Our chapter picnic was the high-light of August. It was well attend-ed with good food and greatcompany. We saw some new faces,
like Dan and Donna Meyer and three genera-tions of the Schweig family. Many had funplaying Jenga or just chatting. A big thank youto Lonnie and Craig Gilsinger for planning andexecuting the event. It is greatly appreciated by all.
We had a nice turn out for the breakfast ride to the Whistle StopCafe in Fox Lake.. It was my first time there and I was impressedby the menu and the great service. Thanks to Tim McGuire for thegreat ride he planned.
We also had a nice turn out for the dinner ride to the ColonyHouse Restaurant in Trevor. The chapter has been to this restaurantseveral times before and the food is always enjoyed. Thanks to TonyValicenti who created the ride route that I led.
Six of us enjoyed the entire day ride on Aug. 15, with two cuttingit short, that took us to Oregon, IL for lunch. We then rode down toDixon for a look as Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home then to the Nach-usa Grasslands for a stop and a look at the bison herd. Thanks toJim Fairman for planning the route and leading the ride.
Check out the photos and details of the above events inside.September has a breakfast ride on the 11th, an all day ride on
Sunday, the 12th, a dinner ride to the Prime Quarter on the 18th anda chapter meeting in our new home, the IHOP in Vernon Hills, on the26th. Since the Prime Quarter doesn’t open until the 7th we are hopingwe’ll be able to get a reservation. If not we’ll try another restaurant.
And plan to be at our Chili Social on October 23. It is hosted byEd and Barb Harms at their home. We are looking for someone tobring one more chili and others to bring appetizers, sides or saladsand desserts.
Stay safe and healthy.Ellary and Holly Kahan
Chapter DirectorEllary & Holly [email protected]
Ride CoordinatorsMike Zyskowski
[email protected] Valicenti
[email protected] McGuire
[email protected]. Chapter Director
David [email protected]
TreasurerKathy Randall
Chapter StoreJim Fairman
[email protected] Editor
Ellary KahanSecretary
Tony ValicentiPhotographer
Lonnie GilsingerWebmaster
Ellary Kahan
GoldWing Road Riders Association - September, 2021Friends for Fun, Safety and Knowledge
Chapter Meetings are held at IHOP Restaurant, 700 N. Milwaukee, Vernon Hills, IL, 9 AM breakfast, 9:30 meeting.
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September11 - Breakfast ride
(Tim)12 - All day ride (Tim)18 - Dinner ride, Prime
Quarter, 4 PM(Ellary)
26 - Chapter gatheringwith ride after, 9AM
October2 - Breakfast ride (Tim)3 - Slimey Crud Run
(Tim)9-11 - Door County
trip (Tony, David)16 - All day ride (Jim)23 - Chili social, 5:30
(Harms)24 - Chapter gathering
with ride after, 9AMNovember
13 - Dinner (Ellary)21 - Chapter gathering
with 2022 calen-dar planning, 9AMDecember
4- Holiday party
ILLINOIS G2CHAPTER STORE
The following items are avail-able for sale at the monthly
chapter meetings:
NEWG2 Logo Hats & Fleece
VestsName Badges
G2 & GWRRA PatchesChapter Shirts
See Apparel tab on web site.
If you would like to order butcannot attend a Chapter
meeting, contactJim Fairman
Got something to say?This is your newsletter. We accept arti-cles from any member.. Send your arti-cles to the editor at [email protected] Word or equivalent format pre-ferred. Text should be in Times NewRoman font, single spaced with a one-quarter inch first line indent on all para-graphs except the first. Use .5 in. mar-gins. Any photos should be cropped forpublication. All submissions become theproperty of IL-G2 and may be edited.
Upcoming G2 EventsG2 WEB PAGEwww.ilg2.com
G2 PHOTOALBUM
gwilg2.shutterfly.comUse name “eddyd”and leave password
blank
GWRRADirectors:
Jere and Sherry [email protected]
Membership EnhancementDan & Mary Castello
[email protected] Education
Susan & George [email protected]
IL District: Director:
Bob [email protected]: Steve Brungard:[email protected]
Membership Enhancement:Diane & Steve Gottschalk
September Birthdays20 —Kathy Randall
30 —Errol Westergaard
September Anniversaries5 —Terry & Sandra King
29 —Mark & Linda Muhlenfeld
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Ride Committee2021 G2 Rides
The long and recentlyHOT and HUMID Sum-mer is nearing an end
for 2021, but there are lots ofsummer days left before theleaves start turning and we needto put a liner in our jackets fora morning ride.
The September ride calendarincludes a Breakfast ride withTim, another All-Day ride de-signed and guided by Jim Fair-man, a Dinner Ride led byEllary to the Prime Quarter, anda probable after meeting ridefrom our new meeting place,the Vernon Hills IHOP. If youwould like, Tony will treat yourfabric/mesh or thin leathergloves in the parking lot afterthe meeting, so you can useyour phone better on your bike.
Upcoming October eventsinclude Tim leading a Break-
fast ride on the first Saturday,the second Slimey Crud Runwith Tim, a possible DoorCounty 3-day trip on ColumbusDay weekend, Tim leading anAll-Day ride, and an after-Chapter Meeting ride on the24th. There will also be a ChiliSocial hosted by Barb and EdHarms the day before the Chap-ter Meeting.
The hardy souls will find afew good days in November fora lunch ride or the elusive colorride and just a good ride on acrispy Fall day, before it’s timeto put our trusty bikes to rest fortheir Winter Hibernations. Un-til then, ride safe, be safe andhave fun.
Mike Zyskowski,Tim McGuire and
Tony Valicenti
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District EducatorThe Problem – There are two types of “blind spots” in which other drivers cancause trouble for riders. One is the traditional, look-over-your-shoulder blind spot.Here’s where we get merged into, run off the road or sideswiped. The other type ofblind spot is more common, but more sneaky: Large objects that block the view ofpotential hazards .The Problem Behavior – While we can’t eliminate blind spots, we can changeour behavior. The mistake riders make here is in awareness and attention. Blindspots are everywhere, but they don’t jump up and down, waving their arms, hopingyou notice them. Instead, they prefer to sneak up and surprise you. If you’re notactively looking for blind spots, you may not realize they’re there until too late.
Beware of other drivers lurking in your blind spot.Act, Don’t React – Be vigilant. Never, ever ride in another driver’s blind spot. Ifyou do … well, that’s just asking for it. And beware of other drivers creeping upinto your blind spot. Immediately adjust your speed and position to avoid the situa-tion altogether.For blind spots caused by large objects, it’s your job to find them before they findyou. Any time your view is obstructed by another vehicle or roadside building,sign, or foliage, go to high alert. Adjust position to see around the obstructionsooner. Slow, and approach “on the decel,” with your brakes covered, prepared tostop.
There is absolutely no good reason to park your bike here.The Strategy – Accept that blind spots are everywhere and commit to findingthem first. On any multi-lane road, assume every driver traveling behind you willfind your blind spot … and every driver ahead of you will lure you into theirs.DON’T FALL FOR IT. Use frequent head checks for 360-degree awareness, andadjust your position constantly and avoid getting suckered.For blocked views, assume there’s one at every corner. Any large object – movingor stationary – should be suspect. Treat a blind spot like you would an intersectionwith someone waiting to turn who can’t see you.Never accelerate toward a blocked view. Always approach on the decel. Positionyourself for max visibility, approach with caution, and be ready to stop. If you’renot sure of your stopping ability, training is there to help. Team Oregon offers a$79 braking clinic for endorsed riders to up their game: http://team-oregon.org/advanced/braking/.
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Join us for aDinner Ride
Sat., Sept. 18, 4:00 PMto the
Prime Quarter Restaurant1900 Humes Road
Janesville, WI, 53545(608) 752-1881
Leaving the Shell Station at Rts 12 & 120for dinner at 6 PM
R.S.V.Pto
Ellary [email protected] Wed., Sept. 15
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What motorcycles have you owned and what memories do you associate with each? First motorcycle was a mid 80’s Yamaha Exciter. It was a 185 cc
and perfect for getting my license. I was told by the DMV, I was thefirst person they had ever seen take the test legally, by bringing thebike in pickup. None of my friends rode and I learned by practicing ina high school parking lot.
Second bike was an 83 Yamaha XI 750 Seca. This bike gave memy first taste of long distance touring. I enjoyed tail of the dragon androde it for a few years.
Third bike was a 1992 Kawasaki Voyager 1200. My wife talkedme into buying this bike because I was planning a ten day trip with afriend and she wanted me on a more comfortable bike. Loved this bikeand had an amazing trip. Rode this bike a ton until the stereo broke.Times got busy and I ended up selling it. Ten years later brings us tomy current joy. My 2009 GL1800HPNA. After getting my Goldwing my wife expressed a desire to get her ownbike. She chose a 2013 Can Am Spyder. We picked one up and also got a Honda Rebel 250 to learn on and get herclass M license.Describe your favorite motorcycle trip
My favorite trip is the 8000 mile trip I just finished. I left home on May 24 and made it back home on July 5. Ispent a few weeks visiting family in Oklahoma. I went to Utah and kayaked 68 miles of the Green river. I got toexperience canyoneering and repelling for the first time. I attend-ed the Final D-Day paintball game in Wyandotte, Oklahoma. Itoured the Ozarks for 1500 miles over 8 days. Than my wife flewinto Branson, Missouri for a week. After she flew out I attendedWing Ding 42. Had an amazing time.What are the top two motorcycle trips you’d like to takein the future?
I’m currently planning a Great Lakes tour that will also possi-bly lead us to visit Niagara Falls. This ride will be with somefellow GWRRA members that I met in my ARC at Wing Ding.We’re planning this trip for August. And I just booked our tick-ets for Wing Ding 43 in Shreveport. I’m so excited that my wifehas agreed to attend with me. She will be riding her Can-AmSpyder.When did you join G2 and why?
I was grabbing a bite at Wing Ding and sat next to a sweet couple that had been to many Wing Dings in the past.We started chatting and they asked about my local chapter. I told them that this wasmy first Wing Ding and I didn’t know how to connect with my local chapter yet. Thehusband handed me his phone and showed me a web site. A few clicks later and I hadsent Ellary an email. The reason I was looking to join was to find like minded souls that enjoy ridingand to learn about the Goldwing Community. Little did I know, they had alreadyfound me!What have been your primary jobs in your career?
My wife and I own several businesses. I service lawn sprinkler systems and dosome snow plowing over the winter months. Our main focus is our Dōterra essentialoil business. This has been an absolute blessing to our health and family.What are your primary hobbies?
I enjoy Camping, RC car racing, and especially motorcycle touring. I’m starting tolearn and do more kayaking, canyoneering, mountain biking, hiking and motocamp-ing.
Under the Helmet-Meet the RiderA profile of Rick and Kim Larsen
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Our group of eleven bikes left the Fox LakeShell for a Saturday morning breakfastride. We skirted along the eastern Chain
of Lakes and up through Bristol, Wisconsin, thenheaded west through the Richard Bong State Rec-reation Area and south through the New MunsterState Wildlife Area and back to the Whistle StopCafe in Fox Lake. The weather was great and itwas nice to have the ladies on the ride too!
August 7 Breakfast Ride
(Not pictured are David Bierman, Larry MacKay and photographer Tony Valicenti).
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This was a loop ride, starting in Wauconda and passing though Harvard, Woodstock, north of Rock-ford, down the Rock River to Dixon, with stops in Oregon for lunch and Nachusa Grassland to see arestored prairie grassland with wild buffalo .. and returning to the northwest suburbs.
The weather was fantastic, and the roads were not congested without construction. Highlights includedHighway - 2 along the Rock River, River Road though Moraine Hills State Park, and Bull Valley Rd. Ourlunch at Spring Valley Restaurant was value priced, with a large menu of options. It’s a reliable optionwith something for everyone!
Seven bikes and eight total chapter members joined. The attached photos were taken at the NachusaGrasslands visitor center. ( left to right: Rich, Ellary, Tim, Gary, Dan .. Jim was photographer )
Jim Fairman
Aug. 15 Rock River Ride
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Respectfully
Submitted,
Tony Valicenti
Secretary
THE NEXT MEET-ING WILL BE ONSept. 26, 2021 atIHOP, Vernon Hills
August 22 Meeting Minutes
Ellary Kahan called the picnic chapter meeting to order at 12:00pm at Chain O’Lakes State Park, after we had eaten the main courses of chicken and mostaccioliand several side dishes and while we were enjoying dessert. The meeting was at-
tended by Craig & Lonnie Gilsinger (picnic chairpersons), Dan & Donna Meyer, DavidBierman & Merle Gleeson, Ed Harms, Ellary & Holly Kahan, Errol Westergaard, GaryCueno, John & Judy Schweig (with Catherine, Charlie and Austin), Ken Pabst, Larry &Marge MacKay, Mark Muhlenfeld, Rich & Jody Seligman, Tim McGuire, Tony Valicen-ti, and Warren & Kathy Randall.
Ellary started by briefly reviewing upcoming rides. There will be a breakfast ride onSeptember 11 and Jim Fairman will lead another All-Day Ride on September 12. Therewill be a dinner ride to the Prime Quarter on September 18. The month will end with ourSeptember chapter meeting at the IHOP in Vernon Hills, our new chapter meeting place.
David Bierman briefly discussed the Door County trip scheduled for Columbus Dayweekend (10/9-10/11) five attendees (and three more from the July Chapter Meeting)said that they would be interested in riding. At our last chapter meeting, Tim McGuirereminded us that the second Slimey Crud Run will be on October 3. Ellary also said thatwe needed one more non-vegetarian chili for the Chili Social at Ed and Barb Harms’home on October 23, starting at 5:30 pm.
David and Merle and others reviewed the Progressive International Motorcycle Showheld on September 20-22 at Goebbert’s Farm in Pingree Grove, IL, an outdoor locationwith farm attractions for children, food trucks, a few vendors, live music, e-bikes withdemo rides, and most importantly, representatives from Honda, Harley-Davidson andother major manufacturers who had many models available for demo rides around thecountryside. The only issue was that route 47 is only a two lane road that had huge back-ups because there is no left hand turn lane or a bypass lane, and the road in is all gravelwhich was extremely dusty. David and others conveyed improvement suggestions forfuture outdoor events.
After the meeting, the group enjoyed playing the annual game of Jenga which, alongwith the picnic organization was run very well by Craig and Lonnie, with much apprecia-tion from the group.
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Chapter Picnic
Photos by Tony Valicenti
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PLEASE JOIN US!The festivities start at 5:30 PM
Ed and Barb Harms home18 Whitby Ct., Lincolnshire
Hot mulled cider, water and coffee will be provided.BYOB any other beverage you would enjoy.
The food we need for this event includes:2 Hors ‘d oeuvres
1 Chili3 Salads/Sides
2 DessertsPlease call or text if you can bring one of these items
RSVP by Oct. 17th to 847-910-2031or [email protected]
il g2CHILI SOCIALSaturday, Oct. 23
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FOOD SIGN-UP SHEETPlease put your name and what you are bringing
Hors d’ oeuvre:
1. Barb Harms – Cheese and Sausage platter
2.
3.
Side dish/Salad:
4.
5.
6.
Dessert:
7.
8.
Please put your name and type of chili (i.e. vegetarian, meat, etc.)Chili:
9. Barb Harms – Beefy
10. Ellary Kahan - vegetarian
11.
Chili Fixings, Hot mulled cider, water, coffee and tea will be provided.BYOB all other beverages
il g2 CHILI SOCIALSaturday, Oct. 23rd
5:30 PM
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VIEWS FROM THE VALLEY:RANDOM RAMBLINGS
The Good Book Guide
After last month’s serious reading I’m back to working through John Sandford’snovels. I finished the Lucas Davenport Prey series and am now on the VirgilFlowers series. Virgil is a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator work-
ing under Davenport. He’s a fisherman who lives in Mankato, tall with long blond hair,has been married and divorced three times and wears rock band T-shirts. But he’sthe BCA’s best investigator.
In Mad River, he’s on the trail of a trio of young killers who start with a paid hit byone of them of a young wealthy married woman. The two men and a woman then goon a killing spree as they try to escape the police dragnet. Flowers uncovers the paid
hit and wants to bring in the three alive so they can testify againstthe man who hired him. But when they rob a bank and kill a copescaping, he has to fight the local sheriff who wants revenge.
This series is just as interesting and fun to read as the Davenportseries. Virgil Flowers’ character is younger than Davenport, is theson of a minister, is somewhat of a ladies man, is smart and is easyto like. This is the sixth book in a series of twelve. You’ll enjoy it.
Ellary Kahan
I have to admit, I am really concernedabout the resurgence in Covid casesaround the country. I really had faith and
high hopes after the vaccine was distributed,but I guess between the variant and those stillunvaccinated, there was bound to be a recur-rence. I feel for my fellow nurses working inthe hospitals that are brimming to capacity andworking shorthanded. I once again pray that wecan look forward to an end soon. I hope thatyou are all vaccinated and taking precautions.
I also feel for the firefighters in Californiaright now, as the wildfires continue to rage. I
know Arizona has sent some of our own fire-fighters to help. We have been fortunate hereto have had rain this year, more of a true Mon-soon, and perhaps as a result, less wildfires.
On a more positive note, the Monsoon sea-son has provided Dan & I with some welcomecolor. Our sage bushes have bloomed morethan once, and other plants have come back,such as our Red Bird of Paradise, our Lantanas,Bougainvillea, and Yellow Bells. Now I don’thave to be as envious of Illinois’’ spring andsummer showy colors!
I hope this finds you all well, and may youhave safe travels on your motorcycle rides!
Sincerely, Darlene