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11/14/09 |
         
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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.
Another summer, another Grand Tour
This year the Great Lakes Motorcycle Club (http://www.network54.com/Forum/152868/) hosted the "Villains Wanted" Grand Tour. I received my rally towel and I was off for a summer of fun, friendship and new sights to see. In the end I had 113 villes that counted. That was good for 9th place. Not too shabby for the premier group of riders that competed. It was a lot of fun and congratulations to all the finishers!
It's official! First PR1000 is in the record books!
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.
Team Strange Events
The Butt Lite (http://www.teamstrange.com/) is a seven day, seven thousand mile "scavenger hunt" across the United States, Canada, and perhaps a bit of Mexico too. My first goal was to finish. My second goal was to ride an average of 1,000 miles per day for the duration of the rally. I succeeded in the first goal, but was a few miles short of the second. A couple days before the end of the rally I got word that a customer wanted to kickoff a pretty substantial project the day after the rally ended. I chose to take it easy the last 36 hours so that I would be rested for the project. It worked, the kickoff was a success and the project carried through the next six months.
In June I participated in the Minnesota 1000 and finished... period. If you search the TeamStrange website, you will find my score and how I placed. While I did not get massive points, that's because I decided to chase mileage this year.
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.
What's up next?
Susan has agreed to ride two-up with me in the Bonzai Run rally this coming Memorial Day weekend. This comes with two conditions. The first is that I not get too competitive. The second, that we put fun over finishing at any particular position. I agreed and so it should be a good time. This is the first time that Susan has been any sort of scavenger hunting rally.
Next? I also signed up for the Villian's Grand Tour with the Great Lakes Motorcycle Club. There are at least 25 "villes" within 60 miles, so at least I should be a finisher. Stay tuned for updates throughout the summer.
-- George
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This site was last updated 11/14/09
