The 2019 NT Gathering - May 16-19, 2019 - Cairo, WV

DirtFlier said:
I've ridden across the country 4-5 times, and there are only a few states missing from my list of states crossed. Also done extensive riding in the Canadian provinces between BC and Nova Scotia so I feel no guilt in trailering my bike to an event. With two drivers, it saves lots of time plus unnecessary wear and tear on your bike crossing all the flat, boring places you've already seen. 😉
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Ya, I know. It is a stupid "pride" thing. I figured out the fuel cost of riding the scenic route vs trailering the direct route and the fuel cost is exactly the same. So I don't know why I want to riding either.

Current plan is to trailer down to TurboJims on Wednesday and then ride down to Cairo on Thursday. Still going to continue checking the weather forecast. I'm still keeping open the option of trailering down through Chicago and on to Cairo (it is 150 miles shorter). Google Maps says it is almost 15 hours to Cairo, I know it is longer than that. I used to drive to Dayton OH when my parents were living there and that took 13 hours on a good day. And going was I lose an hour with time zone change.

So, for now, I have to be super nice to my wife on Mothers Day - and then take off with my motorcycle.
 
I've done it both ways and when arriving at a place via "trailering," I still feel fresh with a strong desire to unload the bike and ride the next day. :) Riding my bike all that way, left me tired and not really wanting to ride the next day. :-(
 
I see what y'all are saying about the benefits of trailering, but I would feel guilty about doing so. I would feel like it was "cheating" somehow... after all, it is about the ride. Maybe I'll feel differently when I get old.

Mike
 
I think it really depends on where you live.. I'm lucky enough to live in an area where I avoid snow pretty much 99.9998% of the year.. however, there's no really fun place to ride around here so I have to do at least 200+ miles just to get out of town so to speak. That being said.. WIND is what I hate the most... and it can be brutal. That's what leaves me tired at the end of the day. Riding in a downpour at night is also a tough one.. both because your senses have to be at 110%... 120% of the time... hard to relax and enjoy the ride. Many times I've thought how a truck and small 2-wheel toy hauler would make life easier.

Hope you guys have a great event no matter how you get there... WV has great roads and I'm way behind on my experience in that state so it's still on my bucket list.
 
At a recent event in AR I was talking to an NC700 Rider from IL that was pulling a single axle toy hauler w/Honda Ridgeline... looked a little like the pic below... very nice and neat setup and something I'd personally consider if I had a yard big enough to store the trailer when not in use... as it is, that's about the size of my yard if I took down my dwarf magnolia.. lol .. and the dogs wouldn't have a place to poop.

12ft-mini-dunesport-toy-hauler.jpg


Now, if money was no object:

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The predicted temps for Parkersburg, about 10-miles west of the park, this weekend is as follows:

Thursday 76, Friday 77 with "spotty showers," Saturday 81, and Sunday 86. :)

Deb & I will arrive around 2 PM on Thursday so let's plan to meet in the lodge for dinner at 6:30 PM that night. I'm looking forward to it!
 
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The forecast I saw is a little wetter than your's Tosh, but I going to go for it anyway. No room at the lodge (no surprise) but I'm on waiting list and bringing my camping gear. It is a long trip, but I'm anxious to ride. I have ridden about 50 miles so far this year. I hope to arrive in time for the 6:30 dinner. I think I was last down there in about 2011 or 2012 when it was in Pigeon Forge.

Yesterday I was getting spring equipment out of storage. I tried to mow some grass but had to go around some snow piles.
 
The computer is telling me it is a ten hour non stop ride. At best I will be late, likely unfit for a ride the next day. I the past efforts are any indication I will still be happy.
 
10-hours of riding in one stint in not a good idea. Maybe you should break-up the MA-to-WV trip into two days for safety reasons?

ps. computer mapping typically assumes you're in a car so I'd add 10% to that estimate since you'll have to stop more often for fuel, to rest, potty break, etc. Another reason to break it into two days.
 
Jungle Jim - the campground also has small cabins and they're in the camping area but I don't know the daily cost. You should ask about those if a room is not available and you don't feel like sleeping on the ground.
 
Thanks Tosh, I did check the cabins too. Sleeping isn’t bad but I don’t like setting up and breaking camp in the rain. Mostly I’d like to be with the group for the fellowship-
 
I went into my garage to check the scoot before I go on this trip. The tires were a bit low so I got my compressor and hooked it to the scoot.......nothing happened. The battery was dead. I tried jumping it but all that I got a few clicks. Called the dealer and he said it sounded like a bad starter. For $125 I got a guy to take it to the dealer. He will charge the battery and do his magic but if it's a bad starter I won't be able to get one and still make the trip. I should know for sure by tomorrow noon. The dealer told me to borrow my grandson's Ninja 400 for the weekend but I told him my body doesn't bend enough to ride that bike.
 
It's pretty rare for the starter to fail on a Japanese bike. Most likely your battery is kaput.
 
Barry, you might want to consider a new battery. If the battery takes a charge but doesn't hold it North Bend State Park is a bad spot to find that out. How much is "peace of mind" worth? At a minimum. have the dealer do a "load test". Good luck
 
Cnille said:
That's what I would have thought but that was the first thing he said.
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It is impossible to diagnose a starter or a battery for that matter over the phone... period! My guess would be the battery as well. I would be leery of anyone who tries to diagnose something without looking at it.... be forewarned.

Mike
 
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