HD Open Road

As I drove home the other night from a Christmas party, I watched a lone rider work to wrap himself around his engine to stay warm. It was 11:30 at night, and the temps were hovering at 40. Not cold by national standards, but to those who ride, 40 degrees at 70 mph can be mighty cold.

As I watched the lone rider, I thought of the year that has seemingly flown by. And perhaps 2009 flying by is not such a bad thing. Lord knows that many of our brothers are suffering this year. Many businesses have been lost, many jobs and homes too. Families have struggled this last year, and although our voices are getting louder, it seems we are heard even less. And yet, I still find plenty to be thankful for.

2009 was definitely a bittersweet year. While I worked hard to take care of my financial planning clients, I have found great joy in entertaining my riding friends. I have meet many new friends this year, and the crew of HD Open Road have put their hands in a lot of new places (some of which perhaps we shouldn’t have), rode to a number of new places, and revisited places and friends that were long forgotten. Let me take you on a tour of 2009 for the HD Open Road crew.

2009 was a year of adventures. This often came at a cost, but was worth every bit of it. We started out in January on a new path of adventure. Starting with seeking out new paths to old favorites, we discovered winding roads through avocado trees to the Hideout and Julian. We also suffered the closing of the Hideout this year. One biker icon down.

We made our way warmer climes as we rode to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. Can you imagine anyone in Southern California saying they need to go to a warmer clime?

We started HD Open Road on April 15. Decided over a number of beers, we set off with a desire to share our riding experiences. We learned a lot along the way, and managed to alter our expectations accordingly. Still plugging along.

We modified our rides, adding bars and painted inner fairings. Floorboard extensions from Harley Goodies and brake components from TCB Braking to help us stop were major additions that we wrote about here. New recurve windshields from Clearview and a Klockwerks windshield too.

We paid our respects to the veterans and current service personnel as we rode in the West Coast Thunder celebration on Memorial Day. We even paid honor to a graduating class of new SEALs, and found my name on an old graduating plaque.

We tested out our new equipment on a run to Zion and Bryce Canyon. A couple of friends got to test out their new Ultra’s as well. This trip really got the road fever going, and it took until late November to start to subside.

A couple of the HD Open Road crew braved the roads of the deserts to attend the ROT Rally in Austin, Texas. While there, they even braved a tornado!

Several local runs and parties, like the Big Bear Mountain Run, and then it was time for Sturgis.

Sturgis turned out to be a solo run for me this year. That’s cool, I am pretty adept to riding alone. Plus, I’m not exactly afraid of the dark, so it was off I went. What an adventure! I hope you have taken the time to read about it here. Guaranteed the rest of the crew will not let me make that run alone again this year!!

I recaptured some old friendships along the highway. Especially in mind is my old riding partner EZ. I had long forgotten how great a time we had had riding the country, partying at Kern River, and enjoying the wind. Can’t wait to get into the wind with you again, Ol’ Man!

Street Vibrations in Reno, Nevada was next up on the list. Most of the HD Open Road crew made this one. What a great time riding through the Sierra’s and partying in Carson City, Virginia City, Reno and Tahoe. We chased one another down the mountain roads, ran the Cathouse Poker Run, and ate the food prepared by our hosts the Hells Angels and their family (thanks guys!).

We all tilted a beer in sadness as the economy once again struck close to home and the Love Festival was canceled. This was as we continued to hear almost weekly reports of another Harley-Davidson dealer closing their doors.

One last visit to the gray lady, we saddled up for a late November run to Four Corners. We broke in a new prospect to the HD Open Road crew, and said our winter goodbyes to the lady who had captured our hearts and imaginations, the Open Road, while we raised hell one last time for the year in Williams, Arizona.

We spent a lot of time with new friends this year. Cooks Corner, Menace Bar and Grill, Sporty’s and Hell’s Kitchen were common stopping points. We saw a lot of you there, too. As tough as 2009 may have been, it was a good year for adding new members to our family.

I pray for the many families that have not been as fortunate as I this last year. And I give thanks to all of you I have met and spilled a beer with on my quest with the road in 2009. I can’t properly express my thanks and love to the family of HD Open Road, to Panman and my brother Tray, Loud Hog and the Prospect, and all the rest as well. And I pray for our service men and women.

2010 promises to be a repeat of 2009 in a lot of ways, so be prepared. So in passing, I offer you all this simple prayer:

“Keep your eyes on the horizon, your hearts open and your faces in the wind! God bless you all.”

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