2023 Richmond VA: The 50th National MOA Rally

[gsinnc]

Yes, I saw it. Thank you.

I was refering to the post by flyhi2cfar, regarding the apparent lack of interest on this year rally.

I suppose all is good. :-)

Maybe a bit quiet on the forums but it seems there is interest based on the registrations.

Also, I thought there we got a $49 registration if we were in Springfield. There was a comment about MOA members not getting a benefit for being a member,

[flyhi2cfar]

The registration page shows MOA members get a $20 break.

Advance Registration Jan 1 - April 30, 2023 ($89.00)
Save $30 by registering before May 1. Advance registration fee is $69 for MOA members and $89 for guests.

Hi Lee; great to room nearby you (both) in Springfield.

My comment was actually directed toward the two “early” opportunities for
Registration. The $49 each for 2023 as we departed Missouri, and the
Grab a Buddy two for… ? (I don’t remember the $)

Neither of those required MOA membership to my reading/understanding.
So to actually save a few dollars and register months early…
WE as members, paid the same price as a rider off the street.

It’s now known the “advance” registration numbers are higher that past years.
Well you think!
An east coast opportunity nearest the highest concentration of our clubs
membership. And with it now well known the lowest admission is by December of the year before.

Problem is, that 2800 number of “early’s”…
“may” represent three quarters of the upcoming actual attendance. Uh-oh!

[The_Veg]

I'm looking forward to the rally!

Thoughts about where to sleep:
I've been to 8 national rallies and Springfield was the first time I did the hotel-thing, which I did for various reasons and it wound-up being a very good decision since Mrs. Veg was along with me and she wound-up feeling ill for the duration we were there. When I made the reservation I had a gut feeling that staying off-site would make me feel less connected to the event but that wasn't the case, prob'ly because the hotel was so close to the rally site.

I'll most likely be solo this year and will be staying in the tent again. Will be hot? Dunno, that's always a crapshoot. I've been to a couple of rallies that were unexpectedly not-hot. West Bend was notable for me because it wasn't hot. It was my second rally. Lima was my first and I sweated my ass off there, so I only brought lightweight sleep-gear to West Bend, where the nights actually got sorta chilly! Froze said ass off the first night, then the next morning made a beeline to an outdoors shop and got a fleece-sack to curl up in for the remainder.

Shady spots for your tent are nice, but I've been in the wide-open too. The sunny spots are survivable, just don't plan to be in your tent during daylight. Not a problem when the exhibit/seminar/vendor buildings are air-conditioned. Having shower-trailers onsite is something I'd rank in the top three things that have improved about our rallies since my first ones. Hot weather is so much more tolerable if you hose-off the sweat and funk and expired sunscreen now and then.

I doubt it will be less than fairly warm at night this year, so I won't bring the nice sleeping bag but will plan for flexible sleeping gear just in case.

In any event I'm expecting a heluva fun time hanging out with a bunch of my fellow MOA members!

[Paul_F]

I doubt it will be less than fairly warm at night this year, so I won't bring the nice sleeping bag but will plan for flexible sleeping gear just in case.

In any event I'm expecting a heluva fun time hanging out with a bunch of my fellow MOA members!

After a couple of rallies where I almost froze with my warm weather sleeping bag, my sleeping bag is now always my extra warm bag rated down to 32F. In places like Bloomsburg, Salt Lake and Des Moines', I unzip it and sleep on the bottom layer (the top pulled aside), where it has worked even on hot nights. However, if the weather should be cooler than I anticipate, it keeps me sleeping comfortably.

As much as I have missed hanging out with my fellow MOA friends, I am still undecided as to whether or not I will attend this year.

[flyhi2cfar]

As much as I have missed hanging out with my fellow MOA friends, I am still undecided as to whether or not I will attend this year.

... I'm sure that I owe you a BEER !

Plus, YOU literarlly have one of the best rides available to/from your home in June.

West Virginia is sorta on the way!

And, aren't you needed or in charge of something important? You should be!

Did I mention beer?

[pettynerd]

Time for my annual question on when are the musical acts going to be announced?
Really bummed that I couldn't make Springfield, that line up looked good. I did hear that Rev. Horton Heat might have been too loud for some of the older folks!

[PGlaves]

I did hear that Rev. Horton Heat might have been too loud for some of the older folks!

Not the oldsters. The younger-midler folks. The oldsters just turn off their hearing aids.

[Paul_F]

... I'm sure that I owe you a BEER !

Plus, YOU literarlly have one of the best rides available to/from your home in June.

West Virginia is sorta on the way!

And, aren't you needed or in charge of something important? You should be!

Did I mention beer?

John, I’ll take you up on the beer, maybe this year or maybe next year.

The backroads of P.A. are terrific and I think the beautiful ride south through the W.V. is 16 and yes it is a beautiful ride.

Not in charge of anything this year, but did I mention I’ll take you up on either a porter or a stout?

[gsinnc]

John, I’ll take you up on the beer, maybe this year or maybe next year.

The backroads of P.A. are terrific and I think the beautiful ride south through the W.V. is 16 and yes it is a beautiful ride.

Not in charge of anything this year, but did I mention I’ll take you up on either a porter or a stout?

We’re meeting our 2 Canadian buddies near Buffalo and taking them down through PA, WV and VA! Amazing roads and POIs on the way to Richmond

[flyhi2cfar]

Not in charge of anything this year, but did I mention I’ll take you up on either a porter or a stout?

...you would be a fine candidate to organize the annual "Canadian Member's Happy Hour" at the Beer Garden !

[jd2577]

Hi all.

I think this might be my first post on the MOA forum. I spend too much time (according to the better half) on the ADVrider site (same user name).

I'll be attending my first MOA National this year. Pretty excited as this will also be my first long distance trip on the bike. So I'm in the planning phase and am curious about what's typical from a food vendor perspective on the rally grounds? Obviously there are plenty of options in the area. But what's it like "at the rally?"

Maybe I'm overthinking it. But trying to decide what and/or how much to bring with me. I've been to a few local rallies with the typical coffee, donuts, a food vendor or two if you want to grab a burger and fries, and the Saturday night dinner. Just not sure what to expect at the national.

Thanks in advance and can't wait for the experience!

Jason

[flyhi2cfar]

Hi all.

I think this might be my first post on the MOA forum. I spend too much time (according to the better half) on the ADVrider site (same user name).

I'll be attending my first MOA National this year. Pretty excited as this will also be my first long distance trip on the bike. So I'm in the planning phase and am curious about what's typical from a food vendor perspective on the rally grounds? Obviously there are plenty of options in the area. But what's it like "at the rally?"

Maybe I'm overthinking it. But trying to decide what and/or how much to bring with me. I've been to a few local rallies with the typical coffee, donuts, a food vendor or two if you want to grab a burger and fries, and the Saturday night dinner. Just not sure what to expect at the national.

Thanks in advance and can't wait for the experience!

Jason

Howdy Jason, great question for this year!
It Will actually take a response from the Rally leadership to specifically answer in depth.
However, my long tenure of consecutive nationals have seen a lot…
Of varying good and not so good.
We’re doing better overall the last decade, I’ll say that.
If we’re in/near a large metro area, as we are this year.. it’s usually very good selection.
For all the meals & offerings. The one sore spot nearly everyone will commit on…
Many providers run out of their popular offerings, probably every rally!
They simply underestimate our “staying power”…
where a great many of us put kickstands down and eat 2 or 3 meals a day for 3 or 4 days!
I’ve had some great and unique cuisine at many nationals.
Hope for the same at our 50th!
Time will tell.
Rally Planners to the Forum please… your answer appreciated.
We are just 75 days away from a big Friday eating frenzy!

[glenfiddich]

Glenlivet and I will be departing our home in Northern Vermont on the Monday before the rally, cramming as many secondary roads as possible into the trip. We'll drop down the western side of Vermont to Hoosick NY then catch 22 south to the north end of the Taconic Parkway. We'll likely stop for the night somewhere between Port Jervis NY and Stroudsburg PA to be rested up for the following day. 895 west to New Ringold PA, then south down into Amish country to the east and south of Lancaster PA. (Not a huge fan of touristy places.) It's always interesting observing the different rules of the different Amish orders.

We'll probably stop on either side of Gettysburg - Hanover PA to the east or Thurmond MD to the south - depending on progress. Sometimes we find ourselves in a place so magical the timeline takes second fiddle and we just enjoy the moment. Other times a location doesn't live up to its reputation and we simply move along briskly.

From there past Antietam and on to Front Royal. We'll do Skyline Drive to 211 before diverting over to Culpeper VA on back roads, down past Bumpass VA to the rally, arriving Wednesday afternoon as we have the first Public Safety shift Thursday morning. We have a hotel room reserved just in case, but we're hoping for decent conditions so we can cancel it and camp with friends.

PeteBugRally.jpg

[gsinnc]

Glenlivet and I will be departing our home in Northern Vermont on the Monday before the rally, cramming as many secondary roads as possible into the trip. We'll drop down the western side of Vermont to Hoosick NY then catch 22 south to the north end of the Taconic Parkway. We'll likely stop for the night somewhere between Port Jervis NY and Stroudsburg PA to be rested up for the following day. 895 west to New Ringold PA, then south down into Amish country to the east and south of Lancaster PA. (Not a huge fan of touristy places.) It's always interesting observing the different rules of the different Amish orders.

We'll probably stop on either side of Gettysburg - Hanover PA to the east or Thurmond MD to the south - depending on progress. Sometimes we find ourselves in a place so magical the timeline takes second fiddle and we just enjoy the moment. Other times a location doesn't live up to its reputation and we simply move along briskly.

From there past Antietam and on to Front Royal. We'll do Skyline Drive to 211 before diverting over to Culpeper VA on back roads, down past Bumpass VA to the rally, arriving Wednesday afternoon as we have the first Public Safety shift Thursday morning. We have a hotel room reserved just in case, but we're hoping for decent conditions so we can cancel it and camp with friends.

PeteBugRally.jpg

Once again our paths may cross or come close .... we're leaving Charlotte on Friday May 26th and heading up to East Aurora to pick up 2 Canadian buddies and then another in Rochester. From there we stay in Watertown NY, Lake Placid, Stowe VT, Rangeley ME, Camden ME, Rutland VT, Elmira NY, Cumberland MD, Harrisonburg VA and then over 211 to Skyline Drive and on to Glen Allen VA where we'll be staying for the Rally. We'll average about 260 miles a day with longest day being about 340.

Also, if anyone has POI suggestions along the way they would be welcomed.

[glenfiddich]

Ed - some local advice on roads to follow in my neck of the woods. Break out your maps.

From Watertown NY take 3 east to Saranac Lake, 86 to Lake Placid, then 73 to Keene NY. Take 9N to just past I-87, then 59 to Wadhams NY then 22 to the ferry landing at Essex NY. Cross Lake Champlain on the ferry to Charlotte VT. Take Hwy 7 south a few miles to 17. Take 17 over the scenic and very technical Appalachian Gap to VT-100, then follow 100 to Stowe. (We used to live there till tourism pressure got crazy, but can recommend a few outstanding eateries.)

From Stowe take VT-108 over Smugglers Notch (best on weekday mornings) through the town of Jeffersonville to VT-109. Follow 109 a couple miles and just after a majestic old barn turn right on Hogback Road. Follow Hogback a few miles till it ends at VT-15, turn left onto 15 and continue thru the towns of Johnson and Morrisville. About seven miles from Morrisville just past the Wolcott Garage turn left onto North Wolcott Rd and take it 8 miles to VT-14. Turn left on 14 and pass through the town of Albany VT (Albany General Store has a great little deli). At Irasburg turn right onto 58. After four miles or so turn right on Lake Region Rd and follow it to Hwy 5. (Or continue on 58 to Orleans if you need gas, and pick up Hwy 5 from there.) Take 5 past Crystal Lake to the tiny town of West Burke, then turn left onto 5A. That will take you past Lake Willoughby, one of the prettiest lakes in New England. At Westmore turn right onto Hwy 105. Stay on 105 through the town of Island Pond all the way to Bloomfield. US-3 will take you to Colebrook, then 26 over Dixville Notch to Errol NH, then 16 into Maine all the way to Rangeley.

Lemme know if you want recommendations from the coast back to Rutland VT. There are some roads you really don't want to miss.

Pete