Postcard from Sturgis

Great Selection of Sturgis pics from BikersVision

Ride To Work

Wednesday, July 18, is Ride To Work Day, dedicated to the proposition that much fuel could be saved along with more pleasant commutes if people just rode their motorcycles to work. I ride my bike to work every day the weather allows (snow, ice, extreme cold are stoppers). In my climate that means I can ride 8-9 months of the year. The only exceptions are days when I need to haul something, maybe three-four times a year. If you don't usually take the bike to work, Wednesday is the day to ride.

Keep on keepin on

Motorcycling Couple Killed by Hit and Run Driver

The huge fire burning out of control in south central Utah was at least partly responsible for the deaths Sunday of a couple riding a motorcycle on I-15. Smoke obscured vision and the couple was struck from behind by someone driving a white Subaru Outback. The driver of the Outback has not yet been found. Roy and Mary Ann Redmon were on their way home to Rowland heights, CA after cutting short a trip to Canada because of extreme heat. The Redmons had been married for forty-five years and were described as "soulmates" by family members. Read the story in the Salt Lake Tribune. Roy sounds like the kind of person all bikers would admire.

Sunday Ride--Pocatello to Montpelier

You can follow this ride report by simply scroling down to the previous post. There are four posts.

Last Sunday, July 1, I went on a ride which took me on a loop down into Logan, Utah and home again. I started by headng out to Inkom, McCammon and beyond. This first picture from Marsh Creek Road above Inkom.


(Passsed throught the scenec town of Lava Hot Springs and snapped this shot of the Hot Pools there.


On over Fish Creek Summit on US 30 east. US 30 is a good road but carries a lot of truck traffic. Trucks heading for Montana and the Pacific Northwest leave I-80 near Little America, Wy, and cut across to catch I-15. They are making improvements on this route but you'l still run into a lot of truck traffic so be careful out there.

This road through Idaho folows the Oregon and California trails and there are many historical sites along the way.


Soon you'll arrive at the historic town of Soda Springs. On another trip you can turn here and head up to Gray's Lake, Star Valley, WY, and Jackson Hole.


But today we'll just head on down 30 to Montpelier. Stop here for a rest, a cold drink, and a chat with another Roadk King rider at the convenience store. You've come the first ninety miles and you're about to turn south.

(scroll down)

My Sweet Ride

Is is possible to be in love with a motorcycle? The flowing, sensuous curves placed between my legs, responding with a powerful thrust to my touch, my command. I do love my ride.

Keep on keepin' on

Thursday Night Ride

I rode again with a group of riders that goes out almost every Thursday evening. A mixed bag of bikes, some Harleys, couple of Goldwings, Suzukis, a Yamaha or two. Mostly cruisers, but one "sport" bike in attendance. Fun to ride with these folks because they are all about the riding. The fellow who usually leads is 78 years old and purchased a brand new Ultra Glide last week. Stage One kit too. He still has the skills and the love of riding and told me,"The Harley keeps me young."

Now most(not all) of these folks are Mormons. Exactly how this heathen got invited to ride with the Saints is a long, and not particularly interesting story. Anyway, like I said before, they're about the riding. Are they "bikers" as defined by some narrow minded, self-appointed guru of the so-called "biker" lifestyle? Probably not. No tattoos here, not that much black leather, and lots of helmets. No stops every ten miles at biker bars (but good eats will draw them in). This is not the "show us your tits" crowd. Are they "bikers" as I define that term? Most definitely. They love the road and they love putting on as many miles as time and seasons allow. I have friends and ride with people who fit into both groups, but I make no bones about it. I'm in it for the ride.

On another note, we rode a loop last night that took us over Fish Creek Summit and then to Thatcher and Grace via the Bear River Valley. Beautiful ride of about 140 miles. I'm going to do it again solo in the next few days, take pictures and record the exact route so that some of you might be able to duplicate it. It's a ride that's easy to access from a couple of different directions.

Bike is in the shop today for 10,000 mile service. New plugs, etc. Actually I'm at 11,700 but this is the soonest I could get it in and have the money to pay for it.
No rich yuppie rider here.

The Three Legged HOG

Several riders and I left Friday afternoon to Ride the first Three Legged HOG Challenge. The three legs come from the three Eastern Idaho chapters that were involved. The Magic Valley Chapter from Twin Falls, the Grand Teton Chapter from Idaho Falls, and my group, the Portneuf Valley Chapter. We all gathered for a meet-and-greet at the Challis Hot Springs resort on the Yankee Fork of the Salmon River. Some camped at the Hot Springs campground while others took advantage of more luxurious accomodations in the nearby town of Challis. My daughter Andrea and I shared a tent.

Saturday Morning after breakfast, about forty bikes staged in Challis and then broke into two riding groups. The Magic Valley crew rode north to Salmon and on up into Montana and then returned. The other two chapters headed west and followed the river down to the Beautiful Stanley Basin below the Sawtooth Range. The is amazing country, equal in beauty in my opinion to the Tetons and Jackson Hole in Wyoming and, while it's not exactly empty, the Stanley Basin does not suffer the heavy tourist traffic of Jackson. After a rest stop in the small town of Stanley ($4.06 for premium) we rode on for a brief stop at beautiful Redfish Lake, then to Smiley Creek Trading Post for lunch. (highly reccomended--good inexpensive food and excellent service). From Smiley Creek we rooled up to Galena Summit where we stopped to enjoy the view. You can see the headwaters of the Salmon from Galena Summit. We then rode down to Ketchum,Idaho and Sun Valley where we mingled with the super-rich for a couple of hours. Then back along the same route to Challis. All of this ride, about 240 miles round trip, rolls through some of the most scenic country in the U.S. with enough curving, winding road to satisfy any rider.

That evening we all gathered at the Hot Springs campground for socializing, cold drinks and a feast of barbecued beef brisket, chicken, and all the trimmings. Needless to say we all had a good time.

Sunday morning we were up and after saying goodbyes, our group went to breakfast in Challis and then took the beautiful ride north to Salmon where we cut back east to Leadore and then across the Northern end of the Arco desert (only bad part of the ride--horrible crosswinds in ugly country) after passing through appropriately named Mud Lake, we jumped on I-15 and headed south for Home. Late lunch in Idaho Falls, then back in Pocatello around six. Altogether we rode about 716 miles. We made many new friends, saw some great country and enjoyed the freedom of the open road, and that friends, is what it's all about. I'm posting a few pictures here.

VTwinBiker.com

Q-Ball over at VTwinBiker.com has published two poems of mine. There is getting to be quite a collection of Biker/Motorcycle poetry over there so check it out.

Keep on keepin' on

Sonic Night

Last night was Sonic night for PV HOG. The usual suspects met for food, conversation, unofficial bike inspections, etc. These weekly social gatherings are a big part of HOG for many of us. After about an hour and a half some of us saddled up and rode the Mink Creek/Arbon Valley loop. It was in the nineties yesterday, but by this time it had cooled and we had a beautiful ride. A big cat crossed the road in front of us at one point. Although there are plenty of mountain lions around here, this wasn't big enough. Probably a bobcat.

Tonight our monthly HOG general membership meeting takes place. We will finalize plans for this weekend's Three Legged Challenge ride up to Challis Hot Springs. My daughter Andrea is going to take the pillion seat for this one and we're going to share the tent. I'm happy to have her along. This will be her first longer ride. Also on tonight's agenda, planning for our part in the annual POW*MIA awareness rally in July. Also coming up, the Mountain Man Run, an all male ride and three-day camping excursion to Island Park, West Yellowstone, and Quake Lake.

Keep on keepin' on!

A Day Ride to Jackson- Swan Valley to Victor

In the Beginning,I went out to the Harley Shop on Saturday and waited around for a pick up ride. Sometimes people show and we take off. Not to be this Saturday. After about an hour I decided to ride over to Jackson, Wyoming for lunch. Here are some pictures and a description of the ride. Since I can only add about 4-5 pictures per post, there are six posts here. I put them up in reverse order so that you can start here, then scroll down to the previous post and so on, getting the whole story in correct order from top to bottom. Let's kick the tires and light the fires.
******

You resolve to not take the interstate at any point on the trip, so you leave Pocatello and ride to Idaho Falls on the old highway. Not exactly a challenging ride, but more interesting. In I.F. you pick up U.S. 26 East and head for Swan Valley, where your ride really starts. The closer you get to Swan valley, the better the scenery and the more interesting the road.



You're not alone on the road. These two intriguing ladies are astride a Heritage Softail. They also are heading to Jackson.



You round a curve, drop down a hill and Swan Valley lies before you. The bridge across the Snake River beckons. The road contiues to twist and turn into the small town of Swan Valley where you turn north on Idaho 32.



Idaho 32 is a wonderful motorcycle road with lots of twisties and esses. Road conditions and scenery can combine to reduce your speed. (This picture was taken along this route by accident but I like it.)



Eventually, as you head on towards Victor, you'll catch you first glimpse of the Tetons through the trees.



Continued

Some Thoughts on Biker Poetry

I've been thinking a bit about the genre of Biker Poetry, if in fact it is a separate genre. If the definition of genre has to do with certain characteristics that make it so, then I believe it is a true genre. Is some of it mere doggerel? Well, certainly, but no more so than in any other genre, and just because a poem is classed "doggerel", doesn't mean it is less entertaining. Biker poetry comes at us in a wide variety of ways and means. I've read (and sometimes written) rhymed and free verse, formal, haiku, humorous, sad, serious, and ridiculous poetry. It's all, as far as I'm concerned, Biker poetry, and as such, worthy of inclusion in the genre.
In many ways, Biker Poetry possesses characteristics similar to another populargenre, Cowboy Poetry. Both seek to portray, promote, and popularize the mythology, culture, and lifestyles(real or imagined)of their nominative subjects, Bikers and Cowboys. Both are largely written by poets who are also either cowboys and bikers or who have a close connection to and understanding of those lifestyles. There seems to be some flexibility here. Can a ranch wife or a Texas feed store operator write "Cowboy" poetry? Most probably. Can a biker's "old lady" or the owner of a motorcycle shop whose busy schedule allows little riding time write "biker" poems? Certainly, if their muse so moves them.

Much Cowboy Poetry, although often published in books and other printed medium, is mean't to be recited or performed aloud. I've not seen much of this with biker poetry, a pity really, because much of what I've read would really possess more power as spoken word. The subject matter of Biker poems would lend itself well to being recited by the poet to his main audience, an audience of bikers. Much biker poetry could work well in the Hip-Hop/Slam/Spoken Word/Performance genre which is currently popular around the country.

Every year, Cowboy poets and their fans gather in conclaves like Elko's National Cowboy Poetry Gathering and in similar events throughout the western U.S. They gather to share their poetry and their love of the legends and lifestyle that surrounds it. There are not similar gatherings for Biker Poets. There are however, gatherings for bikers. Sturgis, Daytona, Las Vegas, Americade, Reno, Hollister, Laughlin, Laconia, and countless other rallies and get-togethers where bikers, motorcyclists, their fans and associates gather to share their common interests. They could be sharing their poetry as well.
How about a National Biker Poets gathering at one of these events or elsewhere? After all, our myths and legends are quite similar to those of the cowboys. We just ride a different kind of horse.

If you're not familiar with biker poetry here where you can find some. First, let tell send to Wild Bill's Culture Corner a collection of the poetry of Bill Rogers , publisher of the Alaska motorcycle magazine Midnight Sun Rider.In addition to his own poetry Bill also accepts work from other poets and offers it up on his Guest Authors page, including two poems by yours truly. (I'm planning on accepting submissions here too. I'll keep you posted.)

Check out Biker Poet's Page and Biker Poet's Road Poet eMagazine. Peddlar writes and publishes some righteous work.

Biker Poetry by Sorez the Scribe has become a regular visit for me as has Biker Poetry and Words, a part of the larger biker community site, V-Twin Biker. Biker P&W advertises itself as "The Largest Collection of Biker Poetry by individual Bikers on the Internet." Could be.
Here's a collection of Motorcycle Haiku or as I like to call them, "Baiku." (That may be a bit too pretentious, but what the hell.) I like these and have tried my hand at them myself.
I've visited the page of Biker Poets and Writers Association
where I read their "Mission Statement" and I've tried to e-mail the publisher but his e-mail is dead. Peddlar is listed as the submissions editor, but I've yet to hear back from him.

There's more Biker poetry out there. A quick search on Google will reveal this. If you're so inclined, try your hand at writing some of your own. If you just want to read or listen, we poets would be nothng without an audience.

The Mink Creek/Arbon Valley Loop

"Honey, I'm going to put the bike in the garage..."

My wife smiled as I walked past. She knows me all too well.

I had ridden some this morning the parked the Road King out front and attended to some yard work and other things. Now, I fired up and headed down to Main. Turning right I headed out south Main toward Inkom, past the golf courses and Johny Creek and onto Mink Creek Road. This would lead me up into the Caribou National Forest, over the mountain and eventually down into the Arbon valley. I was on one of my favorite short rides.



Looking back down Mink Creek. The weather was nearly perfect, high seventies with no wind.


Looking up Mink Creek from the same spot as above. Beautiful road, little traffic and the only potential problem; wandering cows on the open range and the cow flops they leave on the road.


Two cowboys in a pickup pased by and waved as I was taking this picture. Theirs would be the last vehicle I would encounter for nearly twenty miles.


On some segements of the road through the Arbon Valley you ride with mountains ahead and behind, big sweeping curves followed by long straights and nothing but fields of winter-wheat or pasture on either side. The road is well maintained and in great condition. You can really roll.


The conjunction of Mink Creek Road and Arbon Valley Road. At this point, I had not encountered another vehicle for almost twenty miles. It would be another three or four before I would. At times along this stretch you wind through hills covered with sage brush and juniper trees and their essence fills the air. It is a fabulous place to be in that moment.
I'm now traveling on the Shoshone/Bannock Indian reservation.
Eventually, Arbon Valley Road intersects with the interstate about five miles West of Pocatello. You can either roll up onto the interstate or, as I do,turn onto county 30 and head back into west Pocatello, down Garrett way, turn onto North Main and then home.

"Did you put your bike away Honey?"

"Yes,I replied, "It's in the garage."


Distance from from front of house to garage: 62.5 miles (In about 50 miles of this, I likely encountered fewer than a dozen other vehicles.)
E.T. for putting bike in garage: 1hr,40m.
Things of note encountered along the way: One beautiful Blue Heron; a small Prairie rattler sunning itself on the warm asphalt; my soul.
Estimated E.T. to do same task tomorrow: It takes what it takes.

Keep on keepin' on

The Ten Commandments of Motorcycling

Today when I was out, I encountered numerous other riders. I waved at all, regardless of their rides. Thats been my standard procedure for the last 30 years. I'll stop to help any rider in need of assistance, regardless of the make of their ride. I love my Harley and I can argue it's merits with anyone, but most all of us on two wheels share a common love and we share common problems as well. We are all brothers and sisters on the road. Most of the people I waved at today, waved back. Most.
Thus, when I saw these, I could not resist. I picked them up over at Beatnik Biker,"A common blog for the uncommon biker." He got them from Guilty Customs,one of the coolest custom bike builders I've seen. They make affordable, old school style bikes. Check them out. Anyway, the commandments say concisely all of the things I've been trying to say in my rants here over the last year.

The Ten Commandments

1- The one true vehicle is the motorcycle , and thou shalt put no other vehicles before it.
2- Thou shalt not bow down and worship nor serve the God of Chrome; for, lo, he is a false god and will not get thy butt home.
3- Honor thy authorized dealer and the motorcycles they sell, and that thy days may be long and fruitful in the land of Riding.
4- Remember the weekend, and keep it open. For it is written, five days shalt thou labor, and for two days shalt thou ride thy bike, drink beer, and have some FUN.
5- Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s bike, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his cute old lady.
6- From the throne of thy two wheeled contrivance, thou shalt hail all thy biker brethren no matter what they are seated upon (….even if it is a Triumph) - let those who ride decide.
7- Thou shalt not pass by nor turn away from thy brother biker who is in mechanical distress.
8- Thou shalt not pose. Verily, I say unto you, it is easier for a poser to pass his gold Visa card through the eye of a needle than to enter into the true fellowship of motorcycle heaven.
9- When riding thy sled on the Road of Life, thou shalt not whine nor snivel, and thou shalt not suffer to ride alongside those who do.
10- Park not thy bike in the darkness of thine garage, that it may collect dust for want of being oft ridden. Ride thy motorcycle with thy biker brethren, and rejoice in the spirit of the road and the wind.

The Idaho Monsoon Season

June can be a really wet month here. Today it has been raining continuously, sometimes fairly hard, all day long. Temps have been only in the forties. Not exactly good riding weather. That sucks because today was really my first day off from school. Although school finished last week, I was attending a teacher training seminar on Monday and Tuesday. That out of the way, I was looking forward to doing a little yard work and then going for a nice ride, but it was not to be. Rained out!

All was not a loss. Just recently my HOG chapter's webmaster quit and left the website needing some attention. I volunteered to take over as webmaster since I'm already doing the job of newsletter editor and the two seem for fit together well. Spent most of the day revamping the site, making some changes, putting in a few new and different features and such. You can check it out at http://www.portneufvalleyhog.com.

The forecast is for more rain tomorrow but then improving for the weekend. I certainly hope that holds true. I'm going on an all day river float on the Snake River on Saturday with a few teacher friends; much more enjoyable when it's not raining.It would be nice to be able to ride on Sunday too.

Wednesday nights during the riding season are our HOG Sonic nights. We gather at the drive in for food, conversation and a pick-up ride. Doubt that anyone will be out there tonight. Currently raining and forty-four degrees with a 13 mph wind. Brrrrrr! I think I'll watch a movie.

Wyoming Thunder

(click on picture for full view)

If any of you want to participate in a good Wyoming ride this summer, here's an option to consider.

It's all about ridin'

We hit the upper eighties for the first time this year. I went down to the Harley shop and hung around for a while hoping some folks would show up for a pick-up ride. Some did and we rode. We rode some back roads I'd never ridden before and we checked out some roads none of us had ever ridden before, just to see where they went. It was a blast and a great ride. Isn't that what this motorcycle thing of ours is really all about? Miles and smiles, friends, miles and smiles.

Keep on keepin' on

And the Thunder Rolls,

Hear the Thunder

As we prepared to mount our bikes,
He asked, "Tell me why you ride.
There's nothing that you few can do
For these soldiers who have died."

"You're wrong" I answered back to him,
" Yes, they all have paid the toll,
But we can help people remember
When they hear the Thunder Roll."

"These men and women served their country,
their deaths were not by choice.
They fulfilled their solemn duty
And now we are their voice."

"Some returned in shrouded coffins.
They served and gave their all.
Some went to serve in foreign lands,
And never returned at all."

"So we ride to offer honor to
All those who paid this toll.
We ride so you'll remember them,
When you hear the thunder roll."

2007 Bill "uglicoyote" Davis
USN 1967-1971

The week so far.

I survived the forced riding hiatus and picked up the bike at the shop on Tuesday after work. It was still only in the forties and low fifties on Tuesday and only in the fifties on Wednesday. On Wednesday evening the HOG folks decided to forego the usual Wednesday night dinner ride and instead we went out to a local soccer field and help with the Field of Heroes display which is set up there each memorial day. This year, well over 3800 crosses representing the dead servicemen and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The numbers grow every day. I didn't have my camera that nigh but I will get some pictures tomorrow and post them here.

The weather has warmed and the forecast for the weekend is good. I'll probably have to give some time to the wife for some yard work but I will be riding as much as possible.
On Saturday we have a HOG family picnic which we have advertised for all Harley owners or wannabe Harley owners. You don't have to be a HOG member to attend. Then,On Monday we have our annual "Thunder Run" Memorial Day ride( I posted the itinerary here earlier) The POW/MIA riders, and others, including many HOG members, will ride to ceremonies honoring veterans in three different communities. Its a day long event, food and refreshments are provided by churches and other groups. Most of the riders are veterans or active military however, each year we are joined by many non-vets as well. I think this year that will definitely be the case, what with Iraq-Nam on everyone's mind. I'll get some pictures of these events and publish them as well.

Keep on keepin' on

Hang up and drive, asshole!

It's my greatest fear. Some moron or moroni chating on his/her cell phone will change lanes and run over me. These idiots even text while driving. I've seen people reading, putting on makeup, shaving but the cell-phonies are the worst. They should all rot in hell. According to Northwest Cycle News, Washington state has now made it illegal to talk on a hand-held cellphone or text-message while driving. Just fines, of course but it's something. Of course, neither of these laws take effect until 2008 so will be plenty of opportunities for yuppie soccer-moms to run over a few bikers.

National Motorcycle Museum

Win this Bike
Win this cool custom panhead bobber in a raffle being conducted by the National Motorcycle Musueum in Anamosa, Iowa. Tickets can be bought online and are only $5 apiece or six for $25. I visited the NMM in Anamosa( also the hometown of J&P Cycles) this past summer and it is a worthwhile cause. Some cool stuff there including the original Easy Rider Chopper and some fantastic antiques and collectables. Well worth the trip. Anamosa is in east central IA, not far from Ames.