Events? - White Line Magazine

Transcription

Feature Articles
Meet the Staff........................................................1
Travels with Brother Bear ........ Tommy P.......... 27
The Shadow Knows ..............................................2
Shop Talk ... Hard Rock in New Orleans............ 28
The Shadow Knows ..............................................3
Tracking Terry Contest ........................................ 29
Event Coverage .... PG Bike Night.......................4
About the Magazine ............................................. 30
Roadstore.............................................................. 31
Product Review .... Scooter Juice ........................ 32
Reader's Rides ...................................................... 33
Lone Star Lowdown .... Michael M......................9
Poems from the Pavement ... R. Sprocket ........... 34
Chilin' With Ice ............... Bobby S. ....................10
Poems from the Pavement ... R. Sprocket ........... 35
Chilin' With Ice ............... Bobby S...................... 11
Shop Talk ........ Sucker Punch Sally ................... 36
Babe of the Month................................................12
White Line Remembers the Fallen ...................... 37
Babe of the Month Calendar................................13
Pinky's Passion ..............by Mary B. ................... 38
Travels with Brother Bear ....... Tommy P. ..........14
Travels with Brother Bear ........ Tommy P. .........15
Shop Talk ... Steven Tyler Leads Legends ..........16
Cover Story ...........................................................18
Cover Story ...........................................................19
Cover Story ...........................................................20
'Toons for the Road ... by Jerry King...................21
Miles of Smiles ..... William K. ............................22
Fun and Games ......... Lyd C. ..............................23
Views and News from the Dragon .......................24
Our Favorite Links............................................... 48
Events and More...................................................25
Contact Us ............................................................ 49
Travels with Brother Bear ....... Tommy P. ..........26
Index of Advertisers
Panther Cycles
Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz
Quality Printing
Motorcycle Property.com
Creative Catering
Needful Things
American Injury
Safe Ride
Charlotte County Custom Cycles
Holiday House / Club 455
You Tape I Type
White Line Roadstore
In the Beginning
In the beginning it beckoned; calling from the darker side.
To gather chosen spirits, with a wolf as their guide.
They started on a journey; hope and dreams intertwined.
Reality and fantasy, twisted warped and defined.
A true labor of love is born from the kindred;
To share the spirit of freedom is what is intended.
With the blessings of many whitelinemagazine.com is here;
Sharing wisdom and laughter, kinship and good cheer.
Lyd
12-18-03
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I'm sitting here listening to music and trying to get my thoughts in order. Everything has quieted down from the Punta Gorda
Bike Night and settled back into the old routine. But it is the Bike Night that occupies my thoughts so much.
Just a few short months ago, we started working on the Bike Night. We had the first one in Lashley Park under our belts and
were working on the grander adventure of bringing that event to the downtown streets. We had no idea the amount of work that
would be involved. When people looked at the end result on May the 9th, we were told repeatedly how good of a job we had done.
We had no way of taking a direct count, but our best estimate is that we drew between 8 and 9 thousand people total to the event,
with a peak attendance of an estimated 5,000 people at one time. We are very proud of the fact that unlike the Block Party, which
is the "institution" that we were being compared with, we had NO incidences which needed the 6 police officers we hired. I
couldn't be more proud of the motorcycle community for showing that such an event can draw a huge crowd and still stay within
the bounds of "decency", thus dispelling the stigma of those ancient Marlon Brando movies!
But I was thinking of the work involved in putting this event on. Our loyal readers know that this magazine is put out by a few
"ordinary" people. It's a bunch of us friends that see each other every day in a social setting as well as putting this magazine
together for you. But it was these "ordinary people", my friends, that worked their butts off to make this event a reality. So it's time
for a little " thank you".
One of the first I have to thank is my niece, Shana. Shana braved the downtown merchants and tried to get them involved in the
bike night by offering discounts. She walked the downtown area several times over, often with her son Danny in a stroller right
along with her. Shana also manned the Ladies of White Line tent for a major portion of the event and did the work of 3 in getting
people to loosen their purse strings for the Susan G. Komen foundation.
The next person on the list would be "Mommy Monster". This energetic person, who wishes to remain anonymous, jumped into
the event whole heartedly. She not only went door to door collecting a good 90% of the donations we got for the chance drawings
to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation, she also hand made dozens of little pillows that she donated to sell for the charity.
Thank you "M".
And of course, no list would be complete without Momma Lyd. She jumped in and took over and arranged every aspect of the
booth to benefit the charity. She arranged and paid for the carnations that the Ladies sold. She had to organize and sort all the
donations that they received. She ran the drawings and kept track of all the donation money received. She spent hours in the booth
as well as taking pictures for me of the event itself. Thank you Lyd.
Speaking of the drawings, no thank you list would be complete without mentioning Larry T. Larry is an on air personality with
the "Down Home Cookin'" show and he jumped in and volunteered his services as emcee for the night. He did a great job of
introducing the bands, keeping the crowd enthused, announcing the drawings and generally being a big help.
Ice and Care Bear, who busted their butts and kept on trying even though it seemed everything they worked on fell apart! These
two work hard to draw in the younger crowd and I hope they know how much I appreciate their efforts!
The list goes on. Woody, who kept the streets so clean that after we tore down you could hardly tell that any event had even
happened. He went above and beyond by going back the next day and making sure that nothing was left behind. My brothers
Hawk and Rob, and nephew, Gizmo who were there for anything we needed from setting up the barricades at 6:00 am to helping
build the stage and set up the bands. They did anything I asked of them and kept coming back for more. They took a lot of the last
minute load off of me and allowed me to take a breath from all the pre-event work I had done. Two-Shoes, who came in after the
crowds dispersed and helped with the tear down and clean up.
And, of course, thanks to William K., my sales manager. William not only kept up with me at most of the pre-event meetings
and hurdles, he also pulled a heavy part of the organizational duties for the day of the event so I didn't have to. He was the man on
the spot as everyone was pulling in and wanting their spaces. He literally ran from street to street making sure all the vendors were
in place and in some cases moving them to more workable places at the last minute! William took a lot of the load off of me the
day of the event and I can't thank him enough.
All of these people put in a lot of work behind the scenes to make the successful event that the public got to see. And it was a
very successful event. We had good food on the streets with everything from the Working Cow with great ice cream to Beth
Anderson's great pizza and chicken sticks. * a little side note here... If you see Beth at any event, make sure and try her Italian
Sausage. We already had a sausage vendor when Beth contacted us, so she wasn't able to sell hers at our event. BIG mistake! Let
me tell you, I used to travel with carnivals and have gone to county fairs all my life and eaten Italian sausage all over the place,
but Beth's is THE best I have ever had!! We also had a good mix of vendors with everything from motorcycle builders to leather
dealers. We had the law firm of Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz and Sick Cycles with some of the wildest paints on
the planet. We had cool lights from Be Seen at Night and hot T's from Down to Earth. The vendors I got to talk to personally said
that they had a good day and made some money. I know that one bike builder actually sold one bike there at the event!
(continued)
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There were some problems that we will have to address if and when we get to put on another bike night. We can do better and
make it bigger if we can address some of the issues like power on Sullivan street for the vendors, and staggering the setup times
for trailers and tents. We also had to wait until the last minute to close down Marion street and hope to be able to get an earlier
start next time.
But here is where I need you the readers. Did you go to the bike night? Do you have any criticism or praise or suggestions to
make the next one bigger and better? And would you have another one here in Punta Gorda? Any and all feedback we get will help
us as we start talking to the city about future events like this here in the downtown area. Please don't wait and count on others to
speak their mind, make your voice heard! Send an email to me personally at shadow@whitelinemagazine.com and make your
voice heard in this town!
Phew. With that out of the way I have just a couple more things to talk about. First I have two people I want to welcome to our
staff. Rusty Sprocket has joined us with a new column called Poems from the Pavement. Rusty will be supplying his own original
poems for the column, but is also asking for any aspiring authors out there to send in their work for consideration too. We're real
pleased to have Rusty writing with us and welcome him aboard. Our next newbie to join our family is Michael Miranda. Michael
joins us from the great state of Texas and will be both writing a column to keep us up to date on what's going on out his way, and
he'll be bringing advertisers in from the lone star state too. Look for Michael's column, Lone Star Lowdown which starts in this
issue! Welcome aboard Michael!
And last but not least I want to let everyone who signed up for our email list in the past 8 months or so that we have finally
gotten the kinks worked out of the system and will be sending out our first emails to those people this month.
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Punta Gorda Bike Night...from the Ladies' point-of-view.
That was one awesome feeling! The guys had been busy with setting up for
Punta Gorda Bike Night all morning while us Ladies were still back at the house
getting all of the last-minute things in order. Finally, we loaded up and headed
downtown for our part of the set-up. When we got to the barricades blocking off
W. Marion, the scale of it al started to hit us; when the barricades parted for us,
and then were put back in place to stop any other vehicles, it all became very
surreal; when we saw the empty streets and realized they were ALL OURS, we
went absolutely nuts! Bringing bike night to the streets of our fair city had been a
dream of ours for awhile, ever since Hurricane Charley in 2006, and it was finally
happening. The very special part was that us "friends" did this (with a whole lot
of Shadow). Not some big corporation, not city leaders, not even the local bike
shop...just us and the reputation of White Line Magazine...we did this and boy
does that feel good! We had worked hard to change some attitudes and bring the
local businesses onboard, but it was all working out very well and everybody was getting excited. I was pleased when I looked
around and saw that the downtown establishments were already hopping with the vendors and onlookers stopping in for a bite to
eat and a cold beer on a hot, Southwest Florida afternoon. Even the local hardware store sold some forgotten essentials and lastminute replacement parts to some of the vendors. I don't think really anybody knew exactly what to expect, but we sure were
determined to have fun with it.
With Woody's help (a real great guy who jumped in and was
everywhere doing just about everything that needed done THANKS WOODY!), we got everything set up, placed on the
tables just right, and started talking to the folks walking by and
wondering what was going on. I have to admit that our place
turned out looking pretty cool. We had the dozens of pillows
that Mommy Monster (Missy C.) had hand-sewn hung up along
the top of the tent. They were a multicolored mix of patterns
and designs, all stuffed with love, and swinging in the breeze.
Hopefully, they'd do a good job at catching people's eye and
bring them in closer. The proceeds from the sale of the pillows,
along with the sale of pink carnations and tickets for some great
prizes donated by local businesses, all were going to benefit the
Susan G. Koman Foundation, for a Cure for Breast Cancer. Needless to say, we were enveloped in pink, the color of breast cancer
awareness, and were stoked to raise some money. The other benefactor for the evening was the DAV (Disabled American
Veterans), with a huge "thank you" to Terry for making their participation possible.
Preparations ended, the crowd was already steadily growing and bike night was now officially underway! Larry T., from Down
Home Cookin' radio was the emcee for the night and Marc Anthony Roman and TUCCI Group were the kick-ass bands that had
everybody dancin' in the streets. We were all so busy, but it was so much fun! I remember looking up and around at one point and
noticed that I could barely see across the street for the sea of people! The angels of the evening were really Shana R. and Mommy
Monster as they worked hard to get people to open up their pockets and "help save
some boobies"! We even had my niece, Cami, and Mommy Monster's daughter, Abby,
working the crowd and selling carnations as only those cute little angelic faces could.
Yes, we pimped out the kids...but it was for a good cause and they did a fantastic job!
I had a special treat as a dear friend, whom I had not seen nor talked to in over 30
years, had contacted me and came to town to visit and to check out what this bike night
thing was that I had been so obsessed with over the past few weeks. It was great
seeing Bobbie again, remembering old times and catching up on new ones, all in
between selling pillows, carnations and tickets, and then giving away some really great
prizes. I saw a lot of meeting and greeting going on around me, friends calling out to
each other over all the people and noise, the handshakes that turned into hugs, then
leading into conversation and a cold beer. "Here's to good friends, like Bobbie."
(continue)
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It was a great time for all who were involved and for those who came
out to see what a bike night in Punta Gorda was all about - all about 8000
of you! It was amazing to see 3 rows of bikes parked all down along W.
Marion, the main street through town. There was a constant stream of
people walking up and down the rows of bikes, talking, admiring and
remembering. Bike owners stood close by, happy to answer any
questions about their machine and eager to show it off. Everybody had
their story to tell. The rows of vendors and the downtown businesses saw
a steady stream of patrons. Jack's Restaurant, right on the corner, was
THE spot to be with outside seating right across the street from the stage,
right in the middle of everything. They had been taking reservations all
week as people quickly figured out that this would be a prime spot for the
evening with great food, cold drinks, friendly service and the best seats
for crowd and bike-watching. River City Grill, Bin 82 and Presseller Delicatessen were jammin' all night. Our goal was to help
spotlight the rebuilding of Punta Gorda and I think people were really impressed with what they saw. I know I was.
There were so many people who helped make
Punta Gorda Bike Night a HUGE success. Together
we helped raise awareness about breast cancer along
with some desperately needed cash to help fund the
research that will cure this disease. We helped some
veterans whom we owe so much to. We also created a
fun, inexpensive night off from the boredom that these
tough economic times has brought into our daily lives.
I think we all needed that. I want to make sure that I
give credit where credit is due because the following
people and businesses were amazing in what they did
for bike night. We had over $3500 in prizes donated
by these local shops and restaurants, all to benefit
Susan G. Koman. They deserve a huge round of
applause AND your patronage!
Special People
Shana, Levi & Danny
Mommy Monster, Abby. Justiss &
Dave
Cami, Branden & Rob
Woody & Twoshoes
Larry T., Dr. Tucci & Marc
Special Places
Autozone, Punta Gorda
IHOP, Punta Gorda
Advanced Auto Parts, PG
Golden Corral, Punta Gorda
Working Cow Ice-Cream, PG
Muscle Car City Museum, PG
Prestige Auto Spa, Punta Gorda
www.BettyRossCandles.net
Big Daddy Tattoo, Port Charlotte
Dunkin' Donuts, Punta Gorda
41 Performance, Punta Gorda
La Piazza Restaurant, PG
Black Pearl Tattoo, PC
King Fisher Fleet, Punta Gorda
The City of Punta Gorda
Godfather's Customs, PC
Wyvern Hotel, Punta Gorda
Cap'n & the Cowboy Restaurant,
Port Charlotte
Trattoria Limoncello Italian
Restaurant, Port Charlotte
Coward & Glisson Wholesale
Florist, Punta Gorda
SunArt Gallery and Framing, PG
PG Chamber of Commerce
PG River Boat Tours, Punta Gorda
Jack's Restaurant, Punta Gorda
Ryan's Subs, Punta Gorda
Level 5 Tattoo, Port Charlotte
Whiskey Creek, Port Charlotte
TGI Friday's, Port Charlotte
Fox's Pizza Den, Punta Gorda
Fish Cove Adventure Golf, PC
Bowland, Port Charlotte
Pizza Hut, Punta Gorda
Guns and Ammo, Punta Gorda
Beef O'Brady's, Punta Gorda
Visani's Comedy Club, PC
Charlotte Stone Crabs baseball
Tropical Rays Tanning, PC
Ice House Pub, Punta Gorda
Motel 6, Punta Gorda
Presseller Delicatessen, PG
Pies & Plates, Punta Gorda
Again, thank you to all who supported us. We had a great time and could never have done it without you! Are you ready for
the next one??? See ya there!!
Peace,
Momma Lyd
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THE
LONE
STAR
RIDER
Welcome to
Texas. Hopefully I
will be writing you
from the Great state
of Texas every
month now with
routes to ride, and
places to go.
Now I have got to say that I believe Texas is one of if not
the best state for riding motorcycles. We have a long warm
riding season and there are so many scenic out of the way
routes to ride that you can never run out of some where
different to ride. I will try to tell you about at least one good
route to ride and one good place to go in Texas every month.
“A Scenic Route From Dallas/FortWorth to the
Oklahoma Border”
On Sunday a group of friends and myself, six of us
altogether, met up at a great little restaurant and bar by the
name of Theo’s located in Grand Prairie. It has very good
food, serves breakfast, lunch, diner and any libation you
choose, from the bar. They also have karaoke twice a week.
We meet there often as a staging point for our day rides. We
left there around 10am and headed over to Fort Worth then
north on Old Jacksboro Hwy out across Lake Worth through
Decatur to Alvord. At Alford we headed East by North East
on Hwy 677 through Forestburg then on to St. Jo. This is
very scenic, wide open farm and ranch country. St Jo used to
be a popular dove hunting spot but that has died down some
now and most of the town is shut down. There is a
Motorcycle accessory store there but they are soon to also
close down and move to a different town. We ate lunch at
Dairy Queen the only restaurant left in town. That was okay
though as I haven’t eaten at a Dairy Queen for over a year so
it was kind of enjoyable for me.
From St Jo we headed north on Hwy 677 through Caps
Corner and Illinois Bend. At Illinois Bend we turned west
onto Hwy 2953 to Hwy 175 turned south on Hwy 175 to
Nocona. This part of the journey took us with in a mile or
less of the Texas Oklahoma border. As we came over a rise
looking out over the Red River Valley the view just took my
breath away it was so pretty. As a matter of fact the whole
ride was all beautiful country.
Nocona is a nice town, the type of small town where
everyone that lives there knows everyone else that lives
there. A good place to stay the night, should you chose to do
so, is the historic Nocona Inn.
From Nocona we took Hwy 175 to Montague where we
got on Hwy 455 to Forestburg then Slidell to Bolivar and on
to Hwy 35. At Hwy 35 we turned south to Fort Worth and
home to Arlington, TX. I would say that at least 80% of the
roads on this ride were two lane farm to market country roads
gently curving through nice rolling hills. The best part of this route
was not the towns we went through but the ride it self through the
very scenic country side.
Marie-Reds, 3007 E Abram St
Arlington, TX 76010
Just about anyone in DFW who rides a motorcycle is
familiar with Stroker’s on Harry Hines in Dallas and most
motorcycle riders around the country are probably familiar
with the owner and custom bike builder/designer Rick
Fairless. Rick’s wife of 15 years now ex wife Tina Fairless
has owned a place called Marie-Reds for almost 3 years.
This is a fairly small place a nice local neighborhood dive
bar and I just love neighborhood dive bars. In good weather
though it has the potential to be a great biker bar due to the
very large backyard it has. With the backyard the club can
accommodate a large crowd of partiers and their bikes.
Tina’s parties normally consist of a band and Barbecue with
all the fixings cooked by her now boy friend Andy who
invented the club's signature shooter-shot called a BadAndy. It consists of equal parts Jack Daniels Black and
Kamora (A Kalua like coffee liqueur). I tried one, it was
very tasty but a few of them would definitely do you in. She
sells not a pint but a 20oz draft beer for only $2.50 and
bottle domestic beer is also $2.50. While Tina was working
at the old Iron Horse Motorcycle Factory she would bartend
on Saturday nights for her dad who ran a bar on Abram just
down the street. She saw this place worked a deal with the
then owner, changed the name and Marie Reds was born.
She said they are planning a reunion of old Iron Horse
Motorcycle workers sometime this year. I sat and talked
with Tina and Andy for quite awhile and found them very
engaging, just good people with some great stories.
Definitely the type of people needed to run a good
neighborhood dive bar, again my favorite type bar of course.
They have a monthly birthday party for everyone whose
birthday falls with in that particular month so I am going
back for the next birthday party. I will let you know how that
turns out.
(Back-Again) I went back to Marie Reds for the month’s
birthday party. This night the backyard was packed with
people and bikes. There was some really tasty barbecue
brisket and chicken cooked by Tina's boyfriend Andy with
all the side dishes one could think of plus a really good band
called Pull My Finger. They played a variety of rock and
classic rock tunes along with some nice sounding originals.
Andy showed me one of three bikes he owns, a chopped
hard tail that he built himself a couple years ago but I swear
it looks like it came right out of the sixties. Old school
before there was old school. This is a friendly place and I
certainly plan to make it one of my regular stops.
Well that’s it for this month so until next month,
Ride Safe.
Michael "Lone Star" M
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All the long nights, what seemed like endless phone calls and running around
like a crazy person has finally come to an end. If you haven’t heard by now
White Line hosted Punta Gorda’s very 1st downtown Bike Night on May 9th and
man oh man was it a hit! The bikes started rolling in about 30 minutes before
things were scheduled to start but everything was pretty much good to go so the
festivities began. The ladies of White Line were up to their usual good deed
doin’ and sold carnations, hand-made pillows and chance drawing tickets to raise
money for the Susan G Komen Foundation and help save some boobies. Keep up
the good work – gotta save them tatas! The side streets were lined with vendors
and Main Street (Marion Ave.) hosted parking for the majority of bikes. They
were parked three wide in some places and overflowed into a few nearby parking
lots and there were still bikes that had to park outside the barricades and line the
streets. It was pretty amazing to watch…As the day progressed it got busier and
busier, more and more people were showing up and before you knew it the place
was packed – jammin’ to the max. Bikes all around, the roar of the pipes, the
sound of the band, it was a lot to take in but I’m glad we got the chance to see it all come together and experience the 1st of what
we hope will be many bike nights here in Charlotte County.
The police officers on patrol seemed to be having a great time but almost looked bored - everyone got along so well, they really
didn’t have much to do. It’s nice to know large groups of people can get together, have a great time and act in a civilized manner,
not causing any problems.
Hopefully by now you know that I couldn’t attend an event like this and not
mention something about the music. I can’t help it, it’s in my blood, guess that
is part of the reason I enjoy covering the entertainment side of things for the
magazine, it just fits me so well. I’ve been practicing for this role my whole life
and never even realize it and now that I am at this point, doing what I love to do.
I’d like it to be known that I am really thankful I’ve made it this far and can’t
wait to see where I’ll be going from here.
This wasn’t our first time seeing Marc Anthony Roman perform, we’ve had
the pleasure of watching him a few times now and it’s always been a memorable
experience. With such a great personality, he loves to mess with the crowd and
get them involved. Classic Rock through and through, with a mix of this and
that, here and there. He puts on a good show and loves doing it, encouraging
you to rock it out with him. You know you’re going to have a few laughs and
probably be sucked into making a fool of yourself on the dance floor if he’s
performing. Mr. One Man Show himself…Marc Anthony Roman. Thanks for
helping us “Take it to the Streets” I’m sure this wont be the last time our paths cross.
I have to be honest I had never heard of the band TUCCI before they got involved with us for bike night but now I have seen
them do their thing live and had the chance to check their album “Hey Sarasota” out. They had several people contribute to their
album but the main band members consist of Lauren Mitchell (Vocals), Mike Hensley (Keyboards), Michael Tucci (Drums), Alex
Tucci (Guitar & Vocals), James Durrant (Bass) and Doc Tucci (Guitar & Vocals).
As you can see members of the Tucci family make up a good percentage of this
band, which is cool. It’s nice when a family can find something fun like music
and learn how to share and enjoy it together. They rocked out with some classic
stuff at bike night but I got a blusier feel from their album, it’s an interesting
compilation. You can tell they can adapt their style to be able to meet the needs
of their particular crowd. When artists really get into the music, it just shows.
They perform better and you can tell they are up there doing what they do and
loving every minute of it. I’ve listened to “Hey Sarasota” several times since bike
night and have developed a few favorites - 3. Give Me Some Of Your Love, 6.
You Hurt Me and 9. Train Blues. I have to admit that I didn’t get to stand around
and really watch and listen to them as much as I would have liked to at bike
night, with so much going on, running here and there. I will definitely have to
check them out at one of their local jam spots and give them a proper review, so
keep your eyes open for more on TUCCI.
With everything said and done Bike Night turned out to be an awesome experience. TUCCI and Marc Anthony kept the stage a
rockin’ and the crowd jammin’; we raised money to help save some boobies, opened some eyes and learned a lot. I know that
every event from here on out is just going to get bigger and better, so keep your eyes open for the next event from White Line
Magazine – it’s sure to do your body good.
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We are very pleased to present our Babe of the Month this month. We first saw Lesley
W. at the Punta Gorda Bike Night. She rode into the event with her husband and
immediately heads turned. What makes Lesley special is the fact that while she has the
figure and looks of the young models we feature here in White Line, she is 45 and has
been married for 28 years with two sons ages 27 and 22!
Lesley has been riding for quite a while and loves it. She and her hubby own 3 bikes, a
1200 Sporty, a 2008 Street Glide, and the one she is pictured on here, her Dyna Super
Glide. When they got the Sportster, she showed her enthusiasm by racking up a
whopping 40,000 miles on it in the first year!
What free time Lesley has from her work at Collier Otolaryngology is spent riding.
She rides with the Alternatives M/C and tells us her hobby is recovery (and riding). But
as these pictures of her show, she also puts in time keeping her figure in top shape too!
We hope you enjoy these pictures of Lesley as much as we enjoyed getting to know
her and take them. If you see her out and about at any bike event, tell her you saw her
here in White Line Magazine!
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American Patriots Chapter Georgia War Veterans Home 3rd Annual Poker Run
May 23, I was looking for some place to ride that was close and it was the Memorial Day weekend plus I wanted do some kind
of article about veterans. The American Patriots Chapter of Milledgeville were having
their Georgia War Veterans Home 3rd Annual Poker Run. Any riders who wanted to ride with the American Patriots Chapter
could do so by meeting at the Milledgeville Mall at ten am. Each rider would pay twenty dollars to ride and five dollars for an
extra poker hand and the money would go to help the veterans home. At eleven am the bikers pulled out for a two hour ride
through the countryside. The poker run would end at the
Veterans Home for drinks and snacks. Then the riders would head back to their club house and have their 3rd Anniversary Party.
I arrived a few minutes early and found no one from the club in the mall parking lot. Twenty minutes later I began to hear the
rumbling of motorcycles off in the distance. As I listened to the rumbling sound of the motorcycles the sound of the bikes started
to get louder. The bikes finally came into sight and turned into the parking lot and started to park. The first biker that I recognized
was HardTail, the club President of the American Patriots. Then HardTail and his fellow riders started to setup a table to register
the bikers. As everyone waited for eleven o'clock to come they gathered in groups and talked about their bikes and other rides that
had taken place over the past few months. As the riders climbed onto their bikes you could see rain clouds forming all around
Milledgeville. Everyone was thinking that the first leg of the poker run was going to be a hot and wet ride. You could see in their
faces that they were going to ride no matter what. When it came time to head out the Baldwin County Sheriffs Dept. lead the
motorcycles safely out of town. Their first destination of the day was the Georgia Memorial Veterans Cemetery.
After two hours of being on the road with rainless skies the bikers came riding in to the Georgia Memorial Veterans Cemetery.
Upon entering the cemetery the group headed up the hill and parked near the Chapel. As
they walked around the cemetery each rider in their own way paid homage to each veteran for their time of service. Before the
bikers mounted their bikes, HardTail formed a prayer circle and prayed for the veterans of all wars. The next stop would be the
Georgia War Veterans Home just a few miles up the road.
This leg of the ride to the veterans home was only five minutes long. As the riders entered the grounds it dawned on me that the
veterans home was larger than one aging building. Over the years of riding by the home I could only see the main building from
the street. We made our way around to the back of the main building to the recreation building. Here is where all the riders would
visit and take time to talk with each veteran and have a snack.
When we entered the recreation building in back of the room was a small stage. On this stage sat a veteran of eighty plus years
old. Later when I the chance to talk with Charley Perkins he told me that he was playing the guitar as far back as he could
remember. Charley loved to talk about the days that he played in the Honkytonks around Georgia. I was just amazed how Charley
could play that guitar.
As the American Patriots set up in the rec. room the veterans started to come in for the partly. I was thinking that there was not
to many veterans coming down for the party. I could hear talk of disappointment from the other riders because there were only
going to be less than twenty patients. When they came riding in last year over a hundred veterans were waiting for them under the
shelter outside. I discovered that there were less than twenty vets left here at the home. The veterans were being placed in other
V.A. Homes because this facility was going to be shut down completely.
Like in any nursing home the resident is longing for someone to spent time talking with them. I was somewhat taken by
surprise that the veterans talked about their family and their life or just about anything that come to their mind. One of the vets
showed me his garden that he had planted nearby. There was no talk of wars or anything that was connect with wars. Just the good
things or maybe some bad things that had taken place in their lives over the years.
After the poker run I made my way back to the American Patriots club for their 3rd Anniversary Party. What I liked most about
the partly was that the sign said All You Can Eat (BBQ Chicken) for five dollars. I did my best to turn that into a dollar($2.50) a
plate but I couldn't do it. The Southern Crossroads Band was on hand to perform for the party. I would like to thank HardTail and
the other riders for the good time that I had that day.
This is one of the times that I laid my camera down and joined in with everyone and took time to talk with the veterans. The
American Patriots made me think that this is something I should have been doing a long time ago. I was ashamed to think that
these veterans were alone two times in their lives and had only each other to depend on. One time when they was serving their
country in a foreign land and now when they are at home in a veterans home and still far away from their home. I hope you will
ride with me next year to visit a veterans home here in Georgia. If not, try to visit your local veterans home.
Tommy "Brother Bear" Pittard
15
16
Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Confirmed for 2009 Legends Ride.
An all-star roster of celebrities, world-class bike builders, cigar aficionados and artists
have signed on to participate in the second annual Legends Ride to benefit Black Hills
charities. Special Guests in the 2009 Legends Ride, which will be held Monday, August
3rd to kick off the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, include Aerosmith lead singer Steven
Tyler, and a host of the nation's top bike builders, including Roger Bourget, Christian
Clayton, Brain Klock, Michael Prugh and Paul Yaffe.
Aerosmith will be performing live at the Legendary Buffalo Chip, Wednesday August
5th and according to Dirico Motorcycles publicist, Aerosmith frontman, Steven Tyler and
Dirico Motorcycles USA will take part in the 50-mile escorted Legends Ride that will take
participants from historic Deadwood, S.D., through the Black Hills, and will finish at the
Legendary Buffalo Chip in Sturgis.
"The Black Hills have long been known as rider's paradise, and the Legends Ride takes
it one step further. You start in a town that's infamous - Deadwood - ride through some of
the nation's best territory, and finish in the granddaddy of all motorcycle dreams - Sturgis
and the Legendary Buffalo Chip; and you benefit charities," said Rod Woodruff of the
Legendary Buffalo Chip. "Every participant in this year's Legends Ride is going to be
talking about this very special event for the rest of their lives."
The Legends Ride is hosted by the Legendary Buffalo Chip and the Deadwood Chamber of Commerce. The Legends Ride is a
fundraiser for the Children's Home of the Black Hills and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. Last year's event
raised nearly $40,000 for charity.
Registration for the 2009 event is open, and tickets are going fast. They can be purchased at www.legendsride.com or by calling
(605) 347-9000. The 2009 Legends Ride is a $150 contribution, 100% of which goes to the charities. Contributing riders not only
get to enjoy the ride but also a special souvenir gift pack, special parking privileges in Deadwood and the Legendary Buffalo Chip,
meet-and-greet opportunities with master builders and celebrities, food and drinks at an invite only reception scheduled to be
recorded for broadcast in a network television series and, to top off the experience, concert performances by rocker Lita Ford and
country music superstar Toby Keith. The Legends Ride reception will be highlighted by a live auction featuring "The Deadwood
Special," a unique custom motorcycle built by Kyle Shorey of Shadetree Fabrications and a pinstriping demonstration by Buck
Wild.
The 2009 ride begins at the Silverado-Franklin Historic Hotel and Gaming Complex on Deadwood's Main Street. Other stops in
Deadwood include the Deadwood Tobacco Company, where riders can enjoy a stogie with the Stars of Cigars including Christian
Eiroa, Jonathan Drew, Nish Patel and many other of world's top cigar aficionados. The Lucky Nugget Gambling Hall will
showcase the works of the motorcycle industry's and Black Hills' top artists including Michael Lichter, David Uhl, Eric Herrmann,
Rede Ballard and Kristi Goodell as part of the Buffalo Chip's 2009 Essential Artists of the Black Hills Rally.
The Legends Ride would not be possible without the generous support of Anheuser Busch, Inc. Coca-Cola Bottling Co., the
Deadwood Chamber of Commerce, Dirico Motorcycles USA, First Western Bank, Interstate Batteries, Metzeler Motorcycle Tires,
Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, the South Dakota Pork Producers, Sucker Punch Sally's and Taser International.
Ken Conte
Rise Above Consulting
17
18
The Internet abounds with opportunities to find specialists who will help one customize their motorcycle. It allows prospective
buyers to research products and services, to compare prices and quality, and to get additional ideas for customization. The
downside is that one might not always get what they think they paid for when buying goods or services on the Internet, so the
buyer should always beware. Research the business, speak to the owner, and get referrals or ask other users their opinion. One
can read customer feedback on e-bay, and have some level of protection by using E-bay and PayPal combined. A reputable
company offering a service might ask the customer to sign a contract, which should be looked over carefully before signing and
agreeing to the terms.
I recently stumbled across The Kustom Paint Shop,
an e-bay store, and Thompson Graphix, the brick and
mortar site located in Roseau, Minnesota, both owned
and operated by Todd Thompson. I did the research
and hired him to complete a custom paint job on my
motorcycle tins. The result was so impressive that I wanted to share it with everyone, and I asked our editor to feature Todd on the
cover of White Line Magazine. Todd's success is a result of his quality work, fair pricing and good old American values. His
work is award winning, professional and affordable, and he has a turn around time of just 2-4 weeks from your scheduled start
date. This year he is working on a new line of paint jobs that will fall under $1,000 for 2009. After reading this interview, please
visit his web site www.thekustompaintshop.com and if you're in the market for custom paint, I hope you will consider his talent
and skills. I feel confident in recommending Todd to anyone who wants a quality paint scheme at a fair price.
THE INTERVIEW:
Mary: How did you get started in the paint business?
Do you paint anything else besides bikes?
Todd: I first owned a sign shop, then once I ran out of
signs to do, started in the custom painting, it took off, I
sold my sign equipment, and here I am. Yes I paint
some full size vehicles, snowmobile hoods, helmets.
Mary: Have you always lived and worked in
Minnesota?
Todd: I have lived in Minnesota since I was 11, lived
in Fargo, ND before that. My Dad’s side of the family
is from up here. Went into the Navy after high school,
spent time on the West Coast. Met my wife in the
service, she’s a Georgia gal, even spent a year in
Georgia. Decided we wanted to raise the kids in a
smaller town, so we moved back up north. Funny,
because now we keep thinking about moving south after the kids are off into college.
Mary: Have you always been an artist, and do you do any other kind of artwork such as painting, drawing, etc?
Todd: I’ve always been artistic, but have not always had jobs that deal with my artistic abilities. I don’t have time anymore, but I
used to do oil painting, acrylic painting, drawings, carvings.
Mary: How long have you been in business?
Todd: Thompson Graphix was started in 1999, but the motorcycle painting has been since 2004.
Mary: How long have you been on e-bay?
Todd: Since 2004, when I went to custom painting bikes, I started using E-bay as a selling tool right away, at that time there was
only about 3 painters on e-bay including myself.
(cont.)
19
Mary: Is all your work original?
Todd: I think most artists work is original. We may look at
different ideas, styles and color usage and try to
incorporated them into our own designs, but most artists
have there own “style”.
Mary: What is the process of painting a bike? Is all of your
work airbrushed?
Todd: The process of painting is too long to explain, I have
it listed on my website. All my work is airbrushed-no
decals are used. I do use paint mask for logos and lettering,
but its just a mask, you're still spraying paint and removing
the mask when done.
Mary: Do you have a shop or work out of your garage?
Todd: It’s a small garage that I converted into a shop when we bought the house. I actually set it up first for the signs. Poured
new concrete in the office area, installed divider walls, new ceiling and insulation, heat source, phone etc…Then I modified it later
for the custom painting, wired in for the air compressor, designed the paint booth area with filters, doors, exhaust, etc… It’s small,
even for a one man shop, but it helps me keep the pricing lower. I do need to start looking for a larger facility.
Mary: Did you ever do anything else for a living?
Todd: Yeah, I’ve done a lot of different shit, but was never happy, I have always been driven to be my own boss. I was self
employed once before when I was younger and failed at it. You learn from your mistakes, didn’t mean I was going to give up on
owning my own business, it just wasn’t the right time, I knew back in 1999 the time was right and in 2002, I went from part time
to full time self employment.
Mary: Do you ride? If so, what kind of bikes do you own/ride?
Todd: I haven’t rode a motorcycle since I was still single in the Navy. Sold the bike when I got married. I think about getting one
once in a while, but right now, we spend a lot of time four wheeling with our ATV’s. The whole family, including the kids can
hop on machines and spend the weekend riding, it’s a fun
time enjoying nature and kickin' up some mud once in a
while.
Mary: What is the most unique paint job you've ever done?
Todd: I don’t know, they're all unique to the clients. I
can’t single out one over another. I would say one of the
most time consuming was a skull bike I did on a full bagger,
there were over 200 skulls airbrushed on the bike.
Mary: I notice you have a lot of designs. What is your most
popular?
Todd: This year, I haven’t been able to put my finger on the
most popular. For 2007-2008, I would say it was my skullsN-souls design. 2006 was my real fire/hotrod flame combo
and 2005 was the real fire.
Mary: Have you done a lot of women's bikes, and what type of designs do they choose?
Todd: I think you are the 3rd female rider I have done a job for. The first was a pearl white bike with blue tribals and a blue rose,
the second was brandywine kandy flames over kandy apple red marble, yours was the first “pink” bike.
(cont.)
20
Mary: What kind of paints and products do you use?
Todd: I use only the best. House of Kolor paints, primers,
sealers and clears. 3M tapes and sanding products. Iwata
airbrushes and spray guns. You really need to use quality
equipment and products, taking short cuts to save a buck will
bite you in the end.
Mary: Do you do mostly local work or work shipped to you
from elsewhere?
Todd: 99.9% of my work comes from out of state. Northern
Minnesota is very rural and farm country, not going to get to
many custom bikes done up here.
Mary: Where is the furthest distance someone has shipped a
bike from?
Todd: Mexico. I have had inquiries from the UK and Australia, but shipping overseas can run $600-$700.
Mary: Have you ever messed up and had to start over? Have you ever had any really difficult projects?
Todd: Ha-Ha, I think every artist has messed up before. You learn quickly how to fix mistakes or hide them. Things happen. A
few years back I was painting a spare set I had laying around, when I got to the final clear coat stage, I dropped the tank putting it
on the stand. Needless to say, I had to start over on that tank.
Mary: Do people usually choose stock designs or custom designs?
Todd: I would say the majority pick a design I have already done. I personally like doing designs I haven’t done before, I can be
more creative this way.
Mary: How do you draw up a custom design? With pencil and paper or a computer graphics program?
Todd: I do quick pencil sketches, if it’s a higher end theme bike, I will do some color renderings with illustrator markers and even
sample panels on some.
Mary: Do you maintain your website yourself, or someone
else?
Todd:
I
maintain
the
main
website
myself
(www.thekustompaintshop.com), the other part of the website
was created by a local designer (www.kustompaintshop.com)
Mary: How can you charge such competitive prices?
Todd: Being a one man shop gives you lower overhead, and I
don’t price gouge like some painters do.
Mary: How does one care for their bike after a custom paint
job? What products do you recommend?
Todd: Taking care of your paint is come sense, clients can
go to my website and check out the paint care article I posted. www.thekustompaintshop.com
For a free estimate, contact Todd at Thompson Graphix, 30318 State Hwy 89 Roseau, MN 56751; todd@thompsongraphix.com,
or 218-463-1950. Todd's shop is open for business Monday thru Friday from 9am to 5pm Central Time.
Pinky
21
22
A farmer had five female pigs. Times were hard, so he
decided to take them to the county fair and sell them.
At the fair, he met another farmer who owned five male
pigs. After talking a bit, they decided to mate the pigs and split
everything 50/50.
The farmers lived 60 miles apart, so they agreed to drive 30
miles each, and find a field in which to let the pigs mate. The
first morning, the farmer with the female pigs got up at 5 A.M,
loaded the pigs into the family station wagon, which was the
only vehicle he had, and drove the 30 miles.
While the pigs were mating, he asked the other farmer,
'How will I know if they are pregnant?'
The other farmer replied, 'If they're lying in the grass in the
morning, they're pregnant; if they're in the mud, they're not.'
The next morning the pigs were rolling in the mud. So he
hosed them off, loaded them into the family station wagon
again and proceeded to try again. This continued each
morning for more than a week.
The next morning he was too tired to get out of bed. He
called to his wife, 'Honey, please look outside and tell me
whether the pigs are in the mud or in the grass.'
'Neither,' yelled his wife, 'they're in the station wagon,
honking the horn.'
--- Frieda, Punta Gorda, FL
I was packing for my business trip and my three year old
daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed.
At one point she said, 'Daddy, look at this' and stuck out
two of her fingers.
Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her
tiny fingers in my mouth and said, 'Daddy's gonna eat your
fingers,' pretending to eat them.
I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter
was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a
devastated look on her face.
I said, 'What's wrong, honey?' She replied, 'What happened
to my booger?'
--- Billy, Aurora CO.
Dumb criminals
1. Police in Oakland, CA spent two hours attempting to
subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home.
After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the
man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting,
'Please come out and give yourself up.'
2. An Illinois man, pretending to have a gun, kidnapped a
motorist and forced him to drive to two different automated
teller machines, wherein the kidnapper proceeded to withdraw
money from his own bank accounts.
3. Police in Los Angeles had good luck with a robbery
suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup.
When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the
words: 'Give me all your money or I 'll shoot', the man
shouted, 'that's not what I said!'
4. In Modesto , CA , Steven Richard King was arrested for
trying to hold up a Bank of America branch without a weapon.
King used a thumb and a finger to simulate a gun.
Unfortunately, he failed to keep his hand in his pocket.
--- Shadow Wolf, PG, FL
A blonde, brunette and red head escaped from jail. They
were being chased by the police. They were running through
the streets when they saw an old barn. So they ran in and
found three heshin bags. They all jumped in.
The coppers walked in the barn and saw the three heshin
bags. One copper goes to the other "Kick the heshin bags to
make sure nothing's in them"
So the copper walks up to the heshin bag with the brunette
and kicked it. The brunette said "Meow Meow" and the
coppers thought it was a cat and walked to the next heshin
bag.
The copper kicked the second heshin bag with the red head
in it. The red head said "Woof Woof" so the coppers walked to
the third heshin bag thinking a dog was in the second one.
The copper kicked the third heshin bag with the blonde in
it. And the blonde said "Potatoes".
--- Bethany, NJ
I guess we all need a few laughs in this time of financial
turmoil. I was at my bank today and was standing in line. Just
one lady was in front of me, an Asian lady who was trying to
exchange yen for dollars. It was obvious she was a little
irritated.
She asked the teller, 'Why it change? Yesterday, I get two
hunat dolla fo yen. Today I only get hunat eighty? Why it
change?'
The teller shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Fluctuations.'
The Asian lady says, 'Fluc you white people too!'
--- Tommy B. Oak Ridge TN
The doctor, after an examination, sighed and said, 'I've got
some bad news. You have cancer, and you'd best put your
affairs in order.'
The woman was shocked, but managed to compose herself
and walk into the waiting room where her daughter had been
waiting. 'Well, daughter, we women celebrate when things are
good, and we celebrate when things don't go so well. In this
case, things aren't well. I have cancer. So, let's head to the club
and have a martini.'
After 3 or 4 martinis, the two were feeling a little less
somber. There were some laughs and more martinis. They
were eventually approached by some of the woman's old
friends, who were curious as to what the two were
celebrating. The woman told her friends they were drinking to
her impending end, 'I've been diagnosed with AIDS.' The
friends were aghast, gave the woman their condolences and
beat a hasty retreat.
After the friends left, the woman's daughter leaned over
and whispered, 'Momma, I thought you said you were dying of
cancer, and you just told your friends you were dying of
AIDS! Why did you do that??'
'Because I don't want any of those bitches sleeping with
your father after I'm gone.'
--- Dream Weaver, MO
Submit your favorite joke...
(rugrat alert - please keep 'em clean!)
mailbag@whitelinemagazine.com
23
What's the Difference?
Can you spot all 15 differences in this picture taken at Punta Gorda Bike Night?
Created just for fun by Momma Lyd
24
No more excuses riders it’s time to plan your summer road trip. If
there is ever a place to see from the seat of your motorcycle it’s Deals
Gap and the Cherohala Skyway along the southern border of NC & TN.
Yesterday I took a ride around the Dragon to make sure all of its
318 curves in 11 miles were clear and that all the motorcycle friendly
businesses are open for the season ready to serve you. Everything and
everybody was in place on this sunny Saturday ready for another great
season here in motorcycle heaven. Tennessee DOT has been busy this
spring fixing the run off’s on several curves on the Dragon. Installing
earthen berm’s to keep you from sliding off the mountain. Plans are to
pave the pull off’s also to keep the loose gravel and debris from
hindering your ride. Other reports are that the highway patrol will not
be so active here this year. Maybe the bureaucrats finally figured that
with hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists & sport car enthusiast
visiting the area every year. They might want to be a little friendlier to
them considering the millions of dollars we spend in the area each year.
This trip I headed south on the Dragon and had a almost unimpeded
ride. I came up on one car that pulled right over and let me sail by.
Dragon etiquette is to move right and wave faster riders past, as you
pass give them a thank you wave back. On this pass I was taught
another piece of Dragon etiquette by a couple of crotch rocket jockey’s.
Both riders coming the opposite direction tapped their helmets to me and I knew they were trying to tell me something. Half a
mile later a County Mounty was standing on the side of the Dragon with his radar gun in his hand. I have always used my left
hand in a down motion to warn other riders that Johnny Law was lurking ahead. See even the Rocket Jockeys and Geezer Glide
Pilots watch out for one another up here. I am telling you this area is really very biker friendly!
My favorite rest stop is at Deals Gap resort to see Ben, get a cold drink and wolf down a chilidog. Ben will keep you updated
on most Dragon news with his daily Dragon blog at www.DealsGap.com. I like to park myself on the bench in front of the gas
pumps and mingle with the crowd. Some interesting riders and drivers pass thru this pit stop in the middle of motorcycle heaven
everyday. This Saturday there was a Porsche 911 club hanging out amongst the hundreds of bikes. Being a fan of rear and mid
engine sports cars I spoke with several of those drivers. Back in the late 70’s I owned a Fiat X19 mid-engine targa top. It was
more like a 914 than a 911, but it loved the twisty’s of the Adirondack Mountains where I grew up. Unfortunately for me no one
was willing to swap my Geezer Glide for a 911 run on the Dragon.
Sunday I headed to the Cherohala Skyway for another spectacular ride practically by myself. Here is the sometimes over
looked 50 plus miles of world-class twisty mountain blacktop thru the national forested backcountry of Tennessee & North
Carolina. The road crosses through the Cherokee and Nantahala National Forests thus the name “Chero...hala”. The Skyway is
becoming well known in motorcycling in the sports car world for it’s long, sweeping corners and scenic views and is totally
complimentary to the Dragon. Pucker on the Dragon and unpucker on the Skyway if you know what I mean.
With so many motorcycle friendly people and business’s all around the Dragon & Skyway it quickly is becoming know as the
biker friendliest spot in the country. Every weekend from now till November it’s like a bike fest here. The good thing is nobody
is going to treat you any differently or charge you more for something because you are a biker.
So what if the economy is in the toilet! Take your scooter on a road trip this summer and come Slay the Dragon & Surf the
Skyway with me, I promise it will put a big smile on your face!
For more info on the great riding in the area go to my website at www.MotorcycleProperty.com and make sure you watch my
video to see how I roll!
Till next month keep your head and eyes up and twist the throttle!
Mike "the Eyetalian" Ginnochi
Mike@MotorcycleProperty.com
25
Going on vacation? Planning a ride? Or just plain want to know what's going
on in the world? THE place to check is right here on White Line's Events &
More! Click on any state name and it will bring up another page with events lists
for that state for the month, as well as any bike shops, biker friendly bars and
restaurants and print publications. This is THE place for biker information! We
still have lots of room to add places, so send in the name of your favorite shop or
biker friendly establishment and we'll make sure everyone knows about them!
Florida Events
Jun 01 2009
Cruisers for Christ
Coral Springs, FL
Info: 954-650-0191
Jun 03 2009
Not Your Ordinary Gator Harley
Davi…
Leesburg, FL
Info: 352-787-8050
Island Jacks Patio Bar and Grill
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
Jun 04 2009
Kruisin with Kati Labelle Bike
Nigh…
Labelle, FL
Info: 239-246-3045
Summer Kick Off Party
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-927-7331
Lake Worth Bike Night Benefit
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Jun 05 2009
Hog for Hope Bikes, Blues & BBQ
Ocala, FL
Info: 352-251-2479
"Because We Care"
Venice, FL
Info: 941-485-5411
June 6 2009
Osceola Riders Bike Night
St. Cloud, Florida
Info: 407-891-1752
June 10, 2009
NOT YOUR ORDINARY BIKE
NIGHT
Leesburg, Florida
Info: 352-787-8050
June 12, 2009
Jim's Harley-Davidson Bike Night
St. Petersburg, Florida
Info: 727-527-9672
June 13, 2009
NATIONAL MEMORIAL
EVENT FOR KATELYNN
STINNETT
Leesburg, Florida
Info: 352-787-8050
MSTA Florida South Lunch Ride
Lake Placid, Florida
Info: 561-738-2011
June 17, 2009
NIGHT
Leesburg, Florida
Info: 352-787-8050
Jun 18 2009
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Jun 20 2009
Cotee River Saloon Bike Night
Port Richey, FL
Info: 727-815-9528
Fathers Day Bikewash
Tampa, FL
Info: 813-740-9898
Jun 21 2009
Putnam County Fairgrounds Swap
Meet…
East Palatka, FL
Info: 904-425-9898
Fathers Day Harleys and Hot Rods
Miami, FL
Info: 305-651-4811
Jun 24 2009
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
NIGHT
Leesburg, Florida
Info: 352-787-8050
Jul 01 2000
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
Jul 02 2009
Kruisin w/ Kati Labelle Bike Nigt
Labelle, FL
Info: 239-246-3045
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Jul 04 2009
Fourth of July Event
New Port Richey, FL
Info: 727-842-4547
Plant City Bikefest
Plant City, FL
Info: 813-754-3707
Port Richey, FL
Info: 727-815-9528
Fourth of July Event
Tampa, FL
Info: 813-866-7433
Fourth of July Event at Brandon
Tampa, FL
Info: 813-866-7433
Jul 05 2009
Preservation Run - 9th Annual
Naples, FL
Info: 239-352-3166
Jul 06 2009
Cruisers for Christ
Coral Springs, FL
Info: 954-650-0191
Jul 08 2009
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
Jul 09 2009
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Brandon Old Town HD
Tampa, FL
Info: 813-740-9898
Jul 10 2009
Sunrise Harley Davidson Bikefest
Sunrise, FL
Info: 954-414-4135
Jul 10-16 2009
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Jul 11 2009
Lake Wales BikeFest –
CANCELLED
Lake Wales, FL
Info: 863-224-1970
Jul 15 2009
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
Jul 18 2009
Port Richey, FL
Info: 727-815-9528
Birthday Bash
Tallahassee, FL
Info: 850-205-4294
Jul 19 2009
Putnam Co Fairground Swap Meet
East Palatka, FL
Info: 904-425-9898
Jul 22 2009
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
Jul 23 2009
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Jul 24 2009
Sunrise Harley Davidson Bikefest
Sunrise, FL
Info: 954-414-4135
Jul 28 2009
Two Wheel Tuesday
Tampa, FL
Info: 813-866-7433
Jul 29 2009
West Palm Beach, FL
Info: 561-687-2122
Lake Worth, FL
Info: 561-856-1234
Florida Places to Go
Shops
Rossiters Harley Davidson
330 Cattleman Rd
Sarasota, FL. 34232-6300
941-951-6106
Manatee River Harley Davidson.
624 67th St. Cir. E.
Bradenton, FL. 34208-6087
941-745-2429
Harley Davidson of Ft. Myers
2160 Colonial Blvd.
Ft. Myers, FL
941-275-4647
Daytona Harley Davidson
290 N. Beach St.
Daytona, FL
386-253-2453
Open Road Motorcycle
Hwy 17
Punta Gorda, FL
941-575-4474
Thunder Action Cycle
18290 Paulson Dr.
Port Charlotte, FL
941-766-0663
Biker Friendly
Victory Lane
4150 Hancock Bridge Pkwy.
N. Ft. Myers, FL
239-995-0340
Boot Hill Saloon
310 Main St.
Daytona, FL
386-386-9506
Print Publications
Full Throttle Magazine
850 Dunbar Ave.
Oldsmar, FL 34677
800-889-8180
Born to Ride
P.O. Box 3021
Brandon, FL 33509
813-661-9402
Florida Motor Sports Mag #178
2430 Vanderbilt Beach Rd.
Naples, FL 34109
239-597-9588
26
34th Annual Open House of Cycle World of Athens
Cycle World of Athens held it 34th Annual Open House in the parking lot to celebrate of being in business for 34
years. The festivity started at ten am and ran to five pm on Saturday. I arrived at eleven and the parking lot was full of
bikers all ready partying.
This year there was a little something different concerning parking. If you rode your bike you could park at the
Harley shop or if you came in a cage you had to park at Sam’s Club. Then you would catch a shuttle back over to
Cycle World. This is a great way of keeping traffic down around the Harley shop.
As I rode into the parking lot I could hear the Habitual Stunters bikes in the background. I hurried over so I could
catch the last part of their show. I always like to watch these guys and gals perform on their sports bikes. When I go
anywhere I like to take action photos and the Habitual Stunters gave me plenty of opportunity to do so. No matter
where I go a sports bike show is always a big hit with the bikers and kids.
After the Habitual Stunters performed the band Kattlers came on stage and started playing. While the Kattlers were
playing all the Miss Cycle World contestants came on stage and started dancing. One of the girls came off the stage
and started dancing with me, to my surprise. I can tell you as a biker with two left feet that the dance didn’t last to
long. Besides I could not believe that I was trying to dance with such a good looking woman. Then all the girls came
off the stage and started dancing. Ben then called for all the women in the audience to come up in front of the stage to
dance with him and the girls. The Kattlers is a new band from the Athens area that I had not heard before and I was
surprised by how awesome they played. The band consists of Matt Joiner (guitars, backup vocals), Tracy Carroll (lead
vocals, rhythm guitar), Kevin Christian (bass, backup vocals), and Woody Hughes (drums). The Kattlers put on several
shows despite the weather.
During the time that the Kattlers was playing I walked around and checked out the vendors to see what was for sale.
The vendors consisted of a guy selling boiled P-nuts and another selling Funnel Cakes. Maybe if you wanted to you
could get a design or get your girl friends picture on your gas tank. Ink Therapy was sponsoring a Tattoo Contest
where you could win $100 for first place and Fifty dollars for second place. Phil Nuckolls had his V-Rod Dragster on
display that he races on the weekend. Phil is one of the two owners of Cycle World of Athens which is one of the
largest motorcycle shops in the state. The vendor that made the most money this year had to be the beer lady. This
booth always had a long line waiting to be serve.
Before the Kattlers finished playing a thunder storm came up and the Miss Cycle World contest was moved to the
inside of the Harley shop where the judging took place. After the thunder storm left the area everyone moved back
outside. When it came time to crown the winner Mike Newell called everyone back to the stage. Mike announced that
Miranda had won the 2009 Miss Cycle World contest. At this point the 2008 Queen, Ashley Freeman, turned her
crown and placed the Miss Cycle World of Athens sash on the new Queen “Miranda’. Miranda received three hundred
dollars and will represent Cycle World of Athens for the next year. I just don’t see how the judges picked from these
years contestants--- to me they were all winners.
During the day H.O.G. Chapter # 0758 sold home cooked hams and B.B.Q. sandwiches to help raise money for the
Ride for Kids. Chapter members started cooking the night before to have the hams ready to be sold and others also
came in early to setup.
If you look at the radar on tv and see all the rain clouds that forming to south, it would have been difficult to decide
to ride to the 34th Annual Open House at Cycle World. The way it turned out except for that one bad storm that came
over at five pm it was mostly sunny all day. Cycle World got a new Queen (Miranda) and the bikers got to hear a great
band(Kattlers) and the Habitual Stunters put on an awesome show. I also ran into Ox who is one of the cooks and
Freebird that I met at North Georgia Twins MC Club house in Bethlehem, Ga. a few weeks earlier. I have been
attending this open house for the last ten years either for fun or working. No matter what reason that brings me here I
still have a good time and stay just about the entire day.
Tommy “Brother Bear” Pittard
27
28
Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse Rocks New Orleans Bike Week
The Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse and its rolling
fleet of customs was proud to participate in New Orleans'
first annual Bike Week, held May 6-10, 2009, as a
featured attraction at the Easyriders V-Twin Bike Show.
The Roadhouse was open daily and showcased the
latest work from some of today's hottest custom bike
builders, including Athena "Chickie" Ransom of
Vagabond Choppers, Bill Dodge of Bling's Cycles, Paul
Wideman of Bare Knuckle Choppers and Paul Yaffee of
Paul Yaffee Originals. The builders kicked off the
inaugural event at the New Orleans Harley-Davidson
Biker Bash with a traditional rock 'n' roll Hard Rock
Guitar Smash helping to get New Orleans Bike Week off
to a great start.
In addition to showcasing custom motorcycles, the
Hard Rock Roadhouse rolled out its new collection of
Hard Rock Fender guitars customized by some of the
industry elite. The guitars made their debut at Daytona
Bike Week and will be a permanent addition to the 2009 Roadhouse tour. A photography exhibit featuring some of the world's top
custom builders by world-renowned motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter, Josh Kurpius and others was also on display.
"New Orleans Bike Week was a great event, and we were happy to be part of it," said Carrie Repp, producer of the Hard Rock
Roadhouse and owner of R&R promotions. "The city of New Orleans and the bike week organizers were extremely welcoming,
and we're confident New Orleans is on its way to becoming a major destination on the motorcycle rally circuit."
For more information on the Seminole Hard Rock Roadhouse, please visit www.hrroadhouse.com.
29
The picture on the left is the official image of our company mascot.
Terry Conley, or "Uncle Terry" as he was known to us, was a huge influence on our lives, instilling
everything from basic values to the love of motorcycling in our young hearts and minds. Even though
uncle Terry is no longer with us, it's fitting that we should have him hiding among the pages of this
magazine and popping out when you least expect it. That was Terry in real life too!
Now you can join the fun and look for Terry in the pages of the magazine. Remember the old "hidden
picture" games? Here's our version of it. We will hide this image of Terry someplace in the magazine and
your chore is to find him. We may ghost in his image or change it's color or size, but it will always be the
exact image you see above. Look carefully, he can be hiding just about anywhere!
When you find Terry in the magazine, send page# and approx. location on page to
mailbag@whitelinemagazine.com for your entry. Mark your email subject line with "Tracking Terry
Contest". All entries must be received by White Line Magazine by the 20th of each month to be counted,
and the winner will be randomly drawn from all correct entries on the 22nd of the month. Winner receives a White Line Magazine
T-Shirt as well as occasional extras donated by our advertisers. Winners will be announced in the following issue. Good Luck and
have fun!
May "Tracking Terry" Winner
Well, we finally got some work out of Terry when Sheldon Royce of Genoa City, Wisconsin found him on Ice's t-shirt on page
12 in Ice's column. Great work Sheldon, we really appreciate it!. Sheldon will receive one of the Punta Gorda Bike Night
commemorative t-shirts for his efforts!
But sadly, someone turned their back for a split second and Terry has taken off again! Start looking for him now and help us get
him back to work where he belongs!
Good Luck!
Puzzle Answers
What's the Difference?
1. Traffic lights changed from green to red.
2. Bike Night Banner across top balcony.
3. Where did Branden disappear to this time???
4. A Navy Blue Angel F18 is coming in low to check it all out.
5. The black cat on the sidewalk really will bring good luck.
6. Eeek! There's a giant spider on that yellow building!
7. Nice pic of Terry on the back of that gentleman's black shirt.
8. Taylor St. changed to Shadow St., after all, we did own those streets for a few hours!
9. Skull in window above Jack's Restaurant. (The food really is great!)
10. That nice woman bought a carnation to help support the Susan G. Koman Foundation for a Cure for Breast Cancer!
11. Awning colors are switched on yellow building.
12. The logo on the trunk the bike in the foreground is missing.
13. Santa is enjoying the bike night from his balcony.
14. What a cute rubber ducky on that bike antenna!
15. A proud eagle sits in the palm tree keeping an eye on the festivities.
Did you find them all?
30
The information age is upon us. People now plan
their vacations, their free time, their hotel reservations
and their airline flights all in the privacy of their home,
on a computer.
Fuel costs are skyrocketing, making distribution an
ever rising expense. Between the Ecology and
manufacturing costs, paper and printing are rising
costs.
The business world is now dealing in a global
economy, with customers seeing their products,
comparing, and purchasing them, in the comfort of
their home.
For all these reasons, White Line Magazine exists.
We feel that now is the time for an online magazine
that gives all the same benefits and feel of a print
magazine, but has a global reach and direction.
Now, no matter where you are, you can plan
motorcycle events into the trip using our interactive
"Events and More" page. Click on the state you will be
visiting, and you'll get events for that month in that
state, repair shops, biker friendly bars and restaurants
and what print publications are available.
We also make it possible for you to nominate a
business to be included in these lists!
We offer businesses many ways to let you the
consumer know they exist and are here to help you. We
help drive business to their websites. We reach a target
audience WORLD-wide. And we do all of that at a cost
lower than most print magazines can afford to.
We aren't just another web site. We are an ongoing
magazine, with the look and "feel" of a magazine, not a
links site. We don't charge you for an online version of
our magazine, or a print version. There is no
membership. We find honest to goodness interesting
content for the ads to compliment, not the other way
around. We don't have nudity or foul language, so that
hopefully, even school age kids with a passion for
riding will read us. We go after the international
market, not just local, but we give every bit of it a local
print feel.
Check us out. Come back month after month as we
feature new articles and stories and event coverage. see
how easy it is to use the "Events and More" pages.
Maybe even send in a riding experience to share with
others, or pictures of your "fine" ride.
We work at making this "your" magazine. We give
you large and small advertisers. We strive to have the
best in event coverage, stories and reading material.
For businesses, we give you coverage, we feature
businesses who are owned by motorcyclists on the
cover of the magazine and we give you world-wide
exposure. Enjoy!
Please send all comments and requests for more
information to: mailbag@whitelinemagazine.com
31
32
With the sun shining in the early part of the day and
raining in the evenings here in Florida, you want to
make sure you have a good wax or sealant on your
bike's paint job. This month we take a look at a high
grade wax that has been around for years and works its
magic just as well today as ever.
We're talking about Scooter Juice. Specifically,
we're talking about the Scooter Juice Spray Wax. It's
necessary to specify because Scooter Juice is actually
a complete line of professional grade bike care
products, that have been used professionally for over
15 years. They have everything from a degreaser to
spray wax available on their website at www.scooterjuice.com.
We tested the Scooter Juice "original" Spray Wax.
We used a 15" x 15" Microfiber cloth, Shadow's bike
and Gizmo's elbow grease to perform this "test". ( I
thought it was a smart way to get my bike waxed
without any effort... on my part! - Shadow)
After we made sure the bike was fairly clean and dry, we were ready to begin. The biggest thing to remember about Scooter
Juice Spray Wax is that a little goes a long way. It comes in a spray bottle that puts out a very fine mist. Scooter Juice is such a
high professional grade product that you can feel the difference immediately.
Gizmo: This stuff goes on so lightly, I wasn't sure if I was putting
enough on. But when you start spreading it with the cloth and
wiping it off... well.. you could feel SUCH a difference between
what was done and what wasn't that it was amazing!
We waxed half of the tank first and left half un-waxed. On the
waxed side, the microfiber cloth slid off every time we put the
cloth on that side of the tank. The un-waxed side, on the other
hand, had no trouble holding the cloth!
The spray wax performed beautifully putting it on. We could
easily see how little of this high quality wax you would have to
use in comparison with most of the "off the shelf" products out
there. Paste and other spray waxes force you to put on a coat and
wait until it dries and then buff it off. Scooter Juice uses a lot less
product and a lot less time because you mist it on lightly and then
buff it off right away! This means it cost less per use people!
Now we came to the next step of the test for which we had to
have the help of Mother Nature. Florida being what it is this time
of year, we were quickly obliged! Today we were lucky to have
just a light rain instead of some torrential downpour. The Scooter
Juice performed admirably there too. We sat back and watched as
the rain beaded up and ran off the bike quite nicely.
Gizmo: We did the bike and it didn't seem like we used hardly any
out of the bottle. It put a slick shine on the bike that you could feel
as you ran the cloth over it. It beaded up in the rain and dried
quickly and easily after the rain. I like it! My bike next?
33
This Reader's Rides column is going to be a little bit different. Not only do we want to
introduce you to a local rider who sent in these pix, but also to introduce you to where she works
too!
Meet Lisa Johnston.
Lisa has been riding motorcycles for the last 6 years
and has rode to all the major events she can get to here in
Florida. She's been to Daytona, Leesburg, Ybor City,
Sarasota and the list goes on and on. Lisa has been an avid
rider since her start, but that's the way she does everything.
She throws herself completely into whatever she does.
Lisa has been in the hotel business for 15 years and
now brings both her experience and her love of riding to the new Holiday House of
Venice. Since she came to the Holiday House in October of 2008, she has been hard at
work to update the hotel and Club 455 which is also owned by Best Southwestern Motels,
Inc. They have been hard at work re-modeling the place and bringing in events to attract
the motorcycle community. Everything from a very cool comedy night to full blown bike
parties like the one this coming Saturday. (see their ad in this magazine) Lisa and the
Holiday House / Club 455 complex were also sponsors of the Punta Gorda Bike Night!
With the help of our buddy, Marc Anthony, Club 455 and the Holiday House in
Venice are quickly pricking the interest of the local motorcycle community. We look
forward to working with Lisa and Marc a lot in the future as they bring more events and
unique attractions to this event complex in Venice.
34
One look, and you could see that we were the riders
belonging to the bikes outside the diner…a mixed lot if ever
there was one (us and the bikes). Besides Linda Lea’s blackon-black bagger, and Suzi’s dusty rose (I guess) sport bike
there are a few cruisers, a bare-bones ’71 bevel drive, two
sidecar rigs (one of them custom-made) and what can only
be described as a two-wheeled gas and oil reservoir posing
as a cycle, loaded with every gadget, gizmo and GPS
system’s accoutrement known to long-rider bikerdom.
At our table inside, we run the gamut, too. Don is our
certified Iron Butt Rally man, with more 1,000 mile days
under his glutes than the rest of us put together. There’s
Herm ( two cups of coffee behind me already) and Judy,
who lay claim to the custom sidehack. Herm has been
through a few cruisers, a trike and now pilots the
chair…something different after each serious heart
procedure. Bill and Linda, now, don’t even own a car. It’s
bike…or stay home. They were missionaries in Africa some
fourteen years, where Bill rode dirt bikes, dodging nightflying birds, cruising into the bush to avoid road-clogging
goat herds, and swerving around swarms of huge “blister
beetles” which seared your skin raw if you hit them.
Soon after returning Stateside, Bill was stopped at a redlight in the left- turn lane doing everything by the book, but
was rear-ended by a pickup anyway. Bill had a few
interesting comparisons to make between that truck driver
and some African goats he knew, but being a missionary…
Thom was a bit hesitant to ride today, but is glad he
came, after all. He fits right in, even though he doesn’t have
his own bike yet, and is studying up for his first safety
course, to move up from permit to license. He’s eager
enough to learn and savvy enough to take it slow.
Breakfast over, we go outside, mount up, and ride onto
the four- lane…a group glad for an open road and a sunny
day…rank novice to long-ride pro…all wanting the same
thing.
“And what is it you all want?” you ask.
And I tell you, “The answer, my Friend, is riding in the
wind…and maybe it’s somewhere in the poems on this page,
too.” And just like White Line Magazine, these poems are
for, and about, all riders, from novice to hard core. It’s
about respect.
Keep the bikes rollin’ and the ink flowin’
RUSTY
If you would like to possibly be featured in Poems from the
Pavement or if you know of a biker poet who might like to
possibly have his work featured here, contact Rusty
Sprocket
This Road That We Share
Rusty Sprocket
Been down some good roads
if truth be told…
some hot with new-tar smell
some cracked , rough and old
It doesn’t much matter
if they run straight or bend
as long as they’re ridden
with Brothers and friends…
Brothers who maybe wear some names
that cover their past
but it’s not what you call them
that’s gonna last
‘cause what’s in a name
on this road we all share…
if you ride with your Brothers
when they’re needin’ you there
all rights reserved/2009/ r.sprocket
35
The Party Goin’ By
Rusty Sprocket
Those people on the sidewalk
What Makes it Good
Rusty Sprocket
Been down some good roads
if truth be told…
don’t hear the party goin’ by…
some new with hot-tar smell
they can’t see more than riders…
some cracked, broken and old
that’s all that fills their eyes
What makes them good roads …
much better than others
They can’t see the wind dance
is nothin’ more
spinnin’ here by our side
than they are ridden with Brothers
they can’t hear it whistle by
Brothers with uncommon names---
as it celebrates our ride
from unknown parts
but what they have in common
What’s just noise to them
is a singleness of heart
is rock n’ roll to me and you
Brothers who somehow know
the throbbin’ of our motors
when you’re ridin’ down a troubled way
is the back beat comin’ through
and will gladly ride there with you…
and you know they’re gonna stay
Me and you are foot-tappin’
to a beat they cannot hear…
it’s our toes busy clickin’
on up through the gears
Yep…we know how to party
been doin’ it for years…
Maybe someday
those people on the sidewalk
will be ridin’ by our side
and be the party they just used to watch…
the party goin’ by
All rights reserved//r.sprocket 2009
all rights reserved/2009/r.sprocket
36
Sucker Punch Sally's Partners with Premier Cigar Manufacturer
for Custom Build
The signature old-school styling of custom motorcycle manufacturer Sucker Punch Sally's (SPS) has
once again caught the eye of motorcycle industry outsiders. SPS today announced it will team up with
premium cigar manufacturer CAO to produce a one-off bike that will make its way into one lucky winner's
garage.
SPS's CAO-inspired custom will feature the quality craftsmanship, modern components and old-school
aesthetic SPS is known for while incorporating details unique to the CAO brand. Named "Lady Liberty,"
this bobber-style swinger will carry the mantra "Free To Ride--Free To Smoke" and will be hand-painted by
SPS's renowned in-house artist Sara Ray inspired by the CAO Cigar brand.
"CAO is the top of the line when it comes to cigar
manufacturers, and their product creation process is very similar to
ours," said SPS President Christian Clayton. "They understand that the smallest details truly make a
product, and we're excited to see these ideals come to life in the Lady Liberty build."
SPS and CAO fans will soon be able to watch the build in progress online or see the bike in person as
it makes its way across the United States throughout the latter part of 2009. The bike will be on display
at 100 retail tobacconists and numerous bike rallies before it is given away to a randomly selected
winner during a party at the CAO headquarters in Spring 2010.
Sucker Punch Sally's is a custom motorcycle manufacturer specializing in old school, stripped-down
motorcycles. Heading into 2009, their Swinger was selected at production custom of the year by Cycle
Source Magazine, they also received awards for their '66 Bobber and Traditional Bobber. All of these
facts solidify SPS's position at the top of the production motorcycle market. Recently Sucker Punch
Sally's is the official motorcycle of Progressive Insurance and has also made alliances with Fender
Guitars and The Legendary Buffalo Chip. Their bikes have been featured in all the top motorcycle
magazines. Sucker Punch Sally's is the place to go if you're looking for a totally custom, old school
chopper, or just a reasonably priced production bike. Look for a dealer near you or for more information,
visit Sucker Punch Sally's on the Web at www.suckerpunchsallys.com or call them at (480) 778-9500.
CAO International, Inc. is the producer of one of the country's top lines of premium cigars. Founded
by Cano A. Ozgener in Nashville as a labor of love 41 years ago, today CAO products can be found on every continent in the world with the
exception of Antarctica. CAO produces 11 cigar lines that have all been rated '90' ("OUTSTANDING") or above by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar
Insider. For more information on CAO, please visit www.caointernational.com
37
38
The month of May marked an anniversary for me. It seems like I've been riding forever, yet it seems like only yesterday that I
registered for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Motorcycle Safety Course. It was, in fact, five years ago that I took the course
and began my adventure in the motorcycle lifestyle. It seems that I have so many adventures, and so little time to write about
them. But I feel a commitment to my readers to share with them the escapades of my friends and I related to our motorcycle
riding. This month you have the fortunate opportunity to read about two separate adventures and a cover story about my new
friend, Todd Thompson, who completed the paint job on my motorcycle, Lacey. The stories this month are funny and sometimes
unbelievable. You'll read about the 2009 Louisiana State HOG rally and toilet papering the rally coordinator's golf cart, the
opossum I ran over near home, and the snake I almost ran over on the Indian Nation Highway in Oklahoma. You’ll read about
Beth, a lady I met at a biker bar near Grand Junction, CO, and you’ll read about what is probably the funniest story I've ever told
of Ric getting stopped by “Barny Fife” cops in Nowhere, Idaho. There's so much to tell, so grab your smokes if that's your thing,
get a cup of coffee, a beer, or beverage of your choice, and sit back for a spell, and enjoy reading about my continuing adventures.
As promised, I will share with you my experience as a committee member on the Louisiana State Harley Owner’s Group
(H.O.G) Rally. Over a year ago, several of us got together and decided that Shreveport should be the location for the 2009
Louisiana State H.O.G rally. Early last year, we met with the tourism bureau, who graciously and professionally assisted us in
putting together a proposal to the H.O.G directors and dealership owners in the state. This proposal, presented in March of 2008 at
the LA State H.O.G rally in Baton Rouge was a huge success. We scripted the presentation as a campaign because of the ongoing
Presidential elections. We even made campaign banners and signs and picketed the rally goers to get their support to bring the
next rally to Shreveport. We were dressed in red, white, and blue, and handed out campaign hand bills and propaganda. A lot of
thought went in to it, and the result was as anticipated. The votes were cast, and we walked away with the honor of hosting the
next rally. I personally had no idea what I was getting into, and I was not prepared for the sheer exhaustion of putting together an
event of this magnitude. The time and effort put forth by the committee members; Ken, John, Johnnie, Jay, Gayle, Todd, Bill,
Mike, and I was significant. We met monthly for eight months, and then met weekly to coordinate the many details of the event.
Between meetings, we each had assigned duties to take care of such as making lists and getting cost estimates of equipment,
writing media releases, securing entertainment, creating registration forms and processes, updating web site information, designing
t-shirts, working with vendor coordinators, working with Harley Davidson staff, planning rides and events, garnering volunteers,
securing prizes and awards and coordinating with city officials and the tourism bureau. I'm getting tired again, just thinking about
it.
When pre registration opened in January, of 2009, my work load increased ten-fold. Each pre-registered member had to be
documented and spreadsheets were created to keep track of their orders. Harley-Davidson Motor Company sent the committee
members to a three day training session in Rogers, Arkansas, and we had a chance to meet with committee members from other
states, trade ideas, and learn from people who had experience in conducting state rallies. It was a class act, and I came away from
it prepared to fulfill my commitment to the H.O.G. community who would attend our rally. And, as a bonus, our small group from
Shreveport rode our motorcycles to and from the event, and on the return trip, had the pleasure of riding the Pig Trail through
Arkansas wine country. This 19 mile byway is located in the scenic and rugged Boston Mountain region of the Ozarks. If you've
never been on that stretch of road, with plenty of curves, switchbacks and beautiful foliage, you should add it to your future ride
list.
As the months went by, pre registration closed, confirmation cards were mailed, and we drew near the date of the rally. A few
last minute obstacles had to be worked out and we were presented with challenges to solve. For instance, just one month before
the event, we were informed that there was a major road race being held on Saturday morning in downtown Shreveport. This was
the biggest day of our event, and would cause a major parking problem. We were able to solve the problems by securing parking
lots for motorcycles early in the morning with volunteer security guards and taped off areas. We moved our staging location of the
parade and moved it forward half an hour to avoid a conflict with runners on the downtown streets.
I was not the first to arrive at the H.O.G. rally site each day during the rally, but I was among a few of the first, and I was not
the last, but I was nearly so. H.O.G. members, Mark Allaband and Mike Tolosa were always there when I arrived around 7am,
already setting up security stations and securing the property. They were also the last to leave, around 11pm, locking up
merchandise, golf carts and gates. The rally started on Thursday, and people flooded through the gates. It was an intense day, and
as I supervised the registration tent, I could hear my name called “Mary”, over and over. I felt like I was being pulled in all
directions, and I was. By Saturday, I could barely talk. I had yelled across the crowds so much that my voice was all but gone.
Friday morning, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the oldest lady, actually the oldest person attending our rally. Miss Mary
rode in on the back of a trike with her daughter at the controls. Miss Mary is 99 years old and rode the 107 miles from
Whitehouse, Texas to Shreveport, LA. And, her daughter, who rode the trike must have been in her 70’s. The two of them gave
me hope for the many years of riding in my future.
(cont.)
39
Sheer exhaustion began to set in, and as I rode home each night, I tried to unwind and prepare for the next day, which would
surely be as intense as the one just completed. On Thursday evening I stopped by Harley’s Pub to unwind and have a few drinks
with my brother, Johnny and company. But on Friday evening I was totally exhausted. As I rode Ric's bike, Miss Betty, down
Interstate 20, I resisted the urge to stop at Harley’s again, knowing that morning would come “oh too soon”. Smartly, I passed up
the Benton Road exit leading to Harley's Pub, and continued on to the
Racetrack where I headed West on Hwy 80 towards Haughton and the
warmth of my bed. During the ride home, I thoughtfully solved all the
problems of the rally, and some of the problems of the world. A ride
alone, in cool weather after an exhausting day can be so therapeutic.
And, it was, until only a mile from my house, I saw a large opossum
straddling the white line of the two lane divided highway. It was staring,
stunned at my headlights, and then like a squirrel, darted left, then right,
and then froze directly in front of me. I only had time to register that he
was there, and prepare for the imminent impact of running over the
frightened animal. “Remember your training”, I thought as I braced
myself and gripped the handlebars tightly preparing for the collision. As
I came closer, it seemed to double in size, and the front tire hit the largest
opossum I've ever seen. “Thump” - I was going directly over him. And
as I did, the front of the bike swerved left and then right, yanking my left
hand off the grip. I quickly recovered, however, and was able to maintain
control. When your thoughts are so rapidly and rudely interrupted by unexpected events, you have a rush of adrenaline so
significant that it makes your legs shake and your heartbeat rapid. I slowed down and rode the final mile to my house, taking in
huge gasps of air and telling myself to just “breathe”. It had happened so fast, and I was slightly shaken by the event. I pulled up
in my driveway, put the kickstand down, removed my helmet, gloves and glasses, and sat, shaking until I could calm myself. With
trepidation, knowing that my legs were still rubbery, I gingerly dismounted Miss Betty. Then I took a look at the bike, which
thankfully, showed no signs of having just run over the opossum. There was no hair or blood on the fenders, which baffled me.
“Maybe I didn't kill him”, I thought, but I just couldn't imagine that was the case. And, when I drove that stretch of highway the
next day, I would see that he was indeed a “dead opossum in the middle of the road”, decaying and no longer able to bother
lonesome riders traveling in the evening darkness.
On Saturday morning, I was tired of being one of the first to arrive, but I was also thankful that the Christian Motorcycle
Association members had put out donuts and hot coffee in anticipation of my arrival. I decided to have a little fun, and my
mischievous side came out. With coffee in hand and a large donut in my mouth, I found the director's golf cart. The cart had been
decorated in Mardi Gras garb for the parades that we hosted several times a day. It was conveniently parked near the public
restrooms, and it didn't take me long to find enough toilet paper to decorate Ken's cart – serves him right for leaving it right out in
the open. I took care of that! To his credit, he rode it around the plaza that way for several hours, being a good sport.
The work was winding down, and I got a second wind Saturday night as we presented our final Mardi Gras parade, and threw
beads, deblumes and other trinkets to the crowd. We made our way to the main stage where we met the members of the featured
band, Confederate Railroad, and had a photo opportunity and autograph signing session with them. Before they played, the
closing ceremonies took place. We, the rally committee, escorted by Valerie, our H.O.G. regional director and other Milwaukee
“brass”, took the stage. Valerie recognized the military, active duty, reservists, veterans and retirees, as well as the firefighters and
police officers who serve and protect every day. Standing on stage looking out at the 2,000 or so H.O.G. members and guests
made the work all worth it. Everyone stood and saluted or placed their hand over their hearts, as a young airman from Barksdale
AFB stood and completed a rendition of the National Anthem that would make any American's heart flutter, skin tingle and pride
swell. Next, I had the opportunity to lead the crowd in the recital of the pledge of allegiance, a proud moment for me and my
family members and friends who were scattered throughout the crowd of attendees. Valerie presented awards, thanked everyone
for their attendance, and thanked everyone who worked and volunteered making the 2009 LA State H.O.G. rally a huge success.
Finally, I handed her my radio, laughingly told her “I quit”, and joined my family and friends as Confederate Railroad took the
stage and the rally culminated in an evening of entertainment, music and fun for all. If you ever have the chance to serve on a rally
committee, don't hesitate. You will be rewarded by the end result of fellow riders having fun and enjoying the camaraderie of
other riders.
So, you've read about my involvement with the H.O.G rally and you're anticipating the funny story about Ric and the Police
Officers in Idaho, but just what series of events precipitated his riding through the potato state, anyway? As my loyal readers
know, Ric has been working in Washington State since September. I was fortunate enough to be able to visit him twice, at
Thanksgiving and during the Christmas/New Year's holidays, and in February, he was able to come home for a short visit. Living
a life separated from each other is not easy, and it doesn't get easier with time. However, there are things that can be done to ease
the pain of separation, and one of those is having your motorcycle with you to keep you company. I've been able to ride my bike
throughout the winter months, and when I sent the tins off to be painted, I had Ric's bike to ride.
(cont.)
40
And, when Ric's bike was getting an overhaul, I was able to ride my mechanic, Ken's bike. But Ric was in the frigid
Northwest, and even if he had his bike there, trust me riding was out of the question. He chose the coldest winter in recent history
with the most accumulation of snow and record low temperatures. But, when spring came around and the temperatures began to
rise, he longed for Miss Betty. We discussed the dilemma
of how to get her there, and to his chagrin, I even
researched shipping options. For about $600 we could
send Miss Betty on an 18 wheeler to his doorstep or I
could rent a trailer and haul it there, hire someone to haul it
there or I could ride it there and fly home. Ric could fly
home, and ride her back to Washington. All of the options
of traveling the 2,400 miles would take time and lots of
money considering time off work and hotel and gas prices,
as well as a return airline ticket, but if I rode it there, at
least I would get to see him. In either case, his leave
would be unpaid and my leave account is rapidly
dwindling, so I, too, would be forced to use leave without
pay. The cheapest option, unfortunately, would be to ship
it there on the 18 wheeler. But, Ric just couldn't wrap his
head around that thought. He believes that “trailers are for
boats”, and just couldn't fathom the thought of Miss Betty
being hauled to Washington state, with nobody having the
opportunity to ride her.
Still, I thought it was our best option, and had the
contract in hand ready to sign and my credit card out ready to pay for Miss Betty's trip, when Ric called me with a better plan. His
well thought out, ingenious plan, would cost a little more than the $600, but would allow us to see each other, have a short
vacation together, and would get Miss Betty to Washington State with a rider on her back the entire way. His plan was to meet me
half way. He would fly to Denver, and I would ride Miss Betty there to meet him. We'd spend a weekend together in the Denver
area, and then he would ride Miss Betty back to Washington State. I would then fly back to Shreveport. This trip would require
each of us to use less vacation time, get Miss Betty to her owner, and would allow us to see each other. I was liking this plan.
Denver was chosen because it had a large airport and availability of flights, it wouldn't require me to ride across the desert alone,
and it would be about half way for each of us. Still, Ric didn't like the idea of me riding alone, and asked me to check with our
friends and see if anyone was available to ride with me. Fortunately, our friend, George, raised his hand and was excited to be able
to go. The only negative thing about the plan was that he would have to ride home alone. George decided that would be OK, and
he planned to leave us in Denver and head across Utah and Nevada's Hwy 50, the Lonesome Highway, making his way to
California to visit his sisters. Then he would make his way back to Shreveport. George is retired and planned to take three weeks;
time was not an issue for him. I was not happy about him riding alone; after all, George is in his 71 years old, but he got the all
clear from his Doctor, and would not be deterred. As I'm writing, two weeks after my trip, George is still on the road, having the
time of his life.
Our plan was in place, and we began purchasing airline
tickets, and reserving hotels. I was able to search all the
travel web sites and found a one way ticket from Spokane to
Denver for Ric for just $98. My ticket from Denver to
Shreveport would cost a whopping $248. Ric's hotel in
Spokane was $62, and the hotel in Denver for two nights
was $160. George and I would spend one night on the road
near Salina, Kansas at a cost of $60 and we would pay for a
hotel in Grand Junction at $82. We hadn't spent any money
on gas, motorcycle maintenance, or food yet, and had
already exceeded the $600, but the whole trip would be
completed for about $1,200, well worth the added expenses
considering the memories we would make, the chance to see
each other and yet another road trip to enjoy. You just can't
put a price tag on that kind of fun!
(cont.)
41
Early Thursday morning, I was already packed for the road trip, and pulled Miss Betty out of the shed, and asked her if she
were ready to roll. She responded with a rumble, and off we went. I was on my way to Springhill, Louisiana to meet George. My
timing was perfect. As I made the turn into the town of Springhill,
heading towards the Relay Station on the Arkansas State line, George
made the same turn from the opposite direction, and fell in behind me,
both of us meeting at the designated place at the same time. We planned
to have coffee and breakfast before starting our trip, but we failed to call
ahead and let the Relay Station know that we would be there. It was
supposed to be open at 7am, but when we arrived, right on time, the lights
were out, and the coffee was nowhere to be found. We took a seat in a
booth, and in the dark, waited for the waitress to turn on lights and bring
coffee. It was about 15 minutes before we had menus and 20 minutes
before we had coffee. This was not a good start, but it wasn't a precursor
to a bad trip either, only a small inconvenience at the beginning of our
ride. Our spirits couldn't be broken, because we were going on a “road
trip”, and the excitement was electric. With hot food and hot coffee in
our bellies, we were ready to ride. I let George lead us out of the back
roads since we were in his stomping grounds. He led us to Texarkana, where we hit Interstate 30 and rolled on to the Indian
Nation Highway. The trip was off as planned, and I had warned George that I wanted to make 700 miles to Hays, KS the first
day so we would only have a little over 400 miles to do on Friday. He said “no problem”, where I led, he would follow. And, he
followed well.
On the Indian Nation Highway, Miss Betty started to act up. Her front end seemed wobbly in turns, passing, and at high
speeds. I wasn't sure what was wrong, but was worried, nonetheless. George said he would watch from behind and see if he could
figure out what was wrong. The turnpike that we were on had nice roads, nice scenery and little traffic. It was an easy ride, and
we were enjoying the solitude. Barely in Oklahoma, I was greeted with a welcome by a typical inhabitant of the great state. As I
led George down this lonely road, I pointed out large pieces of rubber left behind from the tires of the 18 wheelers who had
traveled before us. At one point, there was so much rubber that I quit pointing to it – it was obvious that it was there. So when I
came upon a large, long piece of rubber, I easily and skillfully swerved to the left to avoid it. My nonchalance was swiftly
interrupted by the movement that ensued. The rubber began to move and slither towards the front tire, awakening my senses. It
was not a typical piece of rubber, but a long black snake indigenous to the state. I barely missed running over it, and I was a sight
to see, I'm sure, as I raised my feet off the floorboards, and George, behind me, said that “I raised them right up over the
handlebars to avoid the slithering snake”. “In my mind”, I told him,
“all I could think of was hitting that snake as it wrapped itself around
my legs and grabbed me right off the bike”. Welcome to Oklahoma!
On the Indian Nation Highway, there are a few McDonald's restaurants
and gas stations, but that is all, so if you're hungry, need gas or need to
use the facilities, you better stop, because it might be a long way to the
next facilities.
I was fortunate to have George as a riding buddy, and he provided
lots of entertainment. There are some things you'll learn about George
if you ride with him much, and I had experience with his riding idioms
from our trip to Sturgis a couple of years ago. For one, George will
always find a park bench to sit on; if there's a bench anywhere we stop,
George will find it. On our trip to Sturgis, he once took a nap on the
bench outside the dealership at Salina, while the rest of the group made
a run for Wichita to retrieve a part for my bike, Miss Lacey, who had
mechanical problems. And, once he found a park bench inside the dealership in Ft. Worth and took a nap while we shopped. On
this trip, in Oklahoma City he found a picnic table to sit at, In Aspen, there wasn't a bench, but a stone wall that he rested on, and
in Grand Junction, he sat on the steps of the dealership. Yes, George is fairly predictable. For instance, he gets tired and has
learned to pass us up, take the lead and stop for a cigarette, and his new favorite drink – a 5 hour energy drink, which I introduced
him to on this trip. You have to watch George, though, because he'll also do the unexpected like drinking two energy drinks
instead of one. And, on the first day of the trip, he drank too much cappuccino. At one stop, we were saddling up, and George
turned off the engine, got off the bike, and said, “I think I better go to the bathroom before we leave”. George disappeared and
when he returned he informed me that he didn't think he was going to get his pants down in time. He told me he knows he
shouldn't drink all that cappuccino because it causes him stomach problems. “Now you tell me,” I said. I guess I'll have to keep
an eye on you”. Still, I think George enjoyed riding with me, too, because I didn't complain when we stopped, I watched over him
as much as he watched over me and he even told me that he sure was going to miss me when he had to finish the ride on his own.
(cont.)
42
It wasn't long before we arrived in Oklahoma City, and I was beginning to show concern about the bike's handling. George,
too, was concerned, and at a gas station, I pulled out the Harley Map and learned that there were several dealerships in the city.
We studied the map and learned that the Harley Davidson World shop in
Edmond was the closest to us; just 10 miles North of our location. So I called
the dealership and explained that we were on the road, explained what was
wrong with the bike, and asked to get it in for evaluation. The mechanic said
he was alone, and the earliest he could look at it would be in the morning.
We were on a time schedule, and had to be in Denver on Friday night, so that
wasn't an option. I hung up the phone and called the Fort Thunder Davidson
dealership in Moore, about 23 miles South of our location, and their service
department told me to bring it right in. They were some of the friendliest
folks I've met on the road, and truly concerned for our safety and concerns for
Miss Betty. In no time, I met the mechanic and explained that there was a
problem with the front end. I related the symptoms and he took my keys and
took her for a spin. He wasn't gone long before he returned and said “it's not
the front end, but I'm pretty sure I know what it is.” He pulled it into the shop
and returned shortly telling me that the rear spokes were loose, and it would be an easy fix. He warned that the spokes had to be
checked frequently and that loose spokes can cause serious accidents. He said I was right to bring it in, and was lucky that I didn't
kill myself. The service department were so friendly and accommodating. They told me that it is Harley Davidson's policy to give
priority to travelers, and although some dealerships don't always follow that rule, they did. They always give number one priority
to those on the road. This is yet another reason to ride a Harley. With shops all over the country, it is comforting to know that
when you are far away from home, there is someone who will help you get back on the road as quickly as possible. And, for just
$48, I was back on the road within an hour. I would like to thank the dealership, the service counter staff and the mechanic who
were all professional and knowledgeable in their jobs.
Back on the road, a little behind schedule, I told George we had to make up time. I was in the lead, and he was a great
follower. We made it just short of Hays, KS and stopped in Salina instead, which was still a 680 mile ride for me. George had
about 45 miles less since he started in Springhill, but he would surely make that up on his trip to California. In the morning, we
got up early, ate a continental breakfast at the hotel, and hit the road for Denver. Ric was already in Spokane and getting ready to
leave the hotel for the airport. On the road, George and I hit I 35 North and then Interstate 70 West, which we would remain on for
more than 400 miles, and would lead us directly into Denver. Kansas is a wide state, and there's not much to see between Salina
and the Colorado border. There are, of course the abundance of wheat fields, and then there's the wind to keep your mind off the
over abundance of wheat fields. There's only two towns of any size; Hays and Colby, so if you travel this road, be prepared for a
lot of solitude. There was an interesting wind farm located between Russel and Lincoln counties. There are over 100 windmills
and each year, the turbines generate enough electricity for 42,000 homes.
There's also one lone, small, old-style windmill beside the large turbines.
We stopped at a little store and talked to the owner. She saw George's
patch that said “Springhill”, and began talking to him. It turns out that
she lived in Springhill in another lifetime, with an ex husband. It really is
a small world. She also told us that when they were building the wind
farm, the workers who were from Texas, frequented her store, and she
prepared lunch for them daily. After they left, they contacted her, and
asked if she would prepare and ship 25 meat loafs to Texas. I'm guessing
her cooking is great and they got spoiled to it. But, we didn't have
enough time to find out. I cracked the whip, and George said goodbye
and put on his helmet like a good little boy. Back on the Interstate, the
wind continued to pummel us, and we rode most of the way to Colorado
sideways with the cross wind trying to blow us over. I was never so glad
to get out of Kansas and into Colorado; not only because of the wind, but
also because that put us that much closer to our destination and my much anticipated rendezvous with my husband. In Colorado,
we gained altitude and we actually began to see mountains. We had finally left the Plain States behind. But, we could also see
rain. The clouds began to darken as we throttled around the bends, and the storm was coming right at us. It was one of those that
we knew we were going to run into, but denied nonetheless. And, as we drew nearer the dark clouds, we were so far from cover
that stopping to put on rain gear was not an option. The rain came suddenly and pelted us, feeling like icicles piercing our skin.
The wind picked up, but there was nothing we could do but ride through it. Fortunately, it only lasted about 10 minutes, and the
wind dried our jeans before we made it to Denver. Still, it was a wet, cold 60 miles or so to our destination. At approximately
6pm, three hours after Ric's arrival at the hotel, George and I rolled up to the hotel, tired and weary from two days of hard riding,
but excited to have made it there. We had riding plans for the morning, so it was to Outback for a yummy meal, and off to bed for
us.
(cont.)
43
On Saturday morning, we woke up to beautiful weather, albeit a little cooler than we were used to in Shreveport. The
temperatures were in the 40's, still tolerable for riding, and we planned to cross the Vail Pass and the Continental Divide, to escort
George to Utah. We would ride all the way to Grand Junction, just 30 miles from the Utah border and spend the night there,
seeing George off on Sunday morning. But, first we would visit Mile High Harley Davidson in Denver, so I could purchase a
dealer charm for my bracelet. The spoiled brat that I am, I talked my husband into buying charms at all the dealerships for my
birthday present. We bought so many that although they run about 20-25 dollars each, by the time I arrived home, my bracelet was
valued at over $250. The folks in Denver were friendly and we enjoyed visiting their dealership, although they were out of
charms, but gave me a web site where I could purchase it.
Since our arrival in Denver, I became the “bitch on the back”, and had the opportunity to relax and take some awesome photos
as we made our climb higher in the mountains. On our way out of Denver, I saw a sign for Look Out Mountain, and for Buffalo
Bill's Grave. It was a side stop, well worth the time.
There's a beautiful area to look out over the city of
Denver, a nice gift shop and restaurant, a museum and
of course, the grave site. My advice is “Don't pass by
this little excursion if you're making the cross through
the mountain pass from Denver to Utah.” At this
overlook, I pointed to the snow covered mountain peaks
far in the distance, and told George, “that's where we're
going”. His reply was the expected “Bullshit”! I just
laughed.
Back on the road, the higher the elevation, the more
the temperatures dropped, the colder it was, and the
worse our bikes ran. After one particularly long uphill
climb, at about a 9,000 feet elevation, we pulled over
because the bikes were chugging up the hill. The guys
had them full throttle and were using every bit of their
power. Part of the problem, of course was the 91
octane fuel we were using. The spot that Ric chose to
pull over at, had two stores, both with big, red CLOSED
signs on them, and to me that was not a good sign
because I really had to pee, and there wasn't anywhere to hide and take care of business. To George, it wasn't good, because we
were indeed in the snowy mountains. The roads were clear, but there was plenty of snow on the side of the road and on the
mountain tops. “I told you so”, I turned, and said to George. We didn't stay long; just long enough to let the bikes cool down, and
then we completed the climb, until we were at over 11,000 feet.
We passed through several tunnels and noticed that many of the ski slopes were still open. Of the three slopes famous for
Hollywood visitors, Breckenridge, Aspen and Vail, only Aspen at the lower elevation was closed. We stopped at Vail where we
enjoyed a delicious Starbucks coffee, and the company of a local sitting outside. As many of you know, I find it difficult to turn
down a Starbucks cappuccino, and whenever I spy the famous trademark, I just have to stop. This trip was awesome, and I
enjoyed the scenery and the ride, but I was also baffled by the number of bicycles on the mountainous roads. “Why would you
want to climb those mountains on a bicycle, when you could have the power of a Harley Davidson motor beneath you, I thought?”
While at Starbucks, one of the bicyclists showed up in his tiny bicyclist padded pants and big, fat calves, grown out of the struggle
up these mountains, no doubt. Ric chatted with a local man outside, and, of course had to comment on the attire of the bicyclists
as he left our company. “I'd never be caught dead wearing that”, and I laughed. Men can be so gossipy, and they blame us women
for that trait. I also reminded him that I did a lot of mountain biking in Germany before my motorcycling days. Thank God I've
graduated to the V-Twin lifestyle!
Next, we stopped at the Aspen Harley Davidson dealership only because George passed us up and signaled us to follow him.
He exited the highway, “in search of a restroom”, he said, and spied the dealership. Lucky for us. This is a beautiful two story
building, located at the base of the mountain, and alongside a river. On the river's edge were several people in kayaks braving the
rapids nearby. The sun was shining, and there was no wind, but the temperatures were still in the 50's and most of them weren't
wearing wet suits or gloves. They must have been locals, accustomed to the cold. Inside the store, Ric and I climbed up the long
staircase to the second floor where there were a couple of bikes, men's wear and ladies wear. I said to Ric, “I wonder how they got
that bike up here”. Ric just shrugged, but apparently didn't notice that across the showroom was a ledge with yet another bike on
display, suspended above the first floor. As we walked the narrow upstairs ledge, I noticed an elevator, and Ric said “that's how
they got the bike up here”, but of course, the ledge did not lead to the suspended bike, and as I pointed it out, Ric said he hadn't
seen it, and he was talking about the other bike. We determined that they must have used a crane before the store was opened for
business.
(cont.)
44
Back on our Harley's we continued to descend until we were passing through the Southern Canyon and the view changed from
snowy mountains to beautiful streams and rocky ledges. I got some awesome photographs with my little camera. I get a new
camera about every year, since I travel with them, use them a lot and am fairly hard on them. But this little camera has been in my
possession since Christmas, and hasn't broken yet. Good for me. I was so thrilled with the way the camera froze the shots while
we were riding, unlike some others I've owned. If you're looking for a good, cheap camera, I suggest you try out the GE A835 or
later model.
With all the stops we made that day and the slow ascension up the mountain, it took us several hours to make the 248 mile
trip. We wearily pulled into the Harley Shop in
Grand Junction, for another charm, of course. We
had arrived just ½ hour before closing, so didn't have
a lot of time. But we did take a moment to admire the
large American flag flying at half mast outside.
We're not sure why it was at half mast and didn't
bother to ask, but we had the privilege of watching
them take the flag down for the evening. It was so
large that it took two people and a hydraulic lift to
reach it. Harley Davidson, the motor company, is a
proud, American company, and many of the
dealerships proudly display the American flag. I only
wish they all would, and I think the motor company
should make it mandatory.
O.K., so we're in Grand Junction, and trust me,
this town is much smaller than I imagined. According
to Wikipedia, it is the largest city in Western
Colorado, and according to the 2007 Census, the
population is over 48,000. I'm not sure where they
were all hiding, but it had the feel of a small town.
We found a hotel, America's Best Value Inn, and
checked in our rooms. We joked with the reservation clerk that we wanted a first floor room so we could pull the bikes inside. He
didn't think it was funny; I can't imagine why. We got checked in, and decided to walk to a restaurant/bar nearby so we could have
a few beers and unwind, and then possibly have dinner. The restaurant was non smoking, which neither George nor I liked. We
made our way to the bar area and tried to order a beer from the bartender, but he rudely informed us that he had a waitress and she
would be right with us. I found that odd, since he wasn't busy and we were obviously thirsty. We wouldn't stay there long, I was
certain. We finally got a waitress, and then finally got a beer which we quickly consumed and got the hell out of there. But not
before we looked at the menu; steaks were $35 and when we paid the bill, we found that beer was $4.50 – certainly not our kind of
place. Before we left, we asked about a biker bar, and were told that there was one in Grand Junction, but it was more of a Sports
Bar. We were told that there was a biker bar in nearby Clifton, which was 7 miles away, and might be more what we were looking
for. When the bartender described it, it did indeed sound like our kind of place, and although we had earlier decided to leave the
bikes parked for the night, the $4.50 beer and obvious disdain for the biker trash who had invaded their high class restaurant and
bar, had changed our minds.
Back on the Interstate, we followed the directions that the bartender and other customers had given us. “Turn between the
church and the liquor store”, they said. That in itself was pretty funny, and I remember chuckling when they gave the directionst.
Of course, we missed the church, which they had earlier informed us, was a biker church. And when we turned around and headed
back the way we had come, traveling slowly in order to spot our turn, it was obvious why we had missed it. The church was
painted in a subdued orange stucco, was a plain building that looked like a house, and it didn't have a steeple or a large “Welcome”
sign like those we're accustomed to in the South. And the liquor store was really nothing more than a corner store that sold
liquor. We made the turn, and only two blocks down the road, saw a few bikes outside a white, wooden building that also looked
like a house. It was obvious that a lot of houses in the area had been turned into businesses. There was no sign, so it was only the
bikes that signaled to us that we were in the right place. The inside had two rooms with a bar in each, and was decorated with
biker signs, one which clearly identified the bar as “Triple Tree”. The place was was what some might call a “dive”, but was what
we were attracted to and would certainly call our own “local bar” if we lived in this town. We ordered beer, and George and I
went outside to smoke. In Colorado, there is no smoking in buildings, even bars. But this time, I was glad we went outside,
because, here, we had an opportunity to meet Beth. Beth is not your typical biker, or maybe she is. She told me that she's been
riding all her life. She had a pretty Harley albeit with a few minor scrapes. But then, there were a few minor scrapes on her, too.
As we stood outside, bitching about standing outside, she told me that we could smoke inside if we wanted. She said as long as the
bartender doesn't tell you to put it out. “Hmm”, I thought, “I'll have to give it a try”.
(cont.)
45
Back inside I asked George if he wanted another beer and he replied that he wasn't finished with the first. I said “well, drink up
Buddy”, “I'm buying another”. When I returned from the bar and sat the fresh, cold beer in front of him, I lit up a cigarette, and he
said, “you can't smoke in here”. I told him what Beth had said, and I pointed to a man at the bar who was smoking. George
retorted, “but you don't have an ashtray”, and so I said “that's why I bought you another beer. Drink up so I can use your bottle”. I
was drinking draft beer, so didn't have my own bottle. When George found out that he could smoke inside, he bottomed up his
beer and handed the bottle to me. I invited Beth over and found out that she had recently recovered from a motorcycle accident.
She was also just getting over a cold, and her throat was sore and raspy, so she was soft spoken and difficult to understand.
However, she managed to tell me she was leaving the bar one night and a car pulled out in front of her. She claimed that she was
sober; but your guess is as good as mine. She also claimed that she got all her teeth knocked out and had brain damage as a result
of the accident. She was serious about the brain damage, OMG, and she had a new set of choppers, which she informed me were
given to her by her biker friend, Wizard. Wizard, she told me, was an old friend who moved away to California, and is now a
hippie, living on the beach and wandering around. She tells me when he heard of her accident, he came back to see her, and
finding out that she needed teeth, he bought them for her, even though he couldn't really afford it. But he was a friend, and he
knew she wouldn't get them any other way. Beth liked to talk. She drank vodka and cranberry, and she loved to give high-fives.
She must have told me twenty times that she was going to be a grandma soon. She said her daughter was due this month, and she
was excited. Unfortunately, her daughter was unwed and unemployed, but Beth didn't seem to care. She easily saw the positive in
people and accepted the negative as an ugly, yet normal feature. She really was a kindred spirit, although trapped in her
surroundings and accepting of it, like a tired, beat down dog. She was there with her “old man”, as she called him, not husband,
but partner. She told us that he was rather jealous, and
didn't like her sitting with us, but she said she didn't
care. I bought him a beer, and invited him over, but he
wouldn't join us, although he remained amicable
enough. She just batted her hand to shoo him off, and
continued enjoying our company. She introduced me to
Scooby, the bartender, and informed me that “Scooby”
was one tough woman. She said Scooby took care of
her when she was at the bar, and that was evident as she
catered to Beth.
The beer was going down good, and we knew we
had to ride the seven miles back to Grand Junction. Our
opportunity to leave came when Beth's partner came by
and told her he was leaving, and she needed to go with
him. She was having fun, and didn't want any of it, but
he cohersed her into going, so we said our final
goodbyes, but not before taking a picture together and
thanking her for her hospitality. We were nowhere near
done drinking, but we had to get off the bikes and closer
to the room, so together, we decided to make a beer run
and return to the room to finish drinking and reliving our recent adventures. Of course since I was on the back, I had to carry the
beer, so we got a six pack and some pork rinds (none of us had eaten yet), and made our way back to our home for the evening.
George said he wasn't hungry when we offered to buy pizza, but we ordered it anyway, and by the time it arrived an hour later,
George was ravenous and consumed his fair share. That pizza didn't have a chance around the three of us.
Our trip was coming to an end, and we talked about our ride plans for the morning. We also talked about George's upcoming
ride which would be considerably longer than ours. We made plans to get up early and ride to the Utah border to see him off.
With the plans laid, we said goodnight. In the morning, we headed West, stopping briefly in Fruita, CO, a small town along the
way at a McDonald's for coffee and breakfast. Across the street was a dinosaur museum which wasn't open, but would have been
on my agenda otherwise. As we traveled through this part of Colorado, we found that we were indeed in Dinosaur country. There
was an exit just before the Utah border that said “Trail Through Time”, which turned out to be a hiking trail in an area that has
been the site of many important fossil and dinosaur discoveries, according to the sign. Eight species of dinosaurs had been found
there, dating from the Late Jurassic period. Scientific research is ongoing at the Mygatt-Moore Quarry where one can observe
paleontologists and volunteers digging during the field season. The Trail Through Time provides an opportunity to discover the
area's paleontology and geology. It's also obviously a great dirt bike trail since several were unloading while we were there.
(cont.)
46
We have arrived. The first indication was the sign that clearly states “Leaving Colorful Colorado”, and the second was the
sign that said “Welcome to Utah-Olympic Winter Games 2002”. All good things must come to an end, and this was the end of the
trail for George and us, but only the end of this trail; each of
us would continue on our own adventure, and George is still
on his. We began this adventure on Thursday, May 7th, and
today it is more than two weeks later, Friday, May 22nd. I
just spoke to George, and he has already visited both sisters
in different parts of California and is on the road home.
When I spoke to him, he told me he rode through rain all day,
across Arizona and into New Mexico. He said he is 70 miles
West of Albuquerque and expects to be home sometime
Sunday. Ric and I continued on back across the Vail pass
and to Denver to spend a final night together before I would
board a plane back to Shreveport, and he would make the
1200 mile trip back to Soap Lake, Washington. Although
George is only two days away and Ric and I have already
completed our journeys, I promised to tell you a funny story
about Ric getting stopped in Idaho, so I'll conclude with a
little laughter and a wish for a great month of riding for my
readers. Enjoy!
My sides are splitting and my stomach is so sore from the laughter. I’m bent over at the waist and crossing my legs so I don’t
pee my pants. Every time Ric opens his mouth to say something, I experience another round of laughter exploding from deep
within my gut. Tears are rolling down my face, and I say “Quit it, stop it, that is soooo funny!” He just got pulled over by a small
town cop, somewhere between Twin Falls and Boise, Idaho, so I really shouldn’t be laughing at him, but I just can’t contain
myself. I was thinking at this point, it doesn’t even matter if he got a ticket or not, since the cost of it would be well worth it.
When Ric left Twin Falls, Idaho, the temperatures were just above freezing, and it felt like 24 or so degrees with the wind chill
factored in. There’s a constant dilemma when it so cold, and that is whether to ride faster so you get there quicker and have less
time to endure the cold (although this decreased the temperature, since the wind chill factor increases with speed), or to drive
slower and decrease the wind chill factor, thus increasing the temperature. But, I look at like this -- “cold is cold”; 26 degrees or
36; it just doesn’t matter. So, it’s smarter to go faster and endure the cold for less time, and I’m sure that’s what Ric was doing
when he got pulled over – just trying to get their quickly. He claims he was only going 6 mph over the speed limit, which in most
cases simply wouldn’t cause you to get pulled over. But, his biker name is “Suspect”, so you might imagine to the local yokels, he
looked like a biker thug traveling through their small town with every intention of smuggling the drugs or guns that were buried
deep within the saddle bags, across the state lines. When
they stopped him, they ran his driver's license, looked at the
registration and told him they were stopping him because he
was speeding. They were making small talk and asked him
what year his motorcycle was. Ric replied “2005”, and they
further questioned him, “how many miles do have on it”.
Not thinking, Ric replied “50,000”. As soon as he said it, he
knew what they were getting at. Since statistically, the usual
rider only puts about 3,000 miles a year on a motorcycle,
Ric's 2005 bike, 5 years old, should only have about 15,000
miles. Officers are trained to recognize high mileage
vehicles as those possibly used for running drugs or guns,
and this admission gave them probable cause to ask him if he
would allow them to search his bike. Already knowing the
answer, Ric replied, “what are my options”? And the police
officer said, “1. I can search your bike, find nothing and
you'll be out of here in 30 minutes, or 2. I can call in and
request a search warrant, which will take about two hours,
and I'll still search your bike anyway. “ Ric, having nothing to hide, but unknowingly having something to be embarrassed about,
complied with their request. “Sure”, he told them, “go ahead”. Proudly, he continued, “I’ve got nothing to hide”. The police
officer looked over his paperwork; insurance, registration, and valid inspection sticker. He checked the windshield bag, and rifled
through the saddlebags, finding nothing more than rain gear, goggles, a first aid kit, bungee cords and a ball cap. His partner
returned to the cruiser and ran Ric’s license through NCIS to insure that they weren’t dealing with a “wanted” person.
(cont.)
47
Next, the officer began the tedious task of
searching the t-bag. He must have thought Ric was
crazy to be riding across the wilderness in freezing
temperatures, and must have been sure that he would
find the substances being illegally transported. As his
partner kept an eye on Ric, the officer checked the side
pockets of the large t-bags, and then opened the main
zipper that led to the storage area. On the side of the
road, Ric stood and watched as the officer pulled out
jeans, socks, underwear and dirty clothes for any
passer- by to see. I’m sure the officer was glad he was
wearing rubber surgical gloves when he reached in and
wrapped his fingers around a soft, pliable piece of
rubber about six inches long and two inches in
diameter. As he pulled it out of the saddle bags, he
realized what it was, and turned to his partner and said,
“looks like we’ve got a…”.
Everyone plays practical jokes, and my friends and
I are no exception. When Ric was home in February,
you might remember we had a party for him at Harley’s Pub, our local bar and hangout. Our close friend John thought it would be
funny to give him a gift before he returned to the solitude of Soap Lake, Washington. So, he presented him with the gift bag.
When Ric reached his hand inside, he pulled out a box with a picture of a sexy, naked woman on the cover. Inside the box was a –
let’s just say “a sex toy”. John explained that Ric could use his pocket sex toy whenever he got lonely. We all had a great laugh
out of it, but when we got home, it was relegated to the back of the closet. After all, for the time being, he had me, and certainly
didn’t need it.
Last month, the day before I left on the trip to Denver to take the bike to Ric, John and Skunk and I had a few beers at Harley’s
and John suggested that I should take the toy to Ric. I agreed, so when I packed up the bike, I removed the toy from the box and
slipped the smooshy gel “thing” into the bottom of the t-bag. I thought, without the box, even if we were stopped, which the odds
were against, nobody would actually know what it was. I was so very wrong. Hee Hee.
“OMG, Baby, stop it”, I say, as the tears continue to roll down my face. As Ric is telling me the story of the police officer
searching the bag and pulling out the “toy”, it is all I can do to not fall on the floor laughing. He told me that as the officer lifted it
out of the bag and realized what it was, he turned to his partner and said “looks like we’ve got a sex offender”. “Your girlfriend”?
the other officersasks.
Now, in a past life, Ric was a police officer in a small town in Kansas, and has told me some incredible stories that will always
remain in his memory; like the time he ate a “suspect’s” paper driver’s license after slathering it with peanut butter, and the judge
sentenced the guy to 30 days psychiatric evaluation when Ric appeared in court and suggested that the guy was “crazy”. Like that
story, this is one story that will certainly stick with these police officers all their life, and will be told over and over again at parties
and family gatherings, and probably again when they’re in their 90’s sitting on the porch sipping lemonade and reminiscing about
the “good old days”.
Until Next Month, Ride and Have Fun!
References:
http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/scenic-drives/pig-trail.aspx
http://www.kake.com/news/headlines/2789371.html
http://www.knoxviews.com/node/8717
48
The internet is a great tool and that's why we are an internet based magazine. To reach more people! We want to keep the
look and "feel" of a paper magazine, but we also want to give you useful information. In that light, we give you some of our
favorite website links.
EZ Rise Trailers
Motorcycle Saddlebags
American Cycle Accessories
Motorcycle Publications
Spokes and Power
www.RPMMagazineny.com
Fog Hollow
Full Throttle Magazine
JC Whitney
Born To Ride Magazine
Cycle-Parts.com
US Rider News (formerly Dixie
Rider)
Diamond D Parts Locators
Thunder Press
Drag Specialties
Wind Talk Magazine
Leather Jackets
Motorcycle Online
Bux Tools
Canadian Biker Online
Exotic Sportbike
Motorcycle City On Line Magazine
Quill Exhausts
Custom Chrome
Run Central
Classified Ads
Link & Search Sites
Motorcycle Manufacturers
Dirpedia.com
Ironworks Motorcycle
ZAESY.com
Guilty Customs
Florida Bike Nights.com
Kendall Johnson Customs
Slick's Scooter Schedule
Thunder Action Designs
Gum's Favorite Links
Places of Interest
J H Choppers
Bike Links
Drawstring Bags
Bourget's Bike Works
YoYsearch
Wholesale Levi’s
Harley Davidson
Biketrade
myBusinessLinks.net
Exile Cycles
Zepti.com
Ironhorse Writer
Kawasaki Home Page
New York Biker
Triumph Motorcycles - Official
Website
Splittin' the Breeze
Biker - Jon
Bikerkiss.com
Suzuki - American Suzuki Motor
Corporation Motorcycle & ATV
Division
Easy Biker
Safe Cycle Training, LLC.
ABATE of Florida
American Motorcyclist Association
motoschool.com
Larry T Beach 98.9
Motorcycle Parts and
Accessories
Motorcycle Jewelry
Show Bike Lights
Milledgeville Thunder Rally
Sentry Fuel Treatment
Best Harley Links Info
Motorcycle Jackets
EZ Loading Trailers
Motorcycle Education
J & P Cycles
Wheels in Motion - Motorcycle
Safety Training
49
White Line Magazine seeks potential
“Miss White Line”!
White Line Magazine is looking for women to be a
"Babe of the Month". Guys, send us in photo's of your
lady (with her permission of course!) or gals... you
think you got what it takes to show off as a biker babe?
Must be at least 18 and will have to sign release.
Entrants will be voted on by general public and a tally
of votes will determine winner. Winner will be
crowned Miss White Line Magazine.
Events? Parties? Rides?
In future issues we will be expanding our events
listings and calendar of events so that you have the
widest possible range of things to do in the biking
community. If you know of any ride, event or party
that you think would be made better ( mo betta) by
having a few hundred of White Line readers at… then
send listings to us at mailbag@whitelinemagazine.com
Below are email addy’s you can use to submit to
different sections of White Line Magazine.
shadow@whitelinemagazine.com....................... Owner
/ Managing Editor
hawk@whitelinemagazine.com........………...…Owner
mailbag@whitelinemagazine.com.............. Submit pix,
enter contests, or just to send us praise or complaints.
Sales Positions Available.
White Line Magazine is growing quickly! Because
our magazine is so greatly accepted, we have positions
for advertising sales staff. The amount of money you
can make, is only limited by your enthusiasm and
drive. A generous commission, a fun atmosphere,
some leads provided, and the chance to get in on the
ground floor of the best biker magazine bar none make
this an ideal full or part time job. Contact Shadow at:
shadow@whitelinemagazine.com
or send a resume to
mailbag@whitelinemagazine.com
adsales@whitelinemagazine.com ............ for more info
about advertising in our magazine.
whitelineremembers@whitelinemagazine.com..... Send
in the name and dates of someone for the Memorial
Page.
events@whitelinemagazine.com .............. Got an event
to have listed in the magazine?
ice@whitelinemagazine.com................ Suggest a place
for Ice to chill at, or a band to be reviewed.

Events? - White Line Magazine

Transcription

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