STAR DAYS 2001 Bowling Green KY
Well STAR DAYS 2001 Started off with a meeting at Paul & Cheryls house on Saturday August 11th for a pre-ride meeting. We went over stops and support vehicles and where we would end up each day along with departure times in the morning. After the business was done we had a great BBQ and then headed for home later in the Evening. I know the next week at work was useless for me as I was thinking about STAR DAYS!!
While it is widely known that according to Murphy's Law the shortest distance between two points will always be under construction this trip also pointed out the alternate theory that all routes between two points will also be under construction.
Friday 8/17 A group of us headed up the hill and congregated at the Motel 6 Where we were joined by Steve and Lea and Vince Greva from Inland Empire. We started out the trip by going to Black Barts for dinner that Friday and I believe a good time was had by all. If you haven't been there they hire the music students from NAU to be your waiter and waitresses and they also perform.
Saturday 8/18 we gathered in the parking lot, joined by Dave Heise from Flagstaff, a group of 10 bikes I believe, and headed out on our Journey. We crossed two time zones that day and by the time we got into Amarillo it was close to 9pm Tx time.
Sunday 8/19 we tookd off for Little Rock or as we came to find out later NORTH Little Rock as we were corrected once there. We also came to find out that trying to buy a beer in Arkansas on Sunday is not going to happen
Monday 8/20 Once again we gathered for the last run into Bowling Green This was also the shortest leg of the trip there. We only had a little over 400 miles to do today. About 20 miles outside of Bowling Green we stopped at a Cracker Barrell Resturant and waited for our Chase Vehicles and Dave and Ralph to hook up with us. Once everyone was assembled we headed out for the last leg of the trip with the Chase Vehicles deciding to take their own route. (Ask Jan) ;^)
We got into Bowling Green around 4pm on Monday and some of us managed to get registered for the event that evening and also managed to get some patches and actually got them into the Sewers that evening.
Tuesday the 21st was the official Start of STAR Days.. There was a Ventures Ride that Kent said was great. Sue and I demoed a Venture "I think there may be one in my future" I managed to get a 24k Service done and spent the afternoon searching out a rear tire as mine was getting close to bald. The vendors were having a field day. People did their own rides in the Kentucky countryside. At the Dessert reception that evening sponsored by Yamaha I and others were surprised by receiving the Order of STAR. I can't express what feelings I was having when I was awarded this great honor. I will strive to continue to earn it.
Wednesday the 22nd brought the run for Feed the Children where a tractor/trailor was escorted by a very large contingent of MC's each carrying a box of foodstuffs and then unloading at the local Salvation Army. This was a very impressive run and STAR SHINED once again. I managed to get my new rear tire mounted. The Show and Shine was held today. Sue and I again demoed another Venture "Did I say that there may be one of these in my future?" The evening brought the Awards banquet and Paul won for best Venture with Stone Washed Star and Jan Pickard won for best V-Star both of their spouses were relieved ;^) Now it was time for the Auction and what generous sponsors were found all of the items were top notch and some drew top money. All of the proceeds went to the FEED THE CHILDREN CHARITY. John Baron also issued a table Challenge for each table to contribute money to this Charity and over $10,000 was raised just from the Table challenge. I believe I remember that a combined total of over $50,000.00 was contributed on behalf of STAR to FEED THE CHILDREN
Thursday the 23rd and last Day of STAR DAYS there was a poker run with a Lunch sponsored by RC Components There were local runs and the last chance to demo rides by Yamaha. Sue and I would have demoed a Venture but did not have time with the other things going on. That afternoon we lined up for a run to the Corvette Museum Amphitheatre for the Concert by John Kay and Steppenwolf and then the Charlie Daniels Band. both groups put on an excellent show and we even were treated to an opening act by a local group called Rimshot and they also rocked the house. After the concert everyone headed back to their hotels for one last evening before the ride home.
Friday the 24th While the trip to Bowling Green and STAR DAYS had great weather we woke up to a drizzling rain on Friday. At this point many of us had our own trips for returning home. I know Ralph, Darlene and Kyle were headed to check out Nashiville. Don LeClair was headed for North Carolina, I see by one of the pics that Kent and Vinh ended up in Louisiana (For Gumbo??) Sue and I headed on the long portion of our trip. We had run out of the rain by the time we hit Louisville and except for a stretch in Minnesota and then again just as we were entering into Cody Wyoming our trip was dry. Check out my personal Webpage for more pics on our trip and a small write up. Yogis Page
I hope everyones trip back was safe and without incident
The Following pic was contributed by Brenda Hudkins of Chapter 131. This was taken on the way to the Concert at STAR DAYS. Thanks Brenda!
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