Colin24
IBA# 446
Just thought I would drop a line here to let everyone know that the BITE Rally is starting this weekend. For details on the rally see Beast In The East -- BITE. This is a 5 day rally, riders depart Monday the 2nd and arrive back Friday afternoon.
I left my Parents place just east of Toronto at 5:00 am on Friday morning. From there I zipped through the GTA and crossed the border at Buffalo. Once on I-90 westbound I stopped for breakfast and gas at Angola, NY. Once rolling again I picked up I-79 southbound. I was at Pittsburg by 10:30 and making such good time I decided to take I-279 through downtown Pittsburg. For those not familiar with the city the highway crosses one river, hangs a right and immediately crosses a second. Then once across the rivers the highway dives into a tunnel. Fun ride. After my minor detour it was back on I-79 and kept trucking south. In WV I connected with US19 to get me to I-77. At this point I am hitting the backside of a cold front and start diving in and out of rain. Never lasts for more than 10 minutes allowing me to keep pushing on. By 5:30 pm I arrive in Statesville, NC at the rally hotel. A very good warmup ride for the upcoming rally.
Early checkin was today (Satrturday), and from the looks of it over half of the riders have arrived. This is my first LD rally of any sort and I made sure I was here Friday night to get a good couple days rest. Likely a good idea as reports of terrible traffic on I-77 today are trickling in from the arriving riders.
Now that I am here It certainly is interesting finally meeting alot of the people I have read about in the ride reports of various other LD events. Even spotted some "wear marks" on one bikes from a certain dirt road on last weeks Utah 1088. I've also seen about 4 or 5 other FJR in the lot (all blue 2nd gen bikes) and talked to a couple of the pilots.
Will post more as time permits, (just not sure how much time I'll get during the rally).
- Colin
I left my Parents place just east of Toronto at 5:00 am on Friday morning. From there I zipped through the GTA and crossed the border at Buffalo. Once on I-90 westbound I stopped for breakfast and gas at Angola, NY. Once rolling again I picked up I-79 southbound. I was at Pittsburg by 10:30 and making such good time I decided to take I-279 through downtown Pittsburg. For those not familiar with the city the highway crosses one river, hangs a right and immediately crosses a second. Then once across the rivers the highway dives into a tunnel. Fun ride. After my minor detour it was back on I-79 and kept trucking south. In WV I connected with US19 to get me to I-77. At this point I am hitting the backside of a cold front and start diving in and out of rain. Never lasts for more than 10 minutes allowing me to keep pushing on. By 5:30 pm I arrive in Statesville, NC at the rally hotel. A very good warmup ride for the upcoming rally.
Early checkin was today (Satrturday), and from the looks of it over half of the riders have arrived. This is my first LD rally of any sort and I made sure I was here Friday night to get a good couple days rest. Likely a good idea as reports of terrible traffic on I-77 today are trickling in from the arriving riders.
Now that I am here It certainly is interesting finally meeting alot of the people I have read about in the ride reports of various other LD events. Even spotted some "wear marks" on one bikes from a certain dirt road on last weeks Utah 1088. I've also seen about 4 or 5 other FJR in the lot (all blue 2nd gen bikes) and talked to a couple of the pilots.
Will post more as time permits, (just not sure how much time I'll get during the rally).
- Colin
