Pinky's Motorcycle Passion
June 2011
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Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 5:51 PM
Stripper Juice cleaner and polisher gets you off clean! I am so excited to say that I received the product in the mail today. Go to my website and read the feature: Stripper Juice Polish for all the details. Then click on the link and make a purchae. You won't be sorry! |
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Author unknown: Posted on Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:03 PM
Who are the Patriot Guard Riders
There were zero PGR 6 year ago. As of now, there are over 230000. This growth has not come easy, and it is not perfect. And in case anybody misunderstands, I thought I should make it clear who the PGR are to me.
The PGR is the Hell's Angel that has held a flag for three hours in honor of a fallen solider. The PGR is the Christian Motorcyclist Association rider that is standing next to him. The PGR is the elderly lady with a flag draped over her walker that is standing next to him. The PGR is the biker that will rider over 300 miles, praying to God to give him strength, so he can make it in time to have the honor of standing the flag line for the wake of a hero…Alone. The PGR is having 250 bikes show up the next day in a town of 3500 people: Some riding hundreds of miles, staring at 0400…In the rain. The PGR will be humbled when the color guard comes out to shake his hand for standing there alone, and tell them with confidence there will be more tomorrow. The PGR is spending hours in a flag line in 100 degree heat, only later to find out the son of the guy standing next to you had committed suicide 6 months after returning from Iraq. The PGR are the couple that served lunch to 286 bikers, refusing all donations. They are the grandparents of the solider that killed himself. The PGR is "freebird57" from IL who drives around in his van, loaded with 135 flags and coolers of water and supplies for those standing the line along with him. The PGR is the Viet Nam vet that was spit on when he returned, or the lady next to him whose brother was in the Battle of Bulge. Or it is 12 year old Taylor Batten, who had her first heart surgery at the age of 6 months. Taylor has had many surgeries in her past and will have many more in her future, which may not be that long. She is now a PFC USMC, and an honorary MI PGR Ride Captain. The PGR is not a service group, we are not lobbyists. There are many fine organizations that do this work, and we heartily encourage your support.  The PGR is the biker that will ride over 200 miles in rain so bad he can barely see, and rides only by the taillights of those ahead of him, because the protestors will be at the funeral of PO1 Jerry Tharp in Galesburg IL. And he will not only consider it a privilege to have protestors scream in his face, shielding them form the family, but will consider it one of the proudest days of his life. And there are 329 people standing next to him feeling exactly the same way. The PGR is the rider who could not think of any place he would rather be at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, than to stand at the gravesite of a friend's father, on the anniversary of his passing. A father who earned the Silver Star in Korea for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty: A father whose family had no ideal what he had done and the award he had won, until they went through his belongings after his death. If you do not fit in anywhere in the above, or you have another agenda, you might reconsider if you are in the right place. If you do, it will be my honor to stand with you anytime, anywhere. And when the organizers of this parade ask how many PGR will be there, I will tell them there might be 100, but I will only guarantee one. And if there is an Honor Mission for a fallen hero that I should attend, I will not be there either. Being a PGR is not fun. It may well be one of the hardest things you will ever do. You may have the mother of a fallen solider cry on your shoulder, thanking you for being there. You may have a Marine, who has escorted his buddy from Afghanistan, stand at attention and salute you, with tears streaming down his face. Being a PGR may not be fun, but you will never stand with better people. It may be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do, and without a doubt, it will change your life forever. |
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Posted on Monday, June 20, 2011 6:03 AM
 Today is the Ride to Work Day. The Ride to Work Day is a non-profit organization, advocating and supporting the
use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation, and providing
information about everyday utility riding to the public.
Riders are asked to ride their motorcycle or scooter to work to promote our presence on the road as a viable source of transportation. It's going to be hot in Louisiana, so dress in light colors, wear sunscreen, keep hydrated, and ride safe!
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Posted on Thursday, June 09, 2011 5:48 AM
Looking forward to ROT Rally in Austin. This time tomorrow, I'll be on the road heading South, deep into Texas! Cowboys and Steers, Brisket and Tequilla, Willy and Waylon, Bikes and Boobs! And much, much more. Yesterday, Todd left with the camper and a few friends. They are already there, and I've got to make it through one more day at work. I just talked to Ric and we decided to ask the bosses if we can take off at noon today. If we do, we'll be on the road by 2 pm and there for the party tonight. YES!  Just received a text from Todd in Austin. It reads "Going to bed now. What a night! Leave today!!! Just locked Keith out of trailer in his underwear. Those late night pee pees will kill you when I'm awake!!!!" The text came in at 5:30 am. It's gonna be a long weekend. |
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Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2011 7:13 PM
 The Mudbugs have been in Shreveport/Bossier for 14 years, and are talking about the possibility of disbanding. That would be a shame, and would take something from the community. They have always supported our community, and this "winning team" needs the support of its fans now! Although this is a blog about motorcycling, it's also about events and things to do and see in the Shreveport community, so I felt the need to post the recent press release from Mudbugs Hockey!
BOSSIER
CITY, LA – The 2011 Central Hockey League Champion Bossier-Shreveport
Mudbugs are asking for your support in the most important season ticket
drive in the history of the franchise. In order to make a 15th season of
hockey in Bossier-Shreveport a realistic possibility, the Mudbugs must
make significant progress toward reaching our sales goals by the end of
this week. “As
much as we hate to take away from the Championship celebration amongst
our fans, we can’t afford to hide the reality of the situation right
now,” said Owner Tommy Scott. “The league wants our commitment to play
next year by the end of this week, and we are not in a position to make
that kind of a pledge without being assured of the financial future of
this franchise.” “We
are exploring all possible avenues to help generate revenue and
streamline our operations, but the key to our continued operations lies
in our ticket sales efforts. Unfortunately the timetable is against us
right now, which is why we hope the community will recognize the sense
of urgency we face and rally around the only sports franchise to operate
continuously in this city for the last 14 years.” To
that end, the Mudbugs have set a goal of 2,500 season tickets for the
2011-2012 season. The extremely loyal and passionate base of ‘Bugs fans
has already responded with a resounding number of approximately 900
season tickets sold for next season, which nearly matches the club’s
season ticket number from a year ago. If
the Mudbugs can increase that total to approximately 1,750 season
ticket commitments for next season by week’s end, the likelihood of the
‘Bugs having an opportunity to defend their 2011 Central Hockey League
Championship next year would be greatly increased. “Mudbugs
hockey brought me to Bossier-Shreveport more than a decade ago, and
since then it has become home for me and my family,” said longtime
player and current Mudbugs General Manager Jason “Soupy” Campbell. “Now
we are on the verge of losing a valuable source of entertainment,
community service and economic development here in the Ark-La-Tex.
That’s why we’re trying to inspire people who are invested in this
community to step up and help us keep it here for years to come.” “This
is about much more than just hockey,” said Scott. “It’s about the
overall positive impact this organization has on our community: from
visits to kids at schools and hospitals to the jobs and revenue that is
created for the CenturyTel Center and the City of Bossier. I’m willing
to bet that the Mudbugs have touched almost everyone in this area in one
way or another over the past 14 years, whether they know it or not. We
don’t want that to end, but we can’t do it alone.” The
Mudbugs are currently offering a number of versatile ticket packages
for the 2011-2012 season, including season tickets in five different
pricing levels. Mudbugs season ticket packages are available with
flexible payment plans and include a variety of discounts for children,
seniors, students, active military, police and firefighters. In
addition to full season tickets, the ‘Bugs also offer a “Pick ‘Em”
16-Game Package and Flex Books to help hockey fit into your budget and
busy lifestyle. For more information on Mudbugs ticket packages and how
you can help keep the ‘Bugs in Bossier-Shreveport, call 752-BUGS or stop
by the team office inside the CenturyTel Center today!
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Posted on Tuesday, June 07, 2011 6:46 PM
This article was written in 2008 after my attendance at the Republic of Texas (ROT) Rally. Several people have mixed feelings about attending ROT, not certain what to expect. Trust me, if you've never been, and you have the opportunity, it is one rally you should experience. Check out some of the pictures, which of course I had to edit for publication!
ROT Rally, by Mary Baker
The decision to attend a rally is a personal one, indeed. Mary
remembers when she first started riding, She had absolutely no idea
what this rally thing was all about. Her husband, Ric, and friends
kept talking about Daytona, and Myrtle Beach, Sturgis, Laconia and
the Republic of Texas (ROT) rally. She's since attended the
parties at Myrtle Beach and Sturgis, but has yet to make it to
Daytona, Laconia or ROT. Daytona and Laconia will have to wait for
another year. This year is ROT. Why, you ask, would she put ROT in
the same category as Daytona, Myrtle Beach and Sturgis? Sturgis will
celebrate its 68 anniversary this August and had over
half a million participants last year. Daytona celebrated it's 67
annual Bike Week this year and had over 350,000 participants while
Myrtle Beach celebrated its 68th year with nearly ¼ million in
attendance. Laconia celebrated its 85 year and boasts
over 400,000 participants annually. In comparison, ROT started in
1993 and reports about 50,000 participants, but its growth is
building and its appeal may just be that it hasn't quite yet reached
the size of the bigger, well known rallies. Also, unlike some of
the other rallies, ROT reports their numbers based on registered
rally goers not unpaid attendance. But in 2005 they claimed 160,000
at the Friday night party on Congress Street, which, by the way is
free. Another difference is ROT is still a rally with only four
days; the others are bike weeks that last seven days. One thing
about bike weeks and rallies is that they all offer a party and they
all have plenty of great bands, vendors and events.
This year ROT boasted a
full line up of musical talent with over 70 bands including Three Dog
Night, Molly Hatchet, and the Charlie Daniel's Band. ROT had
something for everyone; stand up comedy, ride in bike show, military
bike giveaway, parades, off site party, vendors, Celebrity Bike
Builders, the Wall of Death, biker chicks and biker bars, and even an
Extreme Fighting Championship on Saturday afternoon. In true rally
tradition, campgrounds were available, and campers had their own
entertainment. In fact, the entire rally, with the exception of the
downtown party took place on the campgrounds. Mary was fortunate
enough to have friends with campers and tents; a place to lay her
head when she just couldn't party any more.
Mary and her friends have
a tradition of practicing for rallies before the actual event. They
meet at the local bar or pub and practice by drinking more than their
fair share of alcoholic beverages in order to build up their
tolerances. They proudly call it Sturgis Training, Myrtle Beach
Training, or in this case, ROT rally training. They've been in
training for several weeks now, and they're ready for the event.
They've purchased the beer, whiskey and their favorite,
Jagermeister, and they're packing their bags. Sometimes their bikes
get drunk at the pub during training. They mostly visit biker
friendly establishments, and their friends there make sure they get
home safely if they've had a little too much to drink. At Harley's
Pub in Bossier City, they just pull Lacey and the other bikes inside
and Mary and the other bike owners pick them up in the morning. And,
Harley's will do that for any of you – they'll even spring for a
taxi ride home.
The clock is ticking, and
on Wednesday some of Mary's friends, Tom and Denise, Jack and John
S. and Ginny loaded up their bikes on trailers and in the toy
haulers, and drove their RVs south to Austin. They were carrying her
bed, as she likes to put it. Normally, Mary thinks trailers are for
boats, but really, trailers are for other people, and when it's as
important as taking her bed, she thinks its alright, as long as she
can ride her Harley to the rally. The weather was going to
cooperate, skies were sunny and bright and there was no forecast of
rain to spoil the rally. Like I said, Mary has experienced big
rallies like Sturgis before, and she's no prude, but when I asked her
about ROT, she just shook her head and said, “I've never seen
anything like it”.
Mary took annual leave
from her job on Thursday and Friday. She planned to use Thursday for
packing and preparing for the 300 mile ride, not a long distance for
sure, but still things had be done. Her bike, Lacey needed her
25,000 mile maintenance, and Miss Betty, her husband's bike, needed a
new tire and brakes. They got these things accomplished early in the
week, and by Thursday morning all that was left to do was pack up the
bikes. “Why not leave a day early”, she thought. And, that was
it. Mary called Ginny and George, whom she had planned to ride with
on Friday morning, and told them to pack their bags. George couldn't
make it since he was in Arkansas visiting a lady friend, but Ginny
was game to go. Now Mary had to act fast, and began writing a list
so she wouldn't forget anything; camera, sunscreen, batteries,
towels, clean socks, MP3 player, helmet nets and bungees, toothbrush,
sunglasses, extra bike keys, water, chap stick, gum, and the list
goes on. Everything was gathered up on the pool table in the game
room, and she and Ric began to pack the bikes. Shannon and John B.
were leaving early on Thursday morning, so Ric and Mary decided to
meet them and drop off clothing and other big items so Shannon could
haul them in her pickup truck. With that done, they were ready to
roll. A quick trip to Walmart to purchase last minute items, and a
quick lunch, then they picked up Ginny at her house, gassed up, and
began the ride to ROT. It would be an uneventful trip except for the
intense Texas summer heat that rolled in that day. The further South
they went, the hotter it became, and when they arrived at the rally
grounds around nine pm, they were tired, hot and sweaty. But, that
didn't matter for long. John B. met them at registration and they
picked up their arm bands and were handed a beer. The party was
beginning. In fact, they had already missed a big portion of the day
one party, and they had some drinking to do if they were going to
catch up to John B. and Shannon. If you're staying in the
campgrounds at ROT, and there's really no better place to stay,
you're not going to get much sleep and you'll be exposed to a lot of
things you may not have seen before, some you wish you could un-see.
At home, looking through the rally pictures, Mary wondered how she
was going to edit them to be suitable for her magazine article.
John B. had walked (or
staggered) to the registration area, and instead of walking back, he
hitched a ride with Mary on the back of her Street Bob. Her Street
Bob has a solo seat, but thankfully she added the rear fender rack
for traveling, so John B. had a place to sit, although a bit
uncomfortable. It was a sight to see them rolling into the
campgrounds. John B. had a horned helmet, shorts and flip flops and
no shirt, and was screaming the entire way to Ginny and John S.'
campsite. “Ouch”, “Oh my God”, “Watch them bumps”, he
screamed. The parade had already started. At ROT, they mark off
some of the streets for a nightly parade of bikes, four wheelers,
trailers and such, so John B. and Mary, Ric and Ginny had no choice
but to turn on to the parade route in order to get to Ginny and John
S'. The going was slow, and Mary observed the party atmosphere, and
couldn't believe her eyes. The Sheriff's department was on site, but
they didn't seem to care what was happening. There was plenty of
nudity especially as the hours wore on. There were several trailers
with stripper poles attached and the rally goers were none too shy
about taking their turn dancing. There were men and women in the
streets completely nude, or wearing just shoes and head gear. There
was a lady playing pinball sans clothing and one of Mary’s male
friends decided to join in, also without clothing. There were beads
and Jello shots being passed out freely. Mary joined some friends on
their double decker trailer who were riding in the parade. She
enjoyed the show from her perch on the trailer. Pure debauchery was
the only term she could think of to describe the scene. Jeanie
joined the group on the trailer and Todd rolled by on his bike.
Jeanie and Mary exchanged the ride on the trailer for a ride on
Todd's bike. Jeanie sat on the seat facing backwards, Mary sat on
the horned handlebars and Todd rode them through the parade as they
collected beads. Soon, they returned back to the trailer, and when
Jeanie saw her husband, Jay, she made a quick exit, falling flat on
the ground, the first in our group to become a casualty of ROT. A
large gash on her arm, scratches on her breast, stomach and legs
would be weekend reminders of her rare moment of bad judgment.
Later, the trailer came to a halt, and Mary spotted a friend, who she
won't name, in a golf cart. She exchanged the trailer this time for
the golf cart, and as they rolled around the parade route, they
picked up passengers, including another friend, who was totally naked
except shoes and headgear. The nude rider would command a lot of
attention, and they had to stop several times for him to take photos
with people along the route. And the driver of the cart had to stop
several times because he would work out deals with people on the
route. The deal was that he would strip, run 50 yards naked, return
and redress, all for a pair of specialty beads.
It was a late night (or
early morning) for Mary and she had seen enough for one night, so she
had the driver of the cart drop her off at the campsite, which would
come to be lovingly called the “refugee camp” by her friends in
RV s. But she also lovingly called them “trailer trash”. The
ROT rally is held at the Travis County Expo Center East of Austin, Texas, and is laid out on
what is simply nothing more than a large parking lot. Thankfully the
expo hall was a huge building in which Mary could use as a landmark,
because she has a talent for getting lost. By Thursday night, there
were so many people packed into the area that finding her way back to
the RV where she was supposed to sleep was not an option. John B.
and Shannon had set up a tent with an air mattress, and that looked
good enough for Mary, so around 3am, she sneaked into the tent, found
a pillow, and fell asleep to the raucousness of the late night
partyers outside. So much for sleeping in a bed trailered down to
Austin by her friends John S. and Ginny. Oh well, maybe tomorrow
night.
Hard to believe, but at
3am, she was one of the first to go to bed. She was also one of the
first up at 6:30 in the morning. She awakened to the dripping of
rain coming through the tent and had to crawl over John and Shannon's
half naked bodies. And to make things worse, a nagging toothache was
beginning that would bother Mary the rest of the rally. She decided
to search for a bathroom and then coffee. She didn't yet know about
the fairly clean bathrooms in the expo hall, but found a row of
port-a- potties instead that would have to do. Next, she decided to
look for coffee, and staggered upon the CMA (Christian Motorcycle
Association), who gladly handed her a cup. She still finds it hard
to believe that the CMA attends these kinds of rallies, and even
passes out free water, coffee, and sometimes snacks. With hot coffee
in hand, she decided to be brave and go in search of the camper. The
goal was to find an electrical outlet to charge her cell phone. Some
things she's just become accustomed to and the cell phone is
something she finds hard to do without. She knew if she found the
“trailer trash” she would be able to plug in the, by now,
completely dead phone. Mary walked around the camp ground, lost as
usual, and took in the sites. There were cans, bottles, and beads
everywhere, discarded on the ground. Trash was already piling up,
but there were also workers out early gathering up the debris left by
the party animals last night. Vendors were awakening and setting up
shop, a few people were up carrying their towels and clothing to the
“Rubber Ducky” mobile shower facilities set up in 18 wheelers.
The ROT organizers had thought of everything. Mary wondered
aimlessly for what seemed like miles. She passed the same trailers
more than once, and knew she was walking in circles. Finally she
spotted Jack's rig and was happy to have finally found her friends.
When she arrived at their campsite, all was quiet and she spotted
Lacey, sleeping safely but covered in a layer of dust from the fine
gravel road and the rain. Across the street, the neighbor, also an
early riser, was already sipping coffee and walking her dog. Mary
exchanged pleasantries with Jane, from Houston, and then smiling,
cranked up Lacey in the quiet of the morning, a little pay back for
the loud noise of the evening prior that she had to listen to while
trying to sleep. After another exhaustive search, she found her way
back to the refugee camp. There was a shorter way to get there, but
the only way she could manage was to find the big expo hall, and go
from there. By now a few people were up and they congregated under
the 10 x 20 pop up tent that had been erected for shelter. Mary
enjoyed the company of Jay and Jeanie, Gala and Mark and a few others
who she didn't yet know. Soon Ric came to life, and they went in
search of a coke and found the bathrooms at the expo hall. The
campsite was coming to life too, but the late night participants were
not. John B., Shannon and Todd were still crashed. Mary and Ric
decided to go for a breakfast ride and completed over 50 miles before
they found Denny's on Interstate 35. Their stomachs full, they made
it back to the tents where they left their bikes and went to visit
the vendors. ROT organizers did not disappoint them; they had over
300 vendors offering just about anything one would want. Mary
decided this was the perfect opportunity to get her horn cover
painted and she talked to an airbrush artist who was happy to do the
job. She and Ric went back to the refugee
camp to pick up Lacey and saw that they were finally joining
the living. They dropped off Lacey at the air brush tent and then
Ric and Mary went into the Expo Hall where they were joined by John
B. and Shannon. They listened to a comedian perform followed by the
Roller Derby girls, and looked at the custom bikes. There were
plenty of food vendors, too, and Ric enjoyed hot pizza, while Mary
scarfed up chili cheese fries. There was plenty to do inside the
rally site, and nobody in the group felt like riding this morning.
The heat of the day was once again intense, so they got out the water
guns and took a dip in the large inflatable pool to keep themselves
cool. George arrived in the afternoon, and Mary's brother, Johnny,
got there sometime in the evening. Mary picked up Lacey from the
air brush artist, and was delighted to see the skull with bright pink
do rag painted on the horn cover – a $40 well spent.
By the time evening
rolled around, the parade was starting, and Mary was exhausted. A
nap was in order at 7pm, and that turned into an all night sleepover.
She once again was passed out in John B. and Shannon's tent, but
they didn't last near as long as the evening before. Friday evening
would be an early one for them, and at 10pm they were waking her up
to make her move over. She was sleeping soundly and not pleased to
be disrupted, but reluctantly, and angrily, staggered out of their
tent, and into one that Ric had set up for them. She wouldn't be
sleeping in the comfort of the camper tonight either. Maybe
tomorrow night! She didn't notice when Ric joined her in the tent,
and she woke frequently during the night listening to the noises of
people outside. The party was still going on, although thinning out,
at 5am. Finally around six o'clock, she got up and grabbed some
clothing and toiletries and decided to try out the Rubber Ducky for
herself. When she crawled out of her tent, there was a girl she
didn't know sleeping just outside the door, with no pillow and no
blanket. She sat on Lacey and watched as another girl crawled out of
Johnny's tent. Shaking her head, she was off to the showers. It was
refreshing and made her feel like a new person. As she stepped out
of the trailer, she was pleased to see a coffee shack set up, so
decided to have a latte and was joined by Johnny who is also an early
riser. They enjoyed their coffee and discussed plans for a ride,
after which they returned to the refugee camp to wake up the others
and offer them a chance to join in on the adventure. Johnny and
Shannon and some of the others decided to go to the hotel in town and
get a shower first. Johnny had a room at the Motel 6, which was
biker friendly. Johnny showed the group pictures of the evening
before. One of his friends saw everyone taking off windshields and
saddlebags and carrying them up their rooms. He asked if he could
take his bike in, and they said “yeah, sure, if you can get it in
the elevator.” His friends laughed and opened up the double doors
and he pushed his bike in, rolled it into the elevator, up to the
third floor and into his room. That will teach them to doubt biker's
abilities.
After showers and a quick
breakfast, the group which included Ric and Mary and George and
Johnny made their way north to the Harley Shop in Round Rock. A band
was playing, and burgers were cooking on the grill. It was already
after 10am and the day was again turning out to be hot. The
dealership had troughs full of ice cold water and soda, free for the
riders. They listened to the music while sipping on water. Johnny
couldn't resist the smell of the savory burgers, so laid down his $5,
and smothered the burger in mustard and ketchup before indulging.
Mary got out the map and began making ride plans. The trip would
include a ride through the hill country to Marble Falls, and then on
to Fredricksburg for lunch and a stop at Lukenbach, where everybody's
somebody. Fredricksburg was a quaint little German town with beer
gardens, restaurants and shopping opportunities. Parking on Main
Street was the only difficulty in navigating the village, but the
riders found a side street to park. They were right in front of the
Buffalo Nickel Bar and Grill and their stomachs were growling. “What
better place to stop and get in the air conditioning while enjoying a
great meal”, they thought. Ric ordered up a juicy buffalo burger,
while George opted for the cheeseburger. Mary and Johnny ate salad,
buffalo chips with fresh pico de gallo and potato skins. All enjoyed
a cold beer. Satisfied and refreshed, they once again got on the
bikes for the twelve mile ride to Lukenbach. Fortunately, the group
had asked for directions, because it is not an easy place to find.
They turned onto the dusty gravel road and found the place inundated
with bikers. There was parking for bikes in a grassy field alongside
the road. This sleepy little town was now awake. It still has a
general store which has been in operation since 1849, and was
originally established as a trading post. If you're looking for
glitz and glamor, this is not the place for you. Instead, what
you'll find in Lukenbach is a few buildings including the general
store, the Feed Lot where you can buy a burger or BBQ sandwich and a
beer to wash it down, a dance hall, and an outdoor stage under 500
year old oak trees. The post office is still in the front of the
general store, although not in operation, but the sign remains, and
you can still take a photo in front of it. Lukenbach may have gained
its ultimate fame after the recording “Lukenbach, Texas, (Back to
the Basics)” by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings; and, I'm told,
Willie returns annually for his fourth of July picnic. There was a
Texas Longhorn tied to a tree, and the owner was allowing guests to
saddle up and take a picture. Mary asked him how much it cost, and
he replied, “just be fair”. For a dollar, five dollars, or
whatever you want to donate, you too can get your picture with a real
Longhorn. Mary handed the man five dollars, and was assisted with
mounting the bull. He said “looks like you've done this before”,
and she replied, “Well, I do ride a steel horse”. Bridle in left
hand, and right hand raised, Ric took Mary's photograph for a lasting
memory of the visit to this friendly haven. The group sat outside
the dance hall under an old oak and enjoyed the music, before they
decided it was time to get back to the ROT rally and get ready for
the Saturday night concert and party.
The group stopped at the
trailer trash area and had a few cold beers with friends, while
reminiscing about the day. Mary became a casualty next as she rested
her arm on a chair and was stung by a bee. This seems to be a
pattern for her, and bee stings cause intense stinging and swelling
for her. Ginny removed the stinger, and Mary became spit
brother/sister with Keith, who removed his tobacco from his mouth and
placed it over the sting. A collection was taken up for beer and Ric
and John B. and Shannon made a beer run in town. The total bill came
to $180; there would be enough to get them through the rest of the
rally. While their friends were out buying beer, Mary, Keith, Steve
and Roger and Company made their way down the road to the Paradise
Bar, located inside the campgrounds, and caught the tail end of the
Billy Joe Shaver performance and were then delighted to listen to
Navasota-Rio, a biker friendly, local Texas band. Sixteen ounce beers
were $5 each, but worth every penny, and they enjoyed a few cold ones
before staggering back to the camper. Ric went to check out the
vendors, and Tom made hot dogs on the grill, rolled up in soft white
bread with mustard, relish and onions; a delicious evening snack.
The streets were already
packed with riders who would spend the evening parading around the
route. Todd and company set up their trailer, complete with a
stripper pole, on the parade route, and several Shreveporter's
stopped by for a cold beer and an opportunity to watch the parade.
Once again, things were crazy, clutches and tires were being burned
up and burned out. An engine was even blown. Clothes were coming
off, beads were flying and darkness was falling. Ric called Mary and
told her not to ride Lacey to the tents because the parade route was
packed, so once again she went off on foot toward the tents, and in
the darkness, once again got lost. There was only one thing to do;
walk back to the big building, and find her way from there. Finally,
she made it to Ric who was waiting for her at the refugee camp. They
made their way to the big stage where the Charlie Daniel's Band would
be performing. The outdoor concert area was packed with thousands of
revelers, and there was standing room only. Ric and Mary met up with
John B. and Shannon, Johnny, Niki, and Wendy and enjoyed the tunes.
They were, however, so far from the stage that they watched most of
the concert on the jumbotron. Charlie and band were little dots on a
lighted stage far, far away. There were thousands of people watching
and listening and Mary and Shannon took a seat on the ground. They
were soon introduced to Scott Love, Historian of the Panther Creek
Chapter of H.O.G. in Allen, Texas, who offered some Crown Royal to
Mary. To be nice, she took a small sip and returned the bottle.
Whiskey is one drink she can barely stomach, and this time was no
exception. Things were going good until he said “you barely whet
your whistle, have a big drink.” And Mary took the bottle back,
took a long draw of whiskey and promptly leaned over Shannon and
puked under the chair of the person sitting on her right. He didn't
even notice, but Mary and Shannon decided it was time to leave. The
group gathered up and headed for the parade route in the campground
and again enjoyed the sights and watched the fireworks. It was
already slipping into the early morning hours and in the morning,
there would be a long ride home, so the group headed for their tents
and a good night's sleep, albeit short. Once again, Mary would not
sleep in a camper, but on the floor of a tent. Maybe next year!
It's 8am and the sun is
already scorching as the campers fold tents and load gear. Campers,
bikes, and trailers are already making their exit from the ROT rally
and heading home. George, John B., Ric and Mary with Shannon
following in the pickup truck, would make the ride home to Shreveport
together. A mass exodus could be seen as they headed North on I-35.
At 75 mph, a stop for breakfast in Austin, a stop for lunch in
Henderson, and several pee stops and water breaks along the way, the
group would arrive in Shreveport around 5pm. Tired and worn out,
they would each go their separate ways to hot showers and the comfort
of their own homes, with only memories of ROT, the biggest party in
Texas, and already making plans for the 2009 rally.
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Posted on Monday, June 06, 2011 11:13 AM
Barksdale Air Force Base Information, Tickets and Tours are planning the first ever trip to Sturgis, South Dakota, for the largest motorcycle rally in the world, the 71 annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. This 13 day trip will encompass a three day ride to the rally, and three days on the road for the return trip. Riders will spend seven fun filled days in the Sturgis area. There will be guided rides to biker favorites like Iron Mountain Road to Mt. Rushmore National Memorial and Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming. Riders will see Carhenge, a wacky attraction with cars stacked in Stonehenge fashion. Along the way, riders will experience the plains of Kansas and the corn fields of Nebraska, and they’ll stay in campgrounds en route, and lodge at the famed Buffalo Chip campgrounds in Sturgis during the rally. Departure will be Saturday, August 6, 2011 with an arrival in the Sturgis area on Monday, August 8, 2011 for the opening of the rally. Riders will depart Sturgis for the return trip on August 14, 2011, and arrive home on August 16, 2011. The entire route is 1252 miles one way, through Northwest Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota. Cost is $1,000 for guests choosing to lodge in our travel campers or just $800 for those who prefer the tent camping option. We’ll provide the campers, tents, and camping equipment. We’ll even haul your luggage so you can enjoy the ride. A $200 non refundable deposit is due upon sign up. It’s non refundable, but riders can transfer it to another individual if for some reason they can’t make the trip. Total cost is due by July 15, 2011. Entry includes guided rides, lodging along the way and at the Chip, several cook outs, entry into Buffalo Chip and all the concerts and events at the campgrounds. It includes guided ride with experienced road captains, water and beverages along the way, luggage carrying service, and more. ITT will even haul a motorcycle trailer in case of break down. All bikes are welcome, but riders should consider their experience level before signing up, as this is a difficult ride with 400 mile days. The ride is open to active duty, retirees, civilians, family members and their guests. Riders not assigned to Barksdale AFB can take advantage of our reserved camping spots at the Chip, and join us along the route or at Sturgis for a reduced price. Contact Mary Baker at DSN 781-1865 or 318-456-1866. |
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Posted on Sunday, June 05, 2011 7:54 AM
 I recently had an opportunity to speak with Kipp DeBoer of DeBoer and Associates.
Kipp is in the custom medallion business and can make anything you like
on a medallion for your primary cover or timing cover on all models of
motorcycles. I asked Kipp a couple of questions so his customers can
get to know him better, and prospective customers can learn all about
his awesome product. Before vouching for Kipp, I wanted to try the
product myself, and he sent a medallion for Lacey, my 2006 Dyna Street
Bob. The skulled medallion looks classy on my bike, and travels with me
wherever I go. I'm ready to place an order for a custom logo medallion
too.
And
in May, 2011, while traveling to Nebraska to visit my daughter, I had
an opportunity to meet Kipp and his family in Wichita, KS. It was one
of the highlights of my trip!
The interview:
What do you ride? "I currently ride a Yamaha V Star 650 classic that my
wife surprised me with. She came home one day and told me she bought a
motorcycle but she didn't know what kind. I was speechless; it had 7,000
miles on it and was a midnight black v-twin 2004 model V Star in
showroom condition. I am very impressed with the quality of this bike. I
raced Yamaha's as a youngster in flat track competition, and knew about
the brand but not how well built the v-twin model of this bike was, so
that is what I ride for the time being, and am happy as a man can be on
the highway with two wheels under me. I am a rider and never will be
anything else in my heart, don't care what the weather is as long as the
ice is gone, I ride. My wife is
taking rider lessons and will be taking over the bike as soon as she
completes the course and I will be moving onto a Harley Davidson. I am a
Harley Davidson Rider by choice, but I am a motorcycle rider by heart." 
Are you in any motorcycle clubs or organizations?I
am an American Legion Rider out of post 4 in Wichita, Kansas. I just
recently joined the Sons of the American Legion, and I ride with the
Patriot Guard. I am an ardent supporter of B.A.C.A., ABATE, and the CMA
and any other cause I feel impassioned about. I support all the clubs
in my business and have many different club members' riding with our
medallion plate covers who display their club coins on their bikes using
our medallion plate covers.
What made you decide to start your own business?
"I
decided to start my own business out of necessity to make an income to
try to give my kids a better life. I am 46 years old and have worked
hard all my life, but due to a disability, in 2000, I was put on
permanent Social Security Disability. It took many years to come to
terms with this condition. There are a lot of events that have taken
place leading me up to this decision, and many God gifts that got me
here. During the first few years of my disability, and all the pain and
free time involved, I became addicted to painkillers, and was later
introduced to methamphetamines. I had an instant social life, and as
everyone who knows what an addiction does, I ran gamut; even went to
prison. When I got out, I joined Narcotics Anonymous and have been
clean for over two years. I met my fiancee there who has over seven
years of clean time. So there it is; I am an addict in recovery."
Where are you from?
"I
was born and raised in Wichita Kansas. I moved away for awhile but
this is home and always will be, although I would like to move south
east at some point but Wichita will always be home.”How long have you been riding?“I
started riding at an early age, on mini bikes powered by lawn mower
engines. I raced flat track for many tears as a teen, and then
progressed to the big bikes. I have always ridden and suppose I always
will even if I have to modify a power chair someday.” Do you get to ride a lot? “I ride every day I can. I hardly ever drive the truck if I can avoid it. I am a true rider of bikes.”
Where's
the furthest you've ridden to? Is there somewhere in the United States
that you recommend as a "must see destination for riders”?
“Most
of my riding is local, but I recommend a ride through the flint hills
of Kansas or the Ozark mountains of Missouri, and Arkansas.”Why do you ride?“I
ride because I love the freedom of the road. I ride because I like the
way the world smells at 65-70 mph. I ride because I like getting
slapped in the face by my shirt collar. I'm a button up shirt kind of
guy so I get slapped a lot. I ride because life is different when you
ride, and it becomes a part of you; who you are and how you conduct
yourself. Riding is a way of life like no other, and when you ride you
become a part of a family, that is like no other."
Where will you be this year?
“I
will mainly be in Kansas attending local events. My original business
plan was to get back into the community, and get to know the people of
the community. So I will be staying close to home for the first year,
from a financial standpoint, and from a wishing to establish a
relationship within the bike community locally standpoint. Look for
John Mottola, the founder of MotorDog, at events such as the V-Twin
Expo, Daytona, Laconia, Rolling Thunder, and for the first year Sturgis.
I would like to attend bigger events but as you know I have an
investment and now need to move product to make the business world turn,
and make larger events. I hope to build my inventory and be able to do
big events in the future.”
How do I buy your product?
“You can buy our products from our website www.deboerandassociates.com
or call us direct to discuss the products, the application for
different model bikes or custom merchandise. My phone number is
316-880-8575, or email kippdbr@gmail.com” Can you custom make a medallion for me?
“We
are expanding, and can meet the needs of any club, group, or
organization needing any custom gifts, coin, or merchandise for their
event or general use. We can help with the design, graphics, and
development of a custom product. If you have a product for a single
event or a stock item, and would like to save on cost, increase the
quality, and have a custom design, or tag your item as yours. We can
provide the partnered service to provide people with the best of the
best in merchandise that is custom, and unique. When we say custom we
mean customized to you and your company, unique, and personal. Not like
the rest. We have a reasonable turn around, a high quality item, and
can beat most anyone's price on custom medallions, and products,
t-shirts caps crystal gifts, and any other item. If we don’t have it,
we can find it. Some of our current customers include The Pentagon, Air
Force Squadrons, Lockheed Martin Boeing, etc. We can provide prior work
samples, and can make eco friendly products.Call us and see if
we can help your business grow. I think you will be surprised at the
options we have available, and the money we can save you with an
increase in quality. It can’t hurt to try us, that is for sure.”So, you use glue to put the medallion together. It's kind of heavy. Are you sure it won't fall off?“The
medallion plate cover is held in place with RTV Black High Temp
Silicone. When using this procedure, and allowing it to fully cure the
medallion mount creates a permanent seal to the cover you are mounting
it to. Never use anything else to mount our product.”What kind of warranty do you give on your product?“
We give a 100 percent warranty on the product to be free of manufacture
defect. We also guarantee that if you follow our mounting procedure,
our product will not vibrate or rattle off of your bike.”I have
been 100% satisfied with Kipp's product, and as an added bonus, I've
made a new friend in the motorcycling world. We truly are a family, and
we are growing. Supporting each other in our careers and riding is
what it's all about. Kipp is fast evolving into a credible
retailer in the motorcycle community, who has a commitment to providing a
high quality prduct at a fair price. Check out his website, and tell
him I sent you. Click here for his website. |
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Posted on Saturday, June 04, 2011 7:49 PM
 HB 167 for right of way violations is going back up in front of the Louisiana House on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, birthday.
But, Mike is not here to celebrate or to help pass the legislation. He
was killed in a motorcycle accident back in November, 2010. His wife,
Erin, was on the back of the bike, and after a long recovery she has
made it her mission to promote motorcycle safety and awareness. She has
worked to get education in the high schools as part of the Driver's
Education curriculum, and she has been working hard to get HB167, also
known as the Pickholtz Act, passed at the Capital. Erin sent me an
email that reads: " HB 167 is back on the house floor Tuesday; Mike's birthday - go
figure; we need to bombard them with calls and emails. Can you help me
get the word out to fellow riders?" And she posted on her Face Book page: "HB 167 is back on the house floor Tuesday at 1:00 pm for debate and
vote. If you haven't called, written, emailed or faxed your
representatives/senators, NOW is the time to do that and tell them to
vote YES! Get your butts off those bikes and get on the phone, fax,
computer! Thanks!!!...You can find your representative and contact
him/her to support us or continue his/her support. We have forces
working against us and we need to send an avalanche of communication to
Baton Rouge NOW.
Continue reading on Examiner.com
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Posted on Thursday, June 02, 2011 4:38 PM
It's June already and summer has arrived in Louisiana. The forecast for the coming week calls for highs at the 100 degrees mark, so we'll be working hard at staying cool and keeping ourselves hydrated while riding, right?
 There's a couple of new jewelry items and t-shirts on my products page on the web site. Check them out. And, I'm taking advance orders for a t-shirt with this new design available in grey, black or white. Send me an email at maric12@gmail.com with color choice and size if you want one. Cost is just $20.
I'm planning a trip to the Sturgis Rally in August and still have spots available. Cost is $1,000 and includes stay in a camper for 11 nights, four dinner meals en route, tour guides, support vehicles, a trailer in case your bike breaks down (knock on wood) or you get tired, water and gatorade on the trip, a t-shirt, guided rides, and entry into Buffalo Chip campground which includes all the entertainment. For more information visit my Barksdale AFB Sturgis 2011 Facebook page. We'll depart August 6th and return August 16th. We'll stay in Sturgis a full seven days! Email me at maric12@gmail.com or call 318-456-1865.
Next weekend I'll be in Austin, Texas for the Republic of Texas (ROT) rally -- the biggest rally in the area. Look for my article on the adventures to come. And be sure to follow me on my Examiner Motorcycle Travel page!
Ride Safe and Have Fun! Pinky
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