Is dealer week going to suck?

Ummmmm...........no.

For anyone that has been following my blog as of late, you've seen more than a few posts related to an event up North I've attended since 2012.  The last few years, I struggled internally on whether to attend or not, but did and at the time was glad I made that decision.  Its always good seeing and riding with friends.  And each time up there, I've made new ones

I just came across this on Noel's FB page

"For those of you bashing the bike week event,
I signed up a long time ago.
I am going.
I will enjoy myself.
I will make my own judgement on the worthiness and benefits of participating.
Open mind, willing to enjoy the open road.

Don't harsh my buzz...
Ride safe so you may ride long my friends."

My guess is , he's going to have a great time.   I used to have a great time.  Most people I know that attend(ed), have a great time.  If you don't mind opening your wallet a little more than normal (cost of the event) compared to most other events ......if you don't worry about drama that happens behind the scenes (more than most want to deal with) ...  and enjoy being around fellow Indian Owners/Riders ...    it's a good time.   Historically, I haven't been a fan of the way it was run, but as of last year, it's improved.  Better rides/destinations are chosen, etc. It was something I pushed hard for, for the '16 event.  There are still some rides that I don't think are the best (ride to the casino is a good example, mostly on Interstate), but I no longer attend, so my opinion doesn't matter now.  Let someone else deal with it?

Overall, the average person doesn't peel back the onion, that is this event.  What are some of the

sayings ...   " .... is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep."    or "“Like the layers of an onion, under the first lie is another, and under that another, and they all make you cry.”  I've learned that to the average person, it all doesn't matter.  They pay the price of admission, meet folks , ride with them, have a good time, go home , and decide if they are going to return the next year.   Hell, that's the way it should be I guess.  My opinion though is if you're going to charge a larger than normal fee, then tell the world it's all for a specific charity, then be willing to tell how much of the money raised, actually went to the charity.   Apparently the average person either doesn't care or is simply to afraid to ask.   But if you don't mind paying the price of admission, I guess it doesn't' matter.

However to some folks it does and some of those folks peeled that onion back a few layers.  I'm one of them.  I didn't like what I saw.  Few others have done the same thing and didn't like what they saw.  Some peeled it back and said " crap ... I've already paid .. .so ... I'll go this year ....."   We all make choices.  Personal choices.   Sadly, this whole fucking onion has taken on a life of it's own.  In my opinion, mainly because the source of that onion has chosen to push an agenda via Social Media to gather supporters and belittle any naysayers (peelers of the onion).   Had the promoter (the onion) just moved on and never mentioned it all, 95% of the folks now aware there is an onion in some form, would have trodden along in peace never knowing any different.

Anyone that has read this blog over the last month or so, have seen me reference 'the sheep'.  For clarification, for the record again,  the sheep' are NOT the folks that simply attend the event.  Not the folks that simply enjoy the event.   It's the folks that have stated their opinion in support of the onion, voice that opinion blindly, but have never bothered to know what an onion is, the onion is, much less pull back a layer .. or two and really look and/or attempt to understand.   They don't care what happens to the layers after being pulled back, how the onion got bought from the store to begin with, or what that onion produces .. or how little.  BUT .. they have an opinion and support that onion blindly and god help anyone that questions it or it's layers or if there might be a rotten core at the center of this particular onion.  Those folks... are ... The Sheep.  The icing on the cake?  Some of these folks have never even personally met the 'onion', or even attended the 'onion'/event... but, they have that opinion!

Still, the Sheep and all the other innocents attending (the majority) will have a good time.  I know they will.  If I chose, or choose, to roll up into the mix, I would as well.  I believe Noel will.  I know a dozen of other folks that are rolling in and they will.   It's sad that the whole thing is tainted with any questions at all.  But again, if the onion had kept it's layers from being publicly displayed, most folks wouldn't even question it to begin with.  They'd be blind .. ignorant ...to most of the layers of that onion. And most if not all of my blog posts the last few months, would have never made it onto these pages; never existed.  Remember, tit for tat.

Now..... anyone that knows me, knows I dislike onions.  I don't like 'em raw.  I don't like 'em recognizably in my food.  I do like onion rings though , so that confuses most people.  Hell, makes me wonder.   Now, what does all this have to do with the onion I referenced above?  Nothing at all.  Couldn't help myself, so I added that lil fact. 

I'm headed North at the same time as the dealer week event to ride with my R&R MC buddies ( IIRA incognito) . What are we as a whole going to do about the onion?   Probably ... ..not much.  However if deep fried, one never knows?

Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/carlsandbu345254.html

Life is like an onion. You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/carlsandbu345254.html"