Starriders 124 Annual Chocolate Run
Feb 15, 2009
Ride Leaders: Curt P and Mike G
340 miles

This was the 3^rd Annual Chocolate Run for the Sunday buffet at Carolina Chocolatiers. 

We had 9 Starriders on 7 motorcycles plus Lea and Cajun following in a cage.  Yes, Cajun was in a cage!  Lea and Cajun had been very ill just a few days before the ride and riding bikes was not an option so they showed the 124 spirit and came as best they could.  A ride is a ride but a 124 ride is not to be missed if at all possible. 

Curt and Sue led the group to Marion NC, winding thru the Carolina countryside.  The sun was bright with temperatures creeping toward the mid 50’s.  We got into Marion just about as planned and the Chocolatiers had a table set up just for Starriders; always great to be in a place that treats you like family!  We all managed to eat several forkfuls too much so we spent some time in Marion to digest a bit and soak up some of the warmth of the sun before setting out for the return trip.

When Mike G asked to lead the group back, I realized how good it could be to switch Ride Leaders during a long ride.  A Ride Leader looks in the mirrors to see what’s happening in back, thinks about a good place to stop, how far to go before a stop, and of course, hopes they don’t make a wrong turn.    It’s not difficult but, like an armful of firewood, it gets heavier the longer you hold it.  Also, unless I have a definite plan for the ‘get there’ and the ‘get back’ I spend more time on the ‘get there’ than on the ‘get back’.   Mike knew a clever route back that gave us some cross country riding and then onto the interstate and a direct ride home to beat the darkness.  Thanks and a biker wave to Mike G for helping out with the ride.

During the buffet we learned that the building (and I assume, the business) is for sale so the 3^rd Annual Chocolate Run may have been the last.  Fate is not predictable but I’ll be working on an alterative in the mean time.  Somewhere I read about a similar place – somewhere near Knoxville? (LOL!).  

Special ‘moments’

Cajun took a cage

Curt had issues with a helmet visor and instituted a funky ‘repair’

Larry had ‘Michael Jackson’ gloves as part of his gear

Mike G has the dimmest taillight