The Northern Virginia Cruisers of the Virago Owners Club are sponsoring the Northern Virginia Ride-In 1999. This event will be held in Stafford, Virginia which is located approximately 40 miles south of Washington, DC. There is no registration fee and events will include door prizes, 50/50, self-guided tours, and participation in Rolling Thunder XII.
DATE |
DAY |
TIME |
EVENT |
| May 27 | Thursday | 6:00pm - 8:00pm | Hospitality Suite Open / Registration (note 1) |
| " | " | 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Social meeting (note 2) |
| May 28 | Friday | 8:00am - 10:00am | Hospitality Suite Open / Registration (note 1) |
| " | " | 10:00am - 4:00pm | Self-Guided Tours |
| " | " | 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Social meeting (note 2) |
| May 29 | Saturday | 8:00am - 10:00am | Hospitality Suite Open / Registration (note 1) |
| " | " | 10:00am - 4:00pm | Self-Guided Tours |
| " | " | 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Social meeting (note 2) |
| May 30 | Sunday | 8:00am - 9:00am | Hospitality Suite Open / Registration (note 1) |
| " | " | 8:45am - 9:15am | Depart for East Coast HD (Rolling Thunder Participants) |
| " | " | 10:30am - 11:30am | Depart for Washington, DC (Rolling Thunder Observers) |
| " | " | 12:00 - UTC | Rolling Thunder XII |
| " | " | 7:00pm - 8:30pm | Social meeting (note 2) |
| Note
1: In the Hospitality Suite we will have volunteers available to answer questions
and to provide local maps, discount coupons, and self-guided tour routes and
information on local attractions and motorcycle shops. Note 2: The social meeting will include door prizes, 50/50, question and answer session, and a discussion about the next days events. |
|||
SELF-GUIDED TOURS I |
|
| Ride to Arlington National Cemetery | Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) was established on over 600 acres of land that was once part of General Robert E. Lee's antebellum plantation. Located across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, this most famous burial site in America is the final resting place for more than 225,000 military personnel and their families. Famous graves include those of President John Kennedy and his brother Robert, President William Howard Taft, and the Tomb of the Unknowns. During our trip to ANC we will witness the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. |
| Ride to Historic Culpeper | This ride is about 90 miles and travels
throughout the Virginia country-side with a stop in Culpeper, Virginia. Culpeper County was host to several Civil War battles that would steer the bloody conflict to its' final destiny. These battles include: The Battle of Brandy Station, The Battle of Cedar Mountain, and The Battle of Culpeper Courthouse. General Robert E. Lee, perhaps the most loved and admired general in the Civil War, led the Confederate Army into many battles. General Lee set up camp and spent many months in Culpeper, the longest period during the cold winter of 1862-63. At age 17, young George Washington, one of the founding fathers of our country, was commissioned from 1749-1751 to survey and plat the Town and County of Culpeper. Washington, liking what he saw, recorded that Culpeper had a "high and pleasant situation". More than 4,000 dinosaur tracks have been unearthed in a Culpeper County rock quarry. During the Late Triassic period (about 215 million years ago), dinosaurs walked through the quarry, leaving their tracks behind to be preserved in stone. The dinosaur footprint found most frequently in the quarry belonged to a small theropod, similar to Syntarsus. This meat-eating dinosaur was 8-14 feet long. |
| Rolling Thunder XII | This ride is by far the most emotional event that most us will ever participate in. We will leave from the hotel and stage at East Coast Harley-Davidson in Dumfries, Virginia before traveling to the south parking lot of the Pentagon. At noon, the ride begins and travels through Washington, DC and terminates at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The main mission of Rolling Thunder is to publicize the POW-MIA issue, educate the public of the fact that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all past wars and to help correct the past and to protect the future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action. Over 250,000 motorcyclists are expected to participate! |
SELF-GUIDED TOURS II |
|
| Country-Side Ride | This ride is a short, but very scenic self-guided tour. Total distance is about 64 miles throughout the Virginia country-side with part of the route traveling through the Prince Williams Forest Park. Gas, food and bathroom facilities are located at Eustaces Corner (25.7 miles). Total travel time (including a 15-minute break) is about 1 hour, 30 minutes. |
| Ride to Colonial Beach | This ride is highly recommended by the Northern Virginia Cruisers. Covering just over 100 miles, it offers a blend of great scenery and dynamic history. Colonial Beach is situated along the Potomac river next to the birthplaces of George Washington, Robert E. Lee and James Monroe. During your visit to Colonial Beach, be sure to visit the Riverboat on the Potomac. Here you can have lunch and partake in some legalized gambling since it is actually located in Charles County, Maryland although you enter from the Virginia shore. The entire family is welcome! |
| Civil War Battlefield Ride | Visit the Civil War exhibit shelters at Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania Courthouse, Wilderness Battlefield and Chandellorsville. Total distance is about 85 miles. More information to follow. |
| HOTEL | Hampton Inn, 2925 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554 (540) 657-0999 | |
| RATE | $71.00 per night (reserve by May 6, 1999). Ask for rooms reserved by the "Northern Virginia Cruisers". Note: Room reservations must be made individually and cancelled in accordance with hotel policy. The Northern Virginia Cruisers are not liable for any charges incurred to individual participates. | |
| INFO | Check-In: 3:00pm, Check-Out: 11:00am; Continental Breakfast; Exercise Facility; Pool; No Pets Allowed | |
| ATTRACTIONS | Aquia Town
Center Brafferton Shopping Center North Stafford Plaza Shop Center Potomac Mills Mall/Dale City Spotsylvania Mall/Fredericks |
0.2 Miles SE |
| RESTAURANTS | Cafe Davanzo |
0.2 Miles SE. |
| DIRECTIONS | From Richmond, VA: Take I-95 north
to exit 143A (Aquia), turn left off ramp at light, go through next light, hotel is on your
left, turn left at street between hotel and Amoco Gas Station/Fasmart for hotel entrance. From Washington, DC: Take I-95 south to exit 143A (Aquia), when you get off ramp, get over in your far left lane, turn left at traffic light, hotel is on your left, turn left at street between hotel and Amoco Gas Station/Fasmart for hotel entrance. |
|
NOTE:
Although the Hampton Inn is our host hotel, additional lodging is available thru these merchants.
| CAMPING | Aquia Pines Camp Resort, 3071 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Stafford, VA 22554 (800) 726-1710 or e-mail: [email protected] |
| RATE | $6 per person per night (first come-first serve). |
| INFO | Shaded level sites; picnic tables on sites; Hot, tiled showers included; laundry facilities; large heated pool; mini golf course; well stocked campstore |
| ATTRACTIONS | Same as listed above. |
| RESTAURANTS | Same as listed above. |
| DIRECTIONS | From Richmond, VA: Take I-95 north to exit 143A (Aquia), turn left
off ramp at light, go through next light, campground is one mile on your left. From Washington, DC: Take I-95 south to exit 143A (Aquia), when you get off ramp, get over in your far left lane, turn left at traffic light, campground is one mile on your left. |
TEMPERATURE |
||
| May | Jun | |
| Average Temperature | 66o | 76o |
| Average High Temperature | 76o | 85o |
| Average Low Temperature | 57o | 67o |
| SUN "RISE and SET" SCHEDULE | ||
| DATE | RISE | SET |
| 27 May | 5:50am | 8:24pm |
| 28 May | 5:49am | 8:25pm |
| 29 May | 5:49am | 8:26pm |
| 30 May | 5:48am | 8:27pm |
For more weather info, including the 5-day forecast click here.