10/15/11

Welcome to my website!

My name is George Barker and I am honored that you decided to stop by.  With so many choices, you landed here. 

Thank you.  I created this website to offer a little info about me and my interests, and what I have been up to recently.  My prime hobby is motorcycle touring.  Look around.  If you like what you see, please leave me a comment.  Stop by once in awhile as I usually get two significant trips, and one or two smaller trips, each year.

Website Updating Going On

I decided to move away from FrontPagebecause of the issues of my web pages displaying all messed up in FireFox and Netscape.  Although it is taking much work, I am converting over to Nvu as my web authoring tool.  Please be patient as I'm a civil engineer, not a computer programmer.

Iron Butt Rally 2011

At the end of June, I had the priviledge of partipating in the Iron Butt Rally (Iron Butt Rally 2011).  Last year I was a finisher in the IB5000.  Getting in some practice time for the IBR was a challenge this spring.  This year we had snow storms very late in the spring, plus Haul Bike wanted four weeks to get my bike out to Seattle.  Taking a couple weeks to prep the bike for the first ride, and another week to prep for shipping, only left me with about four weekends to do some riding.  My strategy was to "ease" into it with 500 miles one Saturday, 1000 miles the next, and 2000 on the third weekend.  This plan was a great one for me as I was able to work out the bugs little by little until I felt good about my setup on the bike.  The bike shipped out on time and a few days before the rally Susan and I rode Amtrak out to Seattle.  I started putting together an IBR2011 Page, but at the moment it is just photos.  Check back in a few weeks as I plan to write up some of the more memorable stories.

  -- George
 

 
Iron Butt 5000 (IB5k)

Last summer, the Iron Butt Association (IBA) decided to host a "warm-up" rally for rookies and veterans to the the Iron Butt Rally (IBR).  The IB5k was a five day, five thousand mile version of the iconic eleven day IBR.  For the IB5k, the IBA specifically included several TeamStrange members for a special drawing.  How I was selected, I do not know.  But I was selected, and in August I participated in the first ever IB5k.  I hope to get a photo page posted as the trip to the event, as well as the IB5k itself were a motorcycle adventure that does not come along often.

I had a good ride, survived, and scored enough points to qualify as a finisher.  This meant that I had an automatic pass into the Iron Butt Rally 2011.  I would like to have done better as I lost some points at the scoring table over bone-head picture taking.  I came in 23 out of an original 68 riders.  I should have know that a couple hundred points is the difference between several places in the standings.  You can see all the scores and highlights on the the IBA website. Look in the lower right for "News".

IBA Website

SOME ENDURING HIGHLIGHTS

It's official!  First PR1000 is in the record books!

I got the paperwork in hand and it's official.  Yours truly has had his Puerto Rico SaddleSore 1000 ride certified as the first ever in Puerto Rico!

Not very often does one get the chance to make a first in this group of long distance riders.  I am proud of the accomplishment as it took a lot of planning along with a very challenging ride.  I'm working on a ride report, but for now you will have to settle for the certificate.

Bentdahl Award Received!

The Minnesota 2010 was my fourth MN1000.  This is an important milestone as riders who have ridden more than 5,000 miles in their first four Minnesota 1000's receive the Ray Bentdahl Award.  That's four rally's averaging more that 1,250 miles in 24 hours, all while visiting bonus locations and scoring points.  You can see all the MN1000 results on the TeamStrange website.  I had to ride at least 1,053 in the first half of the rally, which I accomplished to achieve the award.  The second leg of the rally did not go so well for me as I let myself get out of position and missed some bonuses, and scored low in the standings.

Coat number 19,315 goes on the World's Largest Ball of Paint!

Not too long ago, I had the privilege of putting the 19,315 coat of paint on the World's Largest Ball of Paint.  Mike Carmichael, family and friends have been adding paint to this ball for nearly 30 years.  It all started with a baseball and a dream.  Now its, well, large.  By the way, Mike keeps a journal and a photo of everyone who has put a coat of paint on the ball.  So, the next time you're in a bar and someone claims to have put a coat of paint on the World's Largest, we have ways to verify it.  The WLBOP can be found in Alexandria, Indiana, just a short distance north of Indianapolis.  This exhibit is behind closed doors, so call/email ahead to make sure Mike will be around to let you in (http://ballofpaint.freehosting.net).  See my World's Largest Too page for more information.

Favorite Links	Weather
Where I Work (RVT) Search with MSN Travel with Expedia Read the latest news with MSNBC	Appleton, Wisconsin is located about 30 miles south of Green Bay and about 100 miles north of Milwaukee. Here is a sample of one trip to one of the world's largest things.  It's the world's largest penny in Woodruff, Wisconsin.
Photo Album	Bookkeeping
Look at my new online photo albums filled with pictures from my vacations, sporting events, and my family.	All pictures on this website were taken by George Barker and friends.  My pictures may be used on another website under three conditions: 1) E-mail me with your name and URL (website address; ie. http://www.thebarkers1.com) BEFORE putting the picture on your site; 2) You give credit where credit is due (in other words, give credit to the photographer); and 3) You provide a link to www.thebarkers1.com on at least one page on your website. If you like a photo, but would prefer one without me in it, just ask.  On 90% of the photo stops, I have taken a photo of the person/place/thing without me, or friends, in the picture.