DREAMS

In a world where people don’t believe that dreams come true I am here to tell you that they do.  My boyfriend, Martin had a dream that one day he would be able to ride his Harley down the highway with his son Ryan, side by side.  I watched that dream come true going to Daytona Beach Biketoberfest 09.

Martin and Ryan talked for months about him coming to Charleston to go to Biketoberfest with us.  At first, I think Martin thought this was a day that would never come.  As the weeks got closer, he got to counting weeks and then days, he was so excited for Ryan to come and go on this adventure with him.  When Ryan and Anabel arrived in Charleston it was like a kid in a candy factory, Martin could see that his dream was going to come true.  He wanted Ryan to understand the freedom that you have when you are riding and the sheer joy of the journey.  That it’s not about how long it takes you to get there, but the people you meet along the way.

First order before even getting ready was Martin wanted Ryan to have the same tattoo on his arm.  We had it arranged for him to go to see Jason to get his done at 3 pm that afternoon.  Martin’s is in color, and Ryan said he didn’t do color, so Martin said do it however you want.  The first part of this trip Martin had to work, but he knew that on Thursday they would be able to spend the next 4 days together.

On Thursday morning, Martin and Ryan got up early so Martin could teach Ryan how to ride.  Ryan had not ever been taught how to ride, and Martin was not going to take any chances with him on the interstate.  It truly was amazing to watch them from the balcony; the patience that Martin had making sure that Ryan understood how to work the big Road King.  Martin took his time to teach him how to stop, start, take off on a hill, all the basics of riding.

When they got back Ryan drove around the parking lot for a little while as we got everything down from the house to pack on the bikes.  It was about 47 degrees outside at that time, so the next part of the instruction was how to wear layers, and of course how to pack their bike.  All I could see was this huge smile on Martins face, and Ryan with a look of a little concern.  Not many people take their first ride on a Harley for a 6 hour trip across 3 states, but no matter what he was going to do it.

As we pulled out it was gray skies, cold and looked like it might rain.  Ryan may as well face all the elements on the first day.  We took the back road of South Carolina for about 25 miles to get Ryan accustomed to the feel of the bike, and then we got on I-95 South.  It is the first time I have ever seen Martin do the speed limit or a little below.  It was like watching someone so protective over their child.

We stopped at HD in Savannah, GA for Ryan to get his first break.  It was funny because he said he almost forgot how to stop the big cruiser after being on the interstate for about 60 miles.  We laughed and told him not to worry, that by the time the weekend was done he would be a pro.  We had lunch at Hooter’s and let the kids catch their bearings, and then off to Florida we rode.

A couple of times the rain spit on us but nothing that was enough to get you wet.  After about 2 1/2 hours Ryan needed a break, a cigarette, and just to get off and stretch for a few minutes. And Anabel said her legs were numb from the cold and vibration.  Martin and I forget that not everyone rides like we do, on a Saturday afternoon we may ride for 8 or 9 hours.  We told them the next stop would be in Florida and time to take the helmets off.

Welcome to Florida! As we stopped at the rest area to take our helmets off it was time to get rid of a few layers of clothes off also.  It was now about 78 and sunny.  It took us another 2 1/2 hours to arrive at Bruce Rossmeyers, before Ryan could start to experience Daytona Beach.  As usual there were bikes everywhere, it didn’t matter where you looked there were bikes.  We decided to take US1 down to the beach to our room and let Ryan see everything that is set up for a bike event.  When we arrived at our rooms the kids decided that they would walk to Main Street, and Martin and I would ride and meet them there.

We met them at Main Street and walked down to a couple of the bars that have second floor balconies so they could watch from above.  It was just Thursday and we told them what it would be like by Saturday, but I guess you just have to experience it to understand it.

Each and every morning Ryan wanted to take practice runs before dealing with all the traffic that Daytona Beach has to offer.  So he and Martin would go for a couple blocks, and them come back and get Anabel and I. Martin took a lot of pride in showing his son how to maneuver the big Road King around.

On Friday, we decided to take them up the coast to Saint Augustine, it is a beautiful ride.  It’s funny them both being from Los Angeles, because they would compare Florida to different parts of California.  I always just laugh at them.  Ryan was starting to relax on the bike now and Martin was just in heaven.  When you have waited probably 20 years not only for him to be old enough, but also for this image you have in your head to become a reality it is amazing to watch.  Coming back into Daytona Beach, we decided to meet some friends of ours for drinks at a place called Mai Tais on the Beach.  It truly was a relaxing evening for everyone, and then off to the rooms for some much needed sleep.

Saturday morning we went to Beach Drive. Beach Drive is a biker’s heaven.  Bikes lined up everywhere on both sides of the roads, in parking lots, and every inch of every alley around.  This was shopping day, they all got “Cali” patches, and “I rode to Biketoberfest” patches, and Anabel got a vest.  It was an afternoon going from Beach Drive out to the Speedway to see all that is part of a Bike Rally.  Then it was off to Main Street for Saturday night, and what would be Main Street without Froggy’s?  It was packed like sardines and it probably holds 1500 people. Next we were off to Boot Hill Saloon to hear Highway to Hell.  Martin and I love to go and see them because they are at every bike event we have been to.  Everyone had a great time that night. Especially Martin and Ryan, as they got to just be Father and son together sharing an experience that will never be duplicated.  There is only one “first ride”!

Sunday morning it was cold, and I mean cold, it was 50 degrees with a 20 mile per hour wind coming off of the beach, and going north was just going to get colder as the day went.  The ride home was long and cold, but it is in cold temperatures that Martin always decides it’s time to ride and get home as fast as possible.  Ryan loved that part of riding and as he got more comfortable, you could tell by how he rode.  We got home about ten o’clock that night after stopping close to the house for dinner, and to unthaw!

When we got home Martin told Ryan to come to the living room, and I told Anabel to come also.  I knew what Martin was getting ready to do and I wanted her to be there with him.  Martin handed Ryan an envelope and said Happy Birthday, as Ryan opened the envelope, his first words were “No Way”.  Martin had given Ryan his Road King for Ryan’s 26th birthday present.  I am not sure who enjoyed it more, Ryan getting a bike or Martin watching his face and being able to give it to him.  I can say one thing about this trip, if there is any man out there who dreams one day of riding with his son on the open road don’t wait too long, because you just might miss the best time of your life.

In its 25 years, the Love Ride has raised $22 million for various charities. It drew hundreds of thousands of bikers – from regular Joes to stars the likes of Jay Leno, who’s been the grand marshal of the event for 24 years. It featured performances from some of the biggest names in music, such as The Foo Fighters, who headlined the event’s silver anniversary last year, and Dwight Yoakam, who was scheduled to play Love Ride 26 later this month.

Now the Love Ride is on hiatus. Love Ride founder Oliver Shokouh pulled the plug on what would have been the 26th annual event last Thursday, after a month of agonizing over pre-registration numbers that were “way down” to “as little as 40% of some of the worst years we’ve had,” said Shokouh, whose voice, even in a phone interview, sounded disconsolate.

That’s despite a $10 ticket price reduction, which Shokouh instituted for Love Ride 26 “in anticipation of some of the woes out there with the economy.” But even the lower ticket price couldn’t lure riders, just as the ride itself was struggling to recruit vendors and sponsors, both of which were down about 50%. Farmers Insurance, Best Buy and LoJack all backed out of sponsorships for this year’s event, and Budweiser was only able to donate a fraction of what it had for the previous 25 years it had supported the ride.

In the last decade, the Love Ride has averaged 18,000-20,000 riders and raised as much as $1.7 million per event for the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and a host of children’s charities, such as Autism Speaks. As of early October, only 600 riders had pre-registered for Love Ride 26, which, coupled with the steep decline in sponsorship and vendor support, would have caused the event to lose money for the first time in its history.

Such dim news is mirrored inside Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale, the dealership Shokouh owns which has also served as the starting point for the annual Love Ride. Shokouh has had to cut 15% of his staff due to a 30% decline in motorcycle sales. As of Sunday, the 33-year-old dealership will also reduce its operating hours; its sales and service department will be closed Mondays.

In place of the usual group ride and other activities will be “the Love Ride with all the love but not the ride,” said Shokouh, 63.

The three-day extravaganza that had been scheduled for the Pomona Fairplex Oct. 23-25 will instead be a stationary event at Harley-Davidson/Buell of Glendale. Peter Fonda will sign autographs leading up to a commemorative 40th anniversary screening of “Easy Rider” on Friday, Oct. 23, and Love Ride 26 memorabilia will be sold throughout the weekend.

Shokouh has at least $75,000 worth of Love Ride 26 pins, patches, T-shirts and caps to sell. For Love Ride 25, Shokouh had made $88,000 worth of such merchandise and sold all of it. He’s hoping to be as lucky this year.

“It’s real sad after a 25-year run, but I’m still standing proud that I was able to do it for 25 years — that in a very small way I did something positive,” he said. “If I have any more fight left in me, I want to try it again.”

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Wednesday was a very busy day. We headed out to Devil’s Tower in Wyoming. It’s simply amazing! Pictures don’t do it justice. The road out to Devil’s Tower reminded me a little of Needle’s Highway. Lots of twistys and high altitudes. It was not a ride for a newbie. I was glad that Dan had many miles under his belt for this trip. You really do put a lot of faith in someone when you are a passenger.

After taking in Devil’s Tower we headed into Hulett and No Panties Wednesday. I think everyone that road a motorcycle was in Hulett on Wednesday. The town was jam packed. If we would have gotten there early in the day we would have stopped but parking was miles away from Downtown. We stopped and had lunch in a town called Aladdin, population of 15. It was great because they let the bikers pretty much take over. We made our way back toward Sturgis or so we thought. There was one point that I seriously thought we were lost out in the middle of nowhere. We finally came to a road and a road sign that told us to turn right to Sturgis. I could see Bear Butte in the distance so I knew we were on track again. We passed this couple and later Dan said to me, “Did you notice she didn’t have a shirt on?” LOL

We parked on a side street in Sturgis and headed to the Broken Spoke Saloon for a beer. We were both beat and needed a break. After we cooled down and did some good people watching we headed back to Rapid City for a few hours. We headed back to Sturgis later on in the evening because it was the Fryed Brothers Band night. Thanks to KT Did for showing up for a few minutes so that we could say hello. KT is everything I thought she’d be…one cool biker chick! I went and looked for the lead singer of the Fryed Brothers Band, Harry Fryed so that I could give him a pin I had made. I was so lucky because he was walking out from backstage. I walked right up to him and said…”Hi, I would like to give you this pin!” He was like…”What does it say? I can’t read it. You’ll have to tell me what it says.” “Well, it says…I’m an Old Dirty Biker.” He laughed and said…”Well Darlin’, I’m glad you think I am.” OMG…he is so damn cute! Loved the beard and loved the music! If you get a chance go see them…AWESOME!

Before the Fryed Brothers there was cage fighting…ok…I guess there wasn’t really a cage but I’m not too skooled when it comes to people beating each other up for money. ~

I made another slide show so you could see parts of the day. There is only one more full day left after this post of Sturgis 69, it include Lorenzo Lamas and Burnouts!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

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As the day began to heat up, our group prepared for an exciting day – Stars and Stripes ride at the California Speedway In Fontana, CA. We were going to have an opportunity to ride on the Speedway in celebration of the 4th of July. We couldn’t wait to get started.

Dollar bills pinned to the ceiling and a woodstove in the corner form the distinctive décor of the small-town Nevada saloon. The friendliness of the bartender matches the laid-back mood, and on warm days you’ll see gleaming motorcycles lined up in the parking lot, their owners talking bikes.

Nevada’s back roads are dotted with such retro watering holes, or “sagebrush saloons.” Most are open from 10 a.m. until “whenever” and often serve as local gathering places. Bikers find them good spots to take breaks on their riding adventures.

A bikers’ favorite day trip from Lake Tahoe or the Reno-Sparks area is the ride to Genoa Bar, which owners Cindy and Willy Webb claim is Nevada’s oldest.

“The ride down Jacks Valley Road has some nice curves and banks pretty well,” says Xian Elsbree, a blonde biker from Sparks. “There is not a lot of traffic, and you can just sit back and look at the scenery and feel the road. When you get to Genoa, everyone is very friendly. They are accustomed to seeing bikers and don’t get uptight about a big group or individual riders coming in. Being a woman rider, I don’t feel like I ever have to worry about being there by myself.”

The Genoa Bar and Saloon—13 miles south of Carson City—is an informal repository of quirky artifacts, including Raquel Welch’s bra and signed photo, donated during a movie shoot nearby. With a little coaxing, the bartender will tell the story of how Welch donated the leopard-print underwear.

Riding 137 miles east of Carson City on U.S. 50 through Fallon, past Sand Mountain and the Naval Air Station’s fly zone, you’ll find the intersection with State Route 361 and the Old Middlegate Station.

Like many sagebrush saloons, Middlegate Station is a treasure trove of objects. The restrooms are decorated with quips and western wisdom, and the ceiling is covered with signed dollar bills. Framed vintage newspapers and trash art made from old keys and horseshoes hang on the walls.

Middlegate is a magnet for locals and is easily accessible from U.S. 50, which follows portions of the same route as the 1860s-era Overland Stage and the Pony Express. In fact, Middlegate served as a Pony Express changing station and is still a beacon for travelers. Food and conversation are provided by owner Fredda Stevenson.

A 63-mile drive south on S.R. 361 takes you to the intersection with U.S. 95. Turn south for 10 miles and you’ll find Mina, a two-saloon town. The Mina Bar is owned by Willie Wolfe, a human encyclopedia of local history. He coaches and hosts the “Dart Ladies,” Mina women who have honed their dart-throwing skills at his bar. Visitors are welcome to play but should not expect to win.

A little more south, and recently under renovation, is the Silver King Café, Bar and Motel. Competition with the other bar is guardedly friendly, with the Silver King given to more riotous events, such as dancing on the bar and serving “Mina Virgins,” a concoction that starts with cranberry juice.

Another two-bar town, Manhattan, 44 miles north of Tonopah off state routes 376 and 377, may well be the center of the universe. During two mining boomlets, it was. Now a well loved and lightly inhabited almost-ghost town, there are two sagebrush saloons worthy of destination.

The Miners Saloon, as far from neon as one can get, was constructed by putting two cabins together. The bar itself has names carved into it, informally documenting Manhattan’s history. The bar itself is illuminated by a light bulb dug out of the ground in 1981 and still glowing.

The Manhattan Bar has been 100 years in continuous business and features an outhouse made into a telephone booth.

Residents of many sagebrush saloon communities stop by at least once a week to exchange information. One such regular of Dayton’s Wild Horse Saloon and Gold Canyon Steakhouse was JohnD Winters, a fourth-generation Nevadan who died in March at the age of 97. JohnD’s wife, Kay, recalls the political campaigns waged there: A candidate would arrive, buy the house a round, deliver some oratory, and drive off to cheers by bar patrons.

Owner Bonnie Stryker says the establishment is the former End of the Trail, operated by the Giometti family for more than 60 years. Beyond the restored barroom is an elegant dining area with lace curtains and polished chandeliers. In the evening, the clinking of glass and silverware competes with a cacophony from the saloon patrons. But a quiet afternoon provides Sutra, the bar dog, the opportunity for a nap.

Or a pat from a newfound friend on two wheels.

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