Der Weg ist das Ziel

The words above were on the back of a T-shirt I purchased at a BMW dealership a few months ago. Literally translated it means “The Way Is the Reward” or “The Journey Is the Reward” . To put it in terms we are more familiar with; “It’s not the Destination, it’s the Journey”. This phrase is one that most motorcyclists embrace as their mantra. And I have been in full agreement of this phrase on almost every ride I have ever taken. Recently, I went on a ride that contradicts this statement. The Moonshine Lunch Run (the MLR). In the case of the MLR I have to say it is the destination! I wish I could explain it to someone who has not been there, but I can’t.

Let me begin by saying that riding an interstate for two days to get to a small town in the middle of Illinois so you can meet up with hundreds of people you have never met sounds a bit insane to most people. So, clearly the “journey” was not the focus of this trip.

We arrived at Cindy and Terry’s Thursday evening for the Pre Moonshine BBQ. There were a couple hundred people milling around eating dinner and swapping stories of their rides, families and bikes. Many of these folks are old friends who have not seen each other since Moonshine 2009 and others were just together a week or so ago. But there were several, us included, who were Moonshine first-timers. Though we were new to this event, we were immediately “family”. Valerie and I understood right off the bat why people make this event annually. I could have headed home right then and been a happy man. More gracious hosts than Cindy and Terry would be hard to find.

We awoke the next morning to a solid layer of frost on the seat of the bikes. Moonshine is known for unpredictable weather. Soon the weather changed to a very comfortable and sunny day. We met up with a few hundred other riders at the host hotel and headed out for a short ride to lunch. Here we met several other “first-timers” while breaking bread. The fellowship was incredible and I think I could have gone home right then and been a happy man.

Friday evening we attended dinner at Richard’s Farm House Restaurant with about 400 of our closest friends. There was good hearted ribbing, hand shaking and all sorts of wonderful fellowship. But the evening was topped off by the “awards” ceremony where Terry gave awards to the riders who had traveled the greatest distance to get to Moonshine. Valerie and I were 34th and 35th. He also gave out nine plaques to members of the “board” and awarded one posthumously to Putt. Personally, my night was complete when I had my picture taken with the Tuttles who own the Moonshine Store. They are so sweet! I could have left right then and been a happy man.

Saturday morning came and we headed to the host hotel for some of the best cinnamon rolls ever created. I was intrigued to watch the Rough Road Riders head out for their morning of gravel, dirt and creek beds. I have never ridden those kinds of bikes but am interested. After the RRR gang rolled out it was time to head to Moonshine. THIS is what I had been waiting for. I had seen pictures and videos on the store but this was going to be first hand. As we arrived and pulled up right in front of the store it was as if I was in front of the pyramids of Egypt or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Valerie and I were some of the first to arrive. We were there! The whole reason for this trip was about to come to fruition! THE MOON BURGER! We got in line to order our burgers. It was barely 9:00 AM and we’re ordering burgers. The line was short at this point but later would grow to a wait of more than an hour. After receiving our feast we moved out to the tables where we found seats among other people eating the Breakfast Burgers. We met new friends and laughed with old ones. The burger was really a pretty darn good burger but the feeling was experiencing did not come from a burger. I’m not sure what it was…. But I could now go home a happy man.

The crowd that day grew beyond belief. By the day’s end there had been about 1100 motorcycles carrying 1400 riders arrive at the Moonshine Store and the kitchen team served 1908 burgers. Records were shattered! And to think that this event is only six years old.

Some of my new friends and a few old ones went on a ride through some very pretty countryside in Indiana and Illinois until it was time for dinner. This night it was the Casey firefighters putting on a chili and hot dog supper for some 300 of us. After eating there was a 50/50 drawing and an auction. Throughout the weekend money had been raised for various charities. The generosity of people never ceases to amaze me. What a great weekend this has been. I could have left right now and gone home a happy man.

Sunday morning came and we headed to the host hotel where we had some wonderful breakfast foods. Terry was there once again standing tirelessly over a grill fixing breakfast for 200 of his closest friends. The food was great but the friendship was better.

Well, the time has come and Valerie and I have to say good bye. I am not going home a happy man! I don’t want to leave. This has been one of the best experiences of my riding life. I really think that I have met life-long friends here at Moonshine 2010. If I can do this ride annually I will…. But if I am never able to do it again… I was here! I made it to Moonshine!!

So, was the burger the best I have ever eaten? You will have to judge that for yourself. What I do know is that Moonshine isn’t really about a burger at all. Moonshine is about seeing Terry tear up every time he meets someone who really “gets it”. It’s about discovering that Bad Bob isn’t really all that BAD. It’s about putting forum names together with real names and faces. It’s about seeing friends who have ridden 1,000 miles from all over the country to eat a burger with you. And it’s about knowing that there are people who wanted to be there but weren’t because of work, illness, family or some other reason beyond their control and they were missed. It’s about meeting new people who have many of the same interests that you have and love to share them. Personally, it was about spending 5 days with a wife I love and enjoy every minute we get to have together.

Moonshine! It isn’t the journey…. It isn’t the destination…. It’s an experience that you either get or you don’t….. I got it! And I got it bad!