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News The Lake Country Riders held its annual shop day on April 18 at the shop and home of Wiliferd and Charlotte Lair. In spite of the unseasonably cool weather we had a decent turn out. We accomplished several mechanical tasks for the members and had a great time visiting with each other in the process. Burl Brown showed us a new way to mount a motorcycle. It seems his lack of inseam height makes mounting a V-strom 1000 more of a challenge for him than for some of us. The V-strom is an Adventure Tourer made for some off road capabilities as well as on the road. The bike sits rather high. Burl was not to be outdone. After several failed attempts at getting his leg high enough to mount, he pulled a shop stool next to the bike for assistance. Bill Jarvis now has a ride-off centerstand on his bike. That stand makes putting it on the centerstand an easy thing to do. Burl Brown now has new brake fluid. Richard lengthened the trailer connection wires for an easier hook up. We also attempted to make him the keys with knobs for the fuel door and side pocket. Those were not as successful as hoped. We may yet have to redo one key, but the other works fine. Ron McCall changed the final drive fluid on his bike. All in all, it was a good and profitable time. The Region E GWTA rally will be held at the Eureka Springs, AR KOA on May 2-4. Routes are planned, it sounds like a great rally of riding the curves and visiting with good friends. Colorama will be held in the same location the second week end of October. Flyers will become available soon. We have a number of good rides coming up. Please review the meeting report for a list of what we brought up at the meeting.
Be careful and keep the dirty side down. As you have rides and activities that may be of interest for others, please write a report and send it to Wiliferd Lair at drlair@sbcglobal.net for inclusion on the web page. Reading about the adventures of others helps all of us enjoy the ride--even if it is vicariously.
Practice safe riding as you enjoy this great country from the saddle. Check the calendar for the many events scheduled and enjoyed by the chapter. Everyone is welcome at all events regardless of what you ride or your membership status. It is all about people, not a particular brand of bike or membership affiliation. Wiliferd and Charlotte Lair Lake Country Riders |
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Officers
Links Section
Director:
Steven Short
Treasuer:
Ron McCall
Ride Coordinator:
Bill Jarvis
Secretary:
Carla McCall
Safety Coordinator:
Russell Painter
Webmaster:
Wiliferd Lair
REGION E GWTA COLORAMA 05 PIX SHOAL'S BEND RV PARK GWTA NATIONAL SITE NEOSHO POWER SPORTS TALIMENA SCENIC DRIVE
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Welcome to Chapter "L" of the Gold Wing Touring Association
Lake Country Riders is a group of motorcycle riders who enjoy their machines, seeing this beautiful country, and the pleasure of each other's company. If you would like to receive our emails and be considered a member of this group, drop an email to Wiliferd Lair, Chapter Director. There are no dues and no requirements. All are welcome. We schedule activities as the membership desires. These include regular local rides and more distant rides as desired and weather permitting. Our meetings are usually dinner meetings in which we have the chance to ride, eat, and enjoy the social climate of a group of fellow riders. Although we are a chapter of the Gold Wing Touring Association, membership in the association is not required for participation. While many of us ride a Gold Wing, that is a personal choice and is not, in any way, a requirement. Ownership of motorcycle is likewise not a requirement. If you had a bike, will have a bike, or just like to dream about bikes you are welcome. The only requirement is to have a good time and to respect the rights of others. There are no membership dues, no requirement to attend anything, and Lake Country Riders is ran entirely by the membership. The chapter officers are facilitators, the members make the decisions. All of us have times when our circumstances don't allow riding our bikes, but we would still like to attend the event. If you desire, you are welcome to join us in your automobile. The group is not about Goldwings or even bikes, it is about people. We can enjoy each other's company whether on a bike at the time or not. You are welcome regardless of your chosen brand of ride. We have members in our group riding a wide variety of bikes. Some people enjoy camping, others like to rough it by camping at a Holiday Inn. You are welcome at our activities regardless of your chosen accommodations.
Leaving for Polar Bear Ride 1-1-06
Fueling the Riders is Important Too
What It's All About
The 2007 Colorama is planned for October 12-14 at Shoal's Bend RV Park. We will have many guided rides to allow participants to choose the riding style they prefer. There will also be written copies of routes available to the participants for use before and after the rally. This will allow them to enjoy the great roads and scenery available in the Ozarks area. These roads have been documented in several major motorcycle magazines as some of the best in the USA for motorcycles. The small registration fee includes a Saturday dinner of all you can eat Catfish, BBQ, and all the fixins. Breakfast will be served at the campgrounds on Saturday and Sunday on a free will donation basis. A large group campfire will be held Friday and Saturday nights providing a great opportunity to visit with old friends and to make new ones. The event is all about riding great roads and visiting with other riders. See the Colorama 2007 page on this site for full details.
If you missed Colorama '06, you missed a great one.
There were several who came early. Charlotte and I got there on the Wednesday before the rally. There were several already there. They had been attending shows in Branson, touring the area, visiting with others, and generally having a good time. We brought copies of maps with routes for good rides. The individuals could use these maps to take their own rides in the area. Several took advantage of this.
Others kept coming in throughout the rally. The registration consisted of checking their names off a list, providing each participant a Saturday dinner ticket, signing up for the ride of their choice, and responding if they plan to ride with us to Lambert's Cafe on Friday night. Some chose to go to the shows in Branson. Others went to Lambert's earlier in the evening than the group. Still others preferred to stay in camp and visit with friends they get to see all too seldom. For that group, Jim Spencer started the group campfire. There was a group of about 50 that made the ride to Lamberts. We called ahead so as not to surprise them with a large group. Ron McCall went ahead of the group and checked us in to avoid the long wait for the group. If you haven't been to Lambert's Cafe, it is one establishment that doesn't accept reservations. It is so popular there is almost always a rather long wait to get in. Our group got in after a short wait. Everything is delicious and there are lots of pass arounds--food brought to the table for all to enjoy regardless of what was ordered. In addition everything is all you can eat. No one left hungry and all had a great time visiting over a good meal.
Saturday morning started with an all you can eat breakfast of pancakes and sausage at the campground pavillion. This was served by the campground owners. It was by free will donation. Since Goldwingers are usually very generous, the campground came out well pleased that the meal was covered. This was followed with getting the organized rides started. Robert Donkers led a group to Eureka Springs for a shopping trip to that historical and unique little town. His route was along the twists and turns and beautiful scenery typical of this part of the Ozark foothills. Rick Harvey led a ride through some of the great riding roads in the area then crossed the free ferry in Arkansas then returned via some of the roads in Arkansas leading west. Bill Jarvis led a group south from the campground into Arkansas and back across the ferry. This 135 mile ride had lots of curves and scenery done at a relaxed pace. Ron McCall then led another ride along the same route but in the opposite direction. Kent Hott provided a little more spirited ride along some of the curviest roads in the area. Randall Matney led a performance ride to Rockbridge and took a different route back along the twisty roads to the north of the campground. Some chose to use the printed routes and maps to take a ride with their own group or solo. All rides were back in camp prior to 3 p.m.
Saturday dinner was at the campground pavillion. Tables were set just outside the pavillion. The group went through the line to fix their plates then chose a table upon which to eat. The line went fairly quickly considering the number to go through. There was fried fish, pulled pork with or without bbq sauce, baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw, tarter sauce, lots of desserts and drinks. After everyone got through the line, they were invited to go back for seconds or more. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the great food with good friends.
Following the meal, professional auctioneer, Clyde Michael auctioned off the items that had been on display all day. Hitch racks- both vertical and horizontal, a magnetic tankbag, leather products, gloves, a beautiful hand made wooden bowl, insulated chaps, certificates for camping at Shoals Bend RV, windshield covers, a dash cover, and numberous other items all went to the highest bidder.
Awards were then presented for the longet distance couple, the longest distance solo, the youngest rider (Jason Jarvis), and the most senior rider (Mit Grimes). The greatest participation by a state went to Missouri with 35. The greatest participation by chapter went to Chapter I in Iowa with 24 members present. Thanks to all. Missouri State Director, Bob Anderson presented a plaque for the Regional Family of the Year to Wiliferd and Charlotte Lair. Mary Jarvis and Chapter Director, Steve Short, presented a plaque of member appreciation to Wiliferd and Charlotte Lair for their work in making Colorama the premier rally of the Ozarks.
Following the awards we had a group bonfire where good stories were told and lots of visiting took place. Sunday morning at 7:00 we had a Sunday worship service led by Steve Short entitled, "The Best Things in Life I've Learned on Two Wheels." Immediately following the service was a biscuits and gravy breakfast. Again, it was all you can eat and was by free will donations. Following the breakfast was lots of hugs and final good byes as bikers went their own direction for home.
The rally was a great time for all that were there. The Lake Country Riders sincerely appreciate everyone who came and the vast number of people that provided assistance to make everything go down as it should. We are now planning for next year and looking forward to an even better rally in the same location.
Ride coordinator Bill Jarvis schedules dinner rides, subject to the approval of the membership, every Tuesday April through October. These rides will be reasonable in length to allow the group to reach the destination, enjoy a good meal and make the return trip without being out too late.
Other dinner rides may be planned as desired by the membership. During the cooler months of the year, the dinner rides will be less frequent and of less distance from Springfield.
One may expect the dinner rides to be a relaxed pace which can be enjoyed by all.
The dinner rides are on the calendar on this web site. If you would like to suggest a change or another dinner ride, please contact Bill or Mary Jarvis, Ride Coordinators. Click on full size calendar for more information. If you should choose to meet us at the restaurant be sure to let one of us know in advance as the group may choose, for good reason, to go elsewhere after they meet to leave. If we know you are meeting us at the restaurant no changes will be made.
Hitting the Road
If there are any suggestions as to how we could make the rides a better or safer experience for you, please contact the Chapter Directors, Wiliferd and Charlotte Lair or one of the other officers. It is the desire of the Lake Country Riders to have something for everyone but our best chance of succeeding occurs if we hear from you.
Week end rides will usually be scheduled approximately every other week end. These rides will usually cover from 100 to 250 miles or more and may, at times, involve overnight trips. These rides will frequently be to a specific destination as chosen by the membership.
Depending on the desires of the participants, there may be two groups to ride with. Some enjoy viewing the scenery when riding while others enjoy a more aggressive riding style. It is the desire of the organization to accommodate the needs of the membership.
The weekend rides are on the calendar on this website. Click on full size calendar for more information.
Awaiting Ferry in Arkansas
The group will plan overnight events as the membership sees fit. These will involve motorcycle camping for those that camp and motels for those that prefer to rough it with color TV. Trips planned may be as close as 100 miles or as far away as 800 miles. Some of our members are planning to attend functions in Colorado, Minnesota, and Tennessee and would welcome company. Overnight events scheduled are on the calendar on this web site.
One of the functions of any group of friends is the ability to do things of interest on the spur of the moment. Beautiful riding days are planned by a force much higher than ourselves. When we have the opportunity to enjoy the weather on our bikes we can contacts others to see if they might like to enjoy it with us. These events, though unscheduled, are a big part of what riding and friendship is all about. Examples might be as simple as a tour through the country side to explore a great road. It could also be a trip of a few hundred miles for a nice weekend trip. Another time it may be a workday where friends get together to help and assist each other installing safety chrome or routine maintenance on their rides.
Purpose of the Chapter
We ride, we eat, and we ride some more!!!
Our organization exists at the pleasure of the members. Our sole purpose for being is to enjoy the one thing we have in common--our interest in motorcycling---and the friendships we have made and will make as a result of our unique interest. Those who have rode with the Gold Wing Touring Association for several years have made friends throughout this great nation and in Canada. These friendship endure for many years. These friendships are what the organization is all about. It doesn't matter what one rides, or other factors as social status, or vocation. We, by definition, have something in common that binds us together. We have a deep interest in motorcycling and in friendship with each other.
