding with our Chapter, I get 40 mpg, so I had to keep itunder 70 as we had a long day ahead of us to get back to Hwy140. I have only one extra gallon of reserve. We took Hwy 93 heading for Wells, NV. I went 158 miles andno gas stations or cars. All we saw were rattlesnakes andantelopes. Randy wanted to go to Ruby Mountains, 30 milesbefore Wells. We were told the road might not be passable dueto snow that stays until later in the summer. Randy wasdisappointed, but my 160 mile range even with reserve wouldnot be enough to get there, let alone the 30 miles back. I madethe decision for us not to go. We finally made it to Wells for a break, then to Winnemuccavia Hwy 80. We saw hundreds of motorcycles, not a Honda inthe bunch. We knew there was a gas station in Denio, and itwould be 100 more miles to Lakeview. But……all we saw werewild donkeys, antelopes, and snakes. Hardly a car in sight, andNO gas. Wewere told therewas another gasstation 70 milesaway, but alsotold it was notopen on theweekends. A big5th wheel droveup with a trailerfull of quads andasked if weneeded gas.Well, yes! He had25 gallons of gas with a pump and sold both of us 2 ½ gallons ofgas so we could get into Lakeview. At Lakeview that night Randy asked if I wanted to stay cheapor in comfort. We paid premium at the Best Western to get agood night’s sleep on a memory foam mattress. We had ridden600 miles, sometimes on fumes, so with a Mexican restaurantright next door we didn’t get back on the bikes. Day Four: We got up early, had a nice continental breakfast;with a waffle iron and the works. We stopped in Klamath Falls,took the Green Springs Highway, and were home after 4 hours. It was interesting to say the least; and we will get a pin aftermailing in our stamped information. If anyone wants to try tosurvive Hwy 50, go to travelnevada.com

30 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

Once again, everyone is invited to take part in RaveNRide 2010! Region A has arranged two tours. Please contact the Region A directorsto request a tour card. Participants have from January 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010 to visit each business or chapter listed on the card.A sticker will be placed at each location visited and once the card is completed, turn it in to the National Office for a chance to win a $1,000prize which will be awarded in December 2010! More information on each location is available at www.gwta.org or www.ravenride.com.

Region A Tour #1 Region A Tour #2Chet’s Honda17 H St. SW

Quincy, WA 98848509-787-3617

www.chetshondapolaris.com

Cycle BarnEither Location

Smokey Point or Lynnwood360-530-7800

www.cyclebarn.com

GWTA WA Chapter NNorth Cascade Riders meet at Eagle Crest21102-67th Ave NE, Arlington, WA 98223

www.northcascaderiders.org

GWTA WA Chapter VAuburn Valley Wings

meet at Trotter’s Restaurant825 Harvey Road, Auburn, WA 98002

253-208-9867www.auburnvalleywings.org

Hinshaw’s Motorcycle Store1611 West Valley Hwy So.

Auburn, WA 98001253-939-7164

www.hinshawsmotorcyclestore.com

Onthree Trike Conversions1725 - 268th Ave. N.E.Redmond, WA 98053

425-836-0373www.onthreetrikes.com

Renton Motorcycle Mall3701 East Valley Rd.Renton, WA 98057

425-226-4320www.rentonmotorcycles.com

GWTA WA State22865 Bridgewater Rd.

Sedro Woolley, WA 98284Come see us at the State Rally!

360-856-5815; www.gwta-wa.org

Everett Powersports215 SW Everett Mall Way

Everett, WA 98204425-347-4545

www.everettpowersports.com

Gerry Andal’s27021 - 102nd Ave. NWStanwood, WA 98292

360-629-6569www.gerryandal.com

GWTA WA Chapter CEvergreen Wings meet at Everett Eagles

1216 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201253-538-4915

www.evergreenwings.org

GWTA WA Chapter SSkagit Valley Wings

meet at Cranberry Tree Restaurant2030 Freeway Dr., Mt. Vernon, WA

360-630-1780www.skagitvalleywings.netfirms.com

Sheri’s Sweet Shop207 Riverside Ave.

Winthrop, WA 98862509-996-3834

Timber Creek Grill Buffet9211 E. Montgomery Ave.

Spokane Valley, WA 99206509-892-6390

Westside Motorsports4201 S. Grove RoadSpokane, WA 99224

509-747-1862www.westsideracing.com

Wingman Enterprises5663 - A N.E. 105th Ave.

Portland, OR 97220503-257-4141

www.wingman.com

31TOURING NEWS

GWTA National Office: P.O. Box 42403, Indianapolis, IN 46242 - Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm ESTToll Free: 800-960-4982 Local: 317-243-6822 Fax: 317-243-6833 membership@gwtaco.com touring.news@gwtaco.comChapter Listings and additional info can be found online at: www.GWTA.org www.gotmotorcycle.org www.goldrushrally.org

Region A

www.gwtaregiona.orgAlaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho,

Montana, Oregon, Washington, WyomingRegion Director: JR & Lindy Phillips

960 Ebony Pl., Camano Island, WA 98282gwtaregiona@verizon.net; 360-387-3523

Board Representative: Ray & Floramie Phillips14425 59th Ave. South, Tukwila, WA 98168

ray@csipnw.com; 206-277-0962Region B

Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada, UtahRegion Director: Steve & Ralphine Andrus2108 Lighthouse Dr., Fairfield, CA 94534longrider1100@aol.com; 707-429-9547

ralphine.andrus@solano.eduBoard Representative: Charles HornerP.O. Box 230, Shingletown, CA 96088horner@com-pair.net; 530-474-4291

Region C

www.gwta-c.comIllinois, Iowa, Manitoba, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota,

South Dakota, Saskatchewan, WisconsinRegion Director: Rick & Kandie Hinrichs12215 Signal Drive, Omaha, NE 68137

papawing1@cox.net; 402-578-2368Board Representative: Dave Telford2114 S. 88th St., Omaha, NE 68124

tel-con@cox.net; 402-614-4652

Region D

http://geocities.com/gwtaregiondAlabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina,

South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West VirginiaRegion Director: Jerry & Liz Neisen

12615 Roberts Rd., Chunchula, AL 36521lizneisen@yahoo.com; 251-679-8580

Board Representative: Albert Waldron149 Wes Havard Rd., Lucedale, MS 39452albertw65@bellsouth.net; 601-947-5399

Region E

www.gwtaregione.homestead.comArkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas

Region Director: Tommy & Aileen Dossey1339 Cummings Lane, Texarkana, TX 75501

tdossey@aol.com; 903-831-4686Board Representative: Chuck Gibbs233 Judson St., Longmont, CO 80501gibbs233@aol.com; 303-651-6174

Region F

www.gwtaregionf.orgIndiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania

Region Director: Pat & Marie Beaudoin39433 Marne Ave., Sterling Heights, MI 49313

gwtaregionf@yahoo.com; 586-532-7724Board Representative: Max & Patricia Krueger

442 E. Franklin Street, Otsego, MI 49078gwtawingsofeagles@sbcglobal.net; 269-694-9746

Region H

www.regionhgwta.orgConnecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,

New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, VermontRegion Director: Phil & Sue Rueger

100 Allyndale Road, Canaan, CT 06018regionh@comcast.net; 860-824-0005

Board Representative: Dennis & Darlene Farnum75 Farnum Lane, Sebago, ME 04029

ddfarnum@yahoo.com; 207-787-3435

Region J

www.gwtaregionj.comNewfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario

Region Director: Kevin Welch169 Holmes Ave., North York, ON M2N 4M7 Canada

kevw9@sympatico.ca; 416-229-9378Board Representative: Garrie & Eleanor Wayne

147 Wellington St. West Apt. 714, Aurora, ON L4G 3M1 Canadagarrie.wayne@pppoe.ca; 905-727-5272

Executive Director

Bruce & Linda KeenonP.O. Box 348, Huntington, IN 46750

gwtaed@aol.com; 260-358-0851; Fax 260-356-3392

National Event Coordinator

Tony & Diane ManryP.O. Box 469, Van Buren, IN 46991

tdm4696@embarqmail.com; 765-934-4696

Webmaster

John Hunrath9265 Amarone Way, Sacramento, CA 95829

hunrath@comcast.net; 916-682-0734

Rider Education Director

Don & Judy CoonsP.O. Box 1164, Rogue River, OR 97537

kf6ctj@charter.net; 541-582-1403

Education and Retention Director

Mike & Carol Brush12516 Poppleton Ave., Omaha, NE 68144

brush123@cox.net; 402-397-4663

Helping Hands Director

Dennis & Nancy Seery902 Greenfield Court, Murfreesboro, TN 37128

tennwing@aol.com; 615-849-7732

Chairman of the Board

Ed & Joanne Davis1395 Sanborn Road, Yuba City, CA 95993

ednjoanne@att.net; 530-673-7451Life Member Board Representative

Tom & Barb Johnson401 Lincoln St., Bartelso, IL 62218

ridingcouple@frontiernet.net; 618-765-2661

32 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

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