2023 Year in Review
Another year has rolled and life continues to happen in our little corner of cyber space and on the roads of the US and beyond.
BARF had 4 Rallies last year. Some fun was had, but I am hoping we find some more people joining and finding smiles in ’24.
We started with the
Pit Ho in Morro Bay. Great spot, but a bit expensive so unsure about a return. Flying_hun brought some Euro friends and then realized he wants to ride
every good moto road in CA!
Next up was the
Sweeping Winger in Kernville. We faced some closed roads but had a blast. A super chill ride on Saturday and an awesome dinner made for a great weekend. Kernville has fun bars, great food and this year a roaring river. Thanks to dravnx for leading the charge.
The
Hoho Midsummer Magic Rally in Weaverville always delivers some great fun and riding!!
two wheel tramp is our rally mistress and has been for a while. Thank you Reama! Like going to Kernville it is a longer journey to get there and this year I wore my ass out, riding hard and fast. Chasing Lonster and Planegray on their nimble KTM’s meant a big effort. So big that I took Saturday off. SFMC John gets dirty and some boy’s join our ADV Mod and Legend offroading some amazing places.
Myself and a few buds always start this rally by staying in Petaluma and doing the rock star party thing. Our first evening bartender thought we were members of a band. We played along and when dravnx showed we announced our drummer had arrived.
The 4th Rally took us back to Hawthorne, Nevada for the
Rydther Rally. Famous for biking, pooling and boozing Hawthorne has been a regular destination since 2008 (with a couple exceptions). We had sadz that Joe’s Tavern was closed but drinking by the pool and hiding from some weather on Saturday made for another great weekend.
Hope Joe’s is back for ’24!! Second weekend in September so save the date.
Butch kept the
StoneyBarf going. A tradition for sure and for the first time we had an overlap with another rally so what does SFMCjohn do?? Attends both…!
Life
Part of life is losing friends and we lost a few folks that had an impact on barf. My good friend Butch lost his life partner Sally. She was an amazing woman who happened to be really cool with Butch doing some crazy.
Sal.
We also felt some hurt losing some very special to me long time members.
Ed/ Sweeping Winger a rally regular passed in January.
Then February continued the pain when we lost
Paul / big dog bites and
Razel. Tough start to the year and we finished it off with the loss of
tu417 / Officer Tuan Le aka: Tuna in the line of duty
I am grateful we have our memorial
Gone But Not Forgotten forum. I look at it a couple times a year and it reminds me to find a smile while remembering those that have found other roads to ride.
Tuna’s is
there. Thanks to DJNick for sending me photo’s and sorry for the loss of your friend man
Some members faced some moments of course. The kind that can make you quit riding. Even someone as experienced as Doc Wong can face those moments. After
cheating death with his bud Phil Howell in a high speed rear end crash he met a
deer up close and personal. Doc is not quitting. His next ride is next
next weekend!
Doc remains a dedicated motorcyclist sharing information and good times with so many people. My goal in ’24 is to get him to come on a rally!! **nudge nudge**
He dedication to the community brought him our
AMA Safety Award.
Also receiving recognition was Map8. I love him for his dedication to the
Couch Racers Corner and his passion for racing!!!
We saw members get
new bikes, do some awesome
builds with old bikes and chat about the cool stuff that comes out
every year.
Of course we ride and when folks provide a ride report I get big smiles. I love see you enjoy your miles!!
Adventure reports
Sport Touring reports got 17 entries this year.. I want more!!
Some of you guys are really good at it…! Props and thanks!
We are still finding Gary on
location often and others join in the fun too. Some of the photo’s in that thread are really awesome.. 14 years of solid Moto goodness.
And sometimes a
new bike gets announced too!
Humor and the other non-riding stuff in the sink remain fun.
And some is not so fun, but still things that are discussed often and make the community aware there is more than just riding here.
Politics
War
Covid 19… glad to move that forum out of the headlines.
BARF Stuff.
Please please… let us implement the new software. It is down to two guys having the time to connect and make it happen. Hoping
Share the name BARF with others…!! Mention it when you meet new riders.
Support those
BARF Sponsors.. without them BARF would not be as viable. Thank you all!
As always and shout out to the ModCore for their efforts.
A shout out to the active barfers who keep the conversations and cool moto stuff going.
Join the
AMA!!!. We need a strong voice in Washington DC.
Wish you the best in ’24!!
