The 2002 ROT rally has come and gone. I don't know about the rest of you guys that went but I'm still recuperating.
I started my rally preparation a few days early. The plan was the same as last year, which was to pull the Mobil Scout camping trailer to the rally site the day before the rally and return for the bike to ride to Austin with some friends the next day. The trailer is a little more trouble than just packing the bike and taking off but it sure is nice to have a base camp at the rally site to call your own to chill out when you feel like it. Of course not using the trailer for a while caused some last minute chaos. The batteries would not hold a charge and the propane tanks that run everything including the Onan generator, could not be refilled because of a new law change requiring a new type of valve. But luckily I allowed myself some extra time to get things in order and I was all ready to go and pulled out on schedule. I dropped the trailer off in the FREE camping area at the Expo center and returned to Houston.
On Friday morning the weather was as good as could be expected with no rain but definitely on the hot side. We met at the planned departure point but had kickstands up about 30 minutes later than planned. We were on our way with a few less riders than expected but the others to join us later at the rally site. There is something about being on the road with a steady stream of bikes heading to the rally that really gets your blood pumping with excitement. We saw large groups, small groups, single riders, solo riders, trikes, choppers, bar hoppers, sidecars, Harleys, clones, imports, campers, trailers, and every form of biking combination that left the non-riding public just starring in amazement of the seemed motorcycle invasion.
At first I was a little disappointed that I could not get one of the 70 electrical trailer hook-up spots where I was parked last year. It was in an ideal location even though the big motor homes with 50 amp electrical running two air conditioners had blown all the power stations using a 30 amp adapter. So I was on my generator most of the time anyway. But, this year the rally has grown and actually the free spot where I was parked was the most ideal location in the whole place. The rally is growing fast....I just hope it doesn't get too big with the added hassles of traffic jams and such like I encountered at Daytona bike week.
I was waiting with great anticipation Friday evening to meet David Price and his wife. We had some BBQ brisket and sausage and a ton of food ready for eating. He called that evening and said that they had some problems and had to return home but were back on the road. They arrived late and called from the gate saying that the entry registration was closed and they were being turned away. We went and met them at the gate with plans for a get together the next day. Unfortunately because they were relocating to a different Hotel the next day they didn't get to do the hill country ride with us. It was a funny thing but on the way back we were trying to hurry to make the six o'clock meeting with them at the rally site. We were on the west side of Austin heading back to the rally when I saw a roadking with Oklahoma plates in front of me stopped at a red light. I pulled up beside them and said "what's happening!". Sure enough it was DP and his wife. They looked as surprised as I did! What are the odds of a chance meeting like that with thousands of other bikes out? LOL. They rode back to the rally with us taking some short cuts that Hoochie and husband knew about. DP is just as cool as I imagined him to be. I think his wife is so cool and she's one good looking lady. I had so much fun with them there with us. I hope to get together with them again for some rides or just plain fun.
Although there were more people in attendance this year it seemed that more chose to do some riding and exploring of the hill country. We saw hundreds out far away from the rally site doing their riding thing. We spent most of the day Saturday out riding but at the expense of missing some of the events that would have been nice to see. The only complaint I have of the rally is that three days just isn't long enough. Most of us chose not to do the 6th street parade and party Friday night but still didn't have enough time to enjoy everything. A friend with us did ride in the parade, it took about an hour just to get out of the rally site, it was a big one!
The rally.....fine bikes, cool people, nice events, lots to see, no traffic problems and plenty of partying. It's still my favorite rally of all time.
I started my rally preparation a few days early. The plan was the same as last year, which was to pull the Mobil Scout camping trailer to the rally site the day before the rally and return for the bike to ride to Austin with some friends the next day. The trailer is a little more trouble than just packing the bike and taking off but it sure is nice to have a base camp at the rally site to call your own to chill out when you feel like it. Of course not using the trailer for a while caused some last minute chaos. The batteries would not hold a charge and the propane tanks that run everything including the Onan generator, could not be refilled because of a new law change requiring a new type of valve. But luckily I allowed myself some extra time to get things in order and I was all ready to go and pulled out on schedule. I dropped the trailer off in the FREE camping area at the Expo center and returned to Houston.
On Friday morning the weather was as good as could be expected with no rain but definitely on the hot side. We met at the planned departure point but had kickstands up about 30 minutes later than planned. We were on our way with a few less riders than expected but the others to join us later at the rally site. There is something about being on the road with a steady stream of bikes heading to the rally that really gets your blood pumping with excitement. We saw large groups, small groups, single riders, solo riders, trikes, choppers, bar hoppers, sidecars, Harleys, clones, imports, campers, trailers, and every form of biking combination that left the non-riding public just starring in amazement of the seemed motorcycle invasion.
At first I was a little disappointed that I could not get one of the 70 electrical trailer hook-up spots where I was parked last year. It was in an ideal location even though the big motor homes with 50 amp electrical running two air conditioners had blown all the power stations using a 30 amp adapter. So I was on my generator most of the time anyway. But, this year the rally has grown and actually the free spot where I was parked was the most ideal location in the whole place. The rally is growing fast....I just hope it doesn't get too big with the added hassles of traffic jams and such like I encountered at Daytona bike week.
I was waiting with great anticipation Friday evening to meet David Price and his wife. We had some BBQ brisket and sausage and a ton of food ready for eating. He called that evening and said that they had some problems and had to return home but were back on the road. They arrived late and called from the gate saying that the entry registration was closed and they were being turned away. We went and met them at the gate with plans for a get together the next day. Unfortunately because they were relocating to a different Hotel the next day they didn't get to do the hill country ride with us. It was a funny thing but on the way back we were trying to hurry to make the six o'clock meeting with them at the rally site. We were on the west side of Austin heading back to the rally when I saw a roadking with Oklahoma plates in front of me stopped at a red light. I pulled up beside them and said "what's happening!". Sure enough it was DP and his wife. They looked as surprised as I did! What are the odds of a chance meeting like that with thousands of other bikes out? LOL. They rode back to the rally with us taking some short cuts that Hoochie and husband knew about. DP is just as cool as I imagined him to be. I think his wife is so cool and she's one good looking lady. I had so much fun with them there with us. I hope to get together with them again for some rides or just plain fun.
Although there were more people in attendance this year it seemed that more chose to do some riding and exploring of the hill country. We saw hundreds out far away from the rally site doing their riding thing. We spent most of the day Saturday out riding but at the expense of missing some of the events that would have been nice to see. The only complaint I have of the rally is that three days just isn't long enough. Most of us chose not to do the 6th street parade and party Friday night but still didn't have enough time to enjoy everything. A friend with us did ride in the parade, it took about an hour just to get out of the rally site, it was a big one!
The rally.....fine bikes, cool people, nice events, lots to see, no traffic problems and plenty of partying. It's still my favorite rally of all time.
You folks do grow 'em big down in Texas.
