The 2012 Rally in the Valley

The 2012 Alaska State HOG rally was June 21-23, in Palmer, Alaska. I was honored to share the time with good friends, a great rally committee and new friends, under blue skies, sunshine and high-70 degree temperatures. That pretty much sums up the rally.

But wait. There's more, so much more. That's the photos. I've posted many of them on the Chapter 66 Facebook page, but I wanted to also share some of them with others who may not be a part of that page. I also have some that have not yet made the rally site, so you also get a few of those. You know how I am about photos. I shoot indiscriminately, always waiting and hoping for the “perfect” photo. After all, film is cheap these days.

Thursday is always a fun day as it's not yet the official rally but most people register prior to the start of the rally.  Victoria and Michelle were enjoying both the sun and the shade at the Palmer fairgrounds. 

This guy has already been traveling this summer.  The iguana showed up at the Meet in the Middle Run over Memorial Day.  His mama, Rhonda from Fairbanks, says he's very friendly.

How could I not take a picture of a Viet Nam vet?  Mark was gracious enough to pose for me.

Jim was one of several who volunteered their grills so our chapter could get the shishkababs ready for the cookoff.

The rally opening ceremonies began with a bagpiper.  I so enjoy the pipes.

And the presenting of the colors and the signing of the national anthem.  Let the party begin.

JoAnn and her new girl.  Even the pets got to attend the ceremonies and rally.

 

Cindy and Mac at the Matanuska Glacier.  I spent a day and a half riding with them doing the rally compass challenge.  Good weather and good friends.  Need I say more?  We had a blast, and even got some Miller's ice cream during our rides.  It doesn't get any better than that,.

Mac does good work taking photos.  Me at the Matanuska Glacier.

Of course, I have to get a little goofy.  I didn't realize how difficult it was to balance on the seat of a motorcycle that is held up by nothing more than an itty-bitty piece of metal stuck on the ground.  Good thing zumba is improving my balance.  I made it happen without falling and breaking anything.

Mac and Cindy at Eklutna Lake.  The directions for the four points of the compass ride were to be creative. 

 

Good friends make the world go around.  And this wild bunch definately make a statement.  Judai, Becky, Maria, Pam and me.  This was just a part of the great weekend.

Chapter 66 did a skit based on the Johnny Horton song "North to Alaska" although it was a loose rendition with the words changed to make it more "bikerish."  Our sets use cardboard and paint, and a lot of creativity and ingenuity on the part of the committee members.  We had a blast meeting, planning and painting. 

I love this photo of Judai and Gunda.  There were a lot of puppies at the rally, as well as full-grown dogs, a Guinea pig and an iguana.  I expect the Guinea pig is something that should show up at a HOG rally.

We even had dancing girls in the Valley chapter's portion of the talent show.

I like to take photos of license plates. 

One compass photo had to  be at the reindeer farm near Palmer.  I'd packed this tree branch to use as antlers and I had red electrical tape so I could make a red nose.  Do I resemble Rudolph?  Will the other reindeer accept me?

And what's a rally without a bike game or two.  The object is to put the tennis balls on top of the cones.  The rider must go slow enough and close enough so that the passenger can get the balls on the cones, but they cannot put their feet down,.  It sounds way easier than it is.



This game involved a slow ride with the passenger tossing a water balloon over the top of the flags.  The trick was to catch it, hopefully without it breaking.  You don't catch it, you break it, you lose.  Not too many folks could do this one. 



There were a couple of new games at the rally this year.  This one was for trikes, and the driver was blindfolded.  The passenger had to guide them around some cones and race back to the finish line.  It was a fun thing to watch, and no one crashed or ran over anyone. 

There was even a pet show, and this dog was definately styling.

There's always room for ice cream, and a rally is not a rally if you don't have some. 

I was just a spectator for the games, and a photographer that needed a break.

The weenie bite is a game played at most rallies.  The passenger must get a bite of the weenie, with the largest piece bitten off being the winning bite.  The driver must ride under the weenie slow enough without putting his or her feet down, so the passenger can get a bite.  Usually the weenie is covered with mustard.  This time it was ketchup.  Weenies are very slick characters, and it takes a lot of talent to get a bite, especially a winning bite.

The rally activities included a Chapter Challenge where the four Alaskan chapters competed in games, a cook off, a talent contest and the number of chapter members registered per chapter. What I will say is that Chapter 66 won the challenge trophy, which will be displayed at our Anchorage dealership until the next chapter challenge. Chapter 66 will need to add something to the trophy before passing it on to the challenge winner. Chapter 66 has a lot of talented people, a willingness to participate and folks that like to laugh and have fun … in addition to riding, of course.

Most of the group who participated in the talent portion of the chapter challenge.

Ron (with his lovely wife Barbie) was our "Johnny Horton" for our talent skit.

Alvin and Elesha.  Elesha worked to put together the food piece of the chapter challenge.  Everyone loved the shiskababs, chicken and beef.  They were yummy. 

We now have a new Princess in the Queen's group, Stacey.  Congratulations, Stacey.

And next? I'm off to Phoenix to pick up my bike and head on out to the open road. More reporting to follow.