2025 BMWMOA National Rally in Lebanon, TN

June 19th - 22nd, 2025

reported by John Brueggemann

We were notified of 22 BMWNEF Members registered for the Rally.

Jim Allen, Bill Botkin, Shep Brown, John Brueggemann, Bruce Crockcroft, Doug Donery, Joe Edelson, Bob Flanagan, Davis and Heather Hart, Larry Meeker, Allen Moskowicz, Bill Peterson, Jim Quinn, Eric Rossman, Paul Steinbrecher, Chris Terajewicz, Fred Veator, Mike Wallington, Jack Wells, Celia Williams, and Steve Wishard

Mike Wallington and I took two days to ride up to the rally. We decided to knock out the Georgia State Parks portion of this year’s BMWNEF State Park Challenge. We stopped at six State Parks on the way to Tennessee camping at Watson Mill State Park in Comer Georgia.

We arrived Thursday at the Rally and the grounds were quite wet from a good soaking the day before, but we found some dry spots for the tents over by Airhead Central. The rest of the weekend was sunny and hot apart from 10 minutes on Saturday. Bill Botkin provided us with an enjoyable ride down to Lynchburg, TN and a stop at the Jack Daniels Distillery. There are some fantastic twisty roads to ride around the area.

There were plenty of seminars, displays, demo rides, bike shows and other events to keep the senses entertained. The live bands were excellent with Paul Thorn really bringing the show to life. If you’ve never been to a national rally, you should really consider 2026 which will be on the East Coast again in Essex Junction, Vermont nestled on Lake Champlain. It’s only 1,200 miles up I-95.

Mike and I stopped by six more state parks in Georgia on our return home with a camp night at F. D. Roosevelt State Park. Now we just need a Rally in Central Florida to complete the challenge....

If you have any pictures from the rally you would like to add, please upload to an album in your profile and I'll link them below. (or email me)

BMWNEF

STATE PARK CHALLENGE

SOUTH Georgia loop ReCap

Saturday

May 17

Dear Members,

6 members joined up at the Raceway Station, I95 & SR 200 exit for the South Georgia portion of the State Park Challenge.

More were expected but the mis-leading weather forecast caused some to beg-off. What the “weather-guessers” didn’t factor into their

temperature forecast was the overcast. For the majority of the day we were shielded from a blazing sun by a “friendly” overcast.

We briefed the ride and set up communication (always a thrill). One member described setting up the helmet-to-helmet process as a way to further delay a ride!!

Our “loop” was a clockwise route west, then northwest as far as the Valdosta/Adel area then back east toward Brunswick/St Mary’s.

We collected 6 Georgia State Parks or Historical Sites:

Stephen Foster SP, Near Fargo. (Please Note: If you decide to collect the Stephen Foster SP, the Visitor’s Center, NOT THE STATE PARK ENTRANCE is located in Fargo on Highway 441. The entrance to the park is 17 miles northeast on GA SR 177)

Reed Bingham SP

Laura Walker SP

Ft George Historical Site

Hofwyl Plantation

Crooked River SP.

The Georgia parks, except for the last 3 are separated by approximately 80-90 miles. We got a lot of riding in. The Georgia roads were empty allowing us to cruise at good speeds between parks.

Get out there and ride! This is a great excuse to spend the day riding.

You can download the route from

GA Coastal and SE loop 6 parks

Jumbo Shrimp Baseball Night

Friday, April 25th

What a great night at the Jumbo Shrimp Baseball game. There were 34 of us that meet for a dinner buffet of hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks and cookies on the picnic deck prior to the game. Then we moved to our seats close to 1^st base and watched an exciting game. The Jumbo Shrimp won over the Gwinnett Stripers 7-0. All on hits with only one Home Run shot to start off the seventh inning.

There was plenty of entertainment between innings as Southpaw and Scampi stirred up trouble whenever they popped up. Several foul balls came over our heads, but none of use got one for a souvenir. Bill Botkin won a Jumbo Shrimp Hat that was the envy of the group. 

Friday nights is Fireworks night at the ballpark and they did not fail to entertain. They put on a very impressive show that was enjoyed by all. I had a blast, and if you did too, let us know. We’ll do it again next year.

BMWNEF

MRA Route planning Class

Saturday, April 19

If you were unable to attend the MyRouteApp (MRA) route planning class at the Fleet Reserve you missed a well-attended and informative class.

12-14 members were in attendance as Lenny Ovrutsky introduces us to the basics of the MyRouteApp route planning features. https://www.myrouteapp.com/

Attendees followed along (as best we could, considering the makeup of the attendees and our feeble computer skills) on laptops as Lenny, starting page by page, icon by icon Lenny walked us through the features of the MRA.

With Lenny’s computer displayed on the big screen TV at the Fleet Reserve we constructed a simple route from Orange Park to St Simon’s Island, Ga.

We edited and modified, copied and saved the practice route as we learned the basics of this powerful route planning system.

The basic MRA App is free, but many more features are available with a “Gold” membership package. Several members in attendance are enrolled in the “Gold” package.



Special thanks to Lenny for his very patient and informative presentation.

Ride to Ozello Florida

report forthcoming

Click image below for video

Ride to St. Simon’s Island 3/26/2025.

The club sponsored a great ride to picturesque St.

Simon’s Island on March 26th. Fourteen club members

and one guest met at the Race Trac gas station on SR

200 at 9:30 a.m.. The weather was picture perfect, you

might say it was Chamber of Commerce weather and

everyone was primed for a great ride planned by Lenny O.

through N.E. Florida and S.E. Georgia.

Lenny O. conducted the pre-ride meeting and the group

was split into two. Bill Botkin lead the first group out at

10:00 a.m. as planned and Mark C. served as the Sweep.

Lenny O. led the second group and Chip K. served as

Sweep. This group departed at approximately 10:05. The

temperature was in the upper 60’s and riding conditions

could not have been better.

Our route took us through Folkston, GA where we had a

planned stop. Fellow club members Jim A., Jack W. and

Barry B. joined the ride.

The planned route was perfect, country roads lightly

traveled, changing landscape and amazing weather. We

arrived in St. Simon’s Island around 12:45 and decided on

having lunch at Brogen’s restaurant.Enjoy the pictures that Larry D. took documenting this

really enjoyable club event. The video will be coming out

soon as well.

Following a satisfying lunch everyone took off on their

own and headed home. Another great event and ride!

The Mango Mangos Restaurant
Q1 Social Dinner

What a blast!

We had about 18 members and guests battle the Jacksonville Friday afternoon traffic to make the trip to scenic St. Augustine Beach.  We enjoyed some social time until everyone arrived and dinner orders were taken shortly after 6:00.  The service was excellent, and the portions were very generous.  There was no reason for anyone to leave hungry unless their "Extra Spicy dish was actually Extra Spicy".  Thanks Bill for the excellent choice of Mango Mango's.

Our next Quarterly Social will be at the Jumbo Shrimp Baseball game including dinner, game and fireworks on April 25th.  You need to register for this one as we have limited space.

Jumbo Shrimp Night Out REGISTRATION

Royal Enfield Demo Rides

Event by BMW Motorcycles of Jacksonville
1515 Wells Road, Orange Park, FL 32073
Come Demo Ride the Roya Enfield Motorcycle Lineup
March 22nd, (9:00am - 4pm)
Demos are scheduled to start at 9:30

Crave's Meetup

thanks to
Ray King
for organizing the event

Micanopy Ride

Video by Larry Dengler

Spring Ride to Micanopy – February 26th, 2025

On February 26^th, nineteen members met at Orangedale Grocery for a morning ride to Micanopy for lunch.  There were enough trained volunteer leads and sweeps to break the riders into three separate groups.  Larry Meeker gave the pre-ride briefing and lead the first group heading out shortly after Nine.  John Brueggemann and Lenny O’vrutsky led the two remaining groups.

The route took us over the Shands bridge through Green Cove Springs and Penny Farms.  We headed south through the Belmore Wildlife Management Area rolling past Florahome, Interlachen Hollister and south of Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area.  With the morning temperatures hovering close to 70 degrees and little traffic to deal with, we were able to enjoy the countryside and farms of this backroads ride.

Fourteen members of the Tampa Bay BMW club joined us for lunch at the “Blue Highway Pizzeria” where the service was excellent and the food delicious.  Impressive as they were not expecting a group of 33 riders to pounce on them at the peak of the lunchtime rush. 

Everyone enjoyed the time together and Nadine McVann(President of the Tampa Bay Club) suggested meeting at a park with catered or provided lunch next meetup.  And with that, everyone went their own routes or paired up for the ride home.

Thanks Lenny and Larry for putting together a great ride.  The feedback I received was it was enjoyed by all.

Fleming Island Tech Day – February 28th 2025
Report coming

A Perfect Day for a Ride: Renegade’s on the River – January 29, 2025

On January 29, 2025, sixteen riders gathered at Weedman’s Grocery at 9:00 a.m. for a day
that promised ideal riding conditions and great camaraderie. Present were
Lenny O.,Chris T., Barry B., Mike W., Mike J., Colin F., Jim B., Larry M., John B.,
David S., Francis S., Rob H., Chris H., Doug D., Larry D., and Eric R.

After everyone signed in, Lenny O. conducted a detailed pre-ride briefing—introducing
each rider, outlining our route, clarifying the roles of leader and sweeper, and reminding
everyone of essential safety measures. We then split into two groups:

• Group 1 (11 riders): Led by Lenny O. and sweeped by Larry M.

• Group 2 (5 riders): Led by Chris T. and sweeped by John B.

By 9:45 a.m., motors were humming and we hit the road. Chris T. charted a picturesque
and winding route that took us through some roads new to many riders, making the
journey especially engaging. With minimal traffic, warm sunshine, and high spirits,
the day already felt like a win.

After about two hours of scenic riding, we arrived at Renegade’s on the River, a beautiful
spot overlooking the St. Johns River. The patio offered a serene view of the calm waters
under clear blue skies, with a gentle breeze adding to the relaxed mood. The food and
service were top-notch—so much so that many noted it as a future ride destination.

Following lunch, goodbyes were exchanged, and folks headed home either solo or in
smaller groups, each reporting a safe return. A heartfelt thanks goes out to Larry D.
or capturing videos and photos, preserving these memories for all of us.

A special shout-out also goes to Lenny O., our club Ride Captain, who rolled out the
new ride procedures and standard pre-ride briefing—an initiative he championed
late last year. It truly helped the day run seamlessly.

All told, it was a smooth, scenic, and wonderfully social ride - perfect weather,
great roads, and excellent company. Days like these remind us why we love
hitting the open road together. Ride safe, and see you on the next one!

The 2025 – 42nd Winter Rally was a huge success.

The forecast for rain held off until Saturday afternoon.

And boy, did it come down hard late Saturday night.

I saw Joe Edleson floating by my van about 1:30 am.

If the wind was a little stronger, he might have been able

to catch up to his bike… Kidding aside, it was a hard rain.

But that didn’t dampen any spirits. We had a great time.

The weather for the ride in Thursday and all day Friday was perfect

for riding on the country roads around the camp.

There was a wide variety of events and activities to choose from including;

- Led Rides and solo rides downloadable from the Rally Program

- Seminars by riders highlighting thier experiences

- BDR updates and Off Road Seminars

- And of course the popular Garage Sale

This year we also had the pleasure of having the 2^nd annual

National Airhead Meeting and Event taking place at the campground location.

This included a Tech Day, Bike Show and General Meeting.

Charlie’s Chuck Wagon was back and the Camp Weed Saturday Smoked Pork

and Chicken Dinner was their best yet.

Of course we can't forget the Bonfires each night.

There was no shortage of split wood.

We gave away close to 30 Door Prizes and Grand Prizes

totaling over $7,000.00

The Rally Program this year was over the top.

Steve Wishard did an excellent job putting this together

for our use including QR codes for the rides, articles,

list of vendors and a “Who’s Talking” section.  

Of course, none of this could have happened without

all of the volunteers that worked hard prior to, during,

and after the Rally to ensure its success. Without their

dedication, there would be no Rally. Many, many thanks.

Can't wait until 2026!!!

2025 Winter Rally Video by Larry Dengler

2025 Winter Rally Vendors

New Year's Day Penguin Ride Report

January 1st, 2025

Dear BMWNEF Members and Friends:

WOW!

What a way to start the year!  Approximately 20+ riders assembled on a beautiful 50 degree New Year's Day morning at the BMW Motorcycles of Jacksonville dealership for our annual Penguin Ride.

Ride leaders and "sweepers" split the group in two for safety and ease of handling.

We briefed the ride and headed west from the dealership to Argyle Forest Blvd., up to Normandy, and eventually by Cecil Field.  We took a comfort break at the Starbucks near ST. Rd. 228  and I10 near MacClenny.  The ride continued north, doing a loop back toward Lake City with a traffic free, enjoyable ride on  Big Gum Swamp Rd transiting through the Osceola National Forest.

Cedar Creek Seafood Restaurant was our destination and it did not disappoint.  Several members and guests arrived by car to join the ride group for lunch.  In total over 40 persons attended. (Please enter correct head count) 

Several large table were made available for our use.  Consider the size of our group the service was very efficient and the food excellent.

Happy New Year to All. 

Keep current with BMWNEF events for 2025 by following this link for future events.  Planning and several "Save The Date" events will be posting soon.

Events

Ride Safely

Winter Solstice Ride Report

December 21st, 2024

Dear Members:

14 intrepid souls braved a 37-degree morning to rendezvous at the Jacksonville Beach Lifeguard Station for the Winter Solstice sunrise.

We had to use our imagination to see the actual sunrise; an over-the-horizon cloud bank blocked our view. At the time posted for sunrise, 7:14AM, we mounted up for our morning ride to Keystone Heights.

Our 1.5 hr. route took us south and west thru Nocatee, Green Cove Springs then south on Blanding Avenue into Keystone. We enjoyed a heat wave along the route; the temperature rising to 42 degrees. 

After losing feeling in my fingers, around Green Cove Springs I remembered my heated jacket liner and gloves in my closet...at home!

Clyde's Cozy Cafe was our destination, and it did not disappoint. Early arrivals at Clyde's had secured a large table for our group. The service was great and all enjoyed a hearty breakfast. 

Member Erik Azar joined us on his first ride since injuring his leg on the Smokey Mountain 500 ride earlier in the Fall. Good to have you back Erik.

Thanks to all who joined us on the ride or met our group at Clyde's.

Be sure to register for and attend the Penguin Ride New Year's Day.

Register for the 2025 Penguin Ride

Ride Safely

December Meeting and Christmas Party

December 14th, 2024

There were over 60 members and guests in attendance for our meeting and Christmas Party. Everyone brought a dish to share and a toy for the Marine's sponsored "Toys for Tots". There was plenty of delicious home cooked food for all. The generosity of the club has always impressed me with the number of gifts donated for the "Toys for Tots" program.

We had an abbreviated meeting covering our accomplishments this past year with a total of 60 activities the club has sponsored, attended or supported in one way or another.

An election was held for the 2025 officers with all candidates being approved by the general election.

John Brueggemann - President

Chris Terajewicz - Vice President

Jim Allen - Secretary

Myron Beachy - Treasurer

Bill Botkin - Past President

Chip Kenyon - Director

Larry Meeker - Director

Steve Wishard - Director

Tom Nolan - Ambassadors

Lenny Ovrutsky - Rider Captain

Larry Dengler - Videos

Camp Weed Workday

December 4th, 2024

Fifteen members of the club and one friend put in a full morning extracting downed trees from the woods. Jim Allen's tractor was a major addition to the day. The trees were loaded into the trailer and hauled to the campground where they were unloaded and cut in sections. The logs were then split and stacked in preparation for the Winter Rally.

We all had a good time and with enough help to make short work of the project. We finished in time to enjoy a late lunch before heading off to our other responsibilities of the day.

Bradley's Country Store Ride

Tallahassee, FL

November 22nd, 2024

Five members met up at the McDonald's on HWY 301 and I-10 in Baldwin, FL at 8am. At the time, it was 45 degrees so it made for a good start to the morning. We made a quick jump via I-10 over to exit 301 (HWY41) and met up with JIm Allen and Barry Budnik at the Busy Bee Gas Station. Barry was giving his new 1250GS its first cool morning ride with the group of RTs.

Jim took the lead with his K1600 w/sidecar, and we took the back roads up to White Springs then over to Live Oak. We cruised HWY 90 over to Monticello then north over some of the most beautiful canopy roads in North Florida. We arrived at Bradley's around 11:30 and enjoyed a quick lunch on the picnic benches outside the store. It was still quite chilly with the breeze blowing through the trees for us Florida boys, but we had a good time.

The Poverty Riders International were having their campout at the "At Ease Campground" in Bainbridge, Ga so several of us took the quick ride over to say hello and see how the campout was progressing. There was a large turnout, and everyone was having a good time. Steve and Larry Meeker stayed for the campout. Jim, Larry Dengler and I had other commitments for the weekend and had to say our goodbyes. We took the straight shot home via I-10 and got home just after sunset.

What a great day and fun ride.

Warner Robins Air Force Museum Weekend Ride

Warner Robins, GA

November 15 - 16, 2024

Riders from Jacksonville, Columbia SC and Tallahassee converged upon the Warner Robins Air Force Museum on Friday, November 15^th and were warmly greeted by Dave Rogers and Fred Viator, our hosts and longtime Air Force Service members. Both were formerly stationed at the base. After a leisurely afternoon tour of the outdoor aircraft displays the group gathered in a local Mexican restaurant for a delicious meal. A special treat of the evening was the personal chauffeuring service provided by Fred in his unblemished 1948 Ford Special Deluxe Sedan. With its sleek design and timeless charm, the ride was made even better by Fred’s lively commentary, and observations on all things.

The following morning, Dave and Fred returned as expert guides, leading the group on an in-depth and interactive tour of the museum. Their detailed insights and behind-the-scenes stories brought the exhibits to life, sparking lively discussions. Some members of the group, who were veterans themselves, shared firsthand accounts of piloting, jumping from, or being transported in many of the aircraft on display—adding a deeply personal connection to the tour.

Beyond the impressive aircraft, the museum’s immaculate facilities, the dedication of its staff, and the warm hospitality of its volunteers stood out. It was a weekend of shared passions, personal stories, and a deep appreciation for aviation history—a trip that will long be remembered.

BMWNEF

4^th Quarter Social Dinner

Saturday, October 26, 2024

Salt Life Food Shack

Fernandina Beach, Florida

We had a wonderful turnout for the 4^th Quarter Social Dinner. 25-30 members and guests gathered at the Salt Life Food Shack on the north end of Amelia Island.

Members arrived around 5PM and were seated, upstairs on the patio deck for Happy Hours and conversation. Around 6 the staff began taking dinner orders.

Our large crowd required several tables pushed together with additional  “satellite” tables to accommodate our group. All were eventually seated with no one left out of the evening.

The weather cooperated with clear skies, gentle ocean breezes and comfortable temperatures.

Our large table had one waiter who provided prompt and courteous service. As we have experienced before, the Salt Life’ food was excellent. No complaints were expressed during the meal service.

Thank you to all who took the time to drive up and enjoy our evening together.

Special thanks to Cai Mei Dengler for her photos of the evening.

November has several events and rides on the calendar. Please stay in touch through the BMWNEF.org website.

Bill Botkin

Yalaha Bakery Ride

The weather couldn’t have been any more perfect for the two riding groups totalling 15 bikes winding their way off the beaten track to the heart of the lake district. The ride started with riders congregating with coffees in hand at Weedman’s where Lenny “O’ Florida”, the ride leader, delivered a detailed safety briefing.

An abundance of V Twin biker groups was observed along the way, and why of course, coincidentally it just happened to be Biketoberfest in Daytona.  As we rode further south large amounts of piled up tree and yard debris along the sides of the roads were observed, all as a result of recent Hurricane Milton. 

Four hours after departure our BMW crew arrived at a bustling Yalaha Bakery. It was a long ride, appetites had built up, and some of the group went straight for the baked German cakes and other goodies. Others opted for a the more traditional sequence of Bauernwurst or Wienerschnitzel or other specialties first, to be then followed by desert. The meals and conversation were enjoyed at picnic tables in the Biergarten accompanied by traditional live Bavarian Oktoberfest music. A great day was had by all.    

Iron Horse Camping and Riding Weekend

19 members and friends made it to Iron Horse and enjoyed perfect weather all weekend.  The early mornings were nice and cool in the low to mid 60s which made a great start to our riding days.  After a hearty breakfast and allowing the fog to lift, we grouped off into various sized groups and headed out for the day.  Popular destinations were the “Tail of the Dragon”, Chilhowee, Tellico Plains Bakery, Cherohala Skyway, and many more.  Everyone made it back to Iron Horse before dinner. 

With the exception of “The Dragon” on Saturday, the roads were not very busy.  The leaves on the trees were just starting to change colors the closer you rode to the mountain tops.  Sleeping was excellent after a hard day of riding as the temperatures dipped down in the low 50s.

Iron Horse made for an excellent base camp for the weekend.  They renewed their support of BMWNEF by providing an award certificate to be given out at the 2025 Winter Rally.

No bikes or riders were harmed during our shenanigans. 😛

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