Steel Horse Rally 2022

Steel Horse Rally 

This will be number 3 for me.  First time, was a IIRA event for me.  Last year, mixed IIRA/CVMA.  Next year, CVMA while visiting my Indian brethren.  Rode up with the 23-26 this year, and hoping 23-11 rolls in this time around. Was a sanctioned event for 2021, doesn't show up yet for 2022 ... but guess it'll be.  Either way, will qualify as part of the Tri-State?  Riding can be phenomenal, with the Pig Trail right around the corner up to Eureka Springs.

Reservations are locked in at Wyndham (old Doubletree), but there is a Marriott and other Wyndham property next door as well.  This is literally, across the street from the rally so it's .... perfect. It's a quick 200+ miles up the road, right time of the year........ ready!

UPDATE 20FEB2022:  NOT a Sanctioned Event, but a great time a comin'!   7-3 will still be setup and we are discussing shooting up to Tulsa which is about 120 miles to the Oklahoma State Mtg for a few hours... then .. 120 back.   Weather permitting .. I like it!

OK State Mtg Flyer

To/From Ft Smith

Tulsa <> Ft Smith Option 

Veteran's Outpost

 One of my chapter brothers runs this 501c3 and recently moved the location closer to me, literally minutes down Hwy 69 from me. This past weekend was the Grand Opening for it and we decided to have our Chapter Meeting there as well.

Good music and BBQ were provided.  Country Sheriff's team was there in force. ROTC brought in there Honor Guard.  Weather cooperated and all in all, awesome day!

Congrats Maestro!

Need a Sewing Machine!

Well, not really.  Still haven't put on my Life Member Patch yet.  Finally awarded the LRRP  with the Tri State.  This one still pisses me off.  I qualified for  this patch back in June of 2018 right after joining and didn't realize it.  But, if you don't put in your paperwork by Feb the following year, nada, zilch.   I'd also have done a "Finish the Mission" had I realized all this .. Arrrrrrrgh.  Then last year with State down in South Padre, didn't plan well enough so came up a 100 short for that after riding down.   Oh well.  Got a few DRP chevrons to add on as well, 5k and 10k.   Hey .. this stuff is important!

Next year... as I'd hoped for this year (ain't over yet! Double?) .. a triple award

update:  Just got the Inner-State sent to me .. bam!

Member awarded LRRP 2021 for INNER-STATE. One guidon tab mailed 15 Jan 2022

Dudeman

Member

15 Jan 2022

Friday Ride

 Most of the week the weather has been awesome and felt the need for two  wheels... ..  momma had a prescription to be picked up in Allen, Chief was looking for a reason to ride .. so, came up with a plan.  We'd be within blocks of the HD dealer so set that as our destination with a lil jump over to pick up Lucy's stuff.  Put it out there, only person that chimed in was Rocky and at the last minute, Lucy jumped on the bike with me.  Rocky opted to head my way since he's on the opposite end of all this, out of Anna.  Well, Brother Dick (Rocky) rolls up, we saddle up, head down 1564 to grab the Chief, and we're off.  

This new Indian of mine has GPS which is a good thing AND a bad thing.  I tend to rely on it versus use common sense sometimes and it'd bite me right out the gate.  We were taking 1564 to 36 to 6 ... but... noooooooooo... as we enter Caddo Mills I see an alternate option starting at me on the screen .. so, I take it, we go straight ahead, curve into the woods and find ourselves on a shit road, that is supposed to be a shortcut to Hwy 6.  Except when he come out on 6, it's not obvious to me via the GPS or signs that I'm where I've been a dozen times before.  Wrong turn, then a U Turn .. and .. we're headed north on 6.   SMH ...   I hate GPSs sometimes.  Anyways, I took as the 'curvy' way through Wylie to stay off the 4 laners, soon to be reminded of simple fact.  I hate Dallas Traffic.   Dallas now 'extends' into Wyle ...Rockwall , Fate, McKinney .. yo name it.  As soon as we hit Wylie .. nothing but bumpers and lights and stop signs.  Well, after fifteen miles of this crap, we got to our destination.  Now, we've got to jump onto 121  to 5, and into McKinney.. This is my old stomping ground and know exactly where I'm at. Once we get north of McKinney we're back to sanity.; 2 lanes.    Few miles up we hit Anna and one of our fav' Mexican Joints for some grub.  Few cold ones and life is good!

After lunch, Rocky has to head to work so we boogey up Hwy 5 to FM 121 and life is good again.  All the way home to the driveway I'm reminded how much I love this area to ride in.  Sunshine, mid 60s, no traffic.  Well, assuming  you stay out off the concrete!

Today (Saturday) we cage it to our chapter meeting.  Got a cooler, chairs and momma has some Christmas supplies.  Two wheels, another day

Two Lanes of Heaven

Our Route..  That yellow .. SUCKED!

Keep me out of the Red! (Dallas).  I LOVE the surrounding countryside

"The Wall that Heals" Vietnam Veteran's Traveling Memorial

 What a day ...   I happened to be back from MS.  Happened to get a request from my CVMA Brothers/Sisters  if I was riding.  Never even checked the weather.  Sure .. I'm in!

Boudreaux almost made it but had to work.  Brother Dick (Rocky) got the day off for it.  Chief is the one that pushed me.  Shooter is rolling in from Tawakoni. We four are together.   Orion, Fireshot and Cheng are headed East to meet us in Cumby.  And 23-26 has a 1/2 dozen rolling in.  After a quick top off in Lone Oak, we roll out on 2 lanes to Cumby to the rest stop to meet the other folks.  Now here's the funny part to me.  I had no idea how big a deal this was.  Already there are some Patriot Guard folks.  American Legion riders are there. Vet themed MC has some folks there. And the CVMA's 23-11 and 23-26 make up about 25% of the total folks on hand.  We've got 1/2 dozen LEO vehicles few Fire Trucks and.. the Semi with the traveling wall.  This is getting kinda' cool.  I'm thinking we're just going to roll down the Interstate and "drop it off" in Sulphur Springs.  On no....... 

Pre Ride Meet Up

    

         

When we'd get to Sulphur Springs, we do the scenic route through a housing area into the the downtown square.  The streets are lined up for miles with folks waving flags, espousing Patriotism.  Pretty much all of us on the bikes are Veterans or associated with veteran groups.  The first group of motorcycles leading the semi are all Viet Nam era Vets.  The second group, the younger folks?    Well, we head downtown among hundreds of folks cheering us on and make our way to the High School on the SE part of town.  Once there, dismount and .. try to stay dry.  Two thirds through the 'parade' it began sprinkling. By the time we hit our destination, a light rain.  Adults and kids endured it all with us, most without umbrellas or rain gear.  Awesome!  Given a chance in the future, I'll do this again in a second. Only thing I wish I'd had with me is a camcorder to get OUR view of them.

Rocky and I

23-26 / 23-11

Still, there's always one thing that bugs me ....  When we got ready to leave the rest area, guy walks up and tells us the officer to the right of us in his SUV will follow the Trailer and we'll fall in behind that with him leading.  He apparently knows more about all this than I do so I nod; all good.  Well as we all start moving i realize something is off.  The officer pulls in behind the trailer and this guy is back like .. .75' or so.  By the time we hit the interstate rolling up to speed he drops back a lil further .. then forward.. but continues to leave huge gaps.  I'm now riding side by side with him in the right lane of I-30 hugging my line trying to 'push' him forward to close the gap to no avail.  After a few miles I start to creep up but he won't keep up.  Eventually, I close in on the officer to a common sense distance and .. he's behind me.  Way behind me. He's leaving too much room; hell a semi could pull in between us all. Eventually, Rocky says F' it and goes around him and we're now riding side by side.. with a huge gap behind us .. .all the way to Sulphur Springs. When we finally got there, he closed the gap as we were putting along.  When we hit the destination, first thing the Chief says to me (whom was stuck behind him) was  .. WTF?   Hahahaha..  I look over an he's on his older Softail looking a lil butt hurt. There's always that ONE GUY in a group ride that just can't keep the correct spacing. But to be fair, I noticed the group in front of the trailer had one or two doing the same thing.  Reminds me of the obvious; just because someone rides doesn't mean they have a clue? My biggest pet peeve in large group rides is correct spacing.

However, what an awesome day overall.  Now, need to head over there this weekend to check out the traveling memorial when It's set up for the Public

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