What is "THE JOURNEY"?

[Clint]

Very early on in the wild and uncertain days of this forum one of our first Charter members, Clutchglass, came up with the idea of creating a forum flag and making a run from coast to coast. “Clutch” as we all know him, is quite a fan of cowboy culture, the Wild West and the men and women who lived it, loved it and tamed it. If “Clutch” was a movie, that movie would be a Western. His idea was to make a flag and leave his home in Southern CA to get it delivered by iron horse to one of our founders, RichardS in New Jersey. The original plan was to accomplish this like the old “Pony Express” and “hand-off” the flag from rider to rider as it made its way on a non-stop run to the East Coast. That great idea, conceived and inspired by Clutch, has taken us on a path towards to an even greater quest that we now call “The Journey”.

The more we looked at the Pony Express idea and the more we tried to coordinate it, the more we all recognized the challenges and issues involved. Do we take the Northern route or the Southern route? What will happen if there’s an icestorm or a tornado or a breakdown or any one of the other hundreds of things that could cause a delay and break the chain? But MORE importantly and MOST importantly, we all finally came to the same conclusion that a straight through run would mean that most of our members would not be able to be involved.

At that point, the lights came on and we all collectively agreed that this adventure needed to be a “Journey” and not a run. Our forum itself has been a Journey of its own and this endeavor needed to be an extension and a representation of that Journey. So the flag has no final destination and no set schedule. The flag also “Lives for the Ride”…. just like the rest of us.

As the flag continues along its Journey, we won’t have a rock solid plan, just a basic one that will involve the members pulling together to help figure it out. From each point, the flag will get moving to whatever direction makes sense or maybe even sometimes in a direction that doesn’t make sense. As the Journey continues, members will have an opportunity to meet and greet other members and sign the flag. If it gets stuck for a few days, or a week or even over a winter, then so be it. Our thinking is that the flag will always be able to keep moving for as long as we have members that are willing to ride.

[clutchglass]

Fantastic intro to a thread that will ultimately become full of pictures Clint!!! As you already stated the spirit of the flag is to get our members to join one another on the road. I'm damn sure bringing my camera!!! This is gonna be fan-freaking-tastic!!!
-clutch-

[Mad Dog Jim]

Now you are talkin! Great idea!!! One can only imagine the shananigans the flag will see! Would be cool if it made it to Reedwood Run or Run 21 on the west coast... Maybe Sturgis? I am heading east July 1st if that helps...

[Roy]

Looking forward to see it all come togetther.

[Glenalt]

Can't wait for it to come to the South. Bring it on.

[nakkers]

The Stanley Cup takes an epic journey every year during the off season with each player of the winning team. Each player gets a day with the cup for bragging rights and share with their community and loved ones. The stories of where the cup as been is the stuff of legends.

It goes without saying the need for pics of the members and flag during exchanges and meetings etc. I think it would also be cool if we try and get some pics of the flag at some points of interest or with famous people or things. The PCH, Grand Canyon, Vegas Strip, The Dragon, BRP, CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty, St Louis arch, Willy Nelson, etc. Well, you get the idea. What ever floats your boat that can be a part of the journey.

[Jaystronghawk]

Looking forward to seeing the Flag on the Move .. Not sure when I come in to grab it for a bit but will be there for it when looks like my turn ..

[tcspannerwrench]

This is one of the cooler ideas i have heard