And They're Off

The PALM applications were mailed off on Wednesday Jan 21. We got our application in the mail today, but we are only 45 miles from where they were mailed. We mail applications 1st class, so, if you are on our mailing list, you should your application tomorrow. If you haven't gotten an application by Monday, the chances are you are not going to get an application by mail. The application is not on the web site yet. I'll put it there Tuesday so you'll be able to download it. This is important because last year we filled up by Febuary19, 3 weeks after we mailed them out. If this year is like last year (and we've been getting a lot of inquiries about our ride), time is of the essence.

The latest PALM meeting was last Sunday. Last Saturday the weather was horrible, even for winter. It was below zero in the morining, then it snowed 6-8 inches during the day with wind. I was on the expressway on Saturday night (fool) and you couldn't see the lanes. You could drive 30 mph, but at 35 you would start losing contol. So I was really looking forward to driving to Lansing. But once I got past Novi on I-96, it wasn't a problem. When I got to the meeting in Lansing, there were staff from all over the state there: Muskegon, Columbiaville, Three Rivers, Coldwater, etc. Hardy people. We were able to distribute applications to everyone to take back to their bike shops, bike clubs, and friends. (That's another way to get an application.) So I was able to mail off applications to all the Canadians on the mailing list on Monday. They may get all the low rider numbers.

We all know times are tough. You may have enough for the registration, but not have enough money to pay for meals and bus rides just yet. You may want to wait until you have all the money before you submit your application. You don't have to. You can send in the registration fee now ($110 for riders 18 and over, $65 for riders 11 thru 17, and $55 for riders 10 and under) and reserve your spot on PALM and send in money for meals and buses later (before May 15 though). Even though every bit of green is under 18 inches of snow and the roads are not fit for cars, never mind bikes, watch for that PALM application. Summer starts when you mail it in.