3rd Ever Wildgoose Chase SW Missouri Campout
Well, it turned out to be another great campout here in the Ozarks. The 3rd Ever Wildgoose Chase SW Missouri Campout took place on Mothers Day weekend this year just like it has for the past two years. The two weeks of constant rain finally lifted and the sunshine and Moto Guzzi’s came alive. Three years running with sunshine and nice temperatures.
Like last year, this campout was held at the Indian Creek RV Park and Campground in Anderson, Missouri. We had eighty-nine in attendance (we have averaged ninety per year so far), and the attendees were predominantly on Moto Guzzi’s of all different models.
A dozen or so folks broke away from the daily grind on Thursday to get to Anderson a day early, so I felt obliged to camp with them as well. There’s nothing like a ten o’clock pm dinner at Shoney’s! A lot of folks enjoy this campout because they have been cooped up with cabin fever all winter and this one gives them the opportunity to kick off the new rally season.
Friday there was a continuous stream of motorcycles rolling in. Later that night we enjoyed a bon fire and fine beverage of choice while chatting with Guzzi friends alike.
On Saturday, some attendees done well in the casinos and visiting local caves and wineries, while others enjoyed riding the 100+ mile poker run I had previously scouted out for them, or just wandering lost and finding their own crooked roads to try and tame. Last year, canoeing was an option that many participated in, but due to over a foot of rain in a ten day stretch, this year we had to stay grounded. I enjoyed a couple hours of fishing myself.
While this get together is classified as a “campout”, I do like to give out a few awards. I like to award those that went the distance to get here. I gave out the long distance female award to Susan McDaniel of Marshall, Missouri who rode 286 miles. I then gave out the long distance male award to Gary Koepping. He rode a total of 2,150 miles from Huntington Beach, California to join the festivities. Long distance 2-up went to Wayne and Vicki Orwig of Atlanta, Georgia who rode 850 miles to get in on the action.
Frank Long sells knives and he gave up 5 nice pocket knives to be given away, and Jackson Cycles of St. Joseph, Missouri (www.jacksonmotorcycle.com) donated a nice windbreaker to give away. Since I don’t normally give out door prizes, I only had one color of tickets. So, those who bought some of the 50-50 tickets were also in the running for one of these door prizes.
The winner of the 50-50 drawing was Max King of Iowa. Max took home $132 for his small investment. Gordon Chandler and J.N. Smyth had the best and worst hands in the poker run, so I split the $93 jackpot at 80% and 20% respectively.
Following the awards on Saturday, I had agreed to a catered donation dinner that many enjoyed. Saturday night was pretty tame as everyone was anticipating the ride home. I tallied up the average distance of all that signed in and it turns out that on average, folks rode 417 miles to get here.
Sunday morning it was coffee and honey buns before the ride home. I was asked if there would be a “4th Ever” and the answer is YES. If you all keep coming, I’ll keep doing it. So, mark your calendars for Mothers Day weekend, 2007, and we’ll see you in Anderson!
Luap McKeever