Our Motorcycle Rides 2010

December 31, 2010
Colorado, USA

OK - here are the totals for my numbers guy... 37,026 actual miles accumulated since the summer of 2008. According to HOG we have 36,277 miles (because of a glitch in the initial mileage reporting on the Heritage). 2974 miles between us and 40,000 miles. 3723 miles between us and the 40,000 mile patch. I can already hear Tim calculating in his noodle when we'll be able to sew on that 40,000 mile HOG patch - lol! It's gonna be fun getting there - that's for certain.

04/28/2010 Total 2008 Heritage Miles = 21168
12/28/2010 Total 2010 Ultra Classic Miles = 15858

Total Mileage 2010 = 17674 Woo-Hoo!
Total Ultra Classic Mileage 2010 = 15858
Total Heritage Mileage 2010 = 1816
12/28/2010 Today may be last ride of 2010 = 37 miles
12/26/2010 Total Mileage = 15821
12/26/2010 Might be the last ride of 2010 = 61 miles
12/25/2010 Christmas Day Dinner ride = 40 miles
12/24/2010 Christmas Eve Junk-tiquing ride = 26 miles
12/12/2010 Brrr... Chilly Sunday Ride = 60 miles
12/03/2010 Just a little lunch ride = 5 miles
11/28/2010 After Turkey Day Ride = 30 miles
11/07/2010 'Nother November Ride = 85 miles
11/06/2010 November Ride = 40 miles
11/01/2010 Total Mileage = 15340 miles
10/30/2010 Saturday before Hallowe'en Ride = 60 miles
10/24/2010 Breaking 15,000 ride = 100 miles
10/17/2010 Riding circles w/David for pie n coffee = 40 miles
10/16/2010 Great Fall Afternoon Ride = 60 miles
10/09/2010 Junktiquing on a Saturday Ride = 42 miles
10/5/2010 Dinner with Truckers Run = 28 miles
10/03/2010 Toy Run Sunday = 306 miles
09/26/2010 Likely the last Wyoming Ride = 178 miles
09/25/2010 Peak-to-Peak Color Ride = 191 miles
09/24/2010 BTGTW Dam Ride = 20 miles
09/19/2010 First Fall Color Ride 2010 = 164 miles
09/12/2010 Weekend Rides = about 60 miles
09/01-09/08/2010 Road Trip #3 - Texas HOG Rally = 2245 miles
08/25/2010 Total Mileage - 11077 miles
08/20-22/2010 Mini Road Trip = 679 miles
08/18/2010 Sunny and Hot BTGTWR = 30 miles
08/15/2010 Sunday Burgers & Ice Cream Ride = 91 miles
08/14/2010 Saturday Lookout Mountain Ride = 101 miles
08/08/2010 Mini Road Trip Day 2 = 458 miles
08/07/2010 Mini Road Trip Day 1 = 407 miles
08/03/2010 Total Mileage = 9144 miles
07/31/2010 Denver Passport & High Country Ride = 285 miles
07/25/2010 Sunday Passport Ride = 90 miles
07/15-07/20 Road Trip #2 - Five State Ride = 2438 miles
07/12/2010 Scootin' around weekend = 45 miles
07/11/2010 Just a short ride = 30 miles
07/10/2010 Scootin' around ride = 120 miles
07/06/2010 Total Mileage = 6065 miles
07/05/2010 High Country Ride = 275 miles
07/04/2010 Independence Day Ride = 110 miles
07/03/2010 Wyoming Passport Ride = 240 miles
06/28/2010 HOG Million Mile Monday High Country Ride = 207 miles
06/27/2010 Tejon Street Bike Fest w/Friends Ride = 312 miles
06/26/2010 - Got rain? Ride for beer! = 2 miles
06/25/2010 Friday Long Way Around to Lunch Ride = 50 miles
06/21/2010 Ride to work day = 4 miles (Ha!)
06/20/2010 Dad's Day White Water/Windy Ride = 360 miles
06/19/2010 New Friend & "Passport" Ride = 200 miles
06/14/2010 Flag Day Ride = 35 miles
06/03/2010 25,000 Miles in less than 2 years
06/03/2010 Total Mileage = 4096
05/27-06/02/2010 Road Trip #1 - Memorial Day = 2245 miles
05/23/2010 Sunday "Passport" Ride = 176 miles
05/22/2010 Saturday After Work "No Leathers" Ride = 93 miles
05/21/2010 Dam Ride = 25 miles
05/17/2010 BTGTWR - Lakes = 53 miles
05/16/2010 Sunday - testing the flags ride = 207 miles
05/14/2010 BTGTWR - TGIF = 65 miles
05/10/2010 1000 Maintenance Ride = 10 miles
05/09/2010 Breaking 1000 Mother's Day Ride = 300 miles
05/08/2010 Saturday getting closer to 1000 ride = 135 miles
05/07/2010 Long way to work ride = 65 miles
05/06/2010 33 Miles then rain ride = 33 miles
05/05/2010 Breaking 500 Ride = 91.5 miles
05/04/2010 Windy Ride to Thunder Mountain = 35 miles
05/03/2010 BTGTW Ride = 40 miles
05/02/2010 Windy and Cold Ride = 102 miles
05/01/2010 May Day Ride = 185 miles
04/28/2010 Honeymoon Ride on Ultra Classic = 107 miles
04/28/2010 Total 2008 Heritage Miles = 21168
04/28/2010 Say Bye Ride = 10 miles
04/27/2010 Tina gets a Dam Ride = 20 miles
04/24/2010 Burger ride = 10 miles
04/18/2010 Sunny Sunday Ride = 144 miles
04/11/2010 Fairplay Loop Ride = 383 miles
04/10/2010 Saturday ride = 75 miles
04/09/2010 BTGTWR Lunch Run = 20 miles
04/04/2010 In Search of the Easter Bunny Ride = 187 miles
04/01/2010 Total Mileage = 20195
03/31/2010 Chilly BTGTWR = 40 miles
03/30/2010 BTGTWR = 34 miles
03/28/2010 Finally - A great day to ride = 195 miles
03/22/2010 Signs of Spring Dam Ride = 20 miles
03/17/2010 Tim rides for corn beef and cabbage (solo) = 20 miles
03/16/2010 Long way in to work ride (solo) = 34 miles
03/13/2010 Vik's out of town - Tim's solo ride = 178 miles
03/03/2010 BTGTWR = 34 miles
03/02/2010 BTGTWR = 27 miles
02/28/2010 Fill 'er up before snow ride = 12.4 miles
02/27/2010 Vik gets first ride 2010 = 33.3 miles
01/30/2010 First Ride of the Year! = 19.4 miles
01/01/2010 Mileage = 19352
BTGTWR - Before Tim Goes To Work Ride

Correction: December 26 not last ride of 2010

December 28, 2010
Colorado, USA

Tim is on a rare week of day shift, so when he arrived in from work about mid-afternoon, we couldn't resist the idea that we might squeak in a short ride. We did. A short, cold ride. The afternoon sun was simply too weak to do much more than allow us to throw a shadow. We rode over to west of Loveland to check out a new leather shop we heard about. Beaver's Den Leather on Hwy 34. But, they were not open. We decided to take the route through Masonville and around the south end of Horsetooth Reservoir which is a great ride but darn cold in the shadows of the mountains.

The Ride is eight months old today - 15858 miles

It was pretty darn cold riding today

The sun didn't give us much more than a shadow today

Day after Christmas ride

December 26, 2010
Colorado, USA

Well, color us happy. We got a ride in for the third day in a row. We never saw the forecasted mid-50s but we have no complaints about riding in the mid-to-high 40s under mostly sunny skies. Better yet, we had little more than a breath of wind. Most of our Texas friends are stuck inside and did not get a ride in over the holiday so we are feeling pretty lucky.

View of the mountains from east side of I-25

We rode out of town and past all the hustle and bustle of the day-after at the shopping centers as quick as we could. We chose to ride at a leisurely pace up and down the country lanes and the farm roads east of busy and getting busier by the minute I-25, not breaking 45-50 mph most of the time. We managed to stretch about 60 miles out over nearly three hours, stopping once for coffee.

The mileage on The Ride clicked over 15,800 while we were out today. The Ride is two days shy of being eight months old. We finished out the day with the odometer reading 15,821 miles. This is likely the last ride of 2010 as we will see the New Year in with temps dipping into the single digits. Yikes!

What a great year this has been... stay tuned for the recap of 2010 and I'll finally get around to producing the videos of our adventures this year.

The Ride sporting new stubby antennas

Christmas Dinner Ride

December 25, 2010
Colorado, USA

Santa was good to the Harley-Kid this year

Santa was good to us and the Harley-Kid but I think the best gift was being able to leather up and ride warm enough to get to dinner and back. Again, we rode in the 40s, a couple of digits above yesterday's temp. Today we had sunshine so we took our time getting to our favorite truck stop on I-25 which is where we would have Christmas dinner.

Today is the first time in several days we had a decent glimpse of the mountains which have received snow measured in feet rather than inches this year.
Longs Peak/Peak-to-Peak Highway area on the left, Estes Park (Rocky Mountain National Park) on the right
Ice on the move on not quite frozen lake

Johnson's Corner is a great place to eat on I-25 in northern Colorado and the last decent place to eat before you get to Wyoming. The food is great, reasonably priced and the staff is always friendly and efficient. Even today. Our wait was about half an hour or so. The place was busy, apparently being one of the few restaurants open for a holiday dinner. Our Christmas dinner was served up in generous portions of thick-sliced turkey, gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, whole baked stuffed apple and pumpkin pie. Yum!

The next couple of pics are of a fox we saw at an intersection in Fort Collins on the way home.
He came out of this shrubbery as we pulled up to an intersection near dowtown Fort Collins
Beautiful markings and long black stockings

Needless to say, we were a little better insulated for the leisurely ride home. Today's ride was over 40 chilly miles. By the time we arrived back at the house in time to pay a Christmas visit to our friends across the street, the shadows were long and temps were dropping quick into the 30s. We rode in high on the promise that tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm. We are looking forward to it.

Merry Christmas!

Hope Santa found his way to your house.

December 25, 2010
Colorado, USA



Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve in Search of Santa Ride

December 24, 2010
Colorado, USA

Woo-Hoo! Yesterday, we finished shopping for the Harley-Kid in the garage and Tim finished his shopping, so this afternoon was open for a Christmas Eve Ride. The weather in northern Colorado does not normally cooperate with such activity so we're thinking Santa is thinking we have been really good this year. Ha!

We rode with temps hovering just over 40 degrees and a light cloud cover. Every year on Christmas Eve (if we are still in Colorado), we ride or drive to our favorite junk-tique store and usually add a few vintage Santa pieces to our rather large collection. This year, we got to ride over on the Harley.

It wasn't a long ride (about 26 miles). As we rode in about 3 pm with our Santa loot, the temp was dropping fast. So we parked the ride and hopped in the Tahoe and went in search of Christmas Eve dinner before the sidewalks cleared the way for Santa.

This is me in the middle of a HO! HO! HO! let's go find Santa!

We were happy to see the Shadow Riders - with temps in the 40s - we needed all the sun we could get!

Tim - ready for a Christmas Eve ride.

Vik - ready for a Christmas Eve ride.

Tim & Vik after the Christmas Eve ride

It ain't over until the big man brings...

December 22, 2010
Colorado, USA

HO! HO! HO!

December 21, 2010
Colorado, USA

Kristmas Kool

December 20, 2010
Colorado, USA

Nuff said...

December 19, 2010
Colorado, USA

Santa is coming to town...

December 18, 2010
Colorado, USA

Brrrr.... Cold Sunday Ride

December 12, 2010
Colorado, USA

We count ourselves lucky if we get to ride at this time of year in northern Colorado. Last year we had icy, snow-packed streets for what seemed like f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

We could have hung around here and finished up the outside Christmas decorations. We could have spent the day in the Tahoe getting our Christmas shopping done. None of that sounded like fun...

Was it warm enough to ride today? Not really, but we layered up and leathered up and rode out of here anyway. At about 11 am, the temp was 37 degrees. It was cold riding all day, but we had sun. Temps were supposed to climb into the low 50s. It never made it past the low 40s.

A winter storm was raging in the high country. The Rockies usually visible along this route were socked in. We caught only an occasional view of a snow-covered peak throughout the afternoon.

We rode to one Harley dealership, stopped, shopped and warmed up. We took a leisurely route so we didn't have to travel over 60 mph. Most of the time we scooted along at 45-50 mph. Then we rode to another Harley dealership, stopped, shopped and warmed up. Then we rode to Johnson's Corner (our favorite truck stop on I-25) and stopped to warm up again. Going about 10 miles at 80 mph with temps near 39 degrees chapped our faces, our gloved hands and a few other places. We thought about having a bite to eat but the temps were dropping and the sun was soon to slide behind low clouds rolling over the foothills. We wussied out and brought the ride on in home. It was a good decision.

After dropping the leathers and warming up a bit, we hopped in the Tahoe and drove for a couple of beers and a pulled pork sandwich with cherry chipotle sauce at Serious Texas BBQ. Yum!

It was about 60 miles of damn chilly fun. No, we did not learn our lesson. We rode in with a smile and agreed - we would do it again and soon...

Happy Birthday Laura!

December 9, 2010
Colorado, USA

Sometimes we meet people on the highway of life who instantly step across the threshold of our lives as more family than friend -- it is both a delight and a comfort to know you - welcome aboard...

PMS

December 8, 2010
Colorado, USA

The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine...

Sharing a little surprise that popped up in my email...

November 29, 2010
Colorado, USA

It's amazing what we will do sometimes to keep ourselves entertained during the off days of a holiday - ha! Thanks Nancy - it's great!

Post Turkey - Pre Snow Ride

November 28, 2010
Colorado, USA

Got the Thanksgiving company on the road early this morning, chilled (literally speaking as it was 23 degrees at 7am) for a while allowing the day to warm some, and enjoyed a late breakfast (oh, let's call it brunch). We finally leathered up and rolled out on a short, chilly run. It was only thirty or so miles. Riding at temps hovering between 38 and 42 degrees under cloud cover was a mite airish as Tim says. Still, it was a great way to end a busy weekend and shake off the post holiday blahs... hope everyone was lucky enough to squeeze in a ride.

Riding out where we could see the weather coming in...

Thanksgiving

November 25, 2010
Colorado, USA

Celebrating #39 Today

November 22, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, Co -- Thirty-Nine Years... 1971... that's a long time to be in the life of someone you picked up in your teen years - isn't it? A good many people can claim close relationships of that longevity only with parents or siblings.

But here we are... Me and Tim... rolling in on the close of 39 years of marriage. As the GD put it - what a long, strange trip it's been. Rolling being the operative word here... who knew when we purchased our first Harley in the Summer of 2008 and our second Harley in the Spring of 2010 that the Harley would steer our course away from what is considered normal for our age? Sure after 39 years we have some tales to tell of a life together that has had its ups and downs... not to mention a few weird turns and bumps in the night. When I look back on it though, those interesting, fun, exhilarating times in our past pale in comparison to what appears to be in our future.

Our story these days is all about we three -- Tim, the Harley and Me.

We are an Old-Fashioned Love Song. In the words of a song by Three Dog Night (incidentally, released in 1971)...

Just an old-fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old-fashioned love song
Comin' down in 3-part harmony

About the time we had reconciled to the idea that the fun stuff was winding down, that our future was about property and taxes, rocking chairs on the porch and health care, that our wild and careless glory days were just tell-again stories for bored grand children, along came a Harley and we realized the really fun stuff was all ahead of us - not behind us. Uh - some people call this our second childhood. To those unenlightened few - we say - so be it! If in the end we cannot set a good example, we will content ourselves with being a horrible warning - ha!

We can blame - perhaps a better word is credit - the Folks for the sudden philosophical change. Yep, it was the two of them in cahoots with each other... that set the world on two wheels. Mom made certain Dad got his butt back in the saddle of a Harley (2007) after fifty some-odd years and the rest, as they say, is history... Fortunately, we weren't so far gone that we couldn't see that Dad (in his 70s) was having a heckuva good time out there and yeah, we wanted in on it. The only regret we have about that is -- we didn't do it years and years ago.

For certain, my 25 year old butt, legs and knees would have faired better in the saddle... but I doubt my eyes would have seen the open road quite as clearly, despite tri-focals. I doubt the view from a frosty mountain-top or a sunset on the desert plains or riding beside the stillness of a glassy lake at dawn or a road that stretched beyond the range of vision over the horizon would burn itself so permanently into the memory of the mind's eye.

There are whole segments of my youth I cannot remember. Faces, places, names and more escape recall.

In contrast, every single mile on the Harley and every single moment shared with Tim rolling down some stretch of road on the Harley I can recall in vivid clarity...

I guess it's all the better for the struggle to get here. Back then (closer to the beginning of US), I doubt time, money, jobs, the kid, the dogs and other restraints of conformity:

would have allowed for a sun-up to sun-down, rain or shine day of riding,
would have stood for over 600 miles in a day, destination still unknown,
would have lived for a week in two pairs of jeans and t-shirts,
would have slept in some creepy dive of a motel for the night,
would have dined for days on b'loney sandwiches, thermos coffee and stale brownies,
would have loved rolling out before first light or rolling in well after dark,
would have condoned rolling up on a <---> sign and choosing the direction that would be least likely to get us home at a reasonable hour,
would have dreamed about zig-zag riding all the way across our great country,
would have given in to the urge to ride a few more miles just to see what was around the next bend in the road.

Tim explains it this way -- no kids at home, no cats or dogs in the house, the gold fish died years ago. We ride out when we please and we ride in when we are out of money. It is as simple as that.

What is around the next bend of the road is year #40... and with any luck - mile marker 40,000 but more likely 50,000+++ somewhere along the way. What rolling around the bend of #40 will reveal is anyone's guess -- new roads, new adventures, new experiences, new memories... and we won't forget old roads that lead to old friends...

The principle of love will always be stronger than that of life,
because it comes upon us quicker
and in the end doesn't conquer but liberates.
-- Rod McKuen --

Love, if allowed to run its natural course is liberating. If appreciated properly, with mutual and equal consideration and concern, long-lasting love and an equally long-married life reflects itself upon the people who planned and schemed and ultimately, worked to achieve those ends. Add a Harley along the way for two freedom-loving dreamers and the rest is about joyfully free-wheeling it as far down the forever road as possible. Destination still unknown.

The personal life deeply lived
always expands into truths beyond itself.
-- Anais Nin --

Next year we will have an un-hyphenated anniversary... Forty. Years from now, I think somewhere around our 50th or 60th or 70th, I want people who know us to say - now that's a life well-lived... filled with love and laughter, lots of good stories, and countless tales of miles and smiles.

The goal this year and every year hereafter, is to do some of that deep-living, to keep things easy... fun... real... free... and to simply ride on... and on... and on... away... away... beyond... stay tuned...

It is good to have an end to journey towards;
but it is the journey that matters in the end.
~~ Ursula K. LeGuin ~~

---

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TIM!

What follows is our video anniversary card (To Tim, with Love) but there were so many photos to share I could not work them all in to a single video. Go figure! In the interest of keeping it shorter than Gone With the Wind... I had to get somewhat selective. The photos are mostly us or rather just we three as we rolled our way through year #39...

Celebrating #39 - 2010

Veterans Day 2010 - For: Dad

November 11, 2010
Colorado, USA

I was raised on patriotism although I did not know it as that growing up. In our home, pride in country, reverence for the flag and respect for the men and women who served in the military was status quo. We were proud Americans. We are proud Americans.

Veterans peopled my life... but, I knew them as Dad or Uncle or friends of the family. Veterans wives nurtured my life... but I knew them as Mom or Aunt or Mrs. The men served our country and the women as well, just in a different capacity. My perception was these are "the good guys", doing their "duty", fighting the "good fight". To me, they were all men on the same caliber as movie heroes John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart. Later, it should come as no surprise, I became the wife of a boy who became a military man. Carrying on in military family tradition came naturally.

My Dad served in the USAF for twenty years. He is a Vietnam Veteran (boots on the ground and in the air), but also a Veteran of other conflicts. My husband served in the USAF for eight years. He is also a Vietnam Veteran (thankfully, the closest his boots got to Nam was Guam near the end of the war effort). I say thankfully because war becomes a different animal when you can put a face in the midst of the chaos, when you hang on the words of the evening news broadcast and breathe a sigh of relief when your loved one's location is not spoken, when you wait for the postman to bring a worn envelope, worried by many hands as it made its way across the seas. Gratification was not as it is today... it was not instant via cell phone and internet... it was wait and worry, it was hope and carry on.

There were no flags waving or bands playing or fanfare when Dad returned from Vietnam. It was just US, the family, grateful to have his boots on American soil once again. There was no party when Dad retired from the USAF. One day he was active duty and the next he was retired with not much to show for it other than a document or two, a hard-earned bronze star and a few well worn uniforms. What I know to be an unspoken fact, is the sense of self worth, accomplishment and assurance that while it [his service] may have gone unrecognized - the contribution to society and this country as a whole was significant. The same goes for many who have served and those who serve today.

The key word here: unrecognized.

Veterans Day, as I remember it was acknowledged as an important remembrance day and the meaning and import of it was taught in our classrooms. I grew up attending military celebrations -- air shows, parades and fireworks where patriotic music blared across open field and down city streets. We climbed in airplanes boosted up by powerful hands of men in uniform. We wore flags on our lapels. We stood and saluted the flag when it passed. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and we sang the National Anthem (without question and without doubt).

I cannot think of a single faction of our society more deserving of tribute than an American Military Veteran. They deserve our respect, our homage, our heartfelt thanks. No single day set aside on our calendar could be more important.

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. Sadly, we (We the People) have cashed the check on far too many soldiers without many of us ever pausing to remember their sacrifice, or the sacrifice of their families... When you hug the neck of a Gold Star Mom or Dad trying to hold it together while we celebrate their son or daughter, or acknowledge the price they have paid, try putting the face of your child in their child's place.

Nowadays, Patriotism is vilified at every turn by the powers that be and their minions (the media). Being patriotic is the new kooky. FYI: it's a kookiness I whole-heartedly embrace. People march down streets and rally at our national monuments carrying signs that proclaim themselves to be Patriots, real Americans. I've participated in a couple of rallies and enjoyed the overall experience, but I have to tell you -- after examining the motivation behind the guest speakers and politicians (all brimming over with eloquent rhetoric), I grew weary of the double-talk and slander. Not enough speech is red, white and blue rhetoric. Not enough of what I hear is grounded in red, white and blue ideology. Real American Patriots carry Ol' Glory and vote. Real Americans defend our country from enemies no matter where the culprits may reside. Real Americans voice their opinion where it counts - the voting booth. And Veterans? Veterans are the best of us.

What I believe is We are All Americans (at least those of us who can legally call ourselves American) so it should follow that we are all American Patriots. That's the logic of it. Unfortunately, there is a glaring deficit of proof in regards to such logic. It's a rather revolting revelation to learn that not all Americans are patriots. On second thought, perhaps those people are neither - really.

Because of my association with and appreciation of Veterans, I do not have to figure out who I am or which side of the fence I am on. I am an American. I am a Patriot. I am the daughter of a Veteran. I am the wife of a Veteran. I am friend to many a Veteran. My ties are firm. My beliefs are set. I am not conflicted.

I am not kooky either, despite evidence to the contrary... evidence collected by those suffering from a severe attack of politically correct delusions.

I believe in times of chaos and uncertainty, it is the philosophy of the Veteran that makes the most sense. Country First. Veterans are American Patriotism personified. The character of a Veteran is earmarked with traits and respectabilities that are above question: Duty, Honor, Truth, Justice, Freedom, Liberty, Allegiance, Respect, Courage and Remembrance.

Veterans wear flags on their lapels (on suits and leather jackets) and on their backs. Veterans fly flags at their homes and take issue with those who disrespect Ol' Glory. Veterans stand and salute the flag as it passes. Veterans recite the Pledge of Allegiance and consider it an honor to do so. Those who dismiss the pledge as an archaic children's poem - would be encouraged to reevaluate that position by a Veteran. Veterans know the words of the Declaration of Independence... or, more importantly they know when words have been altered, twisted or omitted. Veterans know the words to the National Anthem aka Star Spangled Banner. They also know, another Veteran would never belittle a teary eye or a moment of choked off silence after hearing oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave..... o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Veterans are not politically correct. A thing is what it is. A truth is a truth. A lie is a lie. A wrong is something that needs to be righted.

An enemy is an enemy.

Case in point: Terrorism. Oh, that's right, we are not fighting terrorists... our sons and daughters have died correcting the course of misguided (albeit murderous) extremists. Say that to a Gold Star Mom or Dad and I guarantee your backside will be permanently embedded with a Veterans boot print.

The Veterans of my acquaintance would not hesitate to stand again to defend this country or the ideals that make the United States great. When Veterans learn that military families need assistance, they band together and provide that assistance.

When Veterans learned that others planned to dishonor our military sons and daughters, they soldiered-up and found a way to silence the deluded and protect and honor the fallen and their families. I am speaking of The Patriot Guard here, because most of our family and motorcycle friends are involved with that fine organization. Dad and many of his friends serve as Ride Captains for the North Texas Patriot Guard.

It should go without saying, there are countless other Veteran-based organizations that provide services too numerous to mention, all of them worthy and selfless in their endeavors -- most of them formed out of a proclivity to serve their fellow man - not because of some political mandate.

Veterans never stop being soldiers. They are still "the good guys", doing their "duty", fighting the "good fight".

Veterans walk among us. Young or old - the least we can do, when we run across a Veteran is to say a simple and heartfelt - thank you for your service! And, if you run across a Gold Star Mom or Dad, the least you can say is -- thank you for your sacrifice. And, if that all seems too personal - fly the flag, from your house, from your car and wear it on your person. Trust me, they will notice.

What follows is my Veterans Day Tribute to Ted (My Dad). He was my first hero. This years images show Dad and his friends, riding out, on roads that are "free", protected by their vigilance, determination and the blood of the brave, flags unfurled behind their motorcycles, or standing the flag line, honoring veterans and their families and generally doing what is "right". We could all learn from their excellent example.

To All Veterans. My thanks to you today and every day. You know who you are. You make me proud.

Veterans Day Tribute #1 2010

UPDATE: Wichita Falls, TX -- Mom sent a few photos of their Veterans Day outing. The local schools gathered at the football stadium to present a Veterans Day celebration. Here's a slide show (17 photos):

Veterans Day 2010 - for: Tim

November 11, 2010
Colorado, USA

Happy Veterans Day to my Harley Guy. Thanks for all the patriotic rides to rallies and to Texas - I have enjoyed every mile and smile of it... and I know you have, too.

Veterans Day Tribute #2 2010

You make me proud!

Sunday shopping ride

November 7, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Today the skies were looking a bit iffy and the forecast didn't sound much better. The days are getting chilly and the weather temperamental. We wanted a longer ride than yesterday. So, we decided to roll out about mid-morning and see how far we could get. We took ourselves a couple of towns over to Aunt Alice's Restaurant in Longmont. This is one of our favorite places for breakfast. You can get a good ol' country-style breakfast served up in generous portions at a reasonable price and the coffee is good and hot.

As we rolled up on Aunt Alice's, the wind had kicked up good and it looked like a healthy storm was sliding over the mountains. A couple of flurries whizzed by our noses as we decided breakfast was likely as far as we would get today.

After breakfast, the clouds had indeed slid over the mountains but other than a little more wind they were not doing much more than spitting on us. We decided to ride a little further south and see what the skies looked like beyond the edge of town. We could see a patch of blue on the horizon toward Denver and nothing but ominous black toward home. We decided to make for Denver and maybe the storm would blow on through before we made the return trip this afternoon. As it turns out, that was a good decision.

Riding toward a patch of blue sky
Yikes! Glad we left that bit of business behind us.

The ride to the north end of a Denver suburb was windy and perhaps a bit colder than when we started out. We spent the afternoon roaming through a favorite Christmas craft show, picking up a couple of gifts. Funny. We bought a fairly large piece of seasonal art (with glass) and as the artist was wrapping it for us, it occurred to us almost simultaneously - we are on the Harley. Ha! The artist looked at us rather oddly (can't imagine why) and said her husband could deliver it next week in Fort Collins, if we couldn't get it home on the motorcycle. Of course, the art was too large for the saddle bags or the tour pack. I don't know what we were thinking - ha! We managed to cushion it with our rain gear and strapped it down with the cargo net on top of the tour pack rack. It made it home in perfect condition, despite rough railroad crossings and high winds. I would have a photo of it except I failed to get the camera out of the tour pack before we strapped it all down.

The weather had cleared out by the time we headed home. It was a chilly ride home, but not unbearable. Our riding days are numbered here in Northern Colorado so we count this one as a good day.

Veterans Day Parade - Texas

November 6, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- Dad (Ted) and friends rode in the annual Veterans Day parade today. A friend shared some photos she snapped from the sidelines as Dad rode by. The weather looked perfect for the parade and I hear there was a great turnout. I remember this being a great event from my girlhood days when I stood on the sidelines as Dad rolled or marched by.

Having a good time. You know you are my favorite veteran - don't you?

Veterans riding with Veterans in honor of Veterans. It doesn't get any better than that. Congratulations to Veterans everywhere for a job well done and accept my humble appreciation of your service.

Slide show (9 photos):

Saturday after work ride

November 6, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- The day warmed into the 50s so we mounted up as soon as Tim got in from his Saturday shift work. It was a short ride on the country roads east of I-25, a stop for coffee and an ice cream and a couple of photos in front of the flag mural painted on the side of a VFW post in Johnstown, CO. The mural is usually blocked by vehicles. We got lucky today.

Our sun is getting weaker every day and the temps fall earlier in the afternoon now. We stopped for a cheap chinese buffet dinner before rolling back in just after dark.

This is as close as I'll get to a Vet Day shot of Tim as Veterans Day is a work day.
Ol' Glory and The Ride - Long may she wave. Long may it roll.

NEVER FORGET

November 5, 2010
Colorado, USA

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Fort Hood massacre.



1. Lt. Col. Juanita Warman, 55, Havre de Grace, Md.

2. Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52, Woodbridge, Va.

3. Cpt. John P. Gaffaney, 54, San Diego, Calif.

4. Cpt. Russell Seager, 41, Racine, Wis.

5. Staff Sgt. Justin Decrow, 32, Plymouth, Ind.

6. Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29, Kiel, Wis.

7. Spc. Jason Hunt, 22, Tillman, Okla.

8. Spc. Frederick Greene, 29, Mountain City, Tenn.

9. PFC Aaron Nemelka, 19, West Jordan, Utah

10. PFC Michael Pearson, 22, Bolingbrook, Ill.

11. PFC Kham Xiong, 23, St. Paul, Minn.

12. Pvt. Francheska Velez, 21, Chicago, Ill.

13. Michael G. Cahill, Cameron, Texas [civilian]

Thirteen men and women, plus the unborn child of Pvt Francheska Velez died at the hands of jihadist soldier Nidal Hasan.

Never forget.

Congressman John Carter, TX: It has been a year since the terror attack on Fort Hood, and DOD still refuses to even use the words ‘radical Islam’ in their report on the attack or recommendations on how to prevent future attacks... That does not instill confidence in Congress that DOD is taking the necessary steps to protect our troops.

Source: Fort Hood Attack Unresolved One Year Later

Ride to Vote

November 2, 2010
Colorado, USA

Not that most of us need a reason to ride...
but if you need a suggestion for today, I say:

RIDE TO VOTE!

Appreciation for Patriotism

November 1, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- Letter to the Editor, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, TX

From:
Ted and Inez F, Wichita Falls

Thank you, Wichita Falls

Thank you Wichita Falls for doing a very patriotic service on Oct. 16. On that day a young fallen hero, Cody Board, his family and the Patriot Guard Riders and their support vehicles rolled onto Highway 287 to take this young hero to his final resting place at the Ft. Sill National Cemetery in Oklahoma.

As the long caravan of motorcycles, cars trucks and support vehicles proceeded on their journey, there were lots of people standing on overpasses all throughout the city with American flags waving and people wiping tears from their eyes. We have never seen such a loving, patriotic display of affection from so many people. As the caravan moved along the interstate people pulled to the side of the interstate and got out of their vehicles and placed their hands over their hearts or waved at the motorcade. These people were in awe of what they had just seen. The Patriot Guard Riders of North Texas and Oklahoma on their motorcycles were leading this young man and his family on a journey that he would never return from. So thank you Wichita Falls for your support of this young man and his family and let’s not forget our servicemen and women all over the world and here in America, who give their all for all of us.

They deserve a moment of our time to honor them when they have given their all. Just remember “Freedom is not free.”

Thank you for your patriotism and your support on that day and everyday.
--------------------------------
Nice job, Mom...

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Source: Times Record News.com

Live Love Remember Wreaths Across America Ride - TX

October 30, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- Dad and friends, Nubbin and John rode to Little Elm, TX today for the 1st Annual Motorcycle Ride To Purchase Wreaths For Every KIA At DFW National Cemetery (part of the Wreaths Across America Campaign) dubbed as the Live Love Remember Ride.

Nubbin, Ted (Dad) and John

Wreaths Across America (www.wreathsacrossamerica.org) is a non-profit organization that places wreaths at veterans and fallen heroes graves during the Christmas Season. Our Goal is to contribute to this organization and make sure every KIA grave from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom at the DFW National Cemetery receives a wreath this Christmas. The actual Wreath laying is on December 11 with a ceremony at 11am. The last day to sponsor a wreath is Nov. 23.

Dad suited up in full leathers, riding out before first light. It was a cold morning in Texas. After meeting John at the shell station, they rode to Bowie where they met up with Nubbin. Only the three of them would ride to Little Elm for this event.

According to John, 49 motorcycles rolled out on the ride. They did not go on the 45 minute ride. Rather, they waited for Stormy and the boys to arrive. Stormy (my daughter) and four grandsons drove a short way from Frisco, TX to say hello to Dad and friends. After visiting for a while, the three motorcycle buddies rolled out on a ride to a BBQ place Stormy told them about in Tioga, TX. Then they ambled their way home. Nubbin and Dad made an ice cream stop at the DQ in Henrietta before heading home. John had a commitment so he passed on the ice cream.

It looked like a great ride, despite the chilly start. By the end of the day, they had shed leather jackets and rode under sunny skies.

Here's a slide show of a few photos that John shared with me ( 33 photos):

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More photos and commentary about this ride can be found on John's excellent motorcycle blog, North Texas Bikers.

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Saturday before Halloween ride

October 30, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Saturday ride... Tomorrow is Hallowe'en. We have guests coming so tomorrow will be spent in preparation for that, but today we ride. And a fine Fall day to ride it was.

As usual, we rode out with no agenda. We made a quick stop at the dollar store in the small town of Windsor for a couple of relish items. There, we found ourselves in the midst of hundreds of trick-or-treaters collecting candy from Main Street merchants. We watched the munchkins for a short while, then I snapped pictures as we rode out of town. We found ourselves winding our way up and down country roads for most of the afternoon. Some of the roads were familiar, some were not. We rode through some small towns we have not visited before, found a BBQ place in Mead and a museum in Platteville that will bear a second look sometime this winter while we are stuck flat-landing it.

Eventually we found ourselves in Lyons where we made our usual stop, then took the loonnngggg way home, riding in about dusk -- just in time to light the Hallowe'en display.

Slide show (25 photos):

Friday off ride

October 29, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, CO -- Friday Off! And, despite the chilly start, it turned out to be a beautiful day. We rode out under high, thin clouds in our heavy jackets about noon. The munchkins at my friend's daycare across the street saw us off. By the time we got a couple of towns over, the day had warmed and we came out of our leathers. Today, we could see the mountains beyond the foothills glistening with fresh snow. Winter has arrived in the high country.

We took the long, lazy way over to the Borders book store I like a couple of towns over and spent some time and a few dollars there. Books - that's what I usually go for on my birthday. I guess I don't have much imagination. I made the book store run yesterday, but Tim was determined to extend the celebration. I have to mention I was wearing my new Harley-Davidson birthday hoodie and belt while we were out and about today. Tim surprised me later with a Jack Skeleton journal and bookmark he purchased while I was browsing. Afterwards, we roamed through a junktique store without buying anything.

By early afternoon, we were hungry so we finished the day off with an excellent meal at Ruby Tuesdays before moseying on home.

Slide show (8 photos):

Birthday ride...

October 28, 2010
Colorado, USA

Fort Collins, Co -- A fun birthday starts out with a surprise package from the Folks full of really nice things like a new Harley Davidson belt (with just the right amount of bling) and a new Harley-Davidson hoodie.

I loved hearing my 99 year old Grandma sing me the funny birthday song. Then there were cards and calls, emails and FB notes from family members and good friends.

Last year it snowed on my birthday so while it was chilly today, the sun was shining and I was happy to see it. The day finally warmed into the 40s. I got a Harley Ride to Vern's for lunch with Tim. Afterwards, I had the whole afternoon free to stroll through the book store... and that's exactly what I did. A couple of them even came home with me.

Later, I'll have a super-duper sized cupcake and ice cream when Tim gets home... add to that a three day Hallowe'en weekend with weather good enough to ride and I am all smiles...

Just a short slide show (8 photos):

Happy Anniversary - #56

October 26, 2010
Colorado, USA

Nezzie and Ted celebrating 56 years of marriage today!



Here are a few photos of the folks out and about this year... and I'm betting they are not sitting around the house today... they are out there having fun somewhere.

And here is a reminder of how you got here Folks! (reposting from last year)…

Meet and Greet - Wichita Falls, TX

October 24, 2010
Colorado, USA

Wichita Falls, TX -- Today Dad (Ted/Frosty) and Mom (Nezzie) attended the Patriot Guard Meet and Greet in Wichita Falls, TX. The event included a picnic in Lucy Park, speeches, recognition ceremonies and more.

Dad's Ride

A good turnout

Friends Angela and Nubbin - Gold Star Parents

Dad enjoying the PGR Meet and Greet

Congratulations to Friend John (aka Snapshot) who shares many of his photos with me. He has made PGR Ride Captain.

Read more about this event and see lots more photos on John's North Texas Biker Blog