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Well I just got home from our first fall rally of 2010 and the weather was very near perfect. The MSTA has 3 day weekend rallies all over the country but for me that means I only do the ones within 500 miles of home. I figure I can do 500 miles and still be there for the evening cookout but anything more than that I'd need either an extra day or a really boring day of all super slab. We had one gentleman that rode in from Washington state and I think that was after he had done the Iron Butt 3 flags ride. It would be so nice to be retired and able to afford to travel all the time.
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The format is generally a cookout of some type on Friday evening after the riders have ridden in from various parts of the country, then ride in small groups on one of several routes put together of the best roads in that area on Saturday with a banquet on Saturday evening before leaving to return home on Sunday. This may very slightly according to the person or persons putting on the rally.
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With the remnants of Hurricane Hermine going thru on Thursday I had several people questioning if they should cancel since there was still a chance of rain. I told them that if they did they would regret it. I have found out over the years that if you let the weather forecasters tell you what the weather is going to do in that area then you will usually miss out on a lot of fun.  I think I've only gone to maybe 1 or 2 rallies where I got up on Saturday and said not just no way but NO WAY. One time it was a day of record setting rain and another time the temps dropped into the 40's and while I had my electrics most of the others didn't have enough gear. But when that happens you just get a friend with a vehicle to take every body to a really bad movie or you sit around a warm lobby and talk about past trips and future trips and make new friends.
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A couple of people coming in from the north/northeast did run into a little rain on Friday going to the rally however most of us had a beautiful day in which to make our way to the rally. During the night a couple more storms rolled thru but Saturday dawned to sun shine and only a few clouds here and there.Â
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As I was getting ready to leave on Saturday morning one of the guys snapped this picture of me waiting on my group to be ready to roll. I think I have finally figured out that maybe I should have all my pictures taken with my helmet on since I have horrible and I mean horrible helmet hair. This time I stayed in Missouri and rode some of my favorite Missouri roads and even rode a couple of them multiple times. After the ride on Saturday we all gathered in the parking lot to BS about our routes and adventures before going up to a great banquet with lots of door prizes given away. I will admit that I ended up riding the last 30 miles home in a hard rain but didn't even bother to stop and put the gear on just boogied on in.
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I did get new tires put on before leaving for the rally and I think I pretty well have them scrubbed in with just over 900 miles logged for the 3 day weekend. I am now within about 40 miles of that 175k mark and that can be done on a local dinner ride.
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Well I have 3 more of these rallies on my calendar for October, a lunch ride to Kansas for BBQ on the 25th of Sept. and maybe another overnighter to Arkansas you just never know. Life and work do get in the way of my motorcycle habit once in a while but thankfully it doesn't happen too often.
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