Got back from Gettysburg today (Sunday) at about 12:30pm. Got to ride the FJR, even though at first I didn't think I would. The bike rode and handled the trip very well. The ride up was pretty long, 8 hrs. or so due to taking a lot of back roads and stopping to help one of the group made a couple of minor repairs. After settleling in Thursday afternoon, we went to the bike fest and stayed for the 38 Special concert. Quite a few vendors and the concert was really enjoyable. I think the best show was watching the audience. On the ride back through Gettysburg it was pretty cool to see the people setting on the streets watching the parade of bikes going and coming through town.
On Friday morning I went to the Eastern Museum of Motorsports. Somehow I missed the part in the brochure that they are only open on Saturday and Sundays. Oh well, it was a nice ride out there and back. After that, I went to the new vistors center at the battlefield. They have modernized the exhibits with a lot of video presentations. It is a lot better than just looking at a lot of old artifacts. Got back to the hotel around 2:30 pm and decided a nap was in order. After the nap, I hung around the hotel for a while and then decided to go back to the bike fest for the Confederate Railroad concert. While the crowd was not as large as for the 38 Special concert, I thought the show was more entertaining, with a lot more interaction from the stage to the audience. Again on the ride back to the hotel the streets were lined with people. While almost all of the bikes were cruiser types, with the attendant loud exhaust, I had to join in on the fun and rev the engine to add to the noise (zizz, zizz). Lots of fun. Oh yeah, when I pulled in to the bike fest parking I pulled in behind and parked next to an '07 FJR. We talked and compared notes as we are both fairlynew FJR owners.
On Saturday morning I awoke about 5:00am not feeling very well. I spent the morning and early afternoon becoming intimate with the bathroom. At about 2:30pm I met up with an old friend and his wife. We had been friends since high school (mid sixties), and had not seen each other for six-eight years. We spent the day hanging out and doing a little riding, to the bike fest again and out to Battlefield Harley-Davidson. Since we got off late, a lot of stuff was already completed. We all went to dinner and spent the time filling each other in on the happenings in our lives. Got back to the hotel about 9:00pm and packed up my stuff for the ride home.
On Sunday morning, I awoke about 6:00am. finished packing and loaded the bike for the trip home. I talked to the guy that organized or ride up and he told me they were going to ride before heading home. Being the home body that I am, I decided to take a more direct route home. I headed out at 8:15am for home. Had a super ride home and arrived at about 12:30pm. I only made one stop and didn't waste any time along the way. All in all, I really enjoyed the trip and am looking forward to doing it again. The bike performed flawlessly through the entire trip. I kinda liked standing out on the FJR in a sea of cruisers. If you are close enough to attend Gettysburg next year, next year, plan to do it. Perhaps we can get some kind of group meet and greet together.
Burt Q
