BereIsland Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Gear on and ready to leave home at 4:00am for Heathrow, feeling bit lonely (no one to see me off) and a little uneasy about this adventure. Key in bike, fire up and the fuel light is on, forgot to fill up. Good start . Filled up in Winchester on the way and the trip to Heathrow is uneventful. Free parking for bikes in the terminals I'm not the C1 Long queue going through security, took around an hour. The flight took us almost directly over Bere Island, if I had been sat on the other side of the plane I might have even seen it. But I did see a beech in Co.Kerry Ireland which is exactly 1 mile long and called appropriately Inch Beech Arrived in DC at 11:am got a taxi to EagleRider and went through the details to rent my bike for the trip. I fixed my bag to the pillion seat and had a little play around the carpark to get a feel of the thing. Not too bad but where's the pegs, still I managed some how and off I went the wrong way. Funny how when your nervous and un sure 9 times out of 10 you always make the wrong 50 50 chance. Any way it was a short ride to my first night in a Red Roof motel in Winchester VA. Next Day on Sunday I went to Mass in Winchester, and met some lovely people. They had a one-way system around the church, which I of course went the wrong way on. I got talking about the route I would take to Fayetteville, one guy said don’t take the 50, its all twists and turns. So, 50 it was One particularly fun bit about the VTX is the tank size, after 90 miles of riding I spluttered to a halt. Now the fuel tap did seem to have 3 positions, again its funny how I can never read the writing on the tap, panicking I kept moving the tap from one position to the next until I couldn’t remember where it was when I started. But eventually it fired up and I was only 3 miles from a gas station. This reminded me of the wild west I love your Gas stations, I must have walked miles on them, backwards and forwards to the shop, you have pre-pay, levers to pull up, levers to spin round, buttons to press, each time was another trip back to the shop. Got to the Quality inn by night fall on Sunday, I was early and before most of you had arrived. Next Day I met Tim with his Green RT and unigo trailer and I knew I was in the right place. George Brown and his wife was next door to me and took me on a ride down to the bottom of the gorge, and up r 16 to Gorley bridge. Next day I rented a push bike for trip down the gorge, great fun and helps my arthritis, I think. I didn’t volunteer any trips with the lads, spirited riding could be a little difficult on a cruiser, I had such a fright when my heels rubbed the ground for the first time. Do you think I look cool with my shades an white helmet I rode one of the routes on the leaflet given to us, and here's a couple of pics of the route I had to read this sign to myself the first time to get it A friend I made on the way through Gauley Bridge The evenings were fantastic, great stories you all tell, I have lots to talk about back home, should keep me going for months. Andy told me about his ridding buddies that run off the road and dissapeared into a swamp, they were fine but a liitle wet Two things I noticed, your bugs, their huge and noisy, and your trucks, there also huge, noisy and fast really fast I thought my speedo was broke I got a little artistic here, not used to this chrome stuff Here's some pics of Fayetteville After having such a great time I did want to go home but leave I must and left after breakfast. Steve (Slyder-Steve) escorted me back to DC using his GPS, that was a great help as I had to get the bike back to Eagle-Rider by 5:pm, we made it by 4:pm, if I had done it on my own and made a bad turn I could have been late, thanks Steve, part of the reason for the long time spent traveling to DC was having to stop frequently for Steve to fill up , sorry it was me and my 90 mile range. I managed to get an earlier flight home and by 9:00am Friday Morning I was home, and I stayed on the right side, sorry left side of the road. My thanks to everyone who made this rally unhappen Steve Link to comment
lawnchairboy Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 thanks for the pics steve, a pleasure to meet you. chris Link to comment
OoPEZoO Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Nice pics Steve. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. It was a pleasure meeting you Link to comment
Les is more Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Great tale! I'm so glad you made it. I enjoyed the all too brief time with you! See you next time? Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 9, 2007 Author Share Posted September 9, 2007 Great tale! I'm so glad you made it. I enjoyed the all too brief time with you! See you next time? Already planning Steve Link to comment
dhanson Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Cool tale and loved listening to you talk. Makes the world seem smaller to have someone like yourself come over here and make do in our strange country. I've lived here 61 years and can barely figure out the gas pumps, bottom line keep trying to move little levers till there are no more to move. Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 9, 2007 Author Share Posted September 9, 2007 loved listening to you talk. I'm going to tell my wife you said that, she wont believe it Steve Link to comment
Tom P Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Nice meeting you Steve and thanks for the pics and tale! Hope to meet up with you again. Link to comment
Flyer5 Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Great pics ,also enjoyed meeting you . Dave Link to comment
Marty Hill Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Steve, Hope to see you again next summer in the UK! Link to comment
HandyAndy Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Already planning Steve Steve, It was great to meet you! Can't wait till we meet again, I haven't forgot your deal to help me find my way to the next UN! Just have to find you a more suitable ride! Maybe an F800ST! Well maybe not. Can't wait for the announcement of where and when so the real planning can begin! Link to comment
Mark Menard (Vita Rara) Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Steve, It was great meeting you. I'm so glad you could make it to the Un. I look forward to seeing you in the future. Maybe the Un next year. I'm happy you had such a good time. Take care, Mark Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 9, 2007 Author Share Posted September 9, 2007 Already planning Steve Maybe an F800ST! Well maybe not. Well, there can't be two that bad Link to comment
Ron_B Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Steve, thanks for the pics, and the accompaning thoughts and impressions about your trip. (And yes, with the shades, you look right at home on the kroozer!) It was a pleasure talking with you at the Greenbrier, and I look forward to seeing and talking to you again in the future. Link to comment
CurbQueen Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Enjoyed reading your post and pix. It was too loud to talk to you... but remember, "If you spot it, you got it.".....didn't see us in the pix! Didn't see the can, either! CQ Link to comment
George Brown Posted September 9, 2007 Share Posted September 9, 2007 Great tale Steve. Judy and I really enjoyed meeting you and riding with you. Judy still doesn't quite understand why someone would come all the way from England for an UN. But she also doesn't understand what it is that bikers are always looking at when they stand around a parking lot looking at each other's bikes. Hope my snoring didn't keep you awake. Link to comment
Fasterpill Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 ROIGHT!! It surely was fun meeting and "chatting" with you. Really missed riding with you - maybe next year. Enjoyed your pics. Might want to crop this one for a new avatar: And look at your grin in this one: It kinda reminds me of this guy ---> Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 10, 2007 Author Share Posted September 10, 2007 Hope my snoring didn't keep you awake. I thought it was the cricket's Steve Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 10, 2007 Author Share Posted September 10, 2007 Really missed riding with you - maybe next year. You wouldn't have missed the trips to the gas station great meeting you, and yes plans are being made for next year with a bike that I can keep up on. Steve Link to comment
RatSnake Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 Steve, It was great meeting you. Hope to see you again soon. Link to comment
Foot Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 Steve It was great meeting you. I will try to tidy up my wiring on the RT for next time. Alan Link to comment
RoyTemple Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 Steve, It was great meeting and talking with you! I checked an atlas when I got home and found Bear Island a the south tip of Ireland. Same island, different spelling. Must be an americanized atlas. BTW, an particular reason you chose BereIsland as your screen name? Roy Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 10, 2007 Author Share Posted September 10, 2007 Thanks Roy, its the island my Mum was born on, My aunt still lives there and we visit regularly. I have even ridden there with no helmet on, but dont tell anyone Steve Link to comment
Svensk Posted September 10, 2007 Share Posted September 10, 2007 Steve, Enjoyed talking with you and learning a bit about the ferryman who chooses his port of call depending on how busy he is. That sounds like a different approach to life. Hope to see you at the next Un. Eric Link to comment
Berkley Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Steve - Loved your ride tale, glad you made it across the pond - now we've got stories to tell about the Limey who made it to the Un, as much as you've got stories to tell about your trip Truly glad you made it home safe and sound - pics were great too! Toodles, Sylva Link to comment
SageRider Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Steve, Glad I was able to meet and talk with you. Enjoyed your tale! Link to comment
Paul_Burkett Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 TO Mrs. Steve, We kept a close eye on your husband and found that we did not have to keep him on a short leash, he was a good boy all the while that he was with us. If he asks if he can come over again next year, I think he can be trusted for a two week stay, we'll take good care of him for you and keep him safe and in line, you can come too if you would like. Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 12, 2007 Author Share Posted September 12, 2007 Ha, She's out on a women's darts team night at the pub, I will print this out and leave it by the microwave, its 9:00pm at the moment and I shall be in bed by the time she gets in. Provided I'm still alive in the morning I shall let you know how things develop. Steve Link to comment
SageRider Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 TO Mrs. Steve, We kept a close eye on your husband and found that we did not have to keep him on a short leash, he was a good boy all the while that he was with us. If he asks if he can come over again next year, I think he can be trusted for a two week stay, we'll take good care of him for you and keep him safe and in line, you can come too if you would like. Wow! Steve made a pretty good offer if I would post the above. I told him I wanted more and he went away...Looks like Steve found someone's price! Mrs. Steve, if you come over with Steve next time, maybe you can keep him somewhat in line! Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 13, 2007 Author Share Posted September 13, 2007 TO Mrs. Steve, We kept a close eye on your husband and found that we did not have to keep him on a short leash, he was a good boy all the while that he was with us. If he asks if he can come over again next year, I think he can be trusted for a two week stay, we'll take good care of him for you and keep him safe and in line, you can come too if you would like. Wow! Steve made a pretty good offer if I would post the above. I told him I wanted more and he went away...Looks like Steve found someone's price! Mrs. Steve, if you come over with Steve next time, maybe you can keep him somewhat in line! I made it to the morning. Glad I got the printing done before you posted, Paul's cheap Steve Link to comment
Fasterpill Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I think she really enjoys those darts!! Link to comment
BereIsland Posted September 14, 2007 Author Share Posted September 14, 2007 I wondered why I woke up with a headache couldn't have happened though, she would have hit me with all three darts Steve Link to comment
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