DRP 50k

 Didn't realize I had that many. I track every CVMA related ride, but ....  guess I lost track of the total itself (story in itself I discuss elsewhere in this blog).  Was thinking 40k, but ...  then on the Chapter tracker was over 50k.  I realize now where I wasn't counting on my personal spreadsheet so ... all good.

Getting the 40/45/50 sewn on this week and pick up later today.  I was almost embarrassed sewing on the initial 2500 badge.  I mean .. 2500?  I've rode hundreds of thousands over the last 40 years....  but, these were CVMA specific.  And, they add up over time.  Hell, every year, Nationals add about 2500 miles itself.  Then throw in Regionals and State ... another thousand or so. Still, finally feels like I've made some progress.  Guessing while chasing the LRPP tabs next year, that alone will add upwards of ....10k?   

We shall see!

Picked up and ready to .... RIDE !

Alamo Rumble!

Back around April of this year I was in the Hill Country and attended 23-3's Monthly Meeting.  Great time as always, and ended up riding with Cutter, back for drinks and dinner in Kerrville.  I don't remember whom told me, but one of the Chapter members mentioned "The Alamo Rumble" that is the annual premier event they put on.  I was intrigued, locked it away in the memory banks and moved on. Well, along the way it popped up on Social Media, I clicked 'maybe' going and.. pressed on.   Well, Last week, my birthday was a few days before and we'd talked about various trips, concerts ... you name it ... but ... never committed.  I noticed I had two doc appointments and a dentist appt ( sucks getting old!), and realized I wasn't going anywhere... oh well.

Well, somewhere along the way last week Boomer asked me if I was coming down.  If so, he extended me an invite afterwards to his and YaYa's home with some other folks rolling in....now it's really got my attention.  We were out at the 'Rail and I ran it by Lucy and asked if she'd like to go down with me ... 300 + miles each way on the back.  Long story short, she gave me a kitchen pass so I moved around appointments and ...    Friday morning I was rolling south!   Nice leisurely 350 mile ride on 2 lane roads.  I had a 1500 hrs check in, in La Vernia, and Bike Night kicked off at 1700 hrs...  plenty of time.  Uneventful but beautiful ride in the Texas Countryside and I'm rolling up to the Best Western.  Zero LEO's until I get within 20 miles of La Vernia. Now I've got 3, every few miles! I tend to roll 10+ over the limit, but timing is everything and I was out of the throttle every time I saw one.  Pull up to the Best Western walk up hot and sweaty and finally checking in.  But...   they don't have my reservation.  He asks my name a second time and same answer.  I pull out my phone, open the app and show him the reservation confirmation.  Still no room. "Are you sure it's here?" he asks and I double check .  Yep... then.. noticed the dates.  How the fuk' I screwed that one up .. who knows.  He found me a room, same price, cancel the wrong one, and .. all good.  Whew.. that could have gone sideways?  Clean up, reach out to my buddy Michael Hansen whom lives in San Marcos and ... we're meeting up at Bike Night!

Rolled out around 1700 hrs and Puddin' and his lady are behind me a ways.  When we are close up finally, we meet up at an intersection, I let him take the lead since I'm a newbie and we're soon downtown at the meetup point.  Meet some new folks (names escape me of course), but see Lefty.  Boomer is soon in the house and he introduces me to Cowboy.  Herc' is in the house. Lots of intro's and as usual I'm braindead 10 seconds later, but usually remember faces.  Michael is finally there and we're catching up. We've known each other for 25 years and within seconds we're back in or groove. Few hours go by and starving we sneak over next door to the Purple Pig.  They are actually closed but have some ribs still left so we are are in!  TRULY ... fall off the bone good. Most likely their leftovers but.. rocked! Then .. pulling the plug.  Twenty mile ride back to the hotel and calling it a night (okay ... if you don't count Whataburger next door!).

VFW for the Event

Don't need to be up early .... but .. I am.  Shitty breakfast downstairs (it really was!), but protein and caffeine in me and I'm ready.  Head out a notch early to the VFW for the day's event and roll into quite a few folks already there.  Register for $20, Swipe for 'credit', and off to shake hands and kiss gir....  I mean .. babies.  Crap .. no babies.. and well ...  okay.. I was talking shit about the girls.  Right now I'm wishing Lucy was here.  But ...  drag the feet and around 1000 hrs we are lining up.  I counted about 125 bikes/trikes and we are rolling.    It'll be a notch under 70 miles but felt closer to 100.  Awesome route that I didn't know existed and traffic wasn't too bad for a Labor Day weekend..  After 1300 we'll roll back in after a successful (no accidents/breakdowns) ride and feels good to be in the VFW's A/C.  Chapter 23-3 really knocked this one out.  A purchased Lunch Ticket gets you two big chicken quesadillas and a drink which was plenty for me.  They are calling out numbers for various prizes, people are having a great time ... and ... somewhere in the mix I snuck out the back door (sssshhh).  I'm pretty beat and I've got an invite to Boomers at 1830 hrs.  Few hours in the covers and I'm a new man, and off to Boomers.  

Turns out to be like a 7 mi ride which is perfect. Half a dozen folks beat me here, but I'm now in Stinky Pete's II (Boomers personal man cave/bar) which is everything I'd hoped it'd be. Not only does it rock, but I'm really digging the layout and taking notes.  This is 'exactly' what I've been hoping to do next year so ... .I'm taking notes!  Bar is open and Boomer is offering anything one wants that is on the shelf. I'm holding back and go for a more basic mixed option to ensure I'm good on two wheels headed home.  Next time.. I might take him up on the offer!  Few hours in Stinky Petes' with his family and friends, few hours poolside visiting with other CVMA folks ...and ... sadly time to pull the plug.  I'm wishing I'd had until midnight there .. easily .. but ...  I know my limits and I've got a ride to do the following day. Lots of hugs with Boomer and YaYa and a few others... back to the barracks.

Woke up way too early ... 0500 hrs... but .. enough sleep to function so by 0600 I'm rolling as the sun is trying to rise; Beautiful Sight!   Soon I'm on the 130 Tollway with a 85 mph limit and might be doing a notch more.  By the time I drop on I-35 finally find traffic and reminded of one of the beni's of traveling alone.  I'm zipping through 3-4 lanes of traffic effortlessly leaving it all in the rear view mirror.  Still, I'm missing the 2 lanes so when I jump off in Italy for fuel.... make the decision to grab Hwy 34 the rest of the way for a calming finale'.

Home, Lucy is waiting for me on the front porch. As always, she grabs me something cold to drink and I'm now decompressing.  Relaxing.  F'n Tired I suddenly realize.   Was it worth it?  Is that a trick question?  Scheming already for 2025!  Just need the date :)

Sunday Morning  .. 'nuff said

Headed home Sun Morning.  Lord had my back

Awesome Gift(s) from Boomer

Stinky Pete's II

VIP parking at Boomers

Party is warming up

First Stop.  Actually, 100 bikes in that pic

Safety Brief

One of my Great friends.. Michael Hansen !

Bike Night Parking ...  took the pic when most had left

LRRP 2025 : let the planning begin!

 Man, I almost had Lucy mentally 'in' to chase this Award this year.  We did Ft Smith AR (7-3) a few weeks ago.  Then I had OK coming up, that would have been #2 for her, but LA only had a few options left and ...  she chose to sit tight.  We're doing Regionals in AR later this month, and ... she's taking it slow being back on the bike, pain free.  Almost got her there!

Well, as I've posted elsewhere here, got all if it done for the year on my end and submitted paperwork for the Grand Slam tab and it's approved and awaiting shipment.  Up until this weekend I'd never seen anyone else (though there must be dozens?), with a Grand Slam tab in person .. he also had two.  I've seen several posted out there (Cout, etc.) that have been awarded in diff' regions, but ...  never seen them on a vest.  When #3 comes in later this month,  I'll be wearing that sucker proudly.  That shit takes some planning and putting in a few miles; worth it all.

Well now ..... 2025.  My first thought process is how to get Lucy in on the fun.  She's agreed to do a Tri State option.  I'm hoping to get her to also do Inner State .. we shall see. So Tri State.  LA has a State Meeting usually mid January.  If the weather cooperates and I doubt it will... could knock that out early and get her motivated out the gate. Did that one a couple of years ago.  Weather on the way there rocked...  on the way back, froze our assess off.   Second LA event is their Polar Bear Plunge.  I've missed the last two and FEB 25 is on my list.  AR will be an easy one with so many options throughout the year.  Still, sooner the better. I'd like to get them plus an OK trip in.  For some reason OK always seems to be the tough one for me.... maybe it'll go smooth next year.  Really want to accomplish two of these before Nationals in June for personal reasons. It's doable!   Either way, trick is to get the first one early simply to motivate mama.  TRISTATE!

For Inner State, it's easily doable.  Well, at least in Texas.  I mean .. I could head to El Paso for a meeting and .. done. Hell, one simply has to go to three meetings at other chapters, 3 times, 250 miles away.  That's a 500 mile roundtrip, 1500+ total miles. That's like what .. 90% of the Chapters for me?  Done, that's it!  I used to think in Sanctioned event miles, thinking long distance, less trips. More daunting from a planning perspective. But, three meetings as a minimum; who couldn't/shouldn't do that?  Hell, an entire Chapter could do those runs in and out on a Saturday...  now THAT would be an accomplishment!  But yeah ... that shit ain't going to happen .. LMAO.  Either way, I'll personally have that in the books by June (I f'n better have!) ...   hopefully ... Lucy will join me?

Nationals for Finish the Mission; no brainer.  Head out of here to my MS home for a quick rest stop (550 miles away), then throw a leg back over the bike and head to Athens Georgia for another 500 miles.  Done.  One could probably take a multi hour nap and stop for a nice meal and have plenty of time?  Now, I'll never do it that way for various reasons (cut it close, induced 'food coma', lack of sleep).  We've got 24 hrs. for that 1000 miles .. I like to do it and get it over with!  On the way back, Goose and Sassy Pants are planning on hitting TN for the Dragon and other area rides. NOW, we are talking.  I've got my return scheme in the works!

Already got two other rides blocked off and in the calendar that would qualify, but doing them for the sake of good times and Brotherhood.   Out in AZ, 32-4 does an annual ride in Tombstone.  I've heard nothing but good and it's on my calendar for '25. Come August, it's Sturgis' 85th Rally, and CVMA has a sanctioned meet/greet mid week.  That's on my calendar as well!

So, here we are  four months left in the year with lots of riding to go ...and ...  in true dumbass fashion, I've almost planned out 2025 completely.  Just need to get mama on board to get some miles under her butt!

Kicker is .. that was the planning part.   Throw in Regionals... State ...  few awesome Sanctioned events .. some MS events...  it never ends!  Did I mention FL?  I've been trying to fit that in the schedule, unsuccessfully so far.  I can't get enough... I've got the disease .. I'm sik' .. in a good way :)  WTF, gives me lots of FOD to blog about next year ....

RELATED POST:

LRRP PROGRAM https://easttexasbiker.blogspot.com/2023/11/lrrp-program.html

RIdes with LOTS of Bikes

 Find myself looking at a few pictures of a couple of rides that have a LOT of bikes in the mix.  At first glance looks somewhat awesome.  Then .... you notice things.  Remember situations.  Shake your head and say 'oh fuck no'.

I've done way too many rides with hundreds and hundreds of bikes.  In the moment it has a cool factor. Then... the group takes off and the bullshit begins.  

Almost always...  the clown leading the mess has no grasp what is going on behind them.  They accelerate too quick out the gate and now ... EVERONE in the rear is grabbing throttle to catch up.  Come to a stop, pull out with traffic coming...   yeah, that works well. Rarely do I see someone do all this correct.  Hell, I have to remind myself to keep it in check when leading a dozen or two dozen bikes.

Spacing.  Seems like there is always somebody behind you lagging.  Then those behind them are pissed.  I used to get pissed.  Now, when the clown in front of me is lagging ... I just go around them and take their spot or pick up the slack.  Honestly drives me batshit.  If you can't sync with the group, don't ride with them.

Trikes.  Simple as this.  Trikes go to the rear.  Not in the front.  Not in the middle.  In the rear.  No discussion.  That goes for Spyders as well.  You bought it, now get to the rear off the pack.  This is where folks always seem to get butt hurt. Brought a Sling Shot?  Ummm.. they are not a motorcycle.  I get the whole thing... but guess what.  WAY in the back after the Trikes.

Stops.  Now, my real pet peeve.  You pull up to a joint for fuel, food or a piss.  If you've got 2 dozen bikes... yeah that's fun.  Shitty service, wait at the pumps.... not enough holes in the johns.  NOW... imagine pulling up with 100 ..  200 bikes.  Complete fucking chaos.  Parking lot full of bikes looks cool.  The line in and out look cool on the road.  But  have fun parking that shit.  Want a beer?  Yeah .. that's fun. Everyone want's a burger?  You're fucked.   I try to bring a cooler of ..... stuff... for these BS days.

Yep .. reminds me why I despise bigger rides.  NOW .. I have been on a few where everyone has their shit together on the ride. Where the location you are stopping in prepared and ready.  And that folks, is RARE.  So ...  I prefer .. to just say NO.  Now a twist is .. poker runs.  You know first bike out, and last bike out a few hours later?  That way at each stop people are coming and going.  Historically, has worked pretty good for me. I was on one last week .. worked okay. Hell, I'm on another one this weekend.  Hopefully it goes smooth as silk (yeah .. like that'll happen)..   but hey .. gives me shit to blog about, if it doesn't? :)

11th Annual Bug Run

Been planning this one for awhile.  I chose it simply because I needed a third out of state event.  That being said, SO GLAD I WENT!   Overall a great event put on by 10-1 in Oklahoma City.  Chief and I would head up Saturday morning for about 230 miles on 2 lanes, in the friggn hot temps of August.  By the time we roll in around 1430 hrs, we're up to 100 deg.  Still, wasn't too bad.   Check in to the Grand Palace Casino, quick freshen up, change the shirt and we're headed to the Start Point; American Legion.

Get swiped in, register for the ride and we're grabbing some cold beers.  Cool part of this trip would be that Scalper lives nearby and is also attending. We've crossed paths the last nine years, but never had time to truly get to know each other better until this trip.  Great guy and looking forward to some future visits back up there.  Well, since Scalper is local he's leading the ride.  We'll hit several spots on the outskirts of the City and find our way back at the Casino.  Chief and I are now free to have some whiskey and cool off, take that vest up to the room to get some breathing room so to speak, and ..... off to the Grand Ball room for the final event.  

Local Chapter did a great job putting this whole thing on.  From where I sat, it went flawless.  Any bumps weren't obvious.  They've got tables of baskets for giving away, lots of items for bidding on, and by midnight, give away a gun and an Indian Scout bike.   Nice!  The local Indian Dealership was involved and a LOT of Indian Riders are also in attendance.

I'd really like to know how much they raised over this nine hour event.  Can't help but think it had to be in excess of $20k.  I'm always looking for an idea to cookie cutter for our own chapter.  Hell, I still need to reach back to 7-3 to see how there's played out earlier this month as well.   

Well, Sunday, out the door at 0900 headed home.  Grab Hwy 177 and head due south eventually getting back on Hwy 69 and home around four hours later.   Temps are about 95, Lucy is on the front porch waiting for me when I roll up, grab an ice cold beverage for some porch sitting while I decompress and ....  another weekend on two wheels in the books!

Great Raffle options

Scalper and I

Ride done .. and .. thirsty!

Stop #2 on the run

Sixty miles out Sat morning

Rolling out Sat morning

Almost Home... Audie Murphy required Stop!

We Change as time goes on ...

Well, sort of.  Some things may never change.  But for me ... this post is about....   my perspective that has changed the longer I'm in The Association.

Over a decade ago was my first contact with a member of the Association.  He'd been in a poker run the day before up in Fayetteville AR, and rode down for a charity ride in Greenville.  Have to admit, I was a lil' impressed he was doing 2 in 2 days, quite a distance apart from each other.  But it'd be another 3 or 4 years before I ran into someone with the backpatch again.  Then I reached out to local chapters' CC and got an open invitation to ride with them.. but....  nobody ever reached out to me with info.  Just the invite.  Kicker was I'd just started a chapter with the Iron Indians so my brain was somewhere else.  Had I ran into the CVMA local folks a few months before, guessing things would have played very differently in my life and I've have joined the CVMA over a decade ago.  Still, it'd be 2017 before I ran into more folks here locally (Snake) and ..  I finally connected up with folks.  It'd be March of 2018 before I finally went on a ride / meeting with the local guys.  Few months later I was patched in.

I joined to ride with my fellow vets.  Simple as that.  Didn't realize it was a 501c3.  Didn't join to raise funds. Didn't join to go out of my way to help others.  Didn't join to 'make new friends' ; I had/have plenty.  I simply wanted to ride.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Except.  I did make new friends.  I did have the want to help other Vets.  But, damned it ... we didn't ride enough.  Hell, as a group we still don't.  But my brain slowly began changing. I started taking things a lil' more serious as time went on. When I joined we had a younger CEB at the helm and things were somewhat relaxed and a party of sorts when we were together.  Quite a few hellraisers in the mix. I really dug it.  Then our CC got into hot water over a pic that was taken at ROT.  I personally didn't think it was a big deal.  Still don't. But all hell broke loose and drama ensued.  He ended up stepping down for other reasons (well, at least publicly) and Grandfather stepped in.  Things calmed down a lil and I soon realized we had two camps.  The wild fuckers and the old calm fuckers. I'd somehow overlooked all this or maybe.. I just didn't care. I was older but hung with the wild ones.  Then we got a new CC, younger less mature guy and ...  things were okay.  I was having a good time, but ....  didn't agree with everything I saw.  My give a shit fact was still low so it all worked for me.... but ... didn't always like what I saw.  But hey .. I'm just a member here for the ride, right?  I joked all anyone had to do was pay their dues and show up annually for a meeting, right?  Now I was doing a lot more than that but was aware of the bare minimums needed to stay above water (In Good Standing). 

Well, around '21 we had a changing of the guard and for the first time .... things started to bother me a little bit.  I saw different personalities conflicting within our chapter.  I was starting to question motives of a few folks. I was aware of transfers that seemed to create a change, or at least want a change.  I brought this up a few times but was 'assured' none of that was happening.  But .... I'm now watching. Still, I'm here for the ride.  Having a great time. Over the last few years ..... found myself in a Road Captain position but stepped back when I realized I wasn't going to play games with certain folks on the board.  I stepped back as webmaster when there was a power play for it and I honestly didn't give a shit enough to play.  I stepped back as PRO when I was interim, realizing most in the chapter didn't give a shit and to be honest.... I didn't much either.  At least, not enough for that position, at that time.   I reminded myself, I was here for the Ride!  Now what Ride (?) I'm not sure; most weren't riding.  Well, I was.  Looking for any and every excuse to head out.  Sanctioned Event?  I'm there.  Regional?  I'm there.  State? I'm there. Nationals ?  Iron Butt coming up!  Breakfast ... Lunch ...  bar .. Lets Roll!  Along the way met some great people.  Gotten a few in the chapter to do those rides with me...   but ... is it all about the Ride?  Well ... sort of?

Along he way as time goes on I've changed.  Gotten a lil more serious about it all.  One thing that has happened to me along the way is I've begun to question why some folks are 'in' or not?  I mean .... if someone shows up once a year for a meeting, or an event.  Hell, maybe they even caged to it, why are they even in?  I realize there is more to life than the Association but what has really got me paying attention to this is when you realize someone has been in say ... ten years... and all that time .. they barely participated.  I get it we go through spurts, then busy .. then not ...  but ... what if their entire time ...   you rarely see them. When they show, they swipe .. sit quietly in the corner .. then disappear.

Now ...  I get some folks don't mix well in crowds.  I get some of us have issues.  Some have PTSD issues.   But I'm basically saying .. if one barely rides ... if one rarely shows up ....  why .....  are they here?  Over the last month I've had to look deeper into folks history due to a shake up.  I was simply trying to get a feel for 'who's who' but then realized I saw a trend of sorts.  A trend that ....  bothers me deep down.  When you have folks that been in over a decade and they have been to only several sanctioned events and a handful of meetings... you have to wonder..  WTF?

This past year I made a big push to get folks to pay their dues.  By May .....  I was tired of it.  You realize a few folks (not all) that aren't paying ... aren't even around. You check on them... they are fine... just  ... not around.  Then  you look deeper and .. they've never been truly involved.  So .. it gets me to thinking about it all.  Come Jan 2025 I'll do the big annual push to pay dues early.  I'll push a lil more in Feb .. Mar .. but ..  got to tell you, if one of those folks barely showed up during the year ....  never participates with the Chapter.....   I won't be chasing them down.    By July, they may find themselves on the outside looking in, and my give a shit factor about will be zilch.  Literally.

Quality over Quantity has become my new thought process as of late.  This whole post was really about just that.  

Now .... Saturday got a meeting to ride to with another Chapter, following weekend out of state ride to a sanctioned event...   LETS RIDE!  It's the core reason I joined in the first place.

My first meeting (SwampRat's as well).  I patched in the following month

Ft Smith '24 7-3 Poker Run

 Been planning this one for awhile.  Wasn't sure how many bodies we'd have because many were 'quiet' out there... but when the smoke cleared not too shabby.  First up, Lucy.  This was a big deal for both of us and I'm crazy proud of her.   She hasn't done triple digit miles in one day since Durango around 2017 time frame.  We did 225 that day and her arthritis got the better part of her.   She could barely walk the next day.  So, she's been hesitant ever since.  She was a rockstar this past weekend.  Chief and Kat were in from Day one which is always great.  I was pretty sure 3Force was in but I didn't realize Squatch was in.  So on Friday, the six of us on four bikes rolled out of Greenville.  Dutch had just dropped a chunk of change into his bike and was pulling back on this one.  But Wingnut was rolling up for the day for a quick turn and burn and the surprise was.... Dutch joined him on Saturday!

Well, weather was upper 70s leaving Greenville, and quickly escalated into the 90s by 1100 hrs.  About 1/2 way there, with nothing but sunshine forecasted... I spotted rain clouds.  WTF?  Neither of us had brought rain gear and we were soon in a light sprinkle for about an hour.  Now... we never got 'wet' but the temps dropped about ten degrees and  felt great!   Stop in Clayton for a great family style restaurant, bellies full we are back out in the cool air.  Hour later... upper 90s.  As we pulled up to the hotel ... hot and sunny 102!   Check in, quick run to the liquor store for supplies ..I'm ready for the weekend to begin!

Quick cleanup, 3Force joins us (he's not staying at the Marriott with 4 of us) and we meander in shorts and flip flops over to Garrison Ave where the Bars and Food are.  Pizza at Pappas, drinks at the 906 Whiskey bar ...   great Friday night.  Squatch was staying somewhere diff in town, so did his own thing.  Great night for all.  

Well, Saturday around 0930 we roll up to the VFW which is only a few miles away.  As we registered for the event, Wingnut and Dutch walk in.  Bam; 23-11 is in the house!  We soon find some of our local friends.  Chapter 7-3's XO is Chief (Mic) whom I've gotten to know over the last several years.  Cray-on is in the house which is awesome after all the medical related stuff she's had to deal with. Once there, we head into the bar for some ... ummm.... breakfast refreshments.... and we're soon headed out to collect numbers for our poker run.  Three stops along the way with several folks from Ft Smith that joined our lil group, on the last leg Mack leads us back via a scenic route and ....  back to the bar to cool down in the VFW.  They had a 50/50, Baskets via Raffle, Gun Raffle and High/Low hands for the Poker run.  By the time they get to the last item, I've won 3 baskets and low hand.  Score!!!!   Late afternoon, head back to the Marriott.  We are now joined by four close friend of mine that drove up from Hot Springs. Stump/Deb and Donnie/Jill join us and all ten of us meander back to Garrison Ave. Back to the 906 Whiskey Bar then some Mexican Food where we run into another dozen of so CVMA folks. Great Food, Great Drinks, Great visit with all.  Work our way back to the hotel and now... time to do some sippn.  It'll be after 1am when I beg Donnie to let me go to bed .. hahahaha.  We solved all the problems of the world and ...  0800 KSU is quickly approaching.   Bro Hugs for all, and .... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Well, it's 0800 and we're all loading up.  I'm dragging ass a lil and chugging waters.  Heat is already into the 80s but we're quickly heading down the road.  We'll once again spend most of our time on Hwy 271 through some beautiful areas of Oklahoma. Only thing that could be better is if the temps were in the 70s and ....we took some time to find some areas to kick back and enjoy the beauty along the way while sipping cold waters in the shade.  Around 1300 we're rolling up to the house and ....  another great weekend in the books.  Well... almost.   Jump into the pool, adult refreshments and head to dinner locally with Boudreaux and Nance at Luigi's.   By 8:30pm ... I've hit the wall and head to the sack.  I'll log over 10 hrs. in that bed (!!) .

Great weekend!

FTM 2024

 Finally got this in the mail yesterday.   Have to admit, feels good.  This shit used to be 'easy' for me.  Since I turned 60 ... well.... not so much.  Heat fucks with me.  Legs Cramp up.  I get dizzy from some of my meds.  Have trouble staying hydrated.  Guess, getting friggn' old?   

Some folks talk shit about these patches (LRRP/DRP).  But... for me ... reminds me I've still got it.  As I've said before.  Most folks on motorcycles don't actually 'ride.'   Most don't do 300 or 400 mile days .. much less than 1000+.  Most never will. Just a fact.

Next month I hope to have fulfilled requirements for Tri State and well as Inner State Tabs ... and that ... would be Grand Slam 2024 , third to date.

Former Member?

Have to admit, until the last two years I was sort of oblivious to some of this.  Much of it I had no experience.  Other aspects, I didn't give a shit.   Then sometimes, you become ... aware of shit and it bothers you deep down. I've come full circle the last 20 months or so ... and ... give a shit.  I've seen over the last year, a lot of folks get kicked to the curb, with a no return label.   Others leave abruptly... and some of them ... received a no return label.   In the back of your mind you wonder.... but... what if they moved elsewhere and joined in another region, could they game the system and get back in.  Well technically .....yes.   I'm sure it'd catch up with them eventually unless they kept their heads in the sand... but .. what's the point?  Why would someone even attempt that?   I'm sure .. some do though.

Well, one thing that has bothered me for many years is when you realize someone rejoined .... but ....  didn't make that fact public.  Even then, when maybe one figured it out they still weren't discussing it.. you just became aware.   Well, here's my issue.  Why did they leave in the first place?  Were they problem children?  Were they simply exorcising their 'rights' to join, quit, join and quit?  Or ... did they fly in under the radar the second time and ........ back when they tried to rejoin .. maybe .. maybe ... there should have been a little vetting done at least?

Well, at least now we have another checklist option in place.  At least now since Oct 2022, someone has to acknowledge officially they were in before.  Now we have a chance to look up their old 201 and verify they aren't a problem child.  At least now ... if you find out later they were in but clicked 'no' on that application you have an opportunity to call them out on the carpet and get some explanations.  Maybe even ... kick them to the curb?

Wish this had been in place five years ago.  JS