Cheaha updates.....it's gettin' NEARER!

[RedValk]

Just a reminder...the next cutoff date is the date to mail your money for registration....1 April

We'll be riding the group ride route one last time in preparation...probably in March? Shirt ordering details will be coming out SOON. The band is set....Reelay the DJ for Saturday set....contests are firming up....dinner menu by Motomama....check.

YOU REGISTERING? I think that's about all that's left in preparation now???????

Quit procrastinating and "Git-R-Done"!!!!   

www.valkyrieriders.com/cheaha

[hubcapsc]

I just wrote down the Alabama VRCC address on a piece of paper
beside my chair with a Sharpie... I reserved a room on top a week
or two ago... one step closer to Gittin-R-Done... Keep sending out the reminders
Tim 

-Mike "some of use would forget our heads"

[big turkey]

I have a room , sent my money in, and my heart surgery is on May 12th, so Lord Willing I will be there.

Thanks Tim and all who keep this event going.

Always have a good time , even when i lost the Hot Sauce Contest.

That was fun too.

Thanks

And God Bless

[T-Bird]

Tim, I would like to come to your event, since it's not far from my home, but I'm committed to Thunder on the Beach that weekend. Maybe next year I'll make it to Cheaha, I hear it's a great time!

[RedValk]

Tim, I would like to come to your event, since it's not far from my home, but I'm committed to Thunder on the Beach that weekend. Maybe next year I'll make it to Cheaha, I hear it's a great time!

two things...but first, a caveat. I FULLY understand your commitment to Thunder on the Beach. Years ago when we changed dates, we looked and looked at picking a date that didn't interfere with ANYTHING. we soon realized, that is IMPOSSIBLE. but we knew SOME would go to  Thunder.......

that said, here are ...the two things.

1. there is ONLY ONE CHEAHA. period. Once per year...where as Thunder on the Beach occurs TWICE per year...May...and again in September. Cheaha is unique. It's Valk people... it's a party on the mountain...with 100-200 (past attendances over the years) folks on top of a mountain...in a private lodge...with a bunch of valks...a band...DJ...prizes...food by Motomama.....ladies tattoo contest...and on and on and on. Bottom line, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO CHEAHA (and I HAVE been to Thunderbeach is past years)....then you really do NOT know what you are missing. Again.........there can be.........only ONE Cheaha .....

2. I've said this several years running now, but....and i wasn't going to say this until AFTER the event...but here goes: It's just becoming SO stressful to put this on. year after year, the work becomes more and more...the stress more and more. We do NOT do this to make any money. NOT ONE PENNY. we do it...to have fun...and give something back. But due to many factors...the economy, fewer Valks (though many folks attending do NOT ride Valks...anymore!), fewer members, loss of jobs, conflicts with other events (eh, like Thunder on the beach?), etc, etc....our attendance has dropped  a little. This year, we're running slightly behind last year...which was WAY down from the years before. folks keep waiting to register. ANYWAY, in light of all this trouble/stress....i'm once again considering .....NO LONGER DOING IT AFTER THIS YEAR. that's why i'm going ALL OUT this year...a band....DJ....Hawaiian theme night...etc. THIS MAY BE IT. it's our 10th...and, sadly...MAY...MAY be the last. if we do it again...and that's IF...i have no doubt we'll have to go back to the old format (scale things back...flip some burgers at the pavilion....etc.). I know, many of you will say that's fine. And ....therefore...we MAY just do that....the scaled back format. Then again, i'm a busy fellow. Stress on the new job (as boss), financial concerns putting on the event, even...to a smaller degree....the 'verbal abuse' one takes putting on such an event from the folks that wanted everything to be PERFECT (eh, until you've walked in my shoes....you just don't know. But Willow, Connie, Scott, Lori from IZ...they can tell you what it's like...Doc Moose, Dave R from the old days...Swoopie when he did PCB (NO MORE!), Dave from GA when he did Helen (NO MORE!), Scott from doing the OK ride in, Strider from the couple of years he did the LA "thang"...ask him about stress...and MONEY LOST. I could go on ........but you get the point). all these things add up. I've always said I'll keep doing it, as long as the negative things (like STRESS, FINANCES, WORK, ETC.) are outweighed by the positive things (it is ONE HELL OF A PARTY...and some GREAT riding...and FANTASTIC FRIENDS....not to mention awfully darn good vittles by Motomama!).

all i'm saying is, one should treat THIS Cheaha...as if...it could be the LAST one. Cause, it COULD

anyway, i respect whatever decison folks make. Last year i had many folks call me and tell me they just couldn't affford it...lost their job...etc. I even helped out some folks by trying to come up with some "special" lodging accomodations to save money. then, there were quite a few who said they had to pick and choose due to the economy and vacation time...so many picked the ride Smokin Joe and Highbinder put on. I understood that....though...we still sorely missed those folks...several who were 'regulars'. but there ride, was a 'one time good deal'. So i can understand, they felt they could catch Cheaha another year.

sooner or later all good things come to an end. Panama City Beach.....aftrer YEARS of running....no more. Helen GA (was a big ride in here in the south each May...put on by VOA)....gone. Robbers cave last year? Nope. LA thing last year? nope. Will they return? don't know........

Bottom line.........i meant to say all this AFTER the event...but i'm just saying it now. Life is short. things come and go. Just don't be surprised.................if finally next year, it COULD be Cheaha's turn to go the way of PCB, Helen, the Doo Doo bird, etc.......

[fudgie]

Thats so sorry to read.  We had a great time up there in 08. We hoped to get back there again but with bills and stuff we try and pic closer stuff except for the Sturgis Run, which takes me a year to save for. If you dont have it any longer at least we can say it was a great time and we are glad we went. Even got the shirt. Thx Tim! 

[stormrider]

Thunder Beach or Cheaha? We're only 100 miles from PCB, site of Thunder Beach and 200 miles from Cheaha. I've been to Thunder Beach 4 times. It's okay. Same old, same old. Lots of vendors but same thing year to year. Now Cheaha, that's different. This will be our 4th year. Something different each year. The pavillion in the storm, then Barber's. One year it was Talledaga, then Barber's again last year for the Honda Superbike races. And the friendships built, the food, the parties, the awesome rides, Cheaha itself, and the food, thanks Lori and gang, and the door prizes, the games, the fun, etc....

Thunder Beach or Cheaha? If you've never been, this is the year to be there. And Tim, I'm predicting excellant weather this year.
 

[MP]

I wish it was not 1600 or so miles one way, and we would be there.  Sounds like a large time.  Being a farmer here in ND, we will probably be planting then too.  We will be thinking of you.

MP

[BamaJack]

[RedValk]

And Tim, I'm predicting excellant weather this year.

But either way, we'll have a large time....and this year's shirt, that's in honor of some of the past weather we've had   

[Werner]

Hey everyone,
I can also say that it is worth beeing at cheaha! I was there 2007 and it was great. Even though i didn't know anyone and my english is not the best, i felt like one of them and like it was an event in Germany! 3 years ago i promised to come back again and that would be this time. One of my best VRCC friends will join me and i also told him only the best of the cheaha rally. The flights are booked, my valk is waiting for me at my cousins house and we will book the harley for fiffi next week (unfortunately you cannot get a valk for him).
I already wanna say thank you to Tim and his helpers, for all the stuff and work he has to deal with to make it an unforgettable event for everyone! I know what I'm talking about, cause i organized two of the Germany Ride in's (2004 and 2006) and also the European inzane in 2008. Me and my friend fiffi are really looking forward to see lots of you guys in 9 weeks!


@ Tim: i hope you've ordered better weather than we had 2007! Would be nice if the sun would burn on our head's!


Best regards,
Werner & Fiffi

[Hoser]

At least these guys aren't coming!  They are going to Look out Mtn instead!    hoser

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[SherRune]

Want to bring this back to the top to remind everyone that Cheaha is getting closer each day.
This year we should have good weather and a great ride/Lunch on Saturday.
Saturday night is being catered by Lori again with some of her great food.

Looking forward to seeing everyone up at the top again this year.

[stormrider]

Just signed up. Yeeeehaaaaw for Cheaha!