February 2012

Chapter CA1R  
(link)
South Orange County, CA

General Meeting Place:
Hometown Buffet
1008 E. 17th St
Santa Ana, CA

7:00 AM Breakfast
8:00 AM Meeting
First Sunday of the Month

Chapter Miles for 2012
so far:
7656

Chapter CA1R Communicates on Channel 31

Chapter Sponsors:

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JBJ Cycles, Inc.

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WingStuff

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Schapiro & Leventhal

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Coldwell Banker -
Terry Kennedy

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Avon

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Sam Eagle

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EAGLERIDER

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LawTigers

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Notice: The information contained in this newsletter is confidential and for the exclusive use of GWRRA members. Any use contrary to its intended purpose is strictly prohibited.

Copyright © 2012 GWRRA-CA1R

In this issue:

Chapter Directors
Assistant Chapter Directors
Rider Education
Tour Director's Corner
District Director's Review
California Ride Calendar
Chapter Store
Chapter Information
Calendar
Links

Chapter Directors

Cathy and George Diaz

Hi Wingers,

February is upon us – we are so fortunate to live in a part of the country that permits us to still ride in the winter.  Let’s put on a good showing to CA1I’s annual Valentine’s ride.  They have a new location and this is always lots of fun.  This is the first chapter fundraiser of the year.  They have a program that will accommodate rain or shine!

We have several overnight trips planned this year.  Some you will recognize and some may be different:

Central Coast ride – February
Rally in the Valley – March
Region F Convention in St. George, UT – May
Sequoia ride – June
Wing Ding in Fort Wayne, IN – July
California District Convention in Mammoth – September

Overnighters are probably my favorite events.  They do require planning for hotels, departure locations, activities, time off from work and financing. 

If there is a location that you’ve thought would be a great place for us to visit, bring it to a Tour & Staff meeting and we can try to find a place for it on the calendar.

Also, be on the lookout for locations for dinner rides and bring those to the Tour & Staff meeting.  We especially like finding restaurants that will support Ride for Kids!

Remember, next month is Rally in the Valley – I’m sure by now you’ve all registered and made your hotel reservations.  If not, please do so as soon as possible.

Cathy & George

Assistant Chapter Directors

Harold and Jan Jaffke

Hello Fellow Wingers

                                                      Critters On The Highway
                                                         And Who’s Road Is It

Ever since I can remember, after I started riding at night or early in the morning way before sunrise, I was always afraid of what critters I might see on the back roads or even on the open highway.

With the nicer weather just around the corner, especially here in Southern California, it would be nice if we could depend on a clear road, but that is just wishful thinking.

Deer are the most common animal hazard and the most unpredictable. The months of October, November and December are the months that motorcyclists are the most at risk of colliding with these animals that have no sense of avoiding other moving objects. However, deer can be seen on the open roads anytime of the year.
Deer will stare at you as you approach and then leap into the road as you reach them.  Be extra alert when visibility is at a low, in areas where trees come up close to the road and where there are posted deer warning signs.

There is controversy regarding whether deer can hear those little plastic deer whistles that you can mount on the motorcycle.

If you see two deer cross the road, expect a third . . . if you see three, expect a fourth.
Deer and other animals do not wear reflectors at night and can be closer than a hundred feet away when your headlights pick them up. Even at 40 MPH you need more than 100 feet to stop, so swerve around them IF YOU CAN, but not at the risk of driving into oncoming traffic or into a big ole Oak tree.

Someone’s instantaneous reaction would be to avoid the deer, but if their choice is the deer or a large solid object, then it should be “Sayonara, Bambi”.

So, whose road is it?? No matter how many wheels or feet the other road users have, and no matter where they pop up, the good rider will expect the worse and do the best at avoiding hazards. Defensive riding will take you a long way toward seeing the end of a trip with nothing bigger that bugs stuck to the windshield and front end of your bike.

Ride Safe.

Harold and Jan

Chapter Educator

Bill Himebaugh

Leading Rides

There are still quite a few of our brothers and sisters who have yet to lead a ride.  It is a responsibility, and really everyone should volunteer to help out by leading some time or another.  Many folks are hesitant because they are not confident that they can do it.  Well, you never know until you try and you should remember that some of the folks who have been with CA1R for quite a while are always ready to help.  They are also tired of being the ones who always lead. Here are some quick guidelines for leading a ride:

First, you need to check out your route.  This means making sure that roads on your route are open and accessible. When possible a pre-ride can be quite helpful.  If the ride is fairly long and a pre-ride is not feasible, then checking with Cal Trans for road conditions is a must.  You can find this at http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi.

Next, check your mileage.  It’s a lot of fun to take the back roads and canyons, but be sure you arrive near your plan.  After all you are not always going 65 MPH.  The plan should also include adequate time for potty breaks, gas stations, and diners which you need to identify along the route.  When the ride is an over-night affair, be sure that you arrive at the hotel at an opportune time.  Remember, check in for most hotels is 3:00 PM at the earliest and it’s always better to arrive before sundown. 

Document your ride plan.  It always helps to have a schedule of events and itinerary, together with mileage markers between planned stops and identified eateries.  Make sure your itinerary (directions) are printed in a fairly large font.  Many of us wear glasses to read, but not to ride.  Muster the riders at the starting point before leaving for a pre-ride meeting.  It is at this point where you can identify your groups, leads and back doors. Leads and back doors should always have CBs and preferably a co-rider to assist with the directions.  Remember that leading a ride does not mean that you have to lead a group.  It means that you organize the ride to make it fun and safe for everyone.

Bill

District Director's Review

Bill and Rene Johnson

DD Review,
     Looking back, 2011 seems to have gone by too fast, but looking forward, 2012 calendar seems like it’s going to be a long year. But that’s what we thought this time last year, so I guess its true, “time fly’s when your having fun”.

     I remember back about 10 years ago when Rene & I moved back to California from my job at Navy Headquarters in Washington DC, Rene made a comment that we needed to find something to do with our spare time. Meet some new people; get a new hobby, anything to help fill our quite time. Well soon after that I bought a GL 1100 then we joined GWRRA, and she hasn’t mentioned that again since. GWRRA grows on you like nothing we have ever experienced before. If we’re not riding somewhere, we are planning to. If we go out to dinner somewhere, there is usually a GWRRA member sitting across the table from us. We are so busy now days that we tell our family to keep an eye on the District Ride Calendar to see where we might pop up next.

     Before I retired a couple years back, I wondered how long it would take before I would get so bored I would start looking forward to going back to work. I remember daydreaming about finding a retirement job where I could ride my Goldwing all over the country and get paid for it. How cool would that be? Well, GWRRA has given me the opportunity to do just that. I provide the bike and the time, and GWRRA provides the incentive and pay. While it’s true my GWRRA salary is still the same as DD as it was when I was a CD ($00,000.00), the personal rewards are countless. The friendships we have gained along the way are more than we could ever ask for, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe a couple more zeros would be nice.

     So, if you find yourself starting to getting bored, check out the District Ride calendar at www.gwrra-ca.org , I’m sure you’ll find plenty to do. Until we meet on the road again somewhere again, “Hang on – we’re going for a ride”.

Bill & Rene Johnson
GWRRA California District Directors

Chapter CA1R Volunteers

California District Volunteers

Region F Volunteers

California Ride Calendar

California Chapter Meeting Times and Locations

Just our Store

Last Month's Gathering Information:

24445 Alicia Parkway, Mission Viejo
North of 5 Fwy, Alicia exit, at Mervyn's
(Food/Fuel available)

GWRRA Home Page

GWRRA Region F Home Page

GWRRA California District Home Page

GWRRA Chapter CA1R Home Page

Wing World Magazine

Chapter Photos  

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