ESTN 2008: Marlinton, WV (Sept 26 - 28)

[Allan]

Got home last night around 11. Although not without some damage. I had a oops moment turning the bike around and it went down. Busted turn signal, bent bar end, and a slightly scraped fairing. Nothing that a little duct tape could not fix. Looks like ESTN just got more expensive. But aside from that once bit of having my corn flakes pissed in it was a great weekend, despite the rain.

Thanks Gary and Doug for putting this together and to everyone who came out. See you all again at the next meet.

Some random WV scenery


Just cought the Western Maryland


The big radio telescope at National Radio Astronomy Observatory Green Bank


Damaged V-Strom


Some more can be found at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/racefangp/

[SWriverstone]

Great event everyone! In spite of the rain it was a fun weeend with good riding. I posted a mini-report with pics under Ride Reports (for anyone who wants to see our intrepid group conquering 4300' Reddish Knob in zero visibility and pouring rain!  )

Thanks Garry & Doug for a great event.  

Scott

[Norwegian Blue]

Had a great time this weekend.  Thanks to all involved in putting it together.  I have a handful of pictures that I uploaded here: http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f209/JRider82/ESTN%202008/

Here's a picture of Norwegian Blue and myself on the Blue Ridge Parkway:


Looking forward to next year

Heh -- that was the clearest view we had on the Blueridge. And that's a color picture....

 

[molferen]

I started my ride yesterday with a ride around the PA mountains to end up in the State college area last night.. riding down today with SLK50 and cablebandit. Unfortuneately I started feeling punky around midday and by afternoon realized i was comming down with something and was developing a fever. I stopped at a pharmacy and bought a cheap thermometer and sure enough I had a 101.5 temp. I made it home last night, but not without doing the last 100 miles in the rain.  This morning as  of 7:30, my temp is 102f and i've got the chills and sweats. The way I feel now.. I highly doubt I'm gonna make it unless this thing has an exodus as quickly as it came..

We missed you Jerry.  Frank and I were concerned.

Also a big thank you to Gary and Doug for putting this together.

Gary and Jeremy, thanks for letting us ride with you, that was a great route.

When's the next meet!?

[R Doug]

Who was riding two up on a BMW RT Sunday on the way home?

I caught up w/ them on Rt. 219 heading north on Sunday.  I would like to tip my hat.  I was riding at my normal (wet) pace and they just pulled back on the road ahead of me (most likely after taking a picture of the valley with the fog lifting).  As the rider accelerated, I ended up 3-4 bike lengths behind them thinking I would look for the next straight to pass.  That never happened because I didn't need to.  

Impressive two up riding in the rain.  

[jimmy]

Allan's photo with the Strom in front of the big honkin' radio telescope is way cool!!

[googus]

Got home last night around 11. Although not without some damage. I had a oops moment turning the bike around and it went down. Busted turn signal, bent bar end, and a slightly scraped fairing. Nothing that a little duct tape could not fix. Looks like ESTN just got more expensive. But aside from that once bit of having my corn flakes pissed in it was a great weekend, despite the rain.



Don't feel too bad I dropped my XX thinking I had my kickstand down when it wasn't getting gas. Good thing I had Peter and dave with me to pick up a loaded XX. Those dam riding boots, I should have kept my squid timberland with no sock on:)

[Allan]

Allan's photo with the Strom in front of the big honkin' radio telescope is way cool!!

Thanks, isn't perspective a wonderful thing. My camera a Panasonic TZ3 has the equivalent to a 28-280 mm 35mm lens, in a very compact body. I stood about 20 yards back from the bike zoomed in all the way to get the bike and the radio telescope framed up like that. You can only get so close to take photos with digital camera's because of radio interference. The tour guide said you could use film cameras during the up close tour. If I had known that I would have brought my old school SLR or at least an old disposable I had laying around. I have some others of just the dish ill post up later.

[Sandbag]

Got home last night around 11. Although not without some damage. I had a oops moment turning the bike around and it went down. Busted turn signal, bent bar end, and a slightly scraped fairing. Nothing that a little duct tape could not fix. Looks like ESTN just got more expensive. But aside from that once bit of having my corn flakes pissed in it was a great weekend, despite the rain.



Don't feel too bad I dropped my XX thinking I had my kickstand down when it wasn't getting gas. Good thing I had Peter and dave with me to pick up a loaded XX. Those dam riding boots, I should have kept my squid timberland with no sock on:)

DAMN man that sucks!

[photomd]

Another thanks from here as well: Doug and Garry put together a great time.  

It was great to meet lots of new faces. Also thanks to Scott for a fun ride on Sat.

Great pictures Allan. It was great to meet you as well as Frank, Nick, Jesse, ATW, Garry, Tammy and all the others whose names I can't remember: fun times.

Here's about the only photos I have...shouldn't have left my camera in the hotel on Sat.

[Redfox]

I had a fun time especially in the rain at the knob.
Thanks Scott Garry and Doug.

[nnjhawk02]

Wow great ride reports - Now where's '09 ESTN??

Here's hoping for no rain

[R Doug]

Hey all, I had a blast this past weekend.  But, for clarification, Garry did the legwork on this.  All I did was help him scout it out early in the spring (in the rain... how ironic) and get a few doorprizes w/ the help of Jimmy and Stefrr.  

As nnjhawk02 says, where's 2009 going to be?  How about the Catskills???

[Sandbag]

Hey all, I had a blast this past weekend.  But, for clarification, Garry did the legwork on this.  All I did was help him scout it out early in the spring (in the rain... how ironic) and get a few doorprizes w/ the help of Jimmy and Stefrr.  

As nnjhawk02 says, where's 2009 going to be?  How the Catskills???

Thats sounds like a plan

[googus]

Hey all, I had a blast this past weekend.  But, for clarification, Garry did the legwork on this.  All I did was help him scout it out early in the spring (in the rain... how ironic) and get a few doorprizes w/ the help of Jimmy and Stefrr.  

As nnjhawk02 says, where's 2009 going to be?  How the Catskills???

+1 catskills

[franzmax]

Just wanted to say thanks to all.  I was one of the guys that you let crash the party this weekend.  I thought it was one terrific coincidence that the first place my friends and I came upon to escape the rain was full of bikes.  Had a great time meeting many of you.  Was able to take an extra day and go home to upstate NY via the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive.  Looking forward to the next time being "official."

Regards,
Mike

[Against The Wind]

Glad you had fun Mike. Welcome.

[nnjhawk02]

R Doug

Wow - Catskills are a great choice!  So much out there - both to see & ride.

A couple of items from area;

Skydive at the Ranch in Gardiner, NY
Rock Climb at The 'Gunks on Rt. 55

Some Funky towns - Woodstock, New Platz

Great Roads;

Rt's. 42, 55, 3, 28A, 30 - just to name a few

[glepore]

Who was riding two up on a BMW RT Sunday on the way home?

Thanks, Doug, that was Terri and I. We had stopped to reload some music on the MP3 player. Enjoyed running w/ you, too bad you split off at the fuel stop. Those sorta roads are the RT's home, once it gets a little tighter I'd need the 749 to run w/ the Duke.  

We had a great time despite the weather, and will most likely be back to take in a full week of WVa roads next year.

[maddjack]

Catskills or the dacks,