Vintage Photos - Harley Davidson Dealership - Wichita Falls, TX

August 30, 2010
Colorado, USA

My Dad worked at this dealership... so I'm always looking for photos...

Harley Davidson Wichita Falls, Texas Postcard circa 1950s

Harley Davidson Wichita Falls, Texas - early 60s

Texas -- Patriots stage to honor hometown hero (day 3)

August 30, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- The following is a slide show of the photos taken by Nezzie (that's my Mom) of riders and other patriots staging for the funeral of SPC Alexis Vicente Maldonado, US Army, 20, of Wichita Falls. They stood the flag line at the church and escorted the funeral procession to the cemetery. We are so fortunate to know many of the riders who stand the flag line and we are so proud of what they do.

Nezzie aka Mom - after ringing the liberty bell this morning

The slide show (46 photos):

Texas -- Patriots honor hometown hero (day 2)

August 29, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- SPC Alexis Vicente Maldonado, US Army, 20, of Wichita Falls, died Saturday, August 21, 2010 while serving his country in Afghanistan.

Just a few of the many who stood the flag line during the rosary, wake and visitation for this brave young soldier

Texas -- Riding out for hometown hero (day 1)

August 28, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- SPC Alexis Vicente Maldonado, US Army, 20, of Wichita Falls, died Saturday, August 21, 2010 while serving his country in Afghanistan. SPC Maldonado’s awards and decorations include the following: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart; Good Conduct Metal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

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Source: US Fallen.org, SPC Alexis Vicente Maldonado KIA, returning home to North Texas

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Slide show of Patriots turning out for hometown hero:

Photos courtesy of Nezzie (Mom) and John of North Texas Bikers where you will find more photos and details about this mission.
Related Post: www.jjskewlstuff4.blogspot.com

Veterans Rally Article 2010

Just sharing...

They are not forgotten: Annual ride honors military, remembers

by Jeanne Mazerall

Published: August 27th, 2010

Story and photos (see link) by Spc. Andrew Ingram
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
CRIPPLE CREEK - A wall of sound blasted down the main street of Cripple Creek. The ground trembled. The waiting masses saw the first hogs pulling into town.

The riders wore leather, black with chains - hard-looking men with scruffy beards and women with tattoos.

As they approached, the crowd cheered, making way for the riders as they passed through town and under the huge American flag that hung at the end of Bennett Avenue.

Approximately 5,000 motorcycle enthusiast from across the United States came together to pay tribute to the military and honor our country’s

servicemembers, missing in action or held captive, during the 18th annual Salute to American Veterans Rally and Festival at Cripple Creek, last weekend.

Before the riders arrived, the citizens of Cripple Creek began the festivities early, putting on their own remembrance parade, showing their support to the country’s veterans.

The Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, Ivy Division Band, and Soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division led Cripple Creek organizations and community members down Bennett Avenue.

Bill Martin, one of the event organizers, explained the town of Cripple Creek hosts the event every year because its citizens believe it is their duty to support the troops.

“This is our salute to the veterans,” Martin said. “It is our way of saying thank you.”

Pat Martin, marketing and events coordinator for Cripple Creek, said he is proud of his town’s patriotism and involvement with veterans.

“We try to do what we can as a community for the military,” Martin said. “We want to make sure past and present veterans are being honored.”

Shortly after the parade concluded Saturday the motorcycles began to arrive.

Beginning in Woodland Park, the procession of motorcyclists stretched for more than nine miles.

Steve Dupont, a disabled Operation Desert Storm veteran who took part in the ride, stressed the importance of showing this generation of veterans support for their bravery and sacrifices.

“We go on these rides to show pride in our country and our military,” Dupont said. “I try to go to as many I can. I want these servicemen and women to know they are not forgotten.”

Following the ride, a memorial and remembrance ceremony was held to honor veterans both old and new, especially those missing in action or who remained steadfast while the prisoner of a hostile power.

Three veterans, former prisoners of war who have made Cripple Creek their home were honored guests at the ceremony.

Col. Lee Fetterman, chief of staff for the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, who served as the ceremonies keynote speaker, thanked the brave men for their sacrifices and the sacrifices of thousands of other POWs and MIAs from throughout American history.

“All of us are stronger when we have our friends with us,” Fetterman said. “But you suffered alone and we owe you a debt of gratitude for what you have done.”

The Salute to American Veterans Rally-Memorial Wall Dedication was held Sunday at the war memorial at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery in Cripple Creek. The Pikes Peak Region’s Memorial Wall is constructed of Colorado Red granite and other native materials and is open daily. All members of the Armed Forces who were killed in action after Sept. 11, 2001 and were stationed at one of the five area installations, had a home of record in El Paso or Teller County, or were Air Force Academy graduates are listed on the wall. Brig. Gen. James Pasquarette, deputy commanding general for support, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, and Air Force Col. Tamra Rank, vice superintendent, United States Air Force Academy, spoke to the guests and placed a wreath at the memorial site.

Jim Wear, the event coordinator closed the ceremony by saying he believed it is the duty of citizens to give back to the Soldiers who protect them.

“While the debt of gratitude that we owe to every United States veteran, both living and passed on, can never be repaid,” Wear said. “This gathering is one small effort to show how much we appreciate your sacrifice to our nation, and to our freedom.”

Source: http://csmng.com/blog/2010/08/27/they-are-not-forgotten-annual-ride-honors-military-remembers/

Mini Road Trip - Day 3 - The Wall, Victor CO and one last look at the rally

August 22, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Another great day! Given the rainy season Colorado has had lately, we are counting our lucky stars that we had three perfect days for the Salute to American Veterans Rally. We could not have asked for better.

After yet another good night's rest at the Mecca Motel, we were ready to get up and get rolling. Getting out of the motel a little later than we normally do, we rode with David and Megan two blocks west to the Manitou Pancake and Steak House where three of us dined on the excellent breakfast buffet. Megan's catfish breakfast looked yummy, but took a good while to prepare. Manitou Pancake and Steak House was neat and clean and busy although we were immediately seated. The decor was cozy, exactly what you would expect for a dining establishment in this part of town. The entire staff (including management) was bustling, wait staff was cheerful and efficient and vacated tables were bussed immediately. The food on the buffet was fresh, hot and tasty. Containers were not allowed to dwindle down to the dregs. The buffet included a fruit bar with a good variety which we enjoyed. We liked this restaurant and will return again.

After breakfast, we topped off our tanks. It was nearly noon before we headed back up to The Wall and Victor, CO. We rode out in light jackets and hoodies, which was a smart move as cloud cover and the shade of the mountain made for a chilly ride in spots. It was a beautiful morning though. Lots of people, vehicles, campers and motorcycles were heading down.

I believe it was near the first 30 mph curve, that we ran upon a person by the side of the road, waving at us to slow down as we passed the scene of a motorcycle accident on a graveled pull-out. It looked like a couple riding two-up on 105th Anniversary touring model H-D had gone down hard. The man was talking to the woman who lay prone, nearly face down and was not moving. We assessed the situation. Several vehicles were pulled over and people were offering assistance as they waited for emergency response vehicles. We rode on, perhaps a bit more carefully and definitely with a keener eye to the road. We hope the riders are OK. I was unable to find a police/state patrol or accident report to confirm it.

A short while later we rode into Victor, CO. David and Megan chose to explore main street while we walked down to visit The Wall. It was quiet when we first arrived. We could not find Gary C Johnston yesterday. We found him this morning first thing and said hello for his brother, our friend Nubbin. We revisited other names on the wall and on The Price of Freedom memorial.

While Tim browsed through the patches and pins near the trailer, I watched as a grandfather, obviously a Veteran, spent some time talking in earnest to his grandson about the wars listed on The Price of Freedom memorial. The youngster looked up and caught my eye. I asked them if I could take their photo. They agreed. I asked the youngster if he was learning about the wars. He nodded in the affirmative but had nothing to say. Bashful I think. The Veteran said it was hard to make the youngster understand. I nodded and said, the important thing is, you are sharing it with him. I looked at the youngster and said Listen well. One of these days you will understand. One of these days you will know that the people listed on these walls and the man standing beside you are heroes and champions of freedom. I thanked the Veteran for his service with a pat on his shoulder and said in a low voice teach him well. We parted ways... both the Vet and I trying to get a grip on our emotions.

Walking back up the hill toward town, we decided to explore downtown some. Victor looks about the same as I remembered it. Most of the buildings are still vacant although some have been remodeled. It is a charming setting... and it is easy to get a sense of the gold rush era history of the place simply by strolling past buildings where weeds have sprung up through the cracks in the sidewalks, where the streets while paved remain dusty, where a glance up reveals casement windows and excessively ornamental architectural features reminiscent of a century and more of days gone by. Many of the buildings are dated 1899/1900 and house a variety of businesses from cafes to bars to antique shops. Many of the brick buildings were built after a devastating fire in August of 1899. David and Megan toured the historic and beautifully restored Victor Hotel and The Lowell Thomas Museum which is still under renovation.

Tim and I went in search of a cup of coffee and then discovered that the Victor Trading Co. was still in business. The last time I visited this store was in the mid-eighties. I remember it because of the broom maker. The brooms are one of a kind and are of the highest quality. Karen and Sam are still in business, still making brooms and apparently doing well.

Karen - Broom Maker - Victor Trading Company

David and Megan had commitments at home this afternoon so about 2 pm, we rode out of Victor and with them as far as the split in the road. They headed down the mountain, we headed up the mountain toward Cripple Creek for a final look at the Salute to American Veterans Rally. At the Cripple Creek overlook, we stopped to admire the view and for a photo op before riding on down into town.

The Ride - Cripple Creek Overlook

Lots of bikes still lined the streets and people were still milling around in the booths and casinos. We thought a good many people were hanging around waiting for the finals of the tattoo competition and for Bronco Billy's to announce the winner of the motorcycle and gift certificates they were giving away.

POW-MIA Sand Sculpture - Cripple Creek, CO

As we slowly made our way down Bennett Ave again, we stopped to admire the sand sculpture which was finally completed and simply amazing. There is always some sort of sand sculpture in Cripple Creek, but I think this one with Uncle Sam is one of the best I've seen. These are sculpted by the artists of Team Sandtastic. We rode under that giant flag at the end of the street one more time. We parked on the back street and walked up and strolled for a little while, just taking in all of it. While we were standing on a high point, we felt a cool breeze kick up and the temperature dropped quickly. The clouds rolling in over the mountains to the west got darker and more solid. We took our time before deciding to point The Ride in the direction of home.

Once down the mountain the view to the north looked like we would ride under partly cloudy skies even if we took the long way home. Turning north on Hwy 67 out of Woodland Park, we traveled the twisting turning road which winds along the Platte River and through the small, historic resort towns of Deckers, Buffalo Creek and Pine Valley. It also winds through the part of the Hayman burn area (the scene of Colorado's largest wildfire in 2002). We stopped at a scenic pullout to shed jackets, stretch our legs and drink some water. We were amused at a couple of other bikers sitting there when we arrived. A light breeze brought us the distinct whiff of some funky tobacco while they tried to dicreetly share a joint. We let them ride on down the mountain a good ways before we followed. The clouds spit on us intermittently during this part of the ride, but otherwise the roads remained dry.

Once on Hwy 285, we were abruptly returned to reality, traveling along at a hectic pace, with most of the rest of the world trying to get back to Denver. As usual, we turned off just west of Denver, near Morrison and followed the back roads home, stopping for an ice cream along the way. We rolled into our driveway about 7:30 pm.

This weekend's trip was 679 miles, putting us over 11,000 miles on our new Ride. We enjoyed the rally, and wandering the streets of Cripple Creek and staying in the Springs but participating in the POW-MIA Recognition Ride was the high point of the weekend. We loved every minute of it and we were proud to show our support for America's Veterans.

Here is today's slide show (95 photos):

Mini Road Trip - Day 2 - POW-MIA Recognition Ride, Veterans Rally & The Wall

August 21, 2010
Colorado, USA

Colorado Springs, CO -- Yesterday was a great day. Today was a fantastic day! After a restful night at our super motel, we rolled out at 7:30 am to travel the few miles between Colorado Springs and Woodland Park where we would register for the 23rd Annual POW-MIA Recognition Ride. We rode in this ride for the first time last year in Winter Park. After a three year absence, the Recognition Ride would return to its roots in Cripple Creek, CO. From the looks of it, we would have perfect riding weather.

When we arrived, over 100 bikes were already in line. That might be a conservative estimate as the Patriot Guard bikes from Kansas and other big flag bikes were parked in another lot. They were packing us in like sardines... We shed our hoodies and pulled on our vests, surveying our surroundings. We spoke with an older Vet who rode in from Michigan. He said his family was worried because he rode off so far with a heart condition. He said he felt great and was having a great time. He looked it. We admired him and said as much. The pancake breakfast line was fairly long so we got in line and chatted with the people around us. We talked with another Vet who was in line for a cup of coffee. He asked if he could cut in front of me. I said for your service to our country sir, I will escort you to the front of the line. He laughed and proceeded to regale us with stories about his glory days in the Navy and talked about his Dad. Tim bought the man a cup of coffee when we finally got to that point. The pancakes were good and fresh off the grill. They served them up with little sausages so we made pancake burritos. YUM!

Shortly afterwards, we were glad we had arrived early. The registration area was congested and backed up for several blocks and continued that way the rest of the morning. The parking lot where we were located filled to overflowing. Registration began advising bikers to just ride on to the rally. We saddled up at 10:15 am, right on schedule. We were rolling just after 10:30, again right on schedule. Still more bikes were rolling in to register as we were rolling out.

Tim - POW-MIA Recognition Ride staging area - Woodland Park, CO -- I could have taken this picture four or five times and not capture the same bike twice over Tim's shoulder

We had a police escort which made getting through town easy. Streets were lined with people cheering and waving flags. We found that to be the case all along the way, where there was a pullout or drive or hillside, people were out to watch us ride by. Patriotism is not dead in the USA - it is alive and well in small town America and roaring in the hearts of thousands of bikers and Veterans all across the land. I have no idea how long the procession was behind us. I never saw the end of it. The procession in front of us stretched out for about a mile, maybe more. We were in about the first 25 percent of riders who had actually gotten registered before the ride commenced. I don't have the numbers yet on the number of registered riders, but it was far more than we saw last year in Winter Park.

POW-MIA Recognition Riders stretched out behind us further than we can see... wow!

The ride up went well. The day had warmed so we rode in shirt sleeves and our vests. I think rolling around the corner into Cripple Creek and seeing the streets lined with bikes and people - lots of people - took us totally by surprise. The crowd was huge and animated. People were screaming - rev 'em up. So, we did. Riding through that patriotic crowd... several of them reaching out to slap an open hand... many of them saluting or standing with hand over heart... and finally rolling under that giant flag at the end of the street is about as proud a moment as we've ever had.

Huge crowd cheers as POW-MIA Recognition Ride arrives at Salute to American Veterans Rally Cripple Creek, CO. The crowd screamed rev 'em up - so we did - grin.

Rolling down the next street, we found still others waving us on. And the bikes just kept coming. We found a spot to park on Myers Ave or what used to be Myers Ave. It is now called Masonic Ave. Our friends David and Megan were somewhere in the crowd we knew so we gave David a call. They were a few blocks back on the same street. We hooked up with them in a matter of minutes. They said the Veterans Parade was great and we are sorry we missed it, especially the fly-overs -- but we would not have missed that ride for anything.

FYI: Not all of the following pics are in focus (they are taken from the back of a motorcycle), but I included them anyway because those people standing on the side of the road cheering us on deserve as much recognition as we riders... they are patriots one-and-all. Here is a slide show of the POW-MIA Recognition Ride (100 photos):

Soon, we were listening to military speeches and patriotic songs and tributes to fallen and wounded soldiers. Members (I think it was 23) of the original group of people who founded The Patriot Guard in Kansas stood the flag line. Several wounded soldiers from Fort Carson were on-hand. Facts about their wounds and heroism were related. They were all Purple Heart recipients.

We found the speech given by retired Army Colonel, Bill McPherson about Huey helicopters really interesting. McPherson is a highly decorated combat veteran having served in Vietnam - both as an Infantry Officer and as a helicopter pilot, flying combat missions in the UH-1 “Huey” Gunship. He said Huey pilots back in the Vietnam era were known as "cowboys" and he related several stories that served to explain how they had acquired that label. He has completely restored a Huey and had it on display. It rolled through the parade that morning. Later in the day, that Huey would lead an honor guard of riders to The Wall in Victor.

I believe it was Pro-Promotions rally coordinator Jim Wear who read aloud a letter from a soldier named Kory who lost friends during the terrorist attack at Fort Hood, Texas November of last year. The soldier told the horrific story of that day from his perspective and then asked if Wear would see that something was done to remember his fallen friends at the rally. Roll call for the fallen soldiers was called including the unborn baby of one. A bell was rung after each name and a dove was released. It was very touching.

Near the end of the patriotic ceremonies, we ambled over to a food vendor and ordered lunch. David and Megan had already had lunch. David said the ribs weren't bad at one of the BBQ vendors. We ordered catfish and twisted potatoes (these were great) and a couple lemonades. After that, we spent the rest of the afternoon roaming up and down the hills of downtown Cripple Creek, wandering through the vendors, peering inside the casinos and generally enjoying the crowd. We purchased ice-cream from a group trying to raise money for something - I don't remember what. We watched an Old West shoot-out. Victorian-era strollers posed for photos. The sand sculptor was still hard at work on the sculpture.

Tim got a handshake and a thank you for your service from a man who passed by while we were sitting on a wall near the sand sculpture resting in the shade. Tim signed the Veterans Wall that will go up in the Motorcycle Museum in Colorado Springs. Since signing by proxy was allowed, I signed the wall for Dad.

Here is the slide show of the Salute to American Veterans Rally (55 photos):

Late in the afternoon, we decided it was time to ride to The Wall. This display was set up in the football field in the nearby town of Victor. We enjoyed the ride over. It has been many years since we visited historic Victor. We had forgotten the great road with the remains of the mining history scattered along the road and on the hillsides. We had forgotten the wonderful architecture of the buildings downtown.

Tim and Vickie at The Wall, Victor CO 2010

We parked in town across from a building whose side was decorated with the names of veterans from the area. It was called the Roll of Honor. Then we walked the short distance down to The Wall. As always, it is a moving sight. This was a first Wall experience for David and Megan and after explaining a couple of things about the displays, we left them on their own to explore it. Tim and I located the dog tag for Gary S Johnston, the son of our friends Nubbin and Angela who fell in Iraq in 2007. We said hello. Gary S is the reason many of us joined The Patriot Guard. We searched for Gary C Johnston on The Wall but we did not find him. I had the dates wrong in my head. We will say hello to Gary C in the morning when we return to The Wall. Gary C is Nubbin's brother who fell in Vietnam in 1970. We found Tex's guys and said hello to them. Tex (PGR buddy) lost many Blue Spader friends in a battle known as the Ambush of Srok Rung in 1967. Having recently read a book called Common Valor by S.T. Simms about the battle and those who fell during it, made finding them to pay our respects important.

While Tim was walking The Wall, he happened to stop near a man who was taking it pretty hard... Tim said the man tried to pull himself together and quietly apologized for losing it. Tim said, don't apologize - those guys you are visiting would be proud to know you remember.

Here is the slide show of The Wall (43 photos):

It was tempting to return to Cripple Creek for the night life of the rally, but we decided to ride down the mountain and find some dinner. The trip down went well and before long we were sitting at The Mason Jar Restaurant having a great meal with our friends. David and Megan will spend the night at the Mecca Motel as well. He stopped in this morning on his way through and booked a room. One of the owners, made certain they had the room next to us as soon as she discovered we were together. Like I said - this is a great motel. After a few beers and conversation enjoyed from those chairs in front of our rooms, we called it a night. Tim and I watched the end of American Graffiti while I shot off a couple of emails.

Tomorrow, we will return to The Wall and the rally before riding home. So far, this has been an amazing experience. And, we are proud to be part of it.

Mini Road Trip - Day 1 - Veterans Rally & More

August 20, 2010
Colorado, USA

Colorado Springs, CO -- It was a great day! We rolled out of Fort Collins this morning about half an hour later than we normally do. We had no place to be early and Tim got in late, so we slept until 4:30 am. That half hour makes all the difference in a weekday commute that takes us on I-25 through Denver. We will back the clock up to our usual time next trip out and catch our z's on the tail end of the day. We had cloud cover starting out but they quickly burned off as the sun rose. Still, with cloud cover and temps in the 50s we rode out in leathers.

First stop was a traffic jam only a few miles out that had south bound traffic backed up for miles. When we finally passed the scene of the accident, we were dismayed to see a bunged up motorcycle and motorcycle parts, gear and luggage scattered everywhere. We saw the rider (he appeared to be OK) walking with a highway patrol officer. It looked like a couple of cars had an accident and the rider laid his bike down to avoid contact with the other vehicles. The bike was standing up, but it was not going to roll under its own power. We are glad the rider was motivating under his own power.

Next stop was gas and then we made our way through Denver s-l-o-w-l-y because the traffic jam delay put us smack in the middle of the Friday morning commute. The plan was to ride on through Colorado Springs another 37 miles to Pueblo then ride back to the Springs where we would stay a couple of nights. The first part of our day we would spend on passport rides to the last three dealerships we needed to complete the H-D Rockies Tour.

In Pueblo, we decided on breakfast at the Southwest Grill before riding a few blocks to Outpost Harley-Davidson. Breakfast was tasty and the coffee strong and hot. We both had the special which included ham, sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns and pancakes. YUM!

The Pueblo dealership [Outpost] is always a pleasant stop and usually busy. We browsed for a few minutes and then rode on.

Next on the passport tour was back to the east side of Colorado Springs to Colorado Springs Harley-Davidson. This dealership is hard to get to from the south as there is no turn in. By the time you see it [dealership], you have to ride up a few blocks, turn around somewhere (we used a parking lot) and ride back to a service street. We didn't linger at this dealership more than a few minutes, long enough to cool off and rehydrate as the day was warming and we were still in leathers.

Our third and final stop on the passport tour took us back to the north side of Colorado Springs to Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson. This is where we discovered that the eighteen extra tickets (prize entries) awarded for completing the tour had to be filled out at the last dealership. Had I known that particular detail of the contest in advance, I would not have chosen Pikes Peak (my least favorite dealership -- long story) as our last stop. Nevertheless, we made quick work of filling out the last eighteen entries for both Tim and myself and shaking off writer's cramp got the heck out of there. The passport tour of eighteen dealerships in three states was fun. We discovered a few dealerships we liked very much and will visit again. We found others that we will never visit again unless out of necessity.

Passport mission accomplished, we rode to Old Colorado City (Hwy 24/West Colorado Ave) to a motel I had booked just the day before. I cancelled reservations at a motel near downtown after reading too many bad reviews about it. The Mecca Motel was a great choice and put us on the side of town we wanted to be. It is small but delivers much. First of all, it is an American-owned motel and the owners are about as nice as they can be. We rode in just after 1 pm and our room was ready. Second, it is neat and clean, both outside and inside. Our room, non-smoking with a king bed was roomy enough and immaculate. I'm talking clean. And no stale smoke stench. We have stayed in up-scale chain motels that were not this clean. Third, The Mecca also offered WIFI. The TV was small but worked fine. TV in a motel is usually something we use to check the weather and that's about it, no big screen needed for that. Just outside our room (and every other room) were two metal chairs, perfect for lounging around on a cool Springs evening. We looked forward to it. We could put The Ride to bed in the parking spot just outside our room and that suited us fine. Just across the street, was Bob's West Side Liquor Store. Tim wasted no time walking across to purchase the evening's libations which we temporarily iced down in one of the room's plastic trash cans.

The Ride parked in front of the Little Ike Tunnel near Cripple Creek, CO. The road to Cripple Creek once passed through this one lane tunnel. It was closed in 1994 when the new road was built to accomodate casino traffic.

With most of the day still well ahead of us, we got back on The Ride, gassed up and headed out toward Cripple Creek, traveling Hwy 24 through beautiful Fountain Creek Canyon to busy Woodland Park and on to Divide where we turned south on scenic Hwy 67 which would take us to our destination. The remainder of the weekend will be spent riding to and from Cripple Creek in the various activities associated with the 18th Annual Salute to American Veterans Rally. Tomorrow we will ride in the 23rd Annual POW/MIA Recognition Ride.

It was partly cloudy and warm as we rode out in hoodies which we appreciated as the road took us up to near 10,000 in elevation, eventually winding down into Cripple Creek which sits just below 9494 elevation designated at the city limit sign. Rounding the last turn into town revealed the Wildwood Casino, one of the sponsors of the rally. On the left riding in is the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad train station and museum and just to right of those is Bennet Ave (aka Main Street). We found a place to park at the top of the hill and came out of our gear. Lots of bikes lined the streets and people were shopping among the vendor tents, many of which were still setting up. We strolled among the tents and purchased a few things (a couple of novelty helmets, half chaps and a new cap for me, a few pins). We also purchased a rally shirt for Tim and our rally patches, mostly to avoid the line for those items tomorrow. We registered to win SuckerPunch Sally's custom motorcycle designed for Flo of Progressive Insurance fame. We admired the sand sculpture in progress - always an amazing sight.

Sand Sculpture in Progress - Cripple Creek

Vik - Friday at the Veterans Rally - Cripple Creek, CO

Tim - Friday at the Veterans Rally - Cripple Creek, CO

Having checked out the town and vendors, we decided it was time to mosey back down to the Springs, grab a bite to eat and relax. Tim stopped at a grocery store on the way back to look for a cooler. When he came walking out of the store with a large styrofoam cooler and a bag of ice -- I remember thinking - good grief - where are we going to put that? Well, I am sure you can guess where. We rode out of the parking lot with that monstrosity sitting on my leg. A woman hopped out of a pickup at the light and offered to carry it to Cripple Creek for us since they were headed that way. I explained we were only traveling two blocks with it. I will be shopping for a collapsible cooler real soon. Ha! Back at the motel, we rid ourselves of road dust, relaxed with a couple of beers (Tim) and a Mikes (me) before strolling across the street to a mexican food restaurant. Amanda's Fonda.

It seemed nice enough and was crowded. We put our names on the list for a table, purchased a couple of margaritas at the bar and seated ourselves at a table by the creek as instructed by the hostess. Our drinks were supposed to include complimentary chips and salsa. After a few minutes, a waitress said we would have to move from the table by the creek as she had a party waiting for it. Now wait a minute - we were told seating on the patio was first come, first serve. Seating was limited, but she found us a table by the parking lot we could use temporarily. Still no chips and salsa. We were annoyed - if we had wanted to sit in the dusty parking lot, we would have done so in the first place. We were displaced by a group of people who were not dining, merely enjoying a cocktail as we were. I say enjoy because I hope their drinks were better than ours. I make better margaritas at home. Jose Cuervo straight out of the bottle is a better margarita. Tim went in search of chips and salsa a third time and came back empty-handed. The waitress who moved us the first time was hovering and about to unseat us again with no table in sight. Bad margaritas, inconsiderate service, who needs it? We walked out - nope, did not leave a tip. I have no idea if the food at this restaurant was worth waiting for as we never so much as sniffed the chips and salsa or glimpsed a menu. We strolled a few blocks west in search of another restaurant. We found one tucked away beside a motel called Castaways where we were immediately and courteously seated and promptly served. Tim had steak. I had shrimp. The food was great, delivered up in generous portions and the service was excellent.

By the time we had strolled back to our motel, we were ready to call it a day. We will get a good night's rest before riding out early to join the POW-MIA Recognition Ride. Stay tuned...

Slide show of today's ride (75 photos):

Cripple Creek here we come - Ol' Glory flying proud behind us

August 20, 2010
Colorado, USA

Gonna be a fun weekend in these parts.

Salute to American Veterans Rally - Cripple Creek, CO

POW-MIA Recognition Ride from Woodlank Park, CO to Cripple Creek, CO

American Veterans Traveling Tribute - The Wall - Victor, CO

Sunny and getting hot - BTGTWR

August 18, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Just a stop along the way today on the south end of Horsetooth Reservoir on a Before-Tim-Goes-to-Work-Ride

Request for perfect last words about a biker...

August 17, 2010
Colorado, USA

I received this comment yesterday on a post from earlier in the year called Biker Poetry which is a biker poem called Waitin' for the Ride by Ann Weyant - March 24, 2010

Anonymous said...
My dad loved his Harley's, he loved to ride. He taught me how to ride at 7 years old. I lost my dad August 1, 2010. He went out of this world riding his harley, now I am looking for help to write the perfect inscription on my daddy's headstone. Please help. jes.long@yahoo.com

-V- said...
I am deeply sorry for your loss... my thinking is: Your Dad -- Loved Harleys. Loved to ride. Went out of this world riding his Harley... if there is any justice in this world and the next I'd like to think the road on the other side is one, long beautiful ride...

One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. ~~ Henry Miller

If anyone has any words that fit - let's hear 'em.

Weekend Rides

August 15, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Our weekend rides:

SATURDAY - The forecast for Saturday & Sunday called for a cold front that would drop temps below seasonal norms and bring rain. We rolled out of here Saturday about 11am under mostly clear skies. Temps were in the low 70s.

We did not have an agenda or a destination. The idea was to get out and ride. It was either that or yard work. Ha! No contest what would win out there. Doing yard work on a weekend makes Tim break out in a rash. We found ourselves wandering in a southerly direction along Hwy 1. On the outskirts of Boulder we had our towers buzzed by a red MIG. A small airport was having some sort of an air show, possibly associated with a nearby county fair.

Next we headed in a westerly direction toward the Flatirons and the foothills near Golden. Tim said we might as well ride up Lookout Mountain to Buffalo Bill's Grave. OK, says I. We haven't been up that mountain in several years and never on a motorcycle. The climb up Lookout Mountain from Golden is a steep ride with lots of twists and turns and several 15 mph switchbacks. The mountain, which is technically a foothill was used as a lookout by the Ute Indians. The Denver metropolitan area spreads out below the mountain just beyond the city of Golden. The Coors Brewery can be seen from the main viewing platform. The mountain is popular with paragliders, hikers and cyclists. There was also a group of people flying model gliders over one of the ridges.

At the top is Buffalo Bill's Grave, museum, gift shop and a viewing platform overlooking the valley below. By his request, Buffalo Bill was buried on Lookout Mountain in 1917, overlooking the Great Plains and the Rockies. His wife, Louisa is buried by his side.

We spent some time near the grave site picking out points we recognized on the Denver skyline, then roamed around in the gift shop, finally finding our way to the snack bar where we ordered a couple of Duffy's Old-Fashioned Root Beer Floats. We enjoyed the floats at a table on a small deck area. Then we snapped some photos at the overlook and Tim parked the bike near another overlook for another photo op.


The Ride - Lookout Mountain, CO near Buffalo Bill's Grave

Vik - Lookout Mountain, CO near Buffalo Bill's Grave

Tim - Lookout Mountain, CO near Buffalo Bill's Grave

Riding down the mountain on the other side is not as steep. The road winds down to the small town of Genesee. The town is small. Most of the houses are not. Along Hwy 40 (runs parallel to I-70 for a few miles) part of which we did not remember traveling before, we took a quick detour up the hill to the Mother Cabrini Shrine Mother Cabrini was the first American citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. She purchased the land of the shrine in the early 1900s as a summer camp for the children housed in an orphanage in Denver. The history of Mother Cabrini and the development of the land is quite interesting. It remains a popular tourist attraction as well as a pilgrimage destination for many. There are several chapels, a rose garden and a grotto as well as a pathway of 373 steps that lead to the 22 foot Sacred Heart of Jesus statue that can be seen from I-70 and I-40 from miles away.

Our visit to the shrine was a ride-by. We continued on Hwy 40 for short while, then followed the road that runs beside Red Rocks and down into Morrison where we rode by just ahead of the traffic leaving Bandimere Speedway. In no particular hurry, we ambled our way home through the northern suburbs of Denver before riding the country lanes home. The temp of the day never exceeded 81 degrees. We could see storms over the mountains, but they did not make it to Fort Collins. We put the perfect finish on the day with a beer or two or three and a fire in the chiminea on the patio.

A slide show of today's ride (60 photos):

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SUNDAY - Sunday afternoon, we rode out after noon - again, with no particular destination in mind. We rode out hungry so the first stop was for a McDonald's $1 burger and fries in a small town on the eastern plains called Eaton. Then we rode north for a while on Hwy 85 before circling back to another small town called Johnstown where we stopped for a $1 ice cream cone at yet another McDonald's.

Vik - No more pics - let's ride

All we did was ride and eat today. After tucking The Ride away for the day, we delivered a birthday gift to the neighbor kid. Then, we broke out the beer and decided we would try to get some catfish blackened on the grill before the clouds gave us rain. Mission accomplished. Desert was compliments of the birthday boy.

Tim & Vik - Sunday Ride Smiles

Mini Road Trip - Passport Run - Day 2

August 8, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- What a great ride! After spending a restful and rainy night in Delta, CO we hoped the sun would burn off the clouds that lingered overhead while we enjoyed our complimentary breakfast at the motel's restaurant. We chose biscuits and gravy with hashbrowns and coffee. Our nachos last night were only so-so... actually if it hadn't been for the beer taking the edge off and the fact they we were not all that hungry - we would have called them sorry instead of so-so. Ha! Breakfast was a pleasant surprise. Fluffy biscuits smothered in an excellent gravy with hashbrowns on the side served up hot and in generous portions.

Fortified for the ride, we were pleased to see big patches of blue in the sky. Not only that, we decided it was warm enough to ride out without the leathers. I pulled on my hoody, Tim rolled out in t-shirt sleeves. Before long we were headed northwest on Hwy 50 toward Grand Junction. Hwy 50 between Delta and Grand Junction is a pleasant 40 mile ride bordered by desert canyon lands on the west side and dominated by Grand Mesa (the world's largest flat-top -- MESA -- mountain) on the east side. Storm clouds were building over the mesa this morning and we noticed shafts of rain rushing across the valley that butts up to the Mesa. There's a road up to the Mesa we have yet to ride, but that was not on the agenda for today.


Storm brewing over Grand Mesa

Book Cliffs and Mount Garfield (elev 6600) - Grand Mesa, near Grand Junction, CO

It was no trouble locating the Grand Junction dealership. We had ridden by it before. We arrived just behind another group of bikers who were also getting passports stamped and looked to be heading across country. If I had to guess, I would say they were headed to Sturgis. We didn't linger long, because waiting for the dealership to open at 10 am gave us a late start for the ride home. Yeah, we could have ridden back across on I-70 and up on I-25 the way we had came, but we avoid the interstate east on Sundays. We've been caught in horrific traffic jams (on four wheels, pulling a camper and on two wheels) as most of the world that lives east of the Continental Divide heads back into Denver and the Front Range after a weekend in the mountains. Besides, where's the fun in riding straight home?

We had watched the weather this morning. We looked at the horizon. We agreed it wasn't really a matter of IF we were going to get wet today, but more of a choice as to WHERE we would get wet today. We chose to ride the northern route home. Just west of Grand Junction, State Hwy 139 heads due north out of Loma. We saw a road on the map designated as Hwy 6 which runs parallel with I-70 for a few miles before the junction with Hwy 139. It took a couple of trips around the poorly marked traffic circle in Fruita before we spied the sign for Hwy 6. Ha! That was fun - or funny - depending on which way you look at it.

The first part of Hwy 139 took us through sparsely populated farmlands at a posted speed of 50 mph. The road was fairly rough in spots. After leaving what there was of civilization on this road behind near the cut off for Highline Lake State Park, the road leveled out and we increased our speed and the view before us improved. What had looked to be flatlands on the map was anything but flat and we found ourselves grinning as we approached the Bookcliff Mountains and Douglas Pass (elev 8268). The 72 mile ride on Hwy 139 which is part of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway is about as scenic and fun to ride as just about any other road in Colorado. The road gently twists and turns with only a couple of 15 mph switchbacks rising up from the Grand Valley revealing spectacular views of mountains and rivers and cliffs.

Hwy 139, Colorado winding its way up to Douglas Pass (elev 8268).

Just outside of Rangeley where we turned to travel east on Hwy 64 to Meeker, we stopped for a short rest and a bottle of water in a cemetery parking area. The Rangely cemetery sign said 1886. Just outside of Rangeley we rode past the Taylor Draw Dam and alongside the Kenney Reservoir. The White River flowed lazily alongside the road through fertile valleys and rolling hills. We stopped at a convenience store in Meeker for an ice cream sandwich and coffee for Tim, a soda for me. Inside the convenience store was a Wall of Honor with photos of veterans from the area.

Leaving Meeker, we would travel north on Hwy 13 to Craig, CO riding along with the road almost to ourselves. On the way we passed another coal mine and the Trapper Mine (a huge lignite coal mine) and the Yampa Project power plant. Riding through Craig we remarked on how much the little town has grown. A few years ago when we visited, it was still a sleepy little Colorado town. Now it is bustling with restaurants and stores and motels and signs of considerable new house construction.

We rode on through Craig, picking up Hwy 40 east which we would ride into Steamboat Springs, CO. Here, we had an outstanding view of the beautiful Yampa River which winds through lush and fertile Yampa Valley. Some of the terrain approaching Steamboat Springs is rugged as we road beside the river valley on one side with steep cliffs towering on the other side.

Yampa Valley approaching Steamboat Springs

In Steamboat Springs, we stopped for gas and then rode over Rabbit Ears Pass (elev 9426), named for the rock formation that tops Rabbit Ears Peak, turning north on Hwy 14 toward Walden, CO. Walden is a small town situated on a high mountain or glacial plain about 20 miles south of the Wyoming border. It sits at an elevation of about 8100 feet. On the way in, we couldn't help but notice the rain and dark clouds to the east which looked like they were sitting right on top of the road we planned to ride home.

In Walden, we stopped at the Moose Creek Cafe, for a bite to eat as our breakfast and ice cream had worn off. We were also thinking maybe those clouds would move on or dissipate. We've ridden by the cafe several times on our way through Walden, but never stopped. We decided to sit on the patio. I ordered the Moose Creek burger made from pork and beef. Tim ordered some big burger concoction with double meat and all kinds of stuff on it. We chose sweet potato fries as our side and ordered chocolate cake for dessert. While we were waiting on our order, I called the Folks to let them know our ride was going well and that we were about 100 miles from home. I explained that it would take at least a couple of hours to get down the canyon and that we hoped to be down before dark. The burgers were good, but would have been better had they been served on something besides cheap buns. The desserts (chocolate cake and german chocolate cake) were store bought and somewhat stale from sitting in a refrigerator. Our complaints were not strong enough to keep us from getting all of it down. Ha!

As we were working on our desserts, a biker couple from Iowa walked up and seated themselves nearby. We struck up a conversation. They had ridden as far south as Durango and then back up and other than some mechanical trouble on her bike near Durango, seemed to be having a great time. Like many other bikers we saw walk by, they would be staying overnight in Walden, having just ridden up the way we would go down. She said they encountered light rain, having just missed the storm that dumped lots of water on the roadway. She also said it was cold. I grinned and acknowledged that it usually is cold riding over Cameron Pass.

Before riding out of Walden, we pulled on our leathers and held off on the rain gear. It was growing late in the day and we knew the ride over Cameron Pass and down Hwy 14 along the Poudre (pooder) Canyon would be cold and quite possibly wet. As we climbed toward the summit of Cameron Pass (elev 10,276) we passed by the Nokhu Crags. It's the first time we've ridden by them this late in the day. This was the cold stretch of the ride. Shortly after riding past Joe Wright Reservoir the temp warmed to chilly but tolerable on our descent.

The Nokhu (Eagles Nest) Crags near Gould, CO

We stopped once in the Poudre Canyon so Tim could switch out of his sunglasses as dusk settled. We were about halfway down the canyon before dark claimed it. Prior to that, we could see clouds looming on the far end of the canyon when we caught a glimpse of the horizon now and then. I told Tim as we rode through the tunnel with the Poudre River rushing by in the darkness that the canyon was a bit spooky at night. Ha! As we rolled out of the canyon and past Ted's Place on the corner of Hwy 287 and 14, big rain drops splashed on windshield and helmet. Near the city limits of Fort Collins there was a crack of thunder and the clouds dumped. Tim said some of the stuff hitting his face was slushy. The ride across town was slow because of poor visibility but soon we were rolling up to the drive. It was 9:30 pm, twelve hours on the road. The odometer on The Ride rolled over 10,000 miles as we neared the end of the Poudre Canyon.

Today's mileage = 458 miles... Two days, 865 miles total, several stretches of road we had not traveled before and three passport stamps made for a great weekend.

Here is a slide show of today's ride (124 photos):

Mini Road Trip - Passport Run - Day 1

August 7, 2010
Colorado, USA

Delta, CO -- We rolled out of Fort Collins early this morning, riding across to the west side of the state on a H-D passport run. We zipped up I-25 and across to I-70 without encountering too much traffic. First stop was breakfast at McDonald's in Idaho Springs. I know, not very imaginative -- but this is a low-budget ride. Knowing it would be chilly near the Eisenhower Tunnel, we suited up accordingly after breakfast. Temps were in the low 40s by the time we approached the tunnel. We have been through when it was much colder.

The ride west on I-70 is about as beautiful as an interstate ride can get. Mining structures and mine tailings dot the mountainsides all along the way. Small mountain towns trading on the rich mining history of the area are many. It is condo heaven from Idaho Springs to Glenwood Springs. The gold these days is the revenue generated out of the pockets of those who visit the ski slopes in winter and the mountain lakes and villages in summer. Even if you are not a hiker or a cyclist or a nature lover, entertainment opportunities still abound, in the form of restaurants, breweries, shopping and assorted tourist traps from mine tours to train rides, if you are into that sort of thing. We are not. The draw for us is mountain and valley, river and canyon and the roads that wind through them.

Even on a sunny summer day, I-70 is a light and shadow ride. According to Tim it was garl-durn cold on both sides near the summit of Vail Pass (elev 10,662). That about says it. Stopping at the rest area near Eagle, CO as we have so often before for a sip of now lukewarm thermos coffee, we strolled along rocky Eagle Creek noting that the rivers were flowing hard and murky today, due to rain somewhere upstream.

After thawing out, we began the next part of our journey. The ride through Glenwood Canyon is stunning - not only because of the landscape which is grand and rugged, but the road itself is an engineering marvel. We never tire of it. The Colorado River and railroad tracks wind alongside the road through the 12.5 mile canyon where some of the walls tower over road and river as high as 1300 feet.


Glenwood Canyon - I-70 - Colorado

There was a little confusion as to where the dealership was located (Glenwood Springs or Carbondale) so we got a mini tour of both towns, ending up near where we had stopped for gas earlier and began the search. We had ridden by the dealership while we were looking at street signs. Duh. (Sure, we have a GPS - it is laying on the kitchen table in Fort Collins). Aspen Valley is a really nice dealership and very busy. The man who was working motorclothes had been passed the job just that morning when someone failed to show up for work. For the twenty minutes training he said he'd had - he was managing well. Passports stamped, we repeated the ten miles on Hwy 82 to Carbondale riding alongside the roaring Forks River which runs through the middle of Glenwood Springs, turning off on Hwy 133 to make our way to the dealership in Montrose. Continuing on Hwy 82 will take you to Aspen and eventually over the Continental Divide and Independence Pass.

Hwy 133 is not actually designated as a scenic byway but we enjoyed it as such anyway. Mount Sopris dominates the view from nearly every aspect of the road as you travel out of Carbondale. The Crystal River rushes alongside before the road begins a three mile twisting, turning, steep climb to the summit of McClure Pass (elev 8755). It offers a spectacular view of the Crystal River Valley and the infamous Maroon Bells in the Snowmass Wilderness area. Maroon Peak and South Maroon Peak are Colorado 14ers (over 14,000 feet).

The Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness - Colorado from McClure Pass, Hwy 133

Another surprise along Hwy 133 are coal mines. I had no idea the area was mined for coal. These mines and black mountains of coal loom large on the horizon and conveyor belts cross the highway. A sign as you ride through Somerset, says it has been a coal mining town since 1896. Rounding a turn near another small town (Paonia) the roads travels beside scenic Paonia Reservoir which is nestled in a narrow canyon. The waters were deep green (due to a reflection of forested hillsides), calm and serene.

The landscape widens into a fertile farming valley near Hotchkiss, CO. The area is known for its produce, in particular, fruits like peaches and more recently, for the vineyards. We stopped on the side of the road at the edge of town so Tim could work out a kink in his butt - oh - excuse me - leg. Ha! Traveling west on Hwy 92 now toward Delta we ran upon a stretch of nasty road construction. The last time we were on this same road (over a year ago) we encountered road construction closer to the town of Delta. And here we were again traveling on a road that was ground down to loose dirt and deeply rutted, not to mention the rows of loose gravel.

By the time we arrived in Delta, we were dusty and thirsty and it didn't take much conversation to decide we had plenty of time for lunch before riding the 20 miles or so to the dealership in Montrose. On the way through Delta I admired the many murals painted on the buildings. Delta is known as the city of murals. On the edge of town an unassuming place called Butch's Cafe looked promising. I ordered my customary BLT and Tim, a burger. Both of us ordered sweet potato fries. No complaints here, the wait staff was friendly, and the cook was on the ball. Our food was not fancy - just hot and tasty.

Traveling south on Hwy 550, we passed through the town of Olathe where lots of people were gathering for what appeared to be a festival and a concert. I remember looking at the clouds as we passed by, thinking these people are going to get wet. We reached Black Canyon of the Gunnison Harley-Davidson in a matter of minutes. We didn't have to look for this one, I remembered it from when we passed through during the Colorado HOG Rally last year. The person who stamped our passports was friendly and efficient. We chatted with her for a few minutes before strolling through the store. I believe this is Colorado's newest dealership, small but nice.

Leaving Montrose, traveling north now on Hwy 550 back to Delta, we noticed the storm on the horizon. At first, it did not appear to be on our path. That is, we hoped it was not between us and Grand Junction. A couple of curves later, a wall of water presented itself about 200 yards out. We stopped, pulled on our rain gear and rode in heavy, pelting rain and wind back to Butch's Cafe in Delta where we sat on the patio (since we were dripping wet) with fresh brewed cups of coffee and chatted with the locals for over an hour as wave after wave of hard rain came through with no sign of letting up.

I finally asked our waitress about hotels nearby. A Best Western about 1/2 mile up the road sounded good. We made a dash for it, during a brief lull in the storm. It was a soggy end to our day, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, and winds run us in a little earlier than planned. We were about 40 miles out from Grand Junction (our third and final passport stop for this weekend) - an easy ride for tomorrow morning. We chose to go to the Grand Junction dealership last as it was the only dealership on the west side open on a Sunday.

We took the last room at the Best Western, or so they said. I was a bit skeptical about the last room bit, but it is possible. A group of four on two bikes rolled out as we rolled in. Bummer. I believe there was only one other decent motel in town. I called the Folks to let them know we were in for the night while Tim unloaded our bag. Mom said she thought we would get into rain as she had seen the storms on the weather channel. We did not get the bag covered before the deluge and a few items of clothing were slightly damp. I hung those items on hangars along with gloves and head apparel to air dry. The ride parked just outside the room, supper was a short stroll across the parking lot to the in-house restaurant with an open menu and a liquor license. After some nachos and beer - we are content to settle in and see what kind of BS movie is on HBO which will likely turn out to be better than a sleeping pill.

Today's mileage = 407 miles. I should mention that we saw many motorcycles throughout the day, especially on I-25 travelling north and on I-70 travelling east. Most of them were in groups of three or more, loaded down with luggage, camping gear and pulling trailers. Sturgis-bound I reckon.

Here is a slide show of today's ride (118 photos):