Yet Another View - WFO 2010

[Tyler]

I had the good fortune to be able to attend this year’s WFO in Eureka and got to meet some of the fine folks that I have only known vicariously via the neenernet as well as see some that I have already had the pleasure of meeting. I decided to take the car as I just didn’t feel I was up to that long of a trip in such a short amount of time plus dealing with 90+ degree heat along the way!

Jetting up 101, it was a pretty painless drive other than some traffic in the bustling town of Willits.

Hmmm… maybe next time.

101 north from there is just lovely… four-lane highway, open road, nice sweepers, and gorgeous scenery! I decided to travel along Avenue of the Giants for a bit as the smell of those redwoods and the grandeur of those trees just puts me in a good mood. I took the first exit and came across this interesting wood carving in Miranda… ya just never know what you’re gonna find in those little towns along the way…

And then it was into the redwoods… I was surprised at how hot it was in the shade of those giants… opening the car door was akin to opening an oven door!

The road winds its way through the redwoods and then has sections that break out into bright sunshine and views of the Eel River…

I heard whooping and hollering coming from down on the river and saw a bunch of folks floating down the river in rafts… seemed like a good idea!

I arrived in Eureka and found some folks loitering in the parking lot… I even knew some of them! FarWestFastEddie was one of the first to greet me and said he had a little something for me… I’m not sure why this particular item made him think of me but Brian seemed to like it…

I’ve heard the term “In your ear!” but Brian took it literally…

I checked in and got my stuff up to the room… the hallway kind of reminded me of something from “The Shining”… creepy…

And then it was off to socialize before dinner… JB gave me his best GQ/Sears catalog pose…

And I got to meet the infamous Dolly… we would have more interactions over the weekend… she seemed a good enough sort…

But I wasn’t so sure about the people she was hanging out with… seemed they were setting a bad example and leading her astray….

Now I was really worried for her…

Dinner time!

And the Happy Gnome made another appEARance…

At first he was riveted with JB’s presentation and paid no heed to anyone around him…

But then when Joe/MCML kindly shared some of his libations with me, he was all over it… so to speak…

We got kicked out of the dining area around 9 p.m. so headed out to the parking lot to chit chat some more. Most folks were pretty tired out from all their traversing around so it got pretty quiet by 10 p.m… buncha old pharts.

But wait... there's more!!

 

[MCML]

I didn't know that had a Shakespeare company in Willits. Don, Shauna, and I met a fellow along the Mendocino coast who should send in his resume.

Thanks for the report, Tyler. It was great to see you in Eureka.

 

[Tyler]

We got kicked out of the dining area around 9 p.m. so headed out to the parking lot to chit chat some more. Most folks were pretty tired out from all their traversing around so it got pretty quiet by 10 p.m… buncha old pharts.

Next morning dawned with the parking lot and bikes covered in fog and mist….

I joined in for breakfast at the Samoa Cookhouse and found that Dolly is a girl after my own heart when it comes to that all important cuppa Joe first thing in the morning…

Some folks had arrived earlier than we did and were already chowing down – the food was plentiful, the service was a hoot, and the company was entertaining…

Yummmmm….

I tried to get a photo of our waitress but, man, she moved FAST! This was the best I could do…

MadMike even got into the act and poured coffee…

Shauna, dcarver, and Dustin, LongRyder’s grandson

Um, Louis? What’d you say???

The other side of the restaurant had some interesting artifacts… Don made some comment about women in the kitchen… this picture was taken just before he got hit upside the head with a frying pan…

Hey Don… what was this again??

Logging toys…

Gives you an idea how big some of those trees really were… there are about 14 men standing inside the cut in the trunk of that tree!

A little postcard humor…

Yes, Don... there IS more! B)

 

[Tyler]

And then it was back to the hotel where I would have the pleasure of riding pillion with Michael/ShinyPartsUp. We ran into Old Michael in the parking lot…

“Um, Shiny, other than that bright *** jacket that’s pretty much blinding me, I just had the distinct feeling of being stalked…”

“What? What is it? What are you looking at??”

The Hycles heading out… Michael seemed to have some sort of neck issue going on….

And then it was time to hop on the back with Michael… when I first asked him if we would be having me as a pillion, I knew he was a little bit nervous… he checked to make sure I was comfortable about every 20 seconds until I told him to relax and just enjoy the ride… and he did!

We had originally planned to join Eddie with his local tour but somehow signals got mixed and we found ourselves solo in the parking lot… not to worry as Michael had an idea for a little jaunt off of 299 and, given I had never been on those roads, I was totally up for it! Turned out to be one helluva good decision!

Route was Blue Lake Rd. to Korbel to Maple Creek to Butler Valley Rd. to Kneeland and then just follow the signs back to Eureka… or something like that! 

Thank gawd I had sunglasses cause the glow from that jacket was quite bright!

About the 2nd exit off of 299 takes you onto Blue Lake Rd., a beautiful country road that eventually takes you to the top of Bald Mountain and back down into Eureka… a whopping 53.3 miles in 4 hours and it was perfect!

Got wood?

We came across this cool little bridge and Michael seemed to read my mind… photo opp!!!

And then we were off into infinity… and BEYOND! The scenery was absolutely stupendous… from open wide vistas and valleys to deep shaded forest with ferns and wildflowers lining the roads… dappled sunlight streaming through the trees… it was like something out of another world…

We came around a bend and were smacked in the face with an amazing view pretty much every direction we looked… barns, open meadows, acres galore of trees, and a good place to stop and de-layer since it had warmed up quite quickly…

Barbed wire shot…

While we had at first been disappointed to miss Eddie’s group, Michael and I agreed that we thought it resulted in a great trip where no one else had been on this weekend so we’d have pics no one else would! Like this one…

Dolly and I decided to avert our view elsewhere… I think she enjoyed the quiet and solitude of the great outdoors and getting away from all the debauchery and mayhem…

A little while later we came across the first patch of hard-packed dirt & gravel… Michael asked if I wanted to turn back but I figured it would probably go paved again shortly… and it did… but then back and forth between the two for several miles… made for an exciting time (probably more for Michael than me… I just sat still on the back!).

Watch out for locals in big *** pick up trucks barreling around the corners…

Dappled rays and the golden glow from the sun… oh wait, that’s just Michael’s jacket again.

Bridge! I tried to get a pic of the stream that was running beneath it but the lighting was too off kilter to get a good shot… but it sure was nice to gaze at and listen to the gurgling waters…

Queens Anne lace everywhere….

Was surprised to see so much flower growth so late in the season…

Another cool barn shot on the fly… barns are such intriguing structures and must have stories to tell of how they got there and what happened in their lifetimes…

So dark in this section, the flash went off!

More flowers…

…at another bridge where there lots of locals enjoying their day in the cool river…

Heading back toward Eureka…

The road was lined in sections with ferns galore… it was so pretty!

Another stop to soak in the sights, sun, and serenity…

Wheeeeee!!

And then a quick refreshment break (just sodas, tyvm) at what the locals call 3 Corners…

Where we saw a dog trying to commandeer a car… crazy stuff happens in the backwoods!

And then I spied this really cool old cemetery filled with yellow wildflowers right in the middle of town that I wanted to get a shot of… Michael said, you want a picture of a what?!? I think cemeteries are cool too… what can I say?

Thanks again, Michael, for a spectacular day… and give Kat another hug from me too!

Hold on, Don... just one more!

 

[Tyler]

Then it was back to the hotel to watch the annual WFO Cat Herding Festival which actually went quite nicely I thought given the sheer number of bikes and, uh, personalities…

I have never seen such a large conglomeration of squids in one place in my life!

And the day wouldn’t be complete without a TWN salute… which seemed to be rampant around the event…

Back inside for more frivolity including special dinner favors… never did see much of Niehart after he got a hold of his…

Dustin, LongRyder’s grandson, was an impressive young man… has a good head on his shoulders, survived a bit of a get off, and then rode home with one gear… good start of an Iron Butt rider methinks!

Another yummy dinner!

No “Kick me!” signs on the back for this crowd…

Michael got Kat a gift certificate for a massage while we were out gallivanting in the countryside… she was a relaxed and very happy lady… smart man that SPU!!

The view from across the table… can you say trouble?

With a capital “T”!

More jokers at my table…

Hope the drive down was worth the hug, Dave… I know it was for me! :wub:

By 8 a.m.. Sunday morning, many had already departed early so not many folks left except for the few stragglers (Richard). Had breakfast with a few folks and then headed down that long, lonely highway that I had pretty much to myself until Willits… I survived my first WFO!!

Again, a big thanks to the organizers not only for a great event but for letting me play along in the sandbox with y’all. I was given the opportunity to speak to the group Saturday night and I tried to do it with out crying but that didn’t work too well! But the words I gathered were for everyone here on the forum so I will share them with you in closing to this thread:

“I am not here to speak of farm animals as I think we all get our fill of that from the forum. I am here to talk about people... real people, giving people, right here in this room. I am here to give simple and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have supported me through the past year. Whether it was a thought, a prayer, a message, a card, or whatever... each of you played a part in my healing.

I came to this forum because of the untimely passing of Andrew, aka OrangeValeFJR. If you don't know who that is, go do a search when you get home and you will find yourself richer for the legacy of photos and stories he left behind for us. I met him through another forum, Pashnit, and when news of a memorial ride surfaced there, I registered on the FJR forum and became a member in his honor. While it was a very sad event that led me here, it has also given me much joy and laughter and the gift of meeting some really wonderful people.

When I showed up for the memorial ride in November 2008, I was a bit nervous. I stuck out like a sore thumb on my Triumph Trophy in a sea of FJRs. I was immediately welcomed into the fold and never felt like an outsider. MadMike was leading one of the groups and I decided to tag along with his group. So I asked him which bike was his and he replied, "Oh, I'm on the blue FJR." I turned to look at the sea of blue FJRs in the parking lot and said, "Dude, maybe a little more detail?" Although it was fairly easy to remember names... if I saw anyone on a blue FJR from Sacramento, I figured if I called him Mike, I had a pretty good chance of being right!

The past year has been one helluva journey on so many different levels. And I just want to make it clear that I would not be here today had it not been for the many angels that have graced my life. From EMTs to doctors and nurses to friends far and wide, each and every one of you has made a difference in my healing.

I remember one day in particular when I had a visit from the Hycles and MadMike and Old Michael... they came to the hospital with smiles and laughter and brightened up my day immensely. When I was having a rough moment, MadMike looked at me and said, "Honey, you gotta walk through the darkness in the valley to really appreciate the sunrise at the top of the mountain." And those words stayed with me and helped me take those small steps when I didn't think I could. Oh yeah, he's also the one who told me to put on my big girl panties and deal with it. Tough love but I knew it came from the heart.

In closing, I would like everyone to lift a glass of their preferred beverage. In honor of those who have gone before us but whose spirit continues to live on in all of us. To those who are still fighting and healing from whatever challenges lie in front of them. And as we all begin our journeys homeward tomorrow, a toast to each of you for a safe trip filled with the wonders that life has to offer us all.

Slainte!”

FIN

 

[gregory]

Saweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttt RR Tyler!

Thanks for posting this AND including your Saturday night pep talk!

Greg

 

[Khunajawdge]

Givio = A toast to you in Serbo-Croat.

It means, to a long/prosperous/healthy life filled with good cheer! :yahoo:

 

[wheatonFJR]

Thanks for the posts...very nice view of the events...

 

[dcarver]

Great RR Tyler - Love ya gal!

Your spirit and wonderfullness live on.. Bless you.

(now, about my cold beer?)

 

[FJRONAMISSION]

Good stuff Tyler, well said and very true!!

B

 

[Tyler]

(now, about my cold beer?)

I got your beer right here, dear... bend over. :glare:

 

[MEM]

GREAT rr, Ty. I always enjoy your perspective on life

 

[juniorfjr]

It's been a long time since I've read a Tyler ride report. Almost makes me wish I was there, Oh I was. Thanks for the beer. Now get out and take a couple more pics, please.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Beautiful ride report Tyler. I'd like to write more but my jacket is hung up in the corner and blinding me!

P.S. Thanks for the horny goat weed, and the case of beer in the parking lot. The shirt for MadMike was priceless.

I wonder if Old Michael misses his bottle opener that I ermmm.. creatively aquired in the parking lot.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Nice report and pics Tyler! It was great to finally meet you in person and enjoy a few laughs at the table...even with the added characters we had to put up with. :blink:

See you again soon.

--G

 

[FJR-RemingtonRider]

Here! Here!

 

[Old Michael]

Very nicely done, Tyler.

Well, maybe a few too many shots of His Knobness, ShinyPartsUp.

I wonder if Old Michael misses his bottle opener that I ermmm.. creatively aquired in the parking lot.

Yes, for you, creativity IS slipping your hand into your pocket. And lingering there.

Do NOT mail it back to me, please. Prolly all sticky now.

 

[huron52]

I, very much enjoyed that read!

thank you

 

[Alex]

Great pictures Tyler, thanks for sharing!

Sounds like a great time. I miss going to the WFO's. I'll definatley attend the next one!