Archive for Joan Carlson

Oh Wow did I tie one on the night before and feel like crap. Today just taken it easy, get some writing done and make my way to the Chip for a Michael Lichter’s 9th Annual Motorcycles as Art Reception in the evening. Since there is alcohol involved and I am hung over today, taking the car. The weather called for a storm later in the evening and my intuition for all these factors told me the car was the choice for today.

I was told by a frequent visitor that Sturgis hits ya with a DUI for over $2300.00 gets you out of the charges. Man, that does not fit into my budget but for others who want to take a chance better than coming back for court.

Made my way through town to the Monkey Rock bar just across the street from Full Throttle Saloon. Just a big tent but hella big inside. Outside vendor booths full of biker wares, Boss Hoss bikes cost $10 to take a demo ride. Thought about it as the three wheeler really looked cool, but passed for now.

There were Monkey Rock girls with painted chests and found a vendor inside that does the painting. There was a lady getting hers done, was just about part way and stayed to chat so could get a picture of the final results.. This is the funny part, this couple is from my home town of Vancouver, Washington and of all the people here at Sturgis to run into someone that is just few miles from my house.

Killed a few hours at the bar and made my way to Buffalo Chip for the party. Got there a bit early at the entrance to the event and started chatting with a fine gent from Thunder Press named Walt Lumpkin. I was honored that he knew about our site and had nice things to say about it. On this trip meeting people from all over, thought that would just be introducing our site and find out that many already have us bookmarked in our favorites. Guess were doing a great job and the word is getting out.

Walt introduced me to some really fun people, met some new and the party started off great till mother nature took a turn for the worst. An announcement was made that a sever storm was rolling in with 70 mile an hour winds, rain and quarter size hail making its way from Deadwood. The kind staff of the Chip offered that anyone who wanted to protect their bike could bring it from the parking lot to the cover in the reception area. Many people moved their bikes and proceed into the building.

I love storms and stayed out under the tent outside. Never saw weather change so drastic before, clear and calm to whipping wind, torrential down pour, but still warm. The winds did pick up, but not quite 70 miles per hour and no hail. Some people waited to move their bikes and three steps out of cover, you were soaked to the bone. Even with the storm, people were enjoying the company and the display of bikes displayed. I really enjoyed seeing up close the POW bike crafted by Orange County Choppers as I watched that show where they built it.  The display is awesome and check out the pictures that I took.

The weather was letting up a bit and figured would head back to the VFW and assess the damage to my tent. Driving down the center of town, looked like a ghost town, most of the parking lots were empty of bikes, very few people on the sidewalks and a few riders with bar made rain gear (large plastic bags). My tent faired well, chatted up with some new folks that came in from San Diego and hit the sack early.

First Sturgis Rally for Joan.

I been working my butt off to save for this trip and other runs this summer and jazzed to get on the road. In my working life, have never taken a two week vacation and this one will be something I have wanted to do for 8 years now.

The weather in Vancouver Washington hit an unseasonal heat wave so my trip was delayed by a day. Since Thursday night is bike night at the Cascade Bar went and chatted with some friends to chill out before the long drive in the morning. Car was packed, oil in the bike changed and took big Blue out for a run to make sure my oil filter seated. Had a nice relaxing eve, headed home to load Blue onto the trailer and strap her down.

Since this trip I was traveling alone just a smart to haul the bike then ride without a buddy. Thanks to a good friend, I did not have to rent one and saved some cash. Time to sack out for the long drive in the morning.

The day started without a hitch, stopped a couple of times to check my straps on the bike and headed down the road. The weather got hot quick and really felt for those riders out in the sun as my car has AC.

For me, this was a new adventure as the route I was taking would have me travel through states that I never have been. Even crossing back into Washington I had never been on this side of the state. This crossing over the area is bleak this time of year and hot as hell. Closer to Spokane the green began to appear again. Just a short jaunt in Idaho then to Montana. Wow, the first half of this state is beautiful and for the longest time saw a river right next to the interstate. Took some pictures from car when it was safe to do so.

I made it to Butte, MT for the night and 16 hours of driving had kicked my ass. Got a room, spent too much but at this point did not care, popped into the casino next door as they gave ya free beer while gambling. Tipped a couple and went back to pass out in my room.

Up bright and early the next morning and many other travelers on their way to Sturgis had made this a stop for the evening too. Nice to see half the parking lot filled with all different make and models of bikes. Last leg of the journey would be another 8 hours as made it to a little over the halfway point.

Got to Spearfish about 3pm and the GPS took me to the VFW which I would call home for the next week. In 2004 Daryl and our friend Sy stayed at that location and had a very nice stay. Since I wanted some sleep and a place to party at the end of the day due to I don’t drink and ride. I was met by a nice older gent named Don who signed me in, gave me a tour and told me a little about the campers staying here. During sign in, asked if there was more in my party, just little old me and he said they would watch out for me during my stay. Kind of why wanted to stay at the VFW as being a member I would rather put money in there pockets to update the club house than in some greed corporation.

Setup camp, dropped the bike and went looking for some dinner as I was starved and took the bike for a short ride. Headed back and the party was just starting at the VFW and starting meeting people as they came back from their rides. Found out that most of the campers return to this location every year to meet up again, kind of like a family group. Too cool and glad this was my choice for my 1^st Sturgis.

Hit the road around 10am on Friday, day off and slept in since this was a short jaunt to the coast.  The weather reports called for not so nice weather and since I was hauling the gear, choose the car this weekend.  Much easier to throw wet gear into a plastic bag in the trunk than trying to strap it on the bike.  Made really good time with a few stops for road construction but gave me a chance to eat my lunch I grabbed once I got off the freeway.

Sitting there in traffic and the drive down Hwy 4 on the Washington side (much better view than Hwy 30 on the Oregon side) I remember why I love living in the Pacific NW.  Not religious by any means, but we do live in God’s country.  The trip there would have been great on the bike, have been on this road before and still puts me in awe every time.  Moving through the construction zones, no long waits just a 20 minute delay to my trip and violating the speed limit put my on the site on time.

This location is a campground which the bikers had one side, and a bunch of baseball players on the other.  Check in was fast and great smiles greeted me on my way in.  Daryl had met the run coordinators on the Golden Dale rally and they were happy to see us there to cover this first event.  From the looks of the setup they did a great job.  My wrist band is on and now time to find a nice spot to throw up the tent.  Man, it was hot already, but not too far off the coast rain clouds were heading in.  This area had plenty of trees and found a nice one to setup camp under.  Daryl would follow later in the evening due to his work commitments.

Camp setup, time for me to wander around and meet new people and see the wares of the vendors.  Love camp hopping, the stories and running into old friends and ran into many I have not seen in a while.  Later in the day met a special character named Kenny with a bottle in each hand sharing with anyone his spirits and stories of rallies past.  From his attire, this man has seen many of roads, rallies and later find out that a trap, jacket under his head and stars are his bed to rest.  Ran into some old friends from rallies of old, Shauna and Mitch of Brock Ent. and really good to see them again.  Talked about old times and caught up of what/how we are now.

Clouds are starting to roll in; cooling it off a bit but still nice temperature out and the music has started.  Daryl arrived, setup his stuff and I asked for a ride into town to chat about the event and get some food.  Hoped on the back cause I have a bit of a buzz going and should not be driving.  Found some good seafood and headed back to camp.  Things were picking up a bit, but as I have found on many runs, Saturday night is the bomb.

Moved over to a covered area with a nice bond fire burning to warm up and ditch the sprinklers that were happening and was greeted with smiles.  Here I met the other people from Aberdeen area where Kenny was from a big man with a nice smile named Paul and shy Mike sitting back in the shadows.  Shauna joined us later after closing shop and a few others.  Oh my, what a blast, laughing till our sides and face hurt, don’t ask me about what cause passing the bottle around I know it was stupid stuff.  Telling stories of runs pass and such and me with my quick wit kept the party rolling into the morning.  Damn people, its 5am I’m hitting the hay for a few hours so can take a walk on the beach before the bike games in the afternoon.

There was a poker run, did not go but many from camp did and was pretty deserted when I got up.  Cleaned up and headed into town for something to eat, walk on the beach and check out the knickknack shops in town.  It was overcast and warm, not too windy and really not a bad day at all.  Time to head back to camp for the bike games that will be starting soon.

The Bike games were great, many participants in each one, but the one game I think I liked best was the balloon toss.  I have seen this at Iron horse run, but think why I got a kick out of it is what they filled with water was a bit different.  Instead of balloons, they used condoms and was really funny when they caught them as they stretched a bit more than a balloon does.  Check out the pictures of the bike games, you will see what I am talking about.

Games over, time for some dinner and I will enjoy the sound of some good tunes and great conversations.  Sitting over chatting with Shauna, Mitch and Mike at the vendor booth we saw these men putting up a contraption in the middle area in front of the band.  Stripper pole was set up and the men just were having a ball dancing on the pole.  The women did take it over and everyone who did it or watch had a blast.  Think I would like to see that out next year on Friday night as everyone got a kick out it.

Well the music ended, was starting to get a bit wet so a troop of us made it back to the covered campfire for some more wise cracks and laughter.  My stomach and face still hurt from the night before, and well we did a repeat till the early am again.  Oh well, bet the neighboring tenters really were POed at us.

I will say for a first rally these guys did a great job and will be there again next year.  Thanks for letting Biker-Events cover your event and will be there again.  Check out our fun in the picture section.

Joan signing off for now till Run21 then off to Sturgis this year.

~Catch me if you can~

Up early, but not as early as yesterday as this run is a whole two hours later, but an hour drive from Vancouver to Longview Washington. To my surprise that morning was we were to have our good friends Mike and Sandy to meet us and another rider Jerry down the road for this little trek.

I covered a bit about this run on our site 25th Annual Jumbo’s Memorial Toy Run November 25, 2007 so people would know the history of this run and how it was named. The sponsors of the event were SWWMA and Cowlitz County ABATE.

The day, wow a bit warmer and very nice ride to Longview and as we got a bit of a head start on things, grabbed a bite to eat in Longview then onto the start point. Well not hard to find a parking lot full of bikes and to my surprise the start and end point were back to back business Twin City Glass and Moose Lodge NO 530.

This was very similar to yesterday’s event, asking for a donation or toy which you were given a raffle ticket and a parade route through town. Only this one, there were not local law enforcement present, but I was told that a local non-biker group volunteered to road block our little event for us. I wish I had gotten the name, but if you are reading this a HUGE THANK YOU from the biker community. Take a look at what you missed in our Pics section.

Nice little putt around town, people on the street waving and back to the Moose Lodge for a bite to eat and some nice beverages. A bit of music, then the raffle began, and oh wow did it take sometime to do as there were a generous donations made and I believe I also heard the event had well over 150+ riders, collected well over $1000 and a pile of toys too.

Those who did not go, you missed out on some great people, nice ride day, and a bit of warmth that can not be felt with even the hottest furnace made.

Take care during this holiday and we at Biker Events wish you a

Happy Holiday and a Fantastic New Year.

There were a couple of rides this weekend and we selected to stay local for two reason. One, the weather was a bit on the cruddy side, the other was it was helping families in our area. More so, this event was for the community we live in. All the pics of the event can be seen in our Biker Pics of our site.

We arrived a little before 9am, a couple of bikers were already there and we stepped up on the porch to get out of the rain and chat a bit. A few more trickled in; the weather I know was an issue to low attendance, but everyone who showed up were great people. Hey just a few more people to call friend down the road as my idea is a friend is someone I have yet to meet, family is the biker community. How many other communities go out in the pouring rain and cold to help families in need? One, bikers and this bunch of people have huge hearts; some had at least an hour travel time to get here in the pouring rain.

So by 10am, there were 7 bikes and about half of them doubled up, but ready to ride. The route was shortened a bit due to the weather had left many fallen trees to two of the places, so the 2^nd and 3^rd stop were eliminated. Thanks anyways to Jack’s Restaurant/Store and Big Fir Inn for their invite, but too much of Mother Nature in the road to keep us safe.

1^st stop was in Pacific Rim Furnishings/Beyond the Garden Gate in Woodland, Washington for some treats. Nah, we did not take the freeway, but a wonderful back road adjacent to I5. It rained on us a bit, but WOW the fall colors were fantastic. Today I jumped on back of Daryl’s 1800 Goldwing as I really wanted to take in the sights, well mostly wanted to be a bit lazy. Riding in the rain, leaves and trees in the road is not a fun ride and a lot of work and today just wanted to be spoiled a little bit. Thanks to the people at Pacific Rim Furnishings as they treat us like Kings/Queens, gave us homemade Clam Chowder, hot cider, sweet treats to be had through out the store. I have past this place on other rides, but never went it. If you are looking for a special gift this Holiday season, check them out.

Ok, now off to Washougal, Washington via the back roads. Just as we were about to leave, a gent who got a late start showed up, got his card and now our damp group of riders became 8. The rain let up as we travel a great route to Washougal, very little on the road which keeps the group safe on our travels. The sun started peaking out as we pulled into the Parker House Restaurant on the water front. Man, what a nice view from the lounge, and the ladies there were very nice to these wet smiling bikers. Since it was around lunch time, we had a bite to eat and have to say, will go back another day to sample a bit more of their menu.

Now the sun is shining, and look there is some blue sky, woo hoo, so now to return to Love Leathers to drawn two cards and see who won with the best hand. This time we took the freeways to head back, ya the fast way but guess we were a bit tired of the rain and wanted to beat it back. The ladies helping with the event did an awesome job and too bad not more people showed up on Saturday as it was a great way to spend a rainy day ridin with a bunch of new found friends.

Also, if you are looking for some gifts for your biker friends, check out this for after Turkey day specials.