Well, Folks...
I can see some of my fellow partners in crime have already chimed in with some thoughts on this weekend's Big Bend ride... Please allow me to add - *IT WAS FUN !!!*
I'm pretty tired and knackered out, but a few brief thoughts...
What a great bunch of riders!
Dean most definitely deserves his icon status, many times over. A joy to be with, funny as can be, and rides like the wind. Probably loves riding as much as any person I have ever known, and loves life twice as much as that!
Brian - known here as our own Acacia - is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Cool, calm, and completely unflappable... But with a wry wit and wonderful sense of humor, and brilliantly intelligent. A true pleasure to be around.
Ron - our MooseR1100R - has a fascinating background and is never without a smile or a wonderful story to tell, and we even discovered we knew some of the same people from our earlier years (man, it's a small world...). Moose is an accomplished pilot and a joy to hang out with.
Bill, from McAllen, is a truly amazing gentleman... Beyond description, really. A true inspiration. This guy has gone through more than anyone should ever have had to, yet he accepts it all with an infectious sense of humor and positive attitude that will awe you. A real "one-of-a-kind" who I was privileged to spend time with...
Each of these were board members, but there were others along, too.
A good friend of mine, Doug Smith, who rode his highly modified Honda Superhawk - brilliantly, as always - and that I only hope at least some of you will meet someday.
Paul Massie, who rode a Triumph Speed Triple with the same grace and pace of a Paul Smart, and was as gracious and good-natured fellow as you would ever want to meet...
Dave Mock, who rides a Harley-Davidson Road King quicker than it has any right to go...
Especially in the *DIRT*! He's an old friend, and it is an honor to have him as one.
Two fellows we all just met out there in Alpine - Mike Callas and Louis Jordan - both mounted on R-1150-RT's, were truly a pleasure, and Mike rides his RT as though it were a 250 GP bike. Each had fascinating histories, and both may be members here soon. They will be an asset, I assure you, and if you ever get a chance to ride or hang out with 'em, don't pass it up! Mike's an old car racer, too, and has some great stories to go along with his expertise in building incredibly fast Porsche's.
It may be possible to have a group to ride and spend time with as good as this one, but I cannot conceive of a group any better. So many had never met any of the others before, but you wouldn't have known it. All got along as though they had known each other forever, and there was absolutely no friction of any kind... Only laughter, camaraderie, and a genuine sense of good will, along with great jokes, pranks, and stories.
It was truly my privilege and honor to have shared time with each and every one for the weekend. I only wish it could have gone on for much longer.
My sincerest thanks to each of you who went along. I can only hope we can all do it again together soon, and often.
Cheers!
Dallara
And truely unique. I can't wait for the pics to start showing up. My envy knows no bounds as I look at making another soggy ride in the morning.
