Announcing BMW MOA 2021 Grand Coddiwomple!

[r0ckrat]

I thought this was pretty clear...

"Any such sign, plaque, or other identifier must be a national, state, provincial, or other government marker"

 

[robsryder]

I recall witnessing an airplane crash in the early 1960s and went looking for more information. I came upon this resource, link below. Wow! There are quite a few!

http://www.gendisasters.com/category/disasters/air-disasters

 

[skibum69]

For anyone wanting to put a few miles on there are a few up here. This one you won't get your bike in the pic. Would the sign at the trailhead count?
https://www.hiddennewfoundland.ca/burgoynes-cove-b36-crash

 

[robsryder]

As I am scouting out locations to visit I am discovering that airplanes do not always crash in easily accessible locations. I will need to be on my GS for many of these rides. Also sometimes land owners or others have placed gates across dirt "roads" (or paths) to limit access. I have gleaned this from use of google's map function. Sometimes markers are not placed at the location of the crash. Another adventure will be to locate the memorial markers; it seems that many crashes of military aircraft have memorial markers somewhere.

 

[skibum69]

Here's another one you can ride to.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrow_Air_Flight_1285

 

[akbeemer]

Annie is #6 and I am #8. 8 is the number that my all time favorite baseball player wore; Yogi Berra.

 

[gregfeeler]

Annie is #6 and I am #8. 8 is the number that my all time favorite baseball player wore; Yogi Berra.

Hehe - I'm #7.

 

[skibum69]

I don't have mine yet

 

[akbeemer]

Hehe - I'm #7.

Mickey Mantle

 

[vetbmwrider]

Greg with the postal system so screwed up. How long ago where the packages for this event mailed and from what part of the country?

 

[Cessnadog]

Another question

Assume for a minute that Slippery Rock Falls, is in Slippery Rock Falls State Park, right outside of the Town of Slippery Rock Falls.

Clearly there are (at least) 50 points in play here. Are there 150 points available?

Part of me says yes, part of me says no..
For the record, I have no idea if such an opportunity exists, but I suspect that it does on some scale. I can easily imagine a Falls and a State Park sharing the name, with signs for each.

 

[PGlaves]

Assume for a minute that Slippery Rock Falls, is in Slippery Rock Falls State Park, right outside of the Town of Slippery Rock Falls.

Clearly there are (at least) 50 points in play here. Are there 150 points available?

Part of me says yes, part of me says no..
For the record, I have no idea if such an opportunity exists, but I suspect that it does on some scale. I can easily imagine a Falls and a State Park sharing the name, with signs for each.

If I might, I would suggest Niagara Falls, NY, Niagara Falls, ON, CAN, Niagara Falls State Park, and then the falls themselves as a four banger once the border is open.

 

[camelmd]

No Flag Yet

I registered on Feb. 9 and haven't received anything yet.

 

[ahd43]

#476 here!

 

[skibum69]

Nothing for me yet either, but then again my ADV magazine took a long time to get here too.

 

[gregfeeler]

Checking on mailing status

Anyone who hasn't received their packet after at least two weeks and would like to check on it's mailing date please send a message to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org from the email address you registered with and include your name. All registrations through the 4th have been mailed. However, the USPS is especially slow these days. Thanks!

 

[gregfeeler]

Grand Coddiwomple FAQs - Ver. 1.0

All,
The first version of our FAQs are posted below, and attached as a PDF, and will soon be available at www.bmwmoa.org/coddiwomple. Pulse, they will soon be emailed as a PDF and link to everyone registered so far. You are STRONGLY encouraged to read the entire FAQ as it provides significant clarification of several rules or challenges. And, encourage any of your friends who are also participating. Please provide any feedback to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org. Thanks!



2021 BMW MOA GRAND CODDIWOMPLE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Version 1.0 - 3/11/2021

INTRODUCTION:
The Grand Coddiwomple is intended for everyone to have fun. To do that fairly we must have rules to define the Challenges and guide the event. In the end the judge’s decisions are final, but we will apply those rules with reasonable flexibility. Our guiding principle – and suggestion for you - is not to overthink things. For the largest part the Challenges are what they are. There are no tricks to trap you, although some have several more ways to bag points than might seem obvious on first reading. Part of our point is to have you figure those out. These FAQs have come from questions submitted so far, and hopefully will clear up any ambiguities or address something we could have worded better. If you don’t see your question answered, please send it to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org. REMEMBER – the FAQs will be updated so check back for any updates noted but the version number and date!


1. What counts as a “state” or “province”? (My country does not have states or provinces.)

a. States and Provinces do refer to the US and Canada, respectively. But other countries also have states or provinces, or other similar local political jurisdictions: territories, districts, divisions, departments, and so on. So, we are using “state” or “province” literally where they apply, but we will accept whatever such local jurisdictions are present in the country or countries where you capture Challenges. Please include that information with any submission for a Challenge with a “State or Province” requirement so we can follow along. Thanks!​

2. Does a Place Name have to be city, town, or state sign?

a. Not really. Rule #5, “Place Names”, says a place name is an “official identifier”, and then gives a short list of examples, but what qualifies is not limited to those examples. Many other things also qualify as a place name, and they can come from almost any “official” agency or body. Signage from a national government, state, provincial, county, borough, and city government qualify, but also from historical and preservationist organizations, school boards, fish and wildlife management groups (i.e., Ducks Unlimited), and so on. Lookup Reno, Kansas as an example of an unincorporated “town” that will count. Bottom line is we are likely to accept any professionally produced sign from an organization with the presumptive authority to place it where you found it. It is best not to overthink the definition, because we aren’t. If your submission is in keeping with the obvious intent of this definition, we are not going to disqualify it over a technicality.​

3. Can different things with a common name count as different things?

a. Yes. We’ve been asked for example if Duncan Yonty city, falls, or national park (etc.) would be considered as different things if each met some Challenge requirement? Yes, they would. A city, lake, park, falls, etc. are different things by their nature and are not excluded simply because they have a part of their name in common. Cool, right?​

4. Does the District of Columbia (Washington, DC) count as a state?

a. Yes.​

5. For the Eggselent Falls Challenge are the words “Humpty Dumpty” admissible or is it limited to images?

a. Yes, a sign with the words “Humtpy Dumpty”- but no image of him - will be acceptable. Also, the image of Humpy Dumpty without any wording will also be acceptable provided it conforms to the size requirements described in Rule 3A for the Eggselent Falls Challenge.
​

6. Is the challenge #1 the “Saddle Up and Ride Gold” Challenge limited to only one state?

a. No – as it says in the Challenge definition, the place names can come from anywhere. Rock on!
​

7. Do I have to ride a BMW motorcycle?

a. Not at all. You can ride any motorcycle brand or model of your choice, or any combination of motorcycles. This is about riding and having fun!
​

8. Do I have to ride the same motorcycle though the event?

a. No at all. You can ride any combination of motorcycles you like. However, we can’t be responsible if you get caught stealing one.​

9. Can I use a given photo for two or more Challenges? (See FAQ #9.)

a. No, you (any given participant) cannot use a given photo more than once for the duration of the event, even if it satisfies more than one Challenge.​

b. However, if there is more than one participant in a photo, and that photo qualifies for them to claim a Challenge (bikes, thing, flags), then they may use that same photo. See FAQ #9.​

10. Can a photo be used by more than one participant? (Also see FAQ #8.)

a. Yes, provided it meets the qualifications for each participant (bike, thing, flag) and is used only once by each individual participant.​

b. EXAMPLE: You and your significant other, or riding buddy – or buddies - are all participating in the Grand Coddiewomple and photograph your bikes and flags with a Challenge “thing”. Each participant may use that photo once for themselves.​

11. How can I make sure my photos meet the requirements?

a. There are two parts to getting a photo accepted. First, it must show the required elements, so read each Challenge definition of the photo requirements and make sure all elements are clearly visible - especially any signs and your flag number.​

b. Secondly, and just as important, these elements must be clearly visible. Our poor judges are already going blind looking at photos already, so give ‘em a beak but by checking the photo on your camera or phone before you ride away. Many cell phone cameras default to a wide-angle view which reduces the size of things in the photo making them harder to see clearly. Get in as close as possible while still including your motorcycle, flag, and the Challenge “thing”. You can do this by zooming in with your camera/phone, or physically moving closer. As insurance, take several shots so you can use the best for your submission.​

12. How do I submit my photos?

a. Following these rules and requests is especially important because doing so will help make the lives of our volunteer photo judges so much better!​

b. The Rules requires posting your photos on a photo sharing web site and sending a unique link to each photo in an email to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org. The single link per photo requirement is there because it greatly speeds up our judging process, and we will have thousands to judge! It’s for this reason that we can’t accept a link to a “galley” or other display of multiple photos.​

c. You may use a commercial or personal site provided links are “public”, meaning a photo can be viewed by anyone with that link without any login. See FAQ #11 “What is a photo sharing site?”​

d. You may send one or more photo links per email (in fact that is more efficient), but please include a short description next to each link to help the judges understand which Challenge you are claiming.
​

13. What is a photo sharing site?

a. A photo sharing site is a web-based service which allows you to upload photos so you can share them by sending a web link (URL). There are many of these services. Some are free (but watch for advertising or posting limits) while others charge a fee, but may have advanced features like editing, creating slide shows, etc.​

b. For the Coddiwomple you must be able have a link directly to an individual photo to send by email to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org. That link must be publicly viewable. That means you photo is viewable by just clicking on the link to it without the need to log into your sharing site.​

c. You may use your personal or business web site provided you can post photos and send links as described.​

d. This article on Tomsguide.com provides helpful information about several top sharing sites, and information to guide you in selecting one.​

i. https://www.tomsguide.com/best-picks/best-photography-sites​

14. Will there be Challenges in my area?

a. There should be! We tried to make the types of Challenges widespread enough in geographic location, and varied in type, to give riders in most areas a good shot at participating.​

15. Can I participate even if I volunteer?

a. Absolutely! If you are participating in the Coddiwomple, and also volunteer as a photo judge, you just can’t judge your own submissions. Email to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org to volunteer – operators are standing by!​

16. Must I send submissions from the email address I used during registration?

a. Yes, if you want them to count, because our scoring system relies on matching your submissions to your registration by your email. For that same reason each participate must send in only their own photos from their registered email address. This email requirement is essential in helping us deal with the literally tens of thousands of photos we’ll be judging. Did we mention that you can volunteer as a judge and still participate?​

17. Is there any special recognition for participating two-up?

a. Unfortunately, not this year. With a brand-new event, we felt it was vital to keep things simple, and that trying to distinguish between couples who were both MOA members vs. couples with only one member, and then those riding two up vs. on their own bikes would create more confusion than benefit. This will be considered at length for next year. However, if you would like to add your companion’s name to your Completion Certificate, just send an email to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org listing how you would like the names presented.​

 

[skibum69]

Finally got mine! #38 getting ready to get started when winter dies down a bit.

 

[gregfeeler]

Assume for a minute that Slippery Rock Falls, is in Slippery Rock Falls State Park, right outside of the Town of Slippery Rock Falls.

Clearly there are (at least) 50 points in play here. Are there 150 points available?

Part of me says yes, part of me says no..
For the record, I have no idea if such an opportunity exists, but I suspect that it does on some scale. I can easily imagine a Falls and a State Park sharing the name, with signs for each.

Check the newly posted FAQs, but your example is of three different things: a water falls, a park, and a city, so potentially all of them could count. Having part of their name in common is coincidental. This opens up a lot of possibilities.

 

[skibum69]

I need to get out a map and do some planing. I wonder what the chances are of getting started as early as April 1? First I need to get a bike out of the basement...