FL Rally and Club Ride - 2. Finger Lakes Rally Start

2. Finger Lakes Rally Start

The Hotel had a basic American Breakfast; it was good enough for us for this Friday morning.  

We never really ‘unpacked’ our bikes, the tent and sleeping rolls were still on the bikes, so riding to the actual rally site, the Hidden Valley was easy, just swing your leg over the bike, settle down and ride for about 4 miles. That is all I did, just about 4 miles this day. 

Checking In At Registration

When we rode off we met Joe, another BMW rider, he was a Rally ‘Virgin’ he told us. He had never been to this Finger Lakes Rally before so we showed him how to find the hidden spot. He was from Connecticut, a nice enough guy, but we soon lost sight of him once we entered the actual Campground. We were one of the first people to arrive, always a good thing because that way you can set up your spot (tent or bunk) where ever YOU want. 

Starting to Unpack

Also, we wanted to set up our tent ‘early’ because the weather forecast for today: “Heavy Rains” and ‘Thunder Storms”.

Setting up our tent has now become routine. While I do the actual tent, Carol sets up the inside. I put up the poles, the lines, the stakes and Carol is inside the tent setting up the thermarests, pillows and our sleeping bags. 

We work like a team; it does not take that long to set up our camp. We even bring foldable chairs, so we can sit in comfort. 

We no longer bring any cooking utensils; there are just too many other, easier options to find food while we are at the Rally. This is not camping in the wild.

Home Sweet Home

After we were set up, I went to the flea market tent to register and offer my ‘stuff’ for sale. I had packed motorcycle specific items that I took off my old (07) bike and now will try to sell here at this Rally.

While I did that, Carol rode back into town to find our breakfast for the following days, some fruit and snacks, some beer, wine and juice, and ice to keep it all cool (we brought a foldable Ice cooler) and she also wanted some American cash from an ATM. 

Flea Market in Full Swing

I had no problem listing all my items at the flea market tent, Roger, who is in charge of the whole set up, knows how to run this flea market but Carol, oh my, she was alone in town and ran into all kinds of ‘rules and regulations’.

She told me later:

First stop for her was the ATM it did not work for her, but after trying the Automated Teller Machine 4 times she went into the bank to try to get U.S. dollars, the ATM really did not work for her. The teller girl inside the bank tried the outside ATM, but it did not work for her either. So back inside the bank, the teller asked Carol for her ID, of course it was on the bike, so Carol had to go outside, get the ID and still, the teller could not get her U.S. dollars. Computers are great, IF they work. This time they did not. And the people depending on them are paranoid with the ‘security’. So YOUR money is in a bank but you will have a difficult time getting YOUR money out. Yes, it’s called ‘security’ but should there not be an easier way to identify a person? Face Recognition Software near each teller? A chip you carry under your skin someplace?  I think something has to be done to make life easier for the end user.

Friends Roger and Marc (L to R Foreground), Vicki and Jim (L to R Background)

Carol’s next step was the Gas Station, to fill up her tank. Once you fill up, the bike gets noticeably heavier. No money needed, she used her credit card.

Next stop was the Supermarket which has ATM’s.  She bought her food stuff, including some beer but when she tried to check out she was asked for her ID again. Naturally she had put it back on the bike……..duh!  You have to be over 21 years of age to buy alcohol in NY State, and you HAVE TO identify yourself, showing the cash 
register girl that that you are old enough. No, just looking at a person, even if you KNOW that person, or can see that she is older has no effect. You MUST show your ID. So, Carol had to get out of the store, get her ID again, walk back in and show the register girl her Government Issued ID just to buy a pack of beer!

Beautiful Side-Car Rig

So now Carol has her beer but she also paid for 20 LBS of Ice. You pay at the register, then walk outside to the freezer and take your bag. Sounds ok?  Well they were out of 20 LBS bags; they only had 7 lbs bags. Well if it had been me, I would have taken 3 of those and called it even, but not Carol. She is Canadian, they don’t do that. The 3 seven lbs bags are more expensive than one 20 lbs bag. Carol walks back to the register and tells the girl she wants only 2 of the seven lbs bag, and she is due back some money. But... giving back money was not what the register girl could do… you would have to see the Service desk. 

So Carol took only 2 bags, leaving the register girl to keep her extra money and now had to tie all of the ice to her bike. Right!

BMW Motorcycle Club of Ontario Banner With Club Member's Bikes

Strapping slippery ice bags on the rear seat?  It is a difficult, hard item to tie down, it slides around a lot.

Still, Carol managed……but now the bike is really HEAVY with the ice, beer and groceries and now she has to stand it upright from the leaned over position…. Arrrrrrggghh, she finally does it somehow, but now she remembers… she needs to use the ATM, so?  She was so frustrated, she just said, “Forget it!”

It was a frustrating morning for Carol, while I had a wonderful time listing all my ‘for sale’ Items with Roger.

Unpacking Groceries - More Tents Coming In

I helped Carol stash away our food when she got back, we had a walk around, said hello to people we knew and then had dinner with Jean and Ross. They came by car; Jean hurt her foot and was not able to ride her bike. 

We went for Mexican food in town. Margaritas were offered, but… the place was OK, but I would not go back there… the drinks were watered down, the food just so-so.

Jean had bought some Margarita mixes; those were much better than what the restaurant sold for $8 per glass. Thank you, Jean!

Friends Ross, Jean and Jane (L to R)

Everybody was watching the sky for the anticipated rain… it never came; our tent was only ‘dewed’ on by the moisture in the air when we woke up the next morning.

We slept well that night, on the ground, but snug like a bug in a rug.