46 replies to this topic

[mk2davis]

I'm first going to butter everyone up by saying saying there seems to be a definite level of commaradore prevelent here that is uncommon to say the least. It's my belief that these needs to be celebrated. Let me also say that I am very envious of those that can afford (both financially and timewise) to take long tours, although I love reading and dreaming about them.

Then I though, just because I can't go doesn't mean my camera cant.

Here's the kernel of my idea. Feel free to offer suggestions/improvements/criticism. This will, no doubt, take a village. I'm going to take my camera and ride to San Francisco from Santa Barbara. I'll take pics along the way, and once I get to SF I'll hand the camera over to a fellow VFRer. We'll have lunch, take a pic or two, and (s)he'll ride to where ever. Then VFRer hands the camera to VFRer 2, and so on and so forth. I'm hoping that people will join the camera for impruvto (sp?) VFR group rides along the way which can be planned on the thread. I don't care when this ends, as long as progress continues. If there are no updates for a month, yeah, I'd kinda like my camera back.

I'll put my address on the camera (I would like to get it back at some point), and every few days someone can reply to the thread with some uploaded pics. Ideally, there are some cameras that tag pics with the GPS location of where the pic was taken, and I'll try to get one of those.

Where will it go??? I think the cool thing is that it doesn't really matter as long as it goes somewhere... The goals are to a) meet fellow VFRers and b) promote the idea of a collective experience that many of us can participate in.

So what do you think? It's going to take more than three of us to make this ride.

[MaxSwell]

Seems a very cool concept to me. For example, if I got the camera at T-Mac, I'd take it Road America, Wis. for the AMA road races June 1 > 3. That'd make a good place to hand it over to the next rider. Anyone else planning on going? I camp in the Carousel tent area across from the consession stand (site # 19).

[tc339]

I think it is a pretty awesome idea. although I feel like it is possible you wont get the camera back. Not because someone stole it, but its is very possible it may become lost, broke, stolen, etc.

Im assuming pictures will be posted and deleted along the way so there is enough room on the camera?

I will certainly volunteer for the second leg of the relay since im in the San Francisco area. Depending on when you decide to do it i will be riding up to Vancouver BC this summer and hoping to meet up with a few guys. or if its before that I can ride however far to meet up for the next hand off.

I think it would be really cool to see how far we could get it, and if it was possible to maybe get a loop around the US/Canada? Might be a little ambitious though

[mk2davis]

I'm well aware the camera might not make its way back to me, although it would be cool to have a camera that's traveled farther than I have. This doesn't have be continious. If someone picks it up one weekend, downloads the pics and clears the memory card, and passes it off the next weekend that is fine. This is obviously not meant to burden anyone, just to be a fun motivator to get out there. As if we need the it!

I wasn't thinking about startin until June or possible July as both my birthday and MotoGP at Laguna Seca are in July. But if people are on board sooner than that, who am I to say no? The loop would be great (maybe we can get Booker in on the action), but if the sucker heads east and doesn't turn back I wouldn't complain. Do we have peope in Eastern Europe???

[Baileyrock]

It would be a visual Flaf.

[MaxSwell]

I'm planning on the SumSum2 if it needs to get from the west to the midwest. We could call it the Chain Camera - like a chain letter. Kinda like the (rumored) FLAF. Hopefully it will be better kept track of though.

[ninjadoc]

Pretty awesome idea, will be a different feel when we see the pics inside the
Camera once you get it back and not see it posted by other users in between, only thing is won't this be pretty much same as every rider taking pics and posting it here with there own camera and thus sharing the trip with every one ?

[booker82]

I think it's a great idea. If it's anywhere near my during my trip this summer (see the "Lapping the Continent, Sort of..." thread), I'd be thrilled to have it for a day.

[tc339]

I dont know if any of you are Redditors, but the motorcycle community there attempted/is attempting to get a stuffed animal on a loop around the US. They put a map together where everyone could add there location and mark how far they were willing to ride. that might be a good idea.

http://maps.google.c....513672&t=m&z=4

Also, Im planning on leaving for Canada on June 25th. I could get it as far as Calgary, or somewhere in Montana or western Wyoming. It would also be cool if we could get it to the east coast, ship it over to the UK or Europe and keep it going!

and Ninjadoc, Although it may not be that different than just people uploading picture from their own cameras, i think its more the idea that is pretty damn cool. its just another excuse for people to meet each other and ride (like we really need an excuse.) and like mk2davis said, it would be cool to have a camera that has made it that far.

[CharlesW]

It's a really silly idea that just might work. (Hey, so was the first motorcycle.)
The potential is almost unlimited.
The logistics may be a challenge, but considering that most VFRD members are pretty laid back, they should be workable.

Great idea for a project.

I do think Ninjadoc has an idea that could also be neat if quite few people could work out a series of trips that could be put together.

The only real drawback I see is the amount of work and planning it will require.

Good Luck!!!