Science Exp 2013 PROVES: People here do exist, "Vogel"s a place not a thing..

[cowpuc]

We arrived home from out west to greet my daughter and she was there waiting for us. Becky (daughter) announces her plans to only stay for the day. Got up the next morning and told Tippy I was bored, she said, me too - its still summer - LETS RIDE SOME MORE!!..

 

I told here about a place/thing/item called "Vogel" I had read about on Venturerider.. I also told her that even though I had spent a fair amount of time on that website I had never actually met anyone from there and it would be fun to see if anyone associated with that site actually existed.. Changed the oil, checked air pressures, bike was still packed from months on the road out west so away we went..

 

Toured the Red River Gorge area on the way - BEAUTIFUL! Made it all the way to Pigeon Forge by 2 a.m.. Found a slab of concrete behind a Shell station that wasnt occupied, dropped the tent on the slab and nodded out.. Next morning I went inside and thanked the Shell station attendant for not calling the cops on us.. He laughed and said the cops had checked on us 3 or 4 times during the night to make sure we were ok.. Gotta love southern hospitality..

 

Toured the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the way to Deals Gap.. Crowded, slow moving but real pretty!!

 

Headed down the Foothills Parkway (NICE) to 129 (Tail of the Dragon) with hopes of bumping into some other Venture riders from the site who may have a clue of the whereabouts of a thing called Vogel..

 

Shortly after we headed east on 129 we came across some folks with bike troubles.. It was getting later in the day and I pretty much knew if I stopped to help we would run out of time in finding any of those VR folks soooo,, of course I stopped, what the heck we had a tent and theres always tomorrow..

 

The stranded riders were a couple of local guys.. They were HAPPY to let me work on their bike, found out it had a bad connection out of the stator and ran out the battery..

 

When they found out where we were headed they started warning me about unfriendly cops along 129 (been there several times before,, had more problems dodging kids on rockets than cops..). No sooner did the conversation start than up pulls a cop

 

The officer turned out to be a real nice guy, he even stopped traffic for us while we bump started (pushed) the broken bike..

 

Rode the Tail and pulled into Deals Gap Store... I noticed a few Ventures and people standing around talking !! After filling the tank I walked over and asked the gang you see in the pics if they had ever heard of VentureRIder.org.. Couple funny looks and they all shook their heads no,,,, they started laughing ( "Dokow" - Dana and "Wingman" - Jamie,, careful if you bump into these two when they are together)... I could tell right away these were my kinda pranksters and these two would later prove just how jokerish they could be!! When asked if they knew what a Vogel was, they invited us to join the tribe and find out first hand.. Having no idea what we were in for or even where we were headed, we just followed the group....

Somewhere along the way we stopped for FOOD at a place called "Zaxby's", finally some FRIED CHICKEN!! The "group" was in a hurry to leave Deals Gap, no time for intro's there BUT did at the resturant.. I am TERRIBLE with names, didnt take any pics (my bad) but it was really GREAT to finally put faces with names!! Of course, there are some faces/names one can never forget, trauma has its way.. I know that YammerDan was there cause someone mentioned his name and when I asked out loud who he was everyone pointed at a different person, thereby leaving that linkering question of - "who IS the real YammerDan" forever lodged in my brain.. I think (feel free to correct me, add to, subtract from) Frodo, Skid, GeorgiaWildcat, Missy,,, are some names that come to mind argggg - brain strain..

After we ate, Wingman and Dokow walked over and said, if you have never met anyone from VR than you have never met Dragon Rider right? Thats right, I replied (I could tell something was brewing).. They said, well, we want you to somehow call him "Fozzie Bear" when we introduce him to you at Vogel.. Now,,, I dont have any pics of this so you, the reader, will have to imagine this one,, at the same time they said "Fozzie Bear" their hands went up above their eyes and there fingers made long eye brows.. Hmmm,, whats ol Puc got himself into this time,, let me think about it guys, OK, sounds like fun.. Of course, having suffered the results of jokes gone wrong in the past, I inquired as to the orneriness of this particular "bear" and got reassured, if he turned mean it wouldnt be towards yours truely, good nuff..

Turns out that "Vogel" is actually a beautiful State Park down south, somewhere in Georgia as I recall (just as bad with directions as names)... We pulled into Vogel, there were bikes all over, a lot of them looked like the bike I was riding, minus the grime, antelope horns and stickers of course.. I could hear the old 83 saying "thanks - I needed this" as we pulled thru and waved (still having withdrawals from sturgis?)..

 

Typical of all bears, Fozzie had chosen a Den up on a hillside that was no small matter to get to, much less park at,, little trials riding, finding a 6 inch high rock to keep the bike from falling over and,,,, we walked into Fozzies Den........ :stirthepot::stirthepot:

 

 

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

Great ad=Venture. Love it when time is on your side. It looks like it may be time to consider a trailer for the longer trips.

[etcswjoe]

It sure is a small world we meet a couple with all sorts of great stories of their travels at Vogel this year they even had us sign their bike.

[RandyR]

see what ya got yerself inta

[Yammer Dan]

Had a great time. Your face when looking for Yammer was priceless!! Did you find him??

[Venturous Randy]

As I sit here on a cold December day, about 15 degrees below normal, it is real nice to read about a warm summertime event. I want to say that you and Tippy are the essence of what VentureRider.org is all about. You love to ride, you do not hesitate to stop and help others and you are a lot of fun.

It was great to meet you at Vogal, "Yes Virginia, there really is a Vogal", and it was very interesting to talk to you. I would love to just take off and see what the country out there is all about. I think one of the best things you have done for meeting people is to put all the stickers on your bike, as immediately people know that you are traveling and you have been many places.

I still think that if you are going to stay with a 1st gen that the 2nd gen trans and VMax rear would fit your needs perfectly with the 10% lower 1st and the 5% higher 5th, especially for trekking out in the boondocks like you do.

I have a spare 2nd gen trans if you want to stop by here someday and swap it over.

RandyA

[Dragonslayer]

OK COWPUC, I have just a few comments, since I too was there for some of this.

Found a slab of concrete behind a Shell station that wasnt occupied, dropped the tent on the slab and nodded out.. Next morning I went inside and thanked the Shell station attendant for not calling the cops on us.. He laughed and said the cops had checked on us 3 or 4 times during the night to make sure we were ok.. Gotta love southern hospitality..Be careful even in the south. I had done the same thing all over the country with no problems. The one time I was rousted by the cops and threatened with incarceration was in Oakwood, Georgia just a few miles away from Vogel. After a computer check we were given the option to check into the flea bag motel across the street or spend the night in jail. Fleas aint so bad.

 

( "Dokow" - Dana and "Wingman" - Jamie,, careful if you bump into these two when they are together)... I whole heartedly agree

 

I could tell right away these were my kinda pranksters and these two would later prove just how jokerish they could be!! When asked if they knew what a Vogel was, they invited us to join the tribe better phrased as Riff Raff

 

Somewhere along the way we stopped for FOOD at a place called "Zaxby's", finally some FRIED CHICKEN!! Oh no I beg to differ, Zaxby is only fried smushed chicken parts known as chicken fingers. This is not Southern Fried Chicken as I was reared on.

 

The "group" was in a hurry to leave Deals Gap, no time for intro's there BUT did at the resturant.. I am TERRIBLE with names, didnt take any pics (my bad) but it was really GREAT to finally put faces with names!! Of course, there are some faces/names one can never forget, trauma has its way.. I know that YammerDan was there cause someone mentioned his name and when I asked out loud who he was everyone pointed at a different person, thereby leaving that linkering question of - "who IS the real YammerDan" forever lodged in my brain..

Yammerdan was probably hobbleing through the woods for most of that time hunting his riding gloves and Yogi the bear. (Story from Vogels of the past)

 

I think (feel free to correct me, add to, subtract from) Frodo, Skid, GeorgiaWildcat, (Is now riding my old Blue 1st GEN) Missy,,, are some names that come to mind argggg - brain strain.. Don't forget the DragonSlayer, My name is signed on your bike.

Turns out that "Vogel" is actually a beautiful State Park down south, somewhere in Georgia as I recall (just as bad with directions as names)... My back yard We pulled into Vogel, there were bikes all over, a lot of them looked like the bike I was riding, minus the grime, antelope horns and stickers of course.. I could hear the old 83 saying "thanks - I needed this" as we pulled thru and waved (still having withdrawals from sturgis?)..

 

Typical of all bears, Fozzie had chosen a Den up on a hillside that was no small matter to get to, much less park at,, little trials riding, finding a 6 inch high rock to keep the bike from falling over and,,,, we walked into Fozzies Den........ :stirthepot::stirthepot:Better to stumble up the hill then fall down it.

 

It was great meeting you and Tippy at this M&E. Ya'll come back now hear.

 

 

[DragonRider]

You just get to the meat of the story and leave us hanging, even though some of us know how it turns out, but I want to hear ......."THE REST OF THE STORY":rotfl::rotfl:

[cowpuc]

Heyyy,, it worked, woke ya'll up!! THANKS for the responses!!

 

Kevin,, Just way to much back woods riding to try and drag a trailer along, thanks for the advice though.

 

Joe, THANK YOU for taking the time to sign that old beast, made my day!!!

 

RandyR - I said that to myself MANY TIMES over and over down there!!

 

Dan, ME TOO BUDDY and Yep,,, I finally found YammerDan,, ahhh,, I think so anyway

 

Venturous, WOW,, THANK YOU for the compliments - I actually feel the same way towards all of you!! Got called a "real" biker at sturgis for stopping an helping a stranded Harley rider.. That being said,, IMHO REAL bikers are folks like ALL of you who were at Vogel - digging into your pockets to give those kids fighting for their lives a FIGHTING CHANCE!! Totally agree with you about the tranny/rearend change - REALLY APPRECIATE THE INFO BROTHER!! Got several bikes in line (worky worky) before I can even think of tearing into the 83 BUT it may come to that - lower 1st/higher 5th and a working 2nd, be awesome!!

 

DragonSlayer,, hey good buddy,, THANK YOU for fillin in the blanks, PERFECT!! - YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN and I am sure that "we will come back - ya hear.." Oh, by the way, you are absolutly correct about that Zaxby so called chicken,,, someday we will get together and find us a REAL, southern fried, artery hardening, down home cooking chicken place!!!

 

Louis,,,,, almost ready.. I "bear"ly got that part done the other nite before nodding.. Lifes been kinda "grissly" around here, but we are back in the "black" now.. Sure didnt mean to "polar"ize anyone.. :rotf:

[cowpuc]

Oh man, I just read about DragonRiders surgery,,, hot off the press JUST FOR YOU DRAGONRIDER!!

As we walked into Fozzies den the thought occurred to me that there was only one way of escape should the need arise - still not really trusting the two pranksters.. Thankfully, Fozzie and all others present were gathered on the inside away from the escape route..

 

Wingman/Dokow pointed out which one was Dragon Rider, they introduced Tippy and I to the group and I went to work.. Before anyone had a second to intro themselves I announced that I was batting almost 100% at guessing folks names, place got dead quite, I pointed at Dragon Rider and said,, lets see,, your,, FOZZIE BEAR... :rotf:

 

ALL HECK BROKE LOOSE!! INSTANT screams and howls of laughter, except for Dragon Rider - he was to busy getting up out of his chair!! He took off chasing Dana around the den.. By the growling and snapping and shouting that came from this bear I KNEW he was no Fozzie!! Thankfully there are some folks that dont need a 1st gen to be fast, Dana is one of them - man could he run!!!

After things settled down, Tippy and I learned from the group what the "Vogel" gathering was really all about, and what these guys (and their wifes) were really up to.. Dragon Rider has the heart of a Teddy Bear, his calling to help hurting children (Vogel = $$ for St. Judes Children Hospital) in a REAL way was/is nothing short of remarkable - a true inspiration!! Wingman/Dokow demonstrated the same passion throughout our stay!! What a team!!

 

Dokow and his wife invited us to camp on their site, we did.. Next day we woke up to Dokow holding a big bug in his hand, asking if I had ever seen one before,, nope - weird looking thing, great big horsefly maybe.. Come to find out it was an "CICADA" - COOL!!! After gently placing the bug down we fired up the bike and headed down for the "party", and what a party it was!!

More on that soon BUT I gotta get this to press cause our buddy is going under the knife tomorrow and maybe this will make him smile in his dreams....... PRAYING FOR YOU FOZZIE!!!

[Squidley]

I really appreciate your story telling abilities Puc, and you have met many of the salt of this group. Many of the folks you met are very near our hearts, I'm glad you were able to meet them

[cowpuc]

I really appreciate your story telling abilities Puc, and you have met many of the salt of this group. Many of the folks you met are very near our hearts, I'm glad you were able to meet them

 

 

Thanks for the kuddos on my story telling Squidley, not that difficult cause I just tell it like it happened (wait till Fozzie comes out of hibernation - he'll tell ya!! ),, nothing hard about that... I can sure understand how folks like those at Vogel last year got close to your hearts - they sure got close to mine - ALL OF THEM!!! It is genuine, kind, fun loving, down to earth, GENEROUS (based on funds for St. Judes - awesome!!) folks like them that make telling about them fun!! It was an honor to meet/eat/ride/laugh and cry with em, CANT WAIT TO MEET MORE!!!!!!!

 

Puc

[DragonRider]

I got good news just now, going home, but what really made my day was being able to read the rest of the story. Thank you for the kind words, but it's not just our little committee, it's every one who pitches in, donates, and everything else that makes it a success. Even you and Tippy, with your article you will have moe people intrigued as to what Vogel is. Thanks my friend we look forward to meeting up with you again

[cowpuc]

I got good news just now, going home, but what really made my day was being able to read the rest of the story. Thank you for the kind words, but it's not just our little committee, it's every one who pitches in, donates, and everything else that makes it a success. Even you and Tippy, with your article you will have moe people intrigued as to what Vogel is. Thanks my friend we look forward to meeting up with you again

 

AWESOME Lewis,, we are taking it that because you are being released that everything went well??

Glad you enjoyed the rest of that part of the story,, I am going to write some more about our time down there when I get a second.. Thanks for reminding me of allllll the great folks it takes to put together (very well done I might add) Vogel, my hat is off to all of them!!

And indeed,, HAPPY TRAILS my friend till we meet again!!

Puc n Tippy

[DragonRider]

I will be awaiting your next installment, cause I have nothing but time on my hands for the 6-8 weeks maybe longer. So keep em coming.:thumbsup:

 

AWESOME Lewis,, we are taking it that because you are being released that everything went well??

Glad you enjoyed the rest of that part of the story,, I am going to write some more about our time down there when I get a second.. Thanks for reminding me of allllll the great folks it takes to put together (very well done I might add) Vogel, my hat is off to all of them!!

And indeed,, HAPPY TRAILS my friend till we meet again!!

Puc n Tippy

[cowpuc]

Before heading to the food shack/party house at Vogel I had a real nice chat with the bike,, you be good now - be on your best behavior around these guys,, I know for a fact that some of these yahoos are packing weapons of mass destruction (= tools in bike language) and they will have you stripped to the axles in nothing flat,, IT WORKED - bike started right up and ran perfect the whole trip!!

 

Coasted down the hill (lots a hills down yonder) and backed into a spot in front of the food shack.. We were greeted by these folks (c pic).. Cant remember the exact words they were saying but I think it had something to do with,, COME ON ITS TIME TO EAT... Take that back, that wasnt all if it,, notice the look on Wingmans (Jamies) face,, I think he was saying something about making sure if I said anything during the "meeting" about what happened with Fozzie that Dokow gets all the credit,, just sayin..

 

I get distracted real easily,,, especially when around motorcycles and motorcycle people (its a flaw in my charector).. While walking toward the food house I found this really neat Trike parked near me,, it belonged to a really interesting guy named B2Dad.. Due to my expert photography ability you probably cant tell what the gorgeous paint job is (and it was SHARP!!) can ya? Its a masterfully done airbrushing of a B2 bomber doing its thing.. The guy standing by it, probably keeping a very close eye on ol Puc (rightfully so), is B2 himself.. We chatted about his bike and his link to the B2.. WOW what stories he had!! Oh man,,this is gonna be FUN!!!!

 

Run,,, its time to eat...

 

I grew up in a large family (7 kids) so I know how to handle myself around food.. The caterers (not really sure who they were but they did a GREAT job) had everything ready to go, blessing was asked and it was DRIVERS - START YOUR ENGINES time..

********Ouch,,,,, Tippy,, what?? Honeeeyy, you cant say that,, those were very nice people..... OK,,, not all of them were competitive eater types like me BUT some were.. Anyway,, here are a few shots of what competition for a full belly is like when your with family,, Look over the pics,, you decide who is and isnt competitive..

[etcswjoe]

There was some dude with a video camera that kept asking peoples name, never saw him before that day but he was right there every time someone won something in the auction or raffle.

[cowpuc]

There was some dude with a video camera that kept asking peoples name, never saw him before that day but he was right there every time someone won something in the auction or raffle.

 

Yea Joe, I saw him too... I wonder how the people who were present at Vogel would feel about having some of those videos posted on here?? I did a little digging and found out there is a "video" area on VR, I wonder how our trail boss and others would feel about me posting them there?? :whistling: Maybe a poll needs to be taken,, wonder how ya do that kinda thing..

Lotta maybe's to all that writing

[Dragonslayer]

& Videos...... I think the rule is GO FOR IT.... The boss can correct me if I'm wrong.......... I guess I should have asked what the subject matter of the videos is... were they taken in an environment where everyone had their clothes on? If not you may not want to share. That might be a visual some of us are not quite ready for.

Yea Joe, I saw him too... I wonder how the people who were present at Vogel would feel about having some of those videos posted on here?? I did a little digging and found out there is a "video" area on VR, I wonder how our trail boss and others would feel about me posting them there?? :whistling: Maybe a poll needs to be taken,, wonder how ya do that kinda thing..

Lotta maybe's to all that writing

[DragonRider]

Put them up, just make sure no one is comprimised..............take that any way you want it, but I want to see the videos.............I dont recall whow was taking them, I had Paula using my camera, and our speech and presentation from B2 and Mrs B2 were the only ones I have, I think.

 

Yea Joe, I saw him too... I wonder how the people who were present at Vogel would feel about having some of those videos posted on here?? I did a little digging and found out there is a "video" area on VR, I wonder how our trail boss and others would feel about me posting them there?? :whistling: Maybe a poll needs to be taken,, wonder how ya do that kinda thing..

Lotta maybe's to all that writing

[cowpuc]

Put them up, just make sure no one is comprimised..............take that any way you want it, but I want to see the videos.............I dont recall whow was taking them, I had Paula using my camera, and our speech and presentation from B2 and Mrs B2 were the only ones I have, I think.

 

10-4 big guy, I am in the process of uploading one as we speak.. Putting it on YouTube like you did, things taking forever to upload, at 61% with 125 minutes to go.. I found the one you are talking about with B2 and the Mrs in the VR Video section, I am doing one where the prizes are being handed out so we dont overlap..

How ya feeling Lewis? Hope you two are ok!

[cowpuc]

There, got one vid up,, had to stand in line (que) for a long time at youtube - you would think it was Christmas or something

Stuck it in our "Video" section, or just clinck here: http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?p=809684#post809684