Summing Up the Old Dominion Ride

The Old Dominion Ride was quite an adventure.  The guys all melded together really well and I know that strong friendships were forged.  Everyone pitched in and around Base Camp.  It was clear that attitudes and extra baggage were left at home where they belong and everyone had a good time.

The weather for the most part was decent.  Although there were a couple of days at base camp where it rained (lightly mostly) or threatened to rain just enough to make us put on our rain gear.  It was usually brisk in the morning and evening, but by mid-day it usually warmed up enough to ride in t-shirts.  Of course, the next week it was forecasted to be in the upper 80's and partly sunny.  The weather for the ride to and from the Base Camp was great.

The roads.  Awesome!  Some of the best we've ridden.  Mountains with 10% grade for miles of twisties and the Sky Line Drive with its pristine asphalt, spectacular views - including a black bear only 30 feet from us!  Even the ride to and from the Base Camp was nice (between Fort Wayne and the Base Camp, that is).

The sights were all great.  The pix form Luray Caverns outnumber the pix from the ride.  The New Market battlefield and Harpers Ferry did not disappoint.  The wild life (I already mentioned the black bear) was abundant.  And I think that we all would have liked to see a few less deer!

The people we met were all great; very friendly and helpful when we needed it.  The old woman who sat on her porch every day said to some of us one evening as we walked by her house, "I've been watching you [as we shared stories about the day's ride and activities in the driveway].  You guys are funny.".  I guess we kinda were.

The Base Camp was nearly perfect.  We just needed a hose to wash the bikes.  The Foosball table took a beating, but a new team was crowned champions.  And the cooking facilities were perfect as Matt "The Grill Master" Luparello did an awesome job Qing for the guys on a couple of nights with the help of several others.  As for the interim lodging - the Days Inn in Columbus was adequate (good for the money) and had several restaurants within walking distance, which was key. 

On the down side, this is a motorcycle trip after all, we had a few mechanical problems.  The one critical one was Young Joe's blown transmission only a few hours away from home.  Unfortunately it ended his trip and he was sorely missed.  Old Joe, not to be outdone, developed a crack in his exhaust while riding at Base Camp, but the dealership got the exact part in that morning and fixed him up right away.  Jamie's bike had a shifter problem that the dealership fixed with a shot of WD40 and Kelly lost a mirror that Tim almost found imbedded in his shin.  Final score: Standards 2 - Metrics 2.

About 2013's ride - Nothing's been decided, but a lot of options were discussed, including moving the ride to later in the Summer, so that we could venture North.  As Summer passes and we talk more I'll have some options to review with you all, but rest assured whatever we decide it will be another great life experience!