MCImoneyman

I am not opposed to changes, but it seems to me we are throwing the baby out with the bath water. I think there are only 2 or 3 legs that are having a tough time getting riders. The legs East of Kansas City seem to be fairly well attended. The two legs between Kansas City and Denver/Castle Rock are tough recruit riders, it is a very sparse population out there. It is also my understanding that the leg across the desert is also tough.

I don't understand this at all. Are we foregoing the baton pass? I know there was an idea floated to do this over a few weekends but isn't the idea to go across the country not just ride a given leg?

Thanks to John for accepting my offer. I completed the purchase of the two items a few minutes ago. Can't wait for the Tootsie Roll to show up!

If I looked at the calendar right, I will be joining this ride at lunch. Cruising into KC with the pack!

Looks like all of you had a great time on Sunday. I know it was great seeing everyone Saturday evening.

I can do leg 7 captain if needed. Traditionally Spike has been the captain on this leg, but I am planning to ride and would be willing to captain if needed. Hotel and MITM dinner already planned. Hey, it can't possibly be any worse than last year; 3 riders lost and a bike down, can it?

Tom and Pattie you've been wonderful friends for years. Bet you'll never forget lunch in Sharon Springs when you had to see my bruise!

Where the hell is the Ozards? JK SWMBO and I will be there for sure.

Well Kansas City crew could certainly do it, but we're a little further west than most consider Mid-Atlantic, 8) . Though a Lake of the Ozarks isn't necessarily a bad idea.

I floated the idea a few years back to assign the meet to the regions on a rotating basis moving them around, but it never got any traction.

Pictures from SWMBO and the moneyman

Leg 8 and some 9

Well we had a few tribulations getting the baton across Kansas. But I assume that the baton and bag have now made it to Castle Rock. Our fun in Kansas: All ready to go on time from the meet point on time Friday morning. We get 8 miles down the road and Brent signals me to pull over, we're missing Itchy. I had forgot about him as he was staying in another hotel. After about a 45 minute delay trying to track him down and talking to his wife a couple of times, we decided to meet him on down the road a short ways. We get to the hoped for rendezvous, but no Itchy. Another 15 minutes and another call wife his wife, we go on. At the meet point in Topeka, Itchy pulls in as we're getting ready to leave. He found us by the "Spot" tracking. We believe all to be good and make our two planned stops in Topeka. But we couldn't leave Topeka without losing two riders. We stop in Wamego to view the eagle memorial there, I ask as we park where are Bill and Charlie? I am told we lost them in Topeka. Huh? I can't quite figure out why nobody sped up and let me know. We stop to fuel up after the eagle, HotWheels pulls away from the pump and heads back to town. I ask what's going on? She is going back to look for a glove that GravelFinder lost as we left the eagle. OK, it's a small town, shouldn't be long, but another 10 minute delay. We get to the lunch stop 1.5 hours late, no biggie, it isn't a long leg and we only have about 100 miles to go after lunch. Bill and Charlie show up as we are about done with lunch, good to know they're alive and well. Two minutes after leaving lunch, I get flagged down again. Itchy is missing. Huh? Itchy pulls up, he has lost his mufflers. He has lost his mufflers. They fell off. They fell the fuck off? He says he is going back, and for us to go on, he will meet us in Wilson. We are going to historical society museums in Ellsworth, as they expect us to stop every year. The ladies really are very nice. They have iced tea, lemonade, brownies and cookies waiting for us. But this simple stop can't be simple on this day. Brent doesn't see my turn signal and brake light, as I start to make my right turn, we just about collide. I swerve left, he applies brakes hastily. He hits sand, rear tire locks up, bike fishtails, Brent goes down. Couple of bumps and bruises, and a broken right mirror. GravelFinder and HotWheels get the bike off of Brent, and he is back on his feet right away. Thursday night and Friday morning are marvelous, Paul and Tina hosted all of us at their lake home. We sat on the deck watching the sunset over the lake Thursday evening. Tina prepared us great breakfast this morning. Looks like Friday is going to be a better day. But wait..... Paul mentioned that his radio and dash were blinking off occasionally, GravelFinder and I both said check the connections at the battery. He got them tightened up Thursday evening, but he has bigger problems, bike started missing and not starting Friday morning out by Goodland. He decides he had better stop where he is, and passes the backpack to GravelFinder to take to Castle Rock, problem solved. Paul gets a call from another rider they were to meet at Limon, CO asking if everything is OK, "Spot" hasn't moved in two hours. Shit! Spot is in trunk, backpack is just about to Limon. And all of you thought nothing happens in Kansas.

If I were king, it would be so decreed. Seems like a simple thing for the board to do, or does it even need board approval.

A very HISTORICAL site is being added to the ride! As far as I know, this site has not ever been visited on the V2V on the Veterans Leg. This will not add more than 15 minutes to the ride. The site honors all branches of the armed services and POW-MIA's. Plus there is a memorial that is very hard to believe to be found in Topeka, KS. I would guess 80% of the people living in Topeka are not even aware of this landmark. For those of you close enough to meet us, I will post an easy spot for us to find you, and easy for you to find on the East side of Topeka. We'll definitely take pictures to share with others. I am sure future Veterans Leg Captains will include this site on future rides, it is that cool. Done with the teaser. Next post will be about where to meet the riders on Friday. Oh, and I am talking to that politician brother-in-law of mine about having a special guest meet us there.

Greg Heim broke two bones in his left leg this morning in a motorcycle accident. This leg is cancelled, good luck getting the baton to Russell, KS. Just kidding, Greg did break his leg, but I have volunteered to captain the leg. Waiting to hear back from the Chairman if this is okay. We'll get the baton to Russell. I went to see Greg and we are planning to meet after his surgery. We'll still have a great time, and raise a couple to Greg at the end of the day.

Ride and hotel details from Greg Heim, Leg Captain. Here is the pertinent info for my leg of the V2V: Leaving from Shawnee Cycle PlaZa @ 0800. Stop @ Topeka Gage Park Veterans Memorial at about 0930. Lunch @ Abilene La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, 2210 N Buckeye Ave. I have a block of 10 rooms @ Super 8 Motel, 1405 S Fossil st, Russel, ks, under The Victory Motorcycle Club. Dinner is @ Fossil Station Pizzeria & Pub (across the street).

Another great event closed. Patti, thanks for the everything you've done to keep the event going strong year after year. If, you and Tom make it back to Kansas, I'll show you my freshest bruise, promising not to drop any laundry.

I am having trouble locating brake pads on your website. EDIT: hangover morning I guess, found them

We recruited a new VMC and GPVR member last night at dinner. Joe sent me an email after he got home, saying these (we) are exactly the type of people they would love to associate and ride with. Good on all of our VMC brothers and sister for making them feel welcome. Everyone done good!

I won't be able to ride the entire leg, but would like to meet up with the group somewhere between Abilene and Topeka. Lunch plans? Planned stops?

I am not marking that I will part or all of this ride, but don't be surprised if the moneyman shows up some where. If you do take 40 from Limon to Oakley, it adds about 10 miles versus I-70, and there is a decent cafe in Sharon Springs for lunch. If Patti is there, I may even show her my newest bruise.

or you could get in touch with me at mcimoneyman@gmail.com. I will be happy to take your idea(s) to the planning committee.

Hotel information has been posted by Cyclone, please jump to this thread. The information states the dates are for August 31 thru September 2, but the rates will also be honored for Thursday, August 30th.

As I am on the planning committee, I will address the dates. Initially the Meet was scheduled over the holiday weekend, and overwhelmingly it seemed to us that members wanted that weekend. Actually we have found the hotels we have been talking to not to have a problem that it is a holiday weekend, quite the contrary. As mentioned before, no matter the dates chosen, there will be some that think there is a better time, this year if the Meet had been in May, I wouldn't had any problem making it, but in August it became quite impossible.