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The 2021 Fly-By Week in Marietta Ohio will be held Monday Aug 23 through Saturday Aug 29. Sunday is when folks pack up and say goodbye till next year. Check out the web page at flybyweek.com The event is conducted by the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA) which is a nation-wide organization of riders that are interested in sporty riding at far-flung locations where great roads are abundant. The event attracts 100-150 riders, many who are riding with their wives, etc. from across the country. This year you can register for the event for $15 and do not need to be or become a member, though there will be a liability waiver. The entry fee gets you access to the event. There are no meals provided. The location will now be at the Hampton Inn and Microtel at the intersection of I77 and Pike St. There are several restaurants in walking distance. The main days for the event are Friday and Saturday. But beginning a few years ago, the organizers opened the event to begin Monday and extend through the week to provide more time in the area. The group attending during the week is smaller, so, after getting back from the day's ride and cleaning up, we carpool to one or more of the delightful downtown restaurants - and have a great time. The format for the rides is that we form small groups of typically four to eight and then head out on one of the 20+ posted routes. Most of the routes take most of the day and include a lunch stop suggestion. The rides are grouped into categories like Touring Bike Friendly, Destinations, or Twisties. This year there are FIVE suggested routes for adv bikes - most with gravel roads, not demanding, but one with more challenging sections. Signup sheets are available for each riding day which try to group skill / speed levels and interests. But frankly, most groups form up during the storytelling sessions in the parking lot the evening before. The MSTA members tend to be mature and skilled riders. We have folks ranging in age from the 30's to the 70's, most are in 50-60's. Many have been members for decades. The Fly-By, previously called the Mail Pouch Fly-By, has been running for about 25 years, usually from the same hotel. Each evening the parking lot has an amazing collection of bikes of all makes and of many styles. Many ride their sport touring bikes from far away. But quite a few bring sport bikes by trailer. If you want to see them, stop by in the early evening. The parking lot will be empty from about 8 AM till 4 PM or so. If you have any questions, reply here or send me a PM. Hope to see ya there! Chris Shoop

Look where I was today at 11:55. If I would have seen a Goldwing in the parking lot someone could have gotten lunch.