GOE XVIII- Day Three: Biker Games and Wet Poker Cards
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Day Two of Gathering of Eagles Eighteen started out under gray skies. We ran into several of our Cruiser Club brothers and sisters at breakfast, but the whole group began to gather out in the parking lot later that morning. The first item on today's agenda - The Biker Games.
Since the first Gathering I came to, I was always more content to watch the games, usually taking pictures, than I was to play in the games. Since Kasey came along, that had changed, and I had to sign up for at least one of the games if not more. The Games start with the solo slow ride. This is where you try to take the longest to drive a 20 foot section without putting your feet down. The guys from the Virginia Chapter in Farmville does these all year round and about once a month. Needless to say, they quickly eliminate the rest of us. The second event, the slow ride, two up, adds in a passenger. Kasey likes giving this a try, so we usually do, and usually make about the length of the bike before some one from that Virginia chapter knocks us out. Actually, we usually take ourselves out.
This year was no exception. It could have been that I have been back to riding less than a week after having a year off. I think I should have gotten an handicap. I did get some slow ride experience on Meat House Road getting here, but that was on mud and gravel. So we were quickly eliminated from the running, and then sat and watched the rest of the competition.
The games always ended with another event that Kasey wanted to join in on, and that was the Bike Wash, or more descriptively named The Water Balloon Toss. The idea here is to ride slowly under a cross bar and your passenger throws a water balloon over a bar, and catches it on the other side. If you miss, the bike gets wet, and thus washed.
For the past few years that we have played this game, Kasey, myself, and The Black Pearl usually got its bath on the first pass. Not so quick this time, as we made it through round one! We did even better on round two, and before we knew it, it was just down to three of us! Not only were we having a banner year, we were going to get a trophy for our efforts. So you are probably already thinking, the next pass resulted in a splash, and yes it did. We were still happy with our accomplishment.
The Biker Games were out of the way, and everyone knew that the Farmville Chapter would once again have a pile of awards sitting on their table. The skies seemed to have gathered even more cover, causing enough concern for us to think about a vote. The group gathered, and a voter to ride or not was taken. The rides won, but those who voted not, decided not to go anyway. The group broke apart to draw their rain gear from the bags on the bikes and start slipping them on. Rain seemed like a promise, so we may as well be ready for it.
So the bikes lined up, and the Poker Run began. We left the hotel parking lot, and headed out to the highway to head north. It is uncommon for us, but we started on an Interstate, Highway 77 to be exact, on our way toward Marietta, Ohio. We took the exit for Ohio Highway 7, and headed into town. Seven ends quickly with 26, and then we veered on to County Road 60 to make our way around the outskirts of town. It was only a short stretch until we turned away from the river running along the road onto 821.
Highway 821 is a two laned road that takes you out of Marietta and into more rural Ohio Country. The skies had darkened even more, and now water falling from the sky was blacking the sun. The rain was not heavy in way, but still it was taking the enjoyment from the ride. At Lower Salem, we cut over to 15, and made our way into the Wayne National Forest. The ride was better here, but still wet.
We would only venture a few more miles into the forest before we pulled to stop to draw the first cards of the day. As I have said many times, the only thing worse than riding in the rain, is standing in the rain. With that in mind, the card draws went quickly. However, it didn't happen without a story. There was some kind of building across the street, and the light inside showed an older woman sitting in a chair near a window. My brother and I both noticed, but I think I everyone else was too busy with the rain. She might have thought we were drawing cars to see who was going to go in a rob her or something. I had the feeling that nine and one had been dialed, and if one of us dared to cross the street, the other one would be pressed.
We continued on through Wayne National Forest using 565, 537 and 800 as our roads. These roads twisted and turned us through the wooded landscape. Eventually, heading back south on 800 would bring us back to the Ohio River, and the town of Fly, Ohio. We then took Ohio 7 north and east along the river. It wasn't like we were seeing enough water, but when you are planning a ride like this back in January, you are hoping for sunny skies and warm weather.
We crossed the Ohio in New Martinsville, which is also where we would be stopping for lunch, and another card draw. The rain seemed to slow a bit, maybe we were just getting used to it, as it was still coming down at a pretty even flow. It was nice to be inside, starting to dry out, be warm, and have your senses drawn to the smells of the home cooked food on the buffet.
After lunch, we mounted up, and headed out of town. Well most of the group did, apparently the front of the group didn't know that those in the back were not quite ready. We caught them before the even got back out of town. The road here in West Virginia that follows the Ohio River is State Road 2. It hugs the river all the back to the Interstate.
Before the ride wraps up, I wanted to just write a few things about the towns we passed through. First up was Sisterville, which instead of a bridge across the waterway, it has a ferry. When I was out riding after the last GOE held in Mineral Wells, I took the ferry across the river. We also cruised through Friendly, Ben's Run, and St. Mary's, making just one more stop for a card draw, and for anyone who need fuel.
At this point, everyone could find there way home, follow the road to the Interstate, head south until you see the hotel. We followed that pattern with a group of about six or eight bikes. With the rain, and the few traffic lights, it just was too hard to keep thirty or forty bikes together. We all made it back to the hotel and drew one last card. The cards were wet, and the poke sheets were wet, which didn't matter, I didn't have anything that was going to win.
Not ride related, but the banquet was that evening. We all need some time in the shower, yes even more water pouring down on us, and then a good clean up to grab dinner, watch presentations, and dance, laugh and talk the night away.
Day Two of Gathering of Eagles Eighteen started out under gray skies. We ran into several of our Cruiser Club brothers and sisters at breakfast, but the whole group began to gather out in the parking lot later that morning. The first item on today's agenda - The Biker Games.
Since the first Gathering I came to, I was always more content to watch the games, usually taking pictures, than I was to play in the games. Since Kasey came along, that had changed, and I had to sign up for at least one of the games if not more. The Games start with the solo slow ride. This is where you try to take the longest to drive a 20 foot section without putting your feet down. The guys from the Virginia Chapter in Farmville does these all year round and about once a month. Needless to say, they quickly eliminate the rest of us. The second event, the slow ride, two up, adds in a passenger. Kasey likes giving this a try, so we usually do, and usually make about the length of the bike before some one from that Virginia chapter knocks us out. Actually, we usually take ourselves out.
This year was no exception. It could have been that I have been back to riding less than a week after having a year off. I think I should have gotten an handicap. I did get some slow ride experience on Meat House Road getting here, but that was on mud and gravel. So we were quickly eliminated from the running, and then sat and watched the rest of the competition.
The games always ended with another event that Kasey wanted to join in on, and that was the Bike Wash, or more descriptively named The Water Balloon Toss. The idea here is to ride slowly under a cross bar and your passenger throws a water balloon over a bar, and catches it on the other side. If you miss, the bike gets wet, and thus washed.
For the past few years that we have played this game, Kasey, myself, and The Black Pearl usually got its bath on the first pass. Not so quick this time, as we made it through round one! We did even better on round two, and before we knew it, it was just down to three of us! Not only were we having a banner year, we were going to get a trophy for our efforts. So you are probably already thinking, the next pass resulted in a splash, and yes it did. We were still happy with our accomplishment.
The Biker Games were out of the way, and everyone knew that the Farmville Chapter would once again have a pile of awards sitting on their table. The skies seemed to have gathered even more cover, causing enough concern for us to think about a vote. The group gathered, and a voter to ride or not was taken. The rides won, but those who voted not, decided not to go anyway. The group broke apart to draw their rain gear from the bags on the bikes and start slipping them on. Rain seemed like a promise, so we may as well be ready for it.
So the bikes lined up, and the Poker Run began. We left the hotel parking lot, and headed out to the highway to head north. It is uncommon for us, but we started on an Interstate, Highway 77 to be exact, on our way toward Marietta, Ohio. We took the exit for Ohio Highway 7, and headed into town. Seven ends quickly with 26, and then we veered on to County Road 60 to make our way around the outskirts of town. It was only a short stretch until we turned away from the river running along the road onto 821.
Highway 821 is a two laned road that takes you out of Marietta and into more rural Ohio Country. The skies had darkened even more, and now water falling from the sky was blacking the sun. The rain was not heavy in way, but still it was taking the enjoyment from the ride. At Lower Salem, we cut over to 15, and made our way into the Wayne National Forest. The ride was better here, but still wet.
We would only venture a few more miles into the forest before we pulled to stop to draw the first cards of the day. As I have said many times, the only thing worse than riding in the rain, is standing in the rain. With that in mind, the card draws went quickly. However, it didn't happen without a story. There was some kind of building across the street, and the light inside showed an older woman sitting in a chair near a window. My brother and I both noticed, but I think I everyone else was too busy with the rain. She might have thought we were drawing cars to see who was going to go in a rob her or something. I had the feeling that nine and one had been dialed, and if one of us dared to cross the street, the other one would be pressed.
We continued on through Wayne National Forest using 565, 537 and 800 as our roads. These roads twisted and turned us through the wooded landscape. Eventually, heading back south on 800 would bring us back to the Ohio River, and the town of Fly, Ohio. We then took Ohio 7 north and east along the river. It wasn't like we were seeing enough water, but when you are planning a ride like this back in January, you are hoping for sunny skies and warm weather.
We crossed the Ohio in New Martinsville, which is also where we would be stopping for lunch, and another card draw. The rain seemed to slow a bit, maybe we were just getting used to it, as it was still coming down at a pretty even flow. It was nice to be inside, starting to dry out, be warm, and have your senses drawn to the smells of the home cooked food on the buffet.
After lunch, we mounted up, and headed out of town. Well most of the group did, apparently the front of the group didn't know that those in the back were not quite ready. We caught them before the even got back out of town. The road here in West Virginia that follows the Ohio River is State Road 2. It hugs the river all the back to the Interstate.
Before the ride wraps up, I wanted to just write a few things about the towns we passed through. First up was Sisterville, which instead of a bridge across the waterway, it has a ferry. When I was out riding after the last GOE held in Mineral Wells, I took the ferry across the river. We also cruised through Friendly, Ben's Run, and St. Mary's, making just one more stop for a card draw, and for anyone who need fuel.
At this point, everyone could find there way home, follow the road to the Interstate, head south until you see the hotel. We followed that pattern with a group of about six or eight bikes. With the rain, and the few traffic lights, it just was too hard to keep thirty or forty bikes together. We all made it back to the hotel and drew one last card. The cards were wet, and the poke sheets were wet, which didn't matter, I didn't have anything that was going to win.
Not ride related, but the banquet was that evening. We all need some time in the shower, yes even more water pouring down on us, and then a good clean up to grab dinner, watch presentations, and dance, laugh and talk the night away.
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