Planning is Underway!

Thanks to your generous donations to the YMCA, I wrote the first check for $1,200. The YMCA is going to recognize our efforts with a banner that will be hung inside the facility where I work. I’ll post a picture when the banner arrives. I am toying around with the idea of hosting a ride-to-meet later this summer at my local YMCA to get a group photo with the banner in front of the building. More info to follow.

Rally flags for registered and paid riders have been mailed and most have been received. There are a few of you still waiting – consider yourself at the mercy of the United States Postal Service. For those of you who recently signed up, I generally get the flags in the mail the morning after you sign up.

I’ve seen lots of activity in the Facebook group! Looks like people are excited for April 1st to get here. We are excited, too. I suggest you take advantage of the weeks in March to get out on a nice day and practice taking a picture of something with your bike and flag in the shot – just like we will ask you to do during the rally. Be deliberate. Don’t rush! Some of you are hardened rally veterans…this advice is not aimed at you. Many of you are enjoying a rally like this for the first time. Practice your technique to avoid frustration. We intend to allow a bit of leeway in how you photograph the required destination object, but no leeway will be given if we don’t see your flag with the bike you enjoyed that day. No flag, no credit. No bike, no credit!

Here’s an excellent example submitted for practice by Ron & Nancy Smith at one of the Washington locations (note – no, the rally doesn’t start until April 1st and Ron does not receive credit for this. Yes, you can ride to the destinations anytime you want and practice, but you will have to go back after April 1st and take another picture. I can look at picture metadata to see when it was taken. I don’t plan to do that unless I have questions…cheaters will be kicked out). In this case, the object was the green sign, and we can clearly see the bike and the flag with rider number. Perfect! Extra credit for a smiling face holding the flag…just kidding! While we enjoy seeing you, being in the picture is not required 🙂

Rider 193 (Ron Smith) demonstrates a PERFECT destination photo!

Here’s another good example of what we are looking for. Imagine the building is the destination object. Our sample picture might have shown you the perspective from the street, but maybe Rider 146 (Todd Marley) decided it was safer to take the picture from the driveway. We can still see he is at the correct location, and his bike and flag with number are clearly visible! This is a great shot and he would get credit for it.

Rider 146 demonstrates a great picture with his bike and flag number clearly visible!

Practice! Take a picture, send it to pnwgrandtour@gmail.com and we will give you some feedback. Ask questions. Plan your rides. Enjoy the coming summer!

Finally, I am considering capping the total number of riders at 300. The rally has been growing at a brisk pace and I am concerned that the volunteers who help out (and also ride) will become overwhelmed with the possible number of submissions. Any feedback is appreciated.

4 Comments

  1. Limiting the number of participants will make this more of an exclusive event and a point of pride for the participants. Folks will remember this next year and getting registered early will be a priority.

    1. As #248, I want to say that it’s great to be a part of this, and I’m grateful that you have the time and energy to run this event. I’m equally grateful that I made it in “under the wire”, as you could have decided to cap at 250… or 200.

  2. I’m glad Timothy didn’t cap it at 300, I’m rider 305 and rider 432 for the Tour of Honor ride. Thanks, Timothy for putting on this event.

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