Ride Report - Fig Mtn.

  

From the journal of Cameron Marshall

January 5, 2013 Figueroa Mountain Gear Up Getaway

Day 1

 

The texts and emails started coming in Thursday afternoon,

"...the weather is looking bad...",

"...are we still on?...", and

"...I don't know if we should go this weekend..."

things to that effect.

 

The National Weather Service forecast was for rain and snow at Santa Barbara County's Figueroa Mountain, the planned camp destination for BMWVC's first Gear Up Getaway for 2013.  I'll admit right now, a four-hour session of Call to Duty sounded lots better than a night hunkered down in a tent in bad weather. 

 

I am so glad I didn't stop there.

 

After meeting up with our Ventura contingent we rocketed up the 101 Hwy.  Bypassing the hapless motorist on 154.  We snaked our way up the Old Stagecoach Route on San Marcos Road.  Eleven GS riders were awarded with a great view and a few minutes of friendly conversation.

    

 

The best way to see the world is by motorcycle and the best people to see it with are other motorcyclists.

We set up our tents and staked out the rain flys.  The monster storm was supposed to roll in about 5pm-ish and with a bit of anxiety we started our fire.

 

Mother Nature treated us to clear skies and brother Charles treated us to some of the best carne asada you could imagine.  The fire and great conversation raged late into the evening.  All is good in my America tonight.

 

 

  

January 6, 2013 

Day 2

 

As we slept the weather did finally come, but it dampened only the ground.  The morning brought me a sense of pride as I watched my co-campers, now my brothers, coming to life.  They crawled from their tents, one by one, laughing at the now falling snow.  

 

   

I confirmed to my inner child that an adventure ride should never be called off because of a weather forecast.  The texts and emails started coming in Sunday afternoon.  My riders, all advising me they'd made it home safe.  Each of them conveyed thanks and expressed feelings of satisfaction.  We're campers when we spend the night outside in tents.  But when we face the challenges and leave our comfort zones to explore on a motorcycle in uncertain conditions we are adventurers.  Brothers. 

 

Can't wait for February.

Venture Riders Forum

About six months ago a few us went on a ride to the Kern Plateau, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Most of the time people refer to the area generally as Kennedy Meadows, which has been a favorite destination for dirt bike riders for decades, with miles of single track trails criss crossing the pine covered mountains and meadows. It was a very interesting trip, and became the flash point for the idea to put together a series of rides with common theme. To explore the natural wonders and challenges we have here in this country, with friends and acquaintances, and maybe meet some new people along the way. We put together a list of destinations, most of which we have visited this past year and some that we have not been to before, ranked them by level of difficulty and chose these as the rides we are going to do this year. The discussions continued for weeks and the series turned into a challenge, the GS Venture Challenge - The Year of the Ride 2013 - Which we have been teasing you about for the past 4 months, read about it below.    

 

As this idea continued to grow, it became evident that we were creating something bigger than just a list of rides to challenge riders to take, we were building a group of riding enthusiasts to share our adventures with, and as part of that it was decided that we need our own central place to talk about, plan, and share our motorcycling adventure online in a way Facebook could not provide.  

 

The Venture Riders Forum was born. 

 

 

For now it is leaning toward the GS and dual sport crowd, but we have set up a few forums for the road touring crowd, and plan to add some rides for you later this year.  

 

It has taken a few weeks to set up the domain name, software and hosting, to get it to where it is today. Is it perfect? I doubt it, but the only way we are going to get it going is to open the gates and let in the masses. 

   

So head on over to the forum and check it out, we hope you like it.  

 

We changed the format a little bit and how you liked it.  

That's it for now.  For up to the minute, or so, information check us out on Facebook or check the Venture Riders Forum blogs.

 

 

This is the fine print text where you might tell your customers how the item will be shipped and, for example, if they are overseas that there will be additional shipping charges and must contact you.

 

Supporting the Troops

On January 11, 2013 at our annual company dinner, BMWVC was presented with an American Flag that was raised over the Headquarters of the 578th Engineer Battalion during their service in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom on the 4th of July, 2012 "in Honor of BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County, in appreciation of their encouragement and loyal support of the troops" 

Nina Clark, Dealer Principle, accepted the flag on behalf of BMWVC and the entire staff.  We in turn would like to thank you , our customers and friends, for helping us support the troops. 

 

Ride for Kids

On December 20, 2012 BMWVC was presented with a plaque from Ride for Kids in recognition of the support and donations received from BMWVC and it's friends and customers at the San Diego ride on October 21st, 2012. 

Added to the money raised for the LA Ride on May 6th, 2012 BMWVC, it's friends and customers raised almost $25,000 for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Let's see if we can do better this year!  

Watch for this year's ride date to
 be announced soon!

 

GS Venture Challenge

Special Guest Speaker

Photo Contest

 

Congratulations to our winner from October.  Steve will receive a NEW BMWVC Hat and a $50 Gift Card