I've been to Celina 3 times now and was at the first one we had in Beloit where we cooked hot dogs in the parking lot. I was really looking forward to this year also.Life happens. I don't talk about my condition here at home but will this once.
I am a caregiver for my wife who is totally disabled and wheelchair bound. I've done this for 20 years now. Right before I cancelled she broke her left foot by running over it with her chair(not going into detail).
four days after that had to call an ambulance to take her to the Hospital.
She has a tendency for blood clots when she injures herself,so I had to stay home.
There is more involved but I'm not going to bore everyone with it.
I look forward to the M&G as my time for me. I really like Celina and the people involved. I haven't met a person from this site yet that I didn't like and am looking forward to next year.

Greysnake wrote:

There is more involved but I'm not going to bore everyone with it.


On a slight side note, a lot of people think of this site as "family", many people have opened up here on a variety of topics.

If that would be helpful I guarantee you that you will not "bore everyone".

Hope it works out for you next year for the M&G,
and hope everything else goes well for you as well.

From someone who has never been there, and probably never will be due to distance (I live in San Diego; ) I must say the only reason I would go is to meet the many wonderful people from this forum. It would be great to be able to give a personal thank you to the many who have helped me since I bought my R*

To me, that's why they are called a M&G, as opposed to a "group tour and feed" function. I realize I have not really met any of you (except Teal1) but many of you feel like friends to me. It would be wonderful to meet you all.

A number of you have already put the correct (IMHO) name to it. It's a gathering of people who would like to spend time with other like-minded people and enjoy each others company.

I really wanted to go for the last 5 years, but my son's birthday is the 25th and my wife has said no way and rightfully so, but it does seem like a great gathering. Numbers go up and down every year on annual M&Gs because of weather, work and personal interest. If the Eagles are really upset over the turnout then they will end it and not give a date year after year.

I hope we are able to retain the Eagles Lodge in Celina for the meet and greet because it's a great location and the lake is wonderful and the people there are fantastic. However if they do not wish to continue this because of low numbers I would certainly understand. I am in Fort Wayne Indiana and my new position I have 10 weeks off in the summer so I will be glad to help organize something around that same time. In the Fort Wayne area (only an hour/60 miles from Celina).

If we loose it I'll just have to look into a meet in the gulf area...

At 2353 miles one way, I would be looking at 5 days on the road, at about 500 miles a day, just to get there, I thought about it, but the wife is like, I don't think so, I love to take her along, but she don't like the bike, don't get the thrill of the ride, and quite often thinks I'm nuts. Being gone two weeks on a motorcycle trip would be tough, (I would get my Iron Butt pin), so the only way I might ever make it, would be to fly out there, and rent a cage.

NWRODIE wrote:
At 2353 miles one way, I would be looking at 5 days on the rode, at about 500 miles a day, just to get there, I thought about it, but the wife is like, I don't think so, I love to take her along, but she don't like the bike, don't get the thrill of the ride, and quite often thinks I'm nuts. Being gone two weeks on a motorcycle trip would be tough, (I would get my Iron Butt pin), so the only way I might ever make it, would be to fly out there, and rent a cage.

Yes, that distance does make it a challenge.
If you flew out though, I don't know about renting a cage. Should be able to rent a bike somewhere.

Or may Warden can bring an extra dozen or so bikes with him...

I look forward to attending someday, but I live just a few miles south of NWRodie so the distance makes it difficult. This year I already had to many things planned. I leave Friday for a 2200 mile one week ride.

MikeyC wrote:
......I leave Friday for a 2200 mile one week ride.

Wow! Where you goin? Don't burn yourself out!