Best thing about the rally!!

[jdmetzger]

Ok, I've seen a lot of complaining, and I've even chimed in a time or two. Still, I had a GREAT time at the rally. Here is your chance; post the one thing you liked BEST about the rally. NO WHINING in this thread! (is it possible?)

I'll go first:

I've been riding JUST over a year, and all on the (mostly) flat roads of Ohio. One of the best things for me was riding up Appalacian Pass on Friday. The weather was great, the hairpin turns were GREAT, and the view at the top was the perfect reward. :thumb

[eddie]

I got to ride some states I'd never been in before,I met some great people,music was good,micro brew was good and I got away from work and rode my bike for two weeks.This was my third rally,they have all been better than any motorcycle gatherings I have ever been to anywhere.It was also good to see all those BMW's in one place.

[R80RTJohnny]

Thanks for having a "Postive thread" going! To me the people and the area were fantastic. Loved volunteering and meeting well over 1500 people.

The rain was even refreshing. Liquid Sunshine.

Have a great time riding.

[BradfordBenn]

To me the best part was to get to meet lots of people and friends I don't get to see except for at rallies!

[Bensonhurst]

For me, the vintage display was BY FAR, the best part of the rally.
Riding the rural roads of Vermont is wonderful, I've been doing that for 35 years and it never gets old.

[tessler]

My favorite aspect of the Rally was returning to my parked bike to find someone musing quietly over it. The stranger's typical opening line being something like:

"Boy, I had this model back in 88'. Rode her till I upgraded in the mid-90s and now wish I'd kept her... What a great little bike! I miss it so!"

I encountered at least 5 people this way and it really made an impression on me, as one moment I was conversing with a complete stranger and the next, with a person from someplace, somewhere, who was sharing a little bit of their personal story with me.
..

[mikeinpittsburgh]

I had a great time. I always marvel at the time, energy, and creativity that the rally volunteers put into setting up a major rally like this
I saw old friends, met knew ones, spent lots of money, rode some great roads, saw a camel, and listened to some good music.
If there was something you did not like about the rally sign up to volunteer and change it.
See you next year!

[Newstar]

To me, the best part was the friendliness of the people, both MOA members and locals.

Fantastic roads too!

[PacWestGS]

The best thing about the rally was "Getting there, being there and going home from there".

I enjoyed meeting new friends, meeting old friends and making new friends!

I enjoyed the music and $2.00 Beer. And, the vintage exibit.

I'm so happy I got to bring a very special person to the rally, that will probably be a lifelong memory.

I wish all of you the best until next year...

Doc

[jmerlino]

I live close enough to Vermont to ride there reasonably often, so I'd have to say for me the best part was seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Also getting to meet in person some of the forumites that I've known online for a while. Also, getting a chance to look at lots and lots of bikes. :bikes

[Voni]

Definitely the people.

Voni
sMiling

[beemerPhil]

The music was outstanding, the weather was near perfect, the roads were very good, the fairground was a great place for a rally!
:clap
BMWNA brought enough demo bikes, I really enjoyed the one I rode. :bikes

Peter Nettesheim's vintage display was awesome! :wave

The $2 beer was good as ever- :drink

There was plenty of good food- :eat

And- Oh yeah, I won a motorcycle!
:twirl

About the only thing about this year's national that wasn't a big hit was that it was only 12 miles away from my house! :doh

I'm looking forward to next year's ride to West Bend!

[jshuck]

starting up a conversation with the folks in the next tent, sharing a drink or a brew, then sharing stories about being locked up in jail... Each person had one... does that say anything?? I got locked up in a Kentucky stonewall one man cell with two other guys for doing 98 in a 55. Took all my stuff, slid it in the big envelope...the works. One guy was awake and the other was asleep. The awake guy was in for robbery. The guy asleep was in for attempted murder.... I was very quiet...

[rdalland]

The best thing about the rally was "Getting there, being there and going home from there".

Doc
Well said!

I really enjoy being surrounded by BMW motorcycles, and their riders, both on the road and at the rally site. David Bromberg and Co. were an incredible treat Sat. night, I haven't enjoyed a live show as much in years. I got the feeling that they really enjoyed performing for us.

The _best_ thing about the rally for me is what I took home from Jim Post's seminar, "The Art of Riding Smooth". I am focusing on the techniques he shared, and working on integrating them into my riding style. Immediately, I am feeling a lot more confident about, and am much smoother while downshifting at speed.

[pbbeck]

$1 beers! None of that high-falutin' $2 beer for me. :D

As a rally first-timer, I had no idea what to expect. The whole experience was enjoyable. I loved perusing the parking lot, checking out so many thousands of Beemers, each with its owner's stamp of uniqueness. And this mirrored my experience meeting people. So many characters, all with a common interest, but every one with a unique story to tell.

Of course, the ride there and back was epic. I am proud of the 2nd place long distance award I rode away with.

Wisconsin, here I come!

[TOTOLee]

The two of us have been going to the MOA rallies like back at Flagstaff. Doing a little work, meeting new people and old friends and just getting there is some of the best things about the rallies. We came all the way across PA on 6 HWY, not good unless you have a intire day to lose. We also did 100 from the bottom of Vermont to the rally, nice, very. The MOA rally brings people from all over to one place to talk to with all their differnt bikes to look at. What more could you want? And the very best part is that it will be just as good or better in Wisconsin.

[snoone]

The Turbo Fluffies Margarita cocktail hour

[chasman]

The people are the best thing about the rally! Always great to see long time friends and new friends. Every year we come away with the fantastic feeling you get when you know you've made new friends that will be friends you can't wait to see again next year. The people find us a great place to hold a rally. The people volunteer to make the rally happen. And the people show up to make the rally an event. BMW MOA...gotta love the people!!!



Riding Like the Wind...

CHASMAN
Black '02 K12RS
Knights of the Roundel #333

[ballen262]

The people in Vermont and how they where surprised by the amount of BMW riders their where.

[Catman]

The Vintage BMW display was tops for me, particularly when those guys fired up the 1923 R 32 and just let her run for a bit. . .

[BeemoKat]

I really enjoyed (in no particular order):
a) the ride there
b) riding Smugglers' Notch
c) the breakfast we had on Saturday (wish I knew where that was)
d) riding the Appalachian Gap (even in the rain)
e) selling tickets in the beer tent
f) talking with Otto & Wanda from SC at the laundry
g) talking with everyone else I talked with
and along other things TNTC (too numerous to count) the glorious ride home the long way.

[jeneralist]

This was my first rally, so I had no idea what to expect... and I had a blast.

Even tho there's a BMW dealership in my town, I very rarely see any other BMWs when I ride. Having folks come over and admire my bike -- and to be able to look at other bikes of the same model and see what other folks have done with them thru the years... yeah.

Oh, and the riding; and the way so many local businesses welcomed us; and the riding....

[qtime]

This was the first event that all four brothers (Tom, Allen, Steve, and John) attended. We have been to other rides and ralleys, but this is the first that we all made it, and my cousin, Ray, came also.

The second best thing about the rally was that four of us completed the Experienced Riders Course on the first day in the AM. ERC is well worth the time to learn and practice riding skills. Great job making that program available at the rally. Thanks!

Tom Grew

[jdmetzger]

I really enjoyed (in no particular order):
a) the ride there
b) riding Smugglers' Notch
c) the breakfast we had on Saturday (wish I knew where that was)
d) riding the Appalachian Gap (even in the rain)
e) selling tickets in the beer tent
f) talking with Otto & Wanda from SC at the laundry
g) talking with everyone else I talked with
and along other things TNTC (too numerous to count) the glorious ride home the long way.

Good list! As for "C", my GPS and a little google search came up with the "Country Pantry Restaurant", at 951 Main St. in Fairfax, VT.

In my search I found a lot of good reviews of the place, online. Someone mentioned that the now-defunct band "Phish" used to stop in there, often.

If anyone is ever in the area, the breakfast was SUPERB. Make sure to get the toast on home-made bread. :thumb

[Voni]

Good list! As for "C", my GPS and a little google search came up with the "Country Pantry Restaurant", at 951 Main St. in Fairfax, VT.

In my search I found a lot of good reviews of the place, online. Someone mentioned that the now-defunct band "Phish" used to stop in there, often.

If anyone is ever in the area, the breakfast was SUPERB. Make sure to get the toast on home-made bread. :thumb

The Camp GEARS lunch ride was to the Country Pantry. We were very impressed with the atmosphere, service and the FOOD. A definite new favorite.

Voni
sMiling

[bmwmotowoman]

The roads, the friendly people :hug and all the great vendors. It was also great because this was my first ride on a long trip and I learned that travling by motorcycle is for me!!!!

[PAULBACH]

Nice college that made their rooms and dining facilities available. Room with shower for $20 a night. Even let people stay late Sunday until the rain went away.

Technical seminars that encouraged interaction with the presenters.

Camp gears where the newer riders and ther camp counselors learned from one another. Good curriculum at a steady fun pace.

[redrider]

lake Carmi and the and the new people I met from Ny,Arkansa,Georgia etc. The sunny weather ,the demo ride even if I had to line up at 5:30 AM, the Vendors and the trip to Montreal with "u know who U R) ,the coffee and donut at Dunkin D sitting out on the grass waving to all the riders going by.Arn't u glad u ride? :coffee

[pastorpassum]

Lots of motorcycles, friendly honest folks having a good time. What more could you ask for?

Jim :D

[bblalock]

I'll dido what everyone else has written plus: the location motivated me to plan to go farther. We went on to Quebec City(thanks Ed - in the hospitality tent) and Nova Scotia. It was 4,300 miles of enjoyment. 103 degree days on the return was tough on us though.
Benton
:dance