Rendezvous 2009!!

Me and the rest of the crew were eagerly awaiting our departure to RENDEZVOUS 2009! (Ok, this happened about a month ago, but bear with me.) Thursday morning finally arrived - folks started showing up, hugs and handshakes were shared, and the packing of coolers, bikes, vehicles (and one trailer) all began with earnest. Spirits were high…life was good!

We rolled out and hit the highway, heading west. The overnight rains had dwindled to a light mist, but weren’t ready to clear out just yet. (Where was the sunshine we’d been promised? Don’t tell me the weather folks were wrong again?!?!). Up 495 and onto the Pike, we pulled into the first rest stop and kept a wary eye on the clouds while we waited for a couple more guys to meet up with us. As the minutes ticked by, the clouds mounted one last assault, gathering in thickness and density, and began moving over our heads. A couple of thick droplets heralded the clouds’ intentions as we nervously checked our watches and asked each other where these guys could be. Finally the call came in – they were here and gassing up at the pumps on the other side of the rest area. We jumped onto the bikes and shot over to make sure everything was good to go. It was, so we wrenched the throttles and blasted towards the on-ramp to the highway. Checking the side mirror, I could see the clouds reaching out for us, and sure enough; several heavy raindrops pinged off the windshields as we merged amongst the 18-wheelers, back onto the Pike. We rolled the throttles all the harder, coaxing our steeds to deliver us from this formidable enemy. Victory was ours!, and we left the rain and cold to fade behind us.

As we rode further west, the fading clouds mixed with the sunshine, each ebbing and flowing, trying to assume full control of the skies above us. We could see the welcoming blue hues far ahead of us, but our arrival would be delayed – Arrgh! Traffic Jam! And a good one, at that! Feet planted firmly on the pavement, not moving, even shutting the bikes off at one point. And while this was going on, the updates were coming in from the NY crew who had already arrived at the campgrounds. They were asking us where we were, how the ride was going, etc. (Needless to say, our reply texts contained some expletives as we described our current situation.)

After we finally broke free of that stranglehold, it didn’t take us too long before we crossed out of our home state and into the territory that hosts our favorite party of the year; the Rendezvous!! As if on cue, the sunshine broke through once and for all, only lifting our spirits all the more!

More updates were coming in from the NY crew; the holding pen was open!

(For those that don’t know what the holding pen is, it’s a large (huge!) open field where folks are lined up in preparation for heading into the official grounds. This keeps the roadways clear for normal traffic and also gives way to the greatest tailgate party you’ll ever encounter. For hours and hours, folks will hang out, meet up with old friends, grillin’, chillin’, and swillin’! The only down side is if the area receives a lot of rainfall just before this weekend. If that happens, then the field turns into a sloppy mess and no one can park on it – which leaves everyone out on the roads. Which ticks off the police, in a major way. They yell at the ‘Vous organizers, the organizers struggle to get their positions staffed (all staff are VOLUNTEERS, by the way), finally letting folks in when safety can be reasonably assured.

Oh yeah; there is one other issue; over the years, word has spread about how amazing this party is, and each year, everyone seems to bring more and more folks with them. So now, even when the weather has cooperated and the holding pen is in use, there are still miles and miles of traffic backed up in all directions. The organizers do the only thing they can do; they open the gates a little earlier each year. My first few years, the gates didn’t open until about 7-ish…I think this year they opened up around 1-ish. And it still took us (who were stuck out on the roadways) almost 5 hours to get in…and we were parked less than a mile away!!! What’s the delay? Well, every vehicle that comes in has to go through a safety search (no glass, weapons, explosives, etc.). Once you’re through that search, then it’s a mad rush off to your usual camping location to set up shop and make sure you have enough space for everyone else that is showing up. Fun fun!

As I just mentioned, it took us something close to 5 hours before we were able to proceed into the grounds, proper. Oh, how to pass the time while parked on the side of the road? Why, we crack frosties and make new friends with the folks in front of us and behind us, that’s how we pass the time! A bit of a mini-party to get things warmed up for the main event.

Once in, we wound our way through the madness until we reached our usual parking spot – and there was the NY crew! They’d done an admirable job of blocking off space for everyone and we wound up with palatial room for the entire weekend.

As an aside; years ago, on my first venture to this event, I’d hopped on my bike one afternoon, grabbed a tall frosty and a book that I was in the middle of, and went out in search of a calm place to sit and read for a bit. I managed to find an old cemetery on the side of a mountain which fit my plan perfectly. I plopped my arse down at the base of a lone tree, and enjoyed some beer-assisted reading time.

Over the years, I’d often wondered if I could find that cemetery again, but I never ventured out to look – there was always so much other fun to be had at the campsite (beer pong with flip cup!) At any rate, I took a ride out and about, what do you know; I found it! Pulling in, I cruised up and down the rows of headstones until I located the lone tree I’d sat under, 13 years ago. Pretty cool!

Back at the campground, the weekend itself was full of fun, frosties, beer pong, laughter, concerts, jokes, food, etc. Basically; the best backyard cookout you’ll ever go to with 20,000 of your closest friends. We all made it to the end of the weekend safely, save for some liver damage which was to be expected.

Sunday morning came much too quickly, as it always does. We packed up the camp site and got ourselves headed back home. I’m happy to say we didn’t have any breakdowns this year, and that’s always nice.

There had been talk of there being a second Rendezvous event this year, in the Fall. Man, that would have been sweet, but alas; it appears they won’t be able to schedule that until next year. Thus, the countdown has begun to Rendezvous 2010 – a year which we’re hoping will bring us TWO of these parties!

(Settle down, Liver - you’ll be ok!)

And there you have it; Rendezvous 2009!

Ride Hard, Take Chances