Every year around the summer solstice, riders are drawn to a pre-Civil War farm in Blue Grass; a remote, picturesque village in the western Virginia. What do they know that the rest of us should know?

Read the first installment at http://dalecoyner.blogspot.com

As I've probably mentioned before, Culpeper County (VA) is about to join Lexington/Rockbridge/Roanoke Valley in efforts to attract motorcyclists to the region. I'm told it will be available in a week or two. The local paper ran a piece about the brochure.

Here's a link to the piece: http://tinyurl.com/3644c5

Have a question about trailering? We have a new forum that is part of the Tailpullers.org website. We've been busy answering questions and solving problems (or at least trying to point people in the right directions when we don't have answers).

You'll find the discussion form at http://www.tailpullers.org

We're also pleased to announce that we donated $1,500 to Motorcycle Virginia!, the initiative sponsored by the Virginia Governor's Motorcycle Advisory Council. Our donation was matched by Tom McGrath, the "Motorcycle Lawyer." Those donations will be matched by the Virginia Tourism Corporation, resulting in a $6,000 total contribution. Part of the funds will be used to sponsor a makeover of the Motorcycle Virginia! website.

Motorcycle Consumer News has accepted a piece I've written on wiring best practices. "Wire Without Fire" is based on a seminar that I present to clubs. It'll probably run in the next couple of months. If you belong to a club in the mid-Atlantic area and would like for me to present this program at a club meeting, drop me a line.

I've also struck a deal with Wing World to publish a series of pieces on motorcycle trailering. The first piece will show Wing riders how to add a wiring harness to their bikes that requires no cutting and properly isolates the trailer from the rest of the bike. Guess I'll get busy and write that after I send this out…

Planning to be at any of these July events? Be sure to come by and see me!

13-15: Gettysburg Bike Week. I'll be working the California Sidecar booth. Link: http://www.gettysburgbikeweek.com

20-22: Carlisle Summer Bike Fest. We'll have an Open Road booth set up and I'll be doing a couple of presentations each day. One entitled "See and Be Seen" will discuss ways to improve your lighting and conspicuity. The other program will be a GPS workshop. Link: http://www.carsatcarlisle.com

28: Speaker at The Lost Tour. As you tour the Appalachians you'll find them by the dozens, if not hundreds. "Lost" communities, so-called because they no longer posses the key element that once caused them to thrive. However, most of them still have at least one thing going for them - they're along great roads! The Lost Tour is a motorcycle rally designed around these communities as a way to rediscover our heritage and enjoy a great ride. Link: http://www.thelosttour.com

On this day when we celebrate our ability to pursue happiness as free men and women, thank God for your country and thank your neighbors who defend it and keep it safe.

Postcards From the Open Road would not be possible without contributions from our favorite man-made, highly processed, nutritionally questionable and singularly appetizing food products. We therefore acknowledge Dr. Pepper carbonated beverages, Ball Park All-Beef Franks (bun length), Bush's Baked Bean products, and Duke's Real Mayonnaise for its leading role in producing the tastiest potato salad ever assembled by human hands. Since 1917, it's the secret to true southern-style home cookin'. Mmm, mmm!