Ian, Me and the Missus and the boy went to QUebec this Summer, Montreal and Ottowa. We loved it. Ottowa is surprisingly beautiful. We liked the food. Very hospitable people. Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: Ian Adkins <ianad-@linkamerica.net> To: <Loopfram-@topica.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 9:07 AM Subject: RE: National Rally
Pat, Sounds like a good rally. Sorry we "eastcoasters" weren't there.
That deal about not being allowed to pump your own gas would be enough for me to opt out of living in that state. That is about as bad as my ex-goverment in Quebec (crapbec) not allowing people to turn right on reds while the rest of the continent had been doing it for 10+ yrs....and when they finally started adopting it (last year)they made it even more screwy with some towns that could and others that could not. It was even more confusing and annoying.
Ooops. Sorry Charlie...got off on a bit of a tangent there.
Loop content.....I love my Loops! :-)
Regards...Ian
-----Original Message----- From: Patrick Hayes [mailto:peha-@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2003 12:27 AM To: mg-@topica.com; mgno-@topica.com; Loopfram-@topica.com; guzzi_s-@topica.com Subject: National Rally
Just got home. You will here more from others in the next few days as they arrive. It was a terrific event. Smaller by recent standards, but it was at the furthest corner of the country and Laguna Seca made a BIG dent in southwest participation.
The Seattle Cossacks were once again a terrific show hit. Meals went smoothly. The site is superb in every respect. Why was Mark Ethredge the only dealer in participation? Seemed like vendors were an all-time low. Moto Guzzi demo rides, a sidecar sales pitch and the great ROK strap bungees.
We hate to drive the Highway 5 slab. So we went north through Oregon
and
Washington via US97 and around the north slope of Mount Ranier. Spectacular on a warm sunny day. Coming home we had about an hour of rain coming south through Portland and out to the coastal highway but it was spectacular (but HOT) from there to home. 2250 miles.
I have one negative comment. Apart from its scenic beauty and friendly population, Oregon has got the be the dumbest F*&%ing state of the 50. Highway 97 is arrow straight for 200 miles posted at 55. Nearly fell asleep while driving (actually, maybe I did and woke up a few miles later still going straight). They don't allow "self-serve" gas pumps (although most stations will cater to motorcycles and hand you the hose). And, I can't tell you how many times I was following Winnebagos on a lengthy straight with a double yellow only to find about 50 yards of dotted passing zone just in advance of a blind curve. Highway painters on LSD for sure. Repeatedly crazy passing and no-passing restrictions without any rhyme or reason. Oh, and they slow you to 35 about three miles before a town of six houses and wait about another three miles to let you back to 55. I need to find a way to jump from CA to WA or else go in my motorhome.
In contrast, once again, the northern coastal roads of California have GOT to be the finest visual experience in the world. Good curves, good speeds, blue sky, pacific rocky panoramas. Just amazing. I knew I was back in the Bay Area when I had to pass four cars in succession on the right side because they were driving slow and impeding the fast lane and ALL FOUR were talking on their phones. Must have been a conference call or something. Ah, yes, and you CAN (and must) lane split.