Part 1 here: http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/dog-pound/10513-sailors-story.html
So lets get on with pt 2 of "A Sailors Story":
1987 came with the resurrection of my motorcycle. But I had a long ways to go yet and a lot of stuff to buy. I also had a full time job so all my spare time when into getting this thing on the road. Here are some of the things that were going on within our country at the time. As you can tell I used to like MTV. Too bad it went to shit!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_vssdys8lk]YouTube - Matt Le Blanc - Heinz Ketchup Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_Vq-jxdJU]YouTube - Madonna - MTV 1987 Who's That Girl Tour Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSOLs9-TcAQ]YouTube - MTV Spot 1987
I was so anxious to get this bike back on the road. It was going to be totally different than what it was before. No more “electric start” I was throwing out the cast primary and putting on an old “tin” primary cover like all the old panheads had. This was a kooler looking cover and ironically looks similar to what our current Big Dogs have with the DSSC Baker system.
Here is a pic of the two different primaries. The newer HD heavy aluminum primary inner and outer on the left and the simple lighter tin primary on the right:
I was now going to have to kick start that bike every time I got on it. Oh boy, if I knew then what I know now I would never have done it. But that’s life and looking back its pretty kool watching someone go out to some long chopped bike, get ready, put the key in and unlock the ignition switch then put the key back in their pocket. You might think the next part would be to twist the throttle a couple times to prime the carb! Ha ha ha, S&S back then didn’t include an accelerator pump on their carbs. What you did was turn the petcock on. Flip out the kick pedal and while either straddling the bike or standing to the right side of it with one knee on the seat (my preferred way) you roll the motor over with the pedal through to the compression stroke. Remember how they used to start airplanes back in the early 20th century, remember seeing movies where they would roll the prop around before yelling “Contact”!!!
Some guys liked to prime the motor with a couple kicks. Depends on how long it had been since you last stopped I guess.
Anyway, once you had it primed then you would turn the ignition switch to run then rock the kill switch to start and then grab the bars, jump high in the air and come down hard on that kicker pedal with all your weight. If all went good then the motor would roll to life. A lot of times it would just be a puff out of the intake and you say “oh shit” gotta do it again. Many times you would get kick back and the pedal would kick back up and slap the back of your calf as if you got bull whipped!
Sometimes when we were in a group we would be waiting for minutes while someone attempted to kick start his bike. Pretty soon someone would get pissed grab a couple guys and we would push start it.
In this You Tube vid you will see a guy prime a motor and then kick it over:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2CUijE8cdE]YouTube - Rodeo motorcycle Shovel Kick Start with SU carb
Here’s another one that took a few kicks. Sometimes you would kick all day meaning maybe 10 times then it was time for a break!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8M_qCuhbtU]YouTube - Kick start a cold 1976 FLH Harley Davidson
When was the last time you saw someone with a kicker bike? Pretty rare now a days but back in the 70's and 80’s they were real common. I guess people were still reluctant to change from the starter equipped bikes. Lots of hard core HD guys refused to recognize the new Evo motor that HD came out with. They were wary of it for being designed and funded by AMF. It didn’t leak or mark its spot like the old Knuckles, Pan or Shovels did. No soul or heart to that new Evo motor!
Do you know when the first HD model was to come standard with an electric starter? It was also the last of an era of one of the most famous motors HD ever made.
As I assembled parts I was laying them all out on my work bench then numbering my chalkboard on the proper assembly steps I need to do to get this thing on the road. I also had to separate things for paint or chrome. I had to wire this thing from scratch, I didn’t use any harness just a shitload of colored wire and lots of connectors. I got good at soldering and crimping.
With a loss of almost the whole bike I had to order and fit almost everything together like the tanks, seat, fenders and oil tank. Not like today when most things have some standard to them and you just bolt them up.
Here is a picture of the thing coming together:
I had to do a lot of research on the wheels and brakes. Of course I went with Performance Machine on both. They were the best back them as they are today. For the rear wheel I went with a solid wheel then spokes in the front with the Springer of course! On the rear I used a 4 puk PM caliper just like what we have today. On the front I used the single puks PM make and I used them in a dual setup. Paughco’s Springer came with all the mounts and things needed for the brackets. I got most everything from Paughco for this re-build.
Here is a picture of it as a roller:
Here’s the big fat 140mm tire on the rear. Still have that SuperMax dual belt drive system on it too. I had to fit the sissy bar to the fender which has internal struts for a clean look. In this picture you can see the old S&S “B” carb up there. Notice the clean top of it? Also had a neat King and Queen seat:
So, do you think I got this thing ready for Sturgis this year of 1987? I will tell you I was there staying at my favorite place the Buffalo Chip! I even made it in 85 & 86. But 87 would be my last year to Sturgis till 1990 which was the 50th anniversary. That damn submarine I went to just had to spend the summers gone to a different part of the world where it wasn’t warm or sunny and there were no girls or MTV. No radio, phones or mail. Just long times under the ocean leaving in the spring and coming home in the fall!!
Answer: First year of the electric start was the 65 FL and it was also the last year of the great “Panhead” motor. One of our members here has one in his garage!! Think you might know who it is?
What color would I pick for my new chopper? Would it be some more fancy graphics like it had before or maybe just a plain Jane color!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5iqpb6L7pY]YouTube - Roger Clemens 1987 Zest Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrZvUlGJr30]YouTube - 1987 Juicy Fruit Commercial
That old Shovelhead provided me with a lot of miles. I don’t remember what was on the odometer then, been too many years ago but I can tell you it was 10 of thousands of miles. My old shipmate Shag and I really put some miles on in the 3 yrs we lived together. I really miss that guy; I haven’t seen him since we rode to the 50th Sturgis Rally back in 1990. Just thinking back now reminds me of some great old times that in one instance seem just like yesterday and in another seem like long ago! Do you have those thoughts also?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYgdYc0Ie4"]YouTube - I Can See for Miles (Live Smothers Brothers 1967
I grew up in a little town of Pingree, Idaho. My father was one of a large family of Mormon settlers from Utah back in the early twentieth century. My father was the oldest of 8 kids and was a twin to boot. There were actually two sets of twins in my father’s family.
My father is second from left front row:
They grew up in the Ogden, Utah area and then migrated to Blackfoot, Idaho and settled in Pingree, Idaho where my Grandfather had purchased thousands of acres of land. Each of the kids got a segment of property and my father’s was a 700 acre parcel in Pingree.
We grew sugar beets and potatoes as well as kept a bunch of milk cows and a 100 head of Herford cattle. Growing up on this farm/ranch was hard work. My brothers and I would be awakened at 0430 in the morning and we would have to go milk the cows and feed the horses before breakfast and then do it again after school. Milking the cows was not to hard for us young kids as we used a vacuum milking machine so the hardest part was getting the cows in the stalls and carrying the buckets of cleaning solution that we dipped the vacuum nozzles in prior to milking the cows.
After our morning chores we would go back to the house and have breakfast. I distinctly remember having fresh milk. Our mother made it with cocoa powder and put the pitcher on the table and before we poured it into our glasses we had to skim off the fat from the top of the pitcher! We also raised up to 2000 chickens so we always had fresh eggs. Life was very busy back then but it was a necessity that required your full participation 24 hours a day 7 days a week all year round.
It was this work ethic that contributed my success in the US Navy years later I believe.
My father had built the home we lived in. He was still single at the time. He and his brothers all helped in building his home on this property. My father worked with my grandfather to ensure all the siblings properties were doing good. He put his personal life aside while the family was being looked after. My father had hundreds of acres of potatoes and sugar beets and during the harvest season migrant workers would come up from California and Texas to work the fields.
My father had a row of old railroad box cars on his property that were converted over to temporary housing. Each had a wood stove in them and that was about it. Outhouses were provided outside for sanitary needs. The migrant workers would usually come up by families. They worked hard bagging potatoes and clearing future fields of rocks and stones.
This one particular family always came up from Brownsville, TX and my father always hired them. Back in 1957 this family had a daughter that was about 17 and her name was Bernarda. As the family passed the home that my father was building Bernarda would always state to her family that she would live in that home someday!!!! Well as you can imagine my father fell in love with this little Mexican girl whose family came to work his fields and they eventually got married and my mother got to move into that home she always said she would live in!
Years later I myself would meet a little Hispanic girl from El Salvador and marry her too. Ironically she would find a post card of a hotel in Waikiki named the Sheraton Moana Surf Rider from a previous visit to the island where she inscribed the back of it with the note of “someday I will get married in this hotel”. And it did happened several years later and she had forgotten about that postcard till several years later when she pulled it out and showed me! Mysterious it all is!!
1997
What’s not mysterious is my love of travel and motorcycles. I would travel where ever the road took me. No concern for any problems that may happen along the way. Even today I will load up my Big Dog Chopper and hit the road like there was no tomorrow. Even now I sit here at my keyboard and see the “white strips” from the road zinging past me on my left side. I dream about those white lines.
Since my early days of riding across country I have always had some kind of music of sorts. Whether it was just some headphones or some fancy ear-plugs like I use today my miles are measured with the music I listen to. I have many miles left in me and if all goes the way I want it to this year I will add about another 20,000 to the old odometer but we’ll see.
Here is a couple of my favorite all time songs:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_VhXnqt-gA]YouTube - The Who I Can See For Miles from 12/31/69[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3eeVuIs1uc]YouTube[/ame] - Bob Seger Roll Me Away
The new bike build was coming along very nicely and I was getting down to paint selection. I had been going over lots of paint samples and finally narrowed it down to a few colors. What I really wanted was gold leafing. I thought this looked great and it was pretty popular back in the 80’s. I wouldn’t have any murals this time. Just a pretty paint color and some scroll work done in gold leaf. The color I selected was “kandy Brandywine” on top of a black pearl base. This allowed the color to “come out” in the sunshine. It was absolutely beautiful in the sunlight. The added gold leaf just set if off more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFwXiA2JrU]YouTube - El Cheapo doing goldleaf part 1
The rest of the bike was coming along fine. I had the new wheels all set up with new tires. I got the dual Performance Machine “puks” set up on the Paughco springer front-end. On the rear I had a solid disk polished wheel. It was a 16x4 if I remember right. On the front I of course went with a skinny 21 spoke to enhance the springer.
I had the motor and transmission all mounted and then plumbed all the oil lines from the new chrome Paughco oil bag. I installed the gas tanks and got the fuel lines routed. Installing the primary was a piece of cake now that I didn’t have a starter. Just the clutch unit from SuperMax and the existing rear belt drive I already had. I installed the headlight, bars, controls and clutch and brake controls.
Then I had the difficult job of wiring the bike. I enlisted a couple of my “Electrician-Mates” (EM’s) from the Submarine I was on and using an Easyrider Electrical manual we wired up the bike from scratch.
It looked basically like this:
My electrician buddies made easy work of the wiring loom for me. They had their Fluke test equipment that is standard issue in the Nuclear Navy and make quick work of my wiring harness.
After all that was done it was time to fill all the tanks and fluids and prime the motor up. Starting it for the first time was a challenge. No more electric start, it was all kick from now on. Good thing I was young cause there is now way I would do it today. It takes some effort to start a stroker motor with a kick starter. But it fired over pretty quickly and so I ran it through a couple heat cycles and then checked all the nuts and bolts and made sure it was all good to go.
It was looking like this when I got it all done. No paint on it but you get the picture of how the bike looked with the solid rear wheel and the springer on the front.
During this year of putting this bike together it kept me busy along with my Military duties. But I did find time to get over to Sturgis again and I did ride. You know how I did it?
My good buddy let me borrow his HD and I rode it over to Sturgis from the San Francisco area and back. A real “shipmate” he was. Some guys you can just trust and those you can’t you know about. This buddy of mine trusted me enough to put a couple thousand miles on his new HD and did I put some miles on it. I got my girlfriend and loaded up that scoot and we hit the road. We rode up I-5 to the Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border and followed it inland then crossed over Idaho, Montana and into South Dakota. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip of course. I’ve never stayed anywhere else. 1987 was a kool year to go as any year is. We had a good time enjoying the bands and shows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5wH_H7cng]YouTube - TRIUMPH - Magic Power [1987]
I guess 22 years ago was a long time but seems just like yesterday I was there. Funny how you forget so much in life but when it comes to some of the best times the memories are instantly there. I can vividly remember riding along the Columbia River on the Washington side. It’s a highway where as the Southern side in Oregon is a freeway. Crossing over to Idaho and the long stretches of Montana and the “white lines” I constantly refer to. I dream with “white lines” flashing by my left side as if I’m rolling down the highway.
Of course duty has its place in my life and I was still spending a good portion of the year under water in some remote section of the world. This was what caused me to get my bike done in that we always collected large advance checks prior to sailing so we could pay up bills while we were gone for the 3 or 4 months sometimes 5 months. It was a long time away from home and life in general. We didn’t have phones, newspapers, radio or TV. I missed my MTV back them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwLyqHh1szo]YouTube - MTV Spot 1987
But we did get some news from home. For you submariners out there you will remember “family grams”. These were 50 word news grams you received in a one way broadcast. Prior to sailing you gave the blank “family grams” to your loved ones or girlfriend and they could fill them out and weekly send you a short note telling you all was well. They were of course screened so no negative information was received.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LStRiwjxD1U]YouTube - MTV Spot 1987
Life at sea was a ritual, you sat your watch then followed up with some maintenance then you had your few hours a day for personal stuff. Our boats spent thousands of dollars on games, projects and anything to keep you busy at sea. One thing I did was lots of leather projects. We would get hundreds of “Tandy” leather kits and we had all the tools and I stamped out a lot of projects including wallets, purses and notebook covers for all my family members. We even had a couple sailors that did the Saddle kits that Tandy offered. Some guys did wood carving. They could take a 24” stick of wood and carve it out into chain links. You had a lot of time on your hands so this helped pass the time.
Our missions required us to do some fantastic stuff. A lot of it I can't pass on right now but it will be published at a later time when the statute of limitation pass but here is a couple examples I found in my files. “Disclaimer” I have no idea where these photos came from!!!
Fire drills….. Always fire drills!!
You know how I stayed in shape out to sea? I rode a bicycle. We had rowers, ski machines, stationary bikes and dead weights but I brought my own bike with a trainer for the back tire and rode it about an hour or two daily. I used to put on thousands of miles on a bicycle yearly:
Can anyone tell me what’s happening in this picture?
Next will be firing up this new beast for the first time. And my next trip to Sturgis on this new chopped Shovelhead!
Many of you have followed my story as I've recollected my life over the last 30 yrs while I was enlisted in the US Navy. I love the Navy and it took me all over the world. I would never have experienced the things I did if it haven't been for the Navy. :2thumbs:
Anyway, I have been writing a segment a week for a long time then took a break after many spring runs that were on my schedule. But now I'm back in the "story" mode and this is the latest update to my life story here. One thing though, I may use the word "story" but I will guarantee you this is 100% reality. I try to substantiate my writings with actual pictures and videos for the current times. Hope you all enjoy the continuation of this story.
Pt 1 is located here.
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/dog-pound/10513-sailors-story.html
I had to break it up cause the software wouldn't let me combine the posts together anymore cause it got to big.
Next part!
I left off with the last thread on final assembly of my new Chopper after it had been wrecked and re-built.
My brother in the hospital:
It was coming along fine and most of the parts had been manufactured on the Mare Island Shipyard fabrication and welding shops. Guess it's good to know people in the right places.
Here are a couple MTV commercials of the time:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j0UjuCbz9Y]YouTube - Information Society MTV Promo[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLLpm5OE3TY]YouTube - Classic MTV promo[/ame]
I was devestated I lost my very expensive paint job but my brother was alive so that was what counted.
I got that bike put all together all by myself from design, collection of parts, fabrication, assembly, wiring and final assembly I did it all except paint. It was a thrill all around.
I rebuilt an 81 FXWG Shovelhead Motor into a real chopper that was a kick-start bike and had a springer frontend and all kinds of other special parts all put together in my garage.
I was extremely proud of my accomplishments in putting this scoot back together.
But the Navy had different plans for me. They wanted my to go to Orlando, FL and attend Navy Recruiting school. So off in Oct of 89 to report to school. I graduate successfully or as successfully as anyone that is crammed through a 3 month fast paced selling school. I learned out to sell you on a product that I couldn't hold in my hand or carry with me as an example. I had to sell you on an idea.
I used to walk through the malls asking kids "do you want to join my Navy?" while dressed in my handsome dress blues:
I did have a great time in Missoula, MT as a Military Recruiter. I would tag team up with the Marine Recruiter. We had 29 high schools in our area of about 300 miles radius. We got along fine during our school visits. I will tell you a young kid in High school that has his mind set on the Marine Corp is not going to be presuaded by any Navy recruider to change his mind to the Navy! :loony:
I used to travel to all these schools on a weekly or monthly schedule and I always included my "fly fishing" gear in the trunk of the vehicle. After I visited my schools I would visit the VFW or American Legion and ask the "old timers" where the best places were to fish and they would either point me in the right directions or escort me out there. I had a lot of fun on recruiting duty.
Come summer time and it was time to plan for Sturgis. This would be my 4th time there and the first with my new Chopper. This thing was such a great scooter except for the kickstarting. I would never do that shit again if I could do it over again.
I entered my bike in the local HotRod and Bike show and I took both "Best Custom" and "Best of Show" awards. I have the trolphy's today down in the garage. But they didn't mean anything to me if I couldn't get the bike out on the road and ride for awhile.
I hooked up with this girl named Kelly and she was going with me to Sturgis this year. She was a nice little blonde that went to the college there in Missoula. She was a great fit for the back of my bike. I had made arrangements for camping at the my favorite place the "Buffalo Chip" and we were on our way.
It rained all the way. We were so soaked by the time we pulled into Billings, MT. We stopped at a truck stop after dark and got a booth in the reasturant and drank some hot coffee trying to warm up all the time dripping large puddles of water under the table. But as I do today I said lets go!!! Once your wet then you may as well move on cause you aren't going to get any wetter. So we move out and get into Sturgis at daybreak and get to the Chip and set up camp. It's so good and refreshing to jump in the tent and strip off the rain soaked clothing and put on some dry clothers.
Weather is now warmed up and going to be good for a couple days.
Well as you can imagine we had a great time watching the Doobies and other great bands but soon it was time to head home.
So we load up the old Shovelhead Chopper and head on home after 5 days at Sturgis. What a trip, what a ride, what an adventure, what an experience.
Are you doing Sturgis this year???? Why not????
Did that custom made Shovelhead motor make it home???
Next part of the story!
1991 was an interesting year. Back at work (Recruiting) our country was just getting into the Iraq war called Desert Shield. I was stationed in a very liberal city where the University of Montana was based. They seemed to mimic the philosophy with the Berkeley University! In fact they sent bus loads of students down to the famous Berkeley University for protest training. Many times throughout the build-up of forces in Saudi Arabia I had my windows splashed with red paint with writings that stated “no blood for oil”. I and my recruiters spend money out of our pockets to have out windows painted with Aircraft Carriers, Ships and Submarines just to have it ruined by these protesters.
One day we looked out our windows and see a couple of nice Suburban’s pull in and low and behold Hank Williams Jr jumps out with his entourage. They often ate at the restaurant that was next door. On this particular day they pulled several guns out of the back of the vehicles and were admiring them as a bunch of us recruiters go out and get some autographs. Hank liked to frequent the Chinese restaurant next door.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHjaW9sXl7s]YouTube - Hank Williams Jr. - Family Tradition[/ame]
Sturgis in 1991 was a great time as it always is. We partied late into the night listening to the bands and having a great time every night we were there. Kelly didn’t complain at all though all the rain on the way there or the camping accommodations. She was a real sport. Our tent was very small and we shared a sleeping bag without a pad on the ground as I couldn’t carry much more on the bike.
We rode out to all the sites like Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse plus all the other sites in the area. Each night would find us back at the Buffalo Chip partying to the bands and meeting new friends.
One event I remember was the final bikini contest on the Friday or Saturday night. We had moved our bike up to the front of the stage as you could back in those days. You had to get in front of the stage early to get good pictures of the girls. I got my place right in front and then sent Kelly back and forth for beer. When I had to go I just unzipped and went right where I stood bunched in the crowd. No one ever noticed. I was able to get some great pictures as the girls did there thing on stage. They really got into it unlike what they do today with all the restrictions. This was back in the film days before we had digital cameras. I got the film developed at a specialty store seeing as they were R-rated pictures!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgb-zCnz9mE]YouTube - Pepsi Commercial ( HD ) Michael Jackson Hair catches fire[/ame]
One of the things I had picked up in Sturgis that year was a carved out walking stick for my brother. Earlier in the story you read that when my brother wrecked my bike he had lost his leg so a kool walking stick was an appropriate gift to bring back to him. I had strapped it to the side of the bike similar to a scabbard. It did wear down paint where it rested but was all worth it.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv5bN7WgaY4]YouTube - Levi's commercial - Biker - The Joker[/ame]
Finally it was time to head back home to Missoula, MT. We got out of the mud pit the camp ground had turned into with all the rain and headed west. Weather was pretty good on the way home. I had hooked up with some others that were heading west and we made good time.
But my motor had started running sour and wasn’t giving me the power it needed to keep up with the others. I stopped many times to play with the ole B S&S carburetor and look at other things but nothing worked to improve so when we got to Big Timber, MT I called it quits and told the others to go on. They had stayed with me all the way even with all my problems with the bike. I called my brother in Missoula, MT to come get me with his pick-up. He arrived several hours later. We get the bike loaded up and head home. Later I take the motor apart and find that the valves clearance was not what it needed to be and it was causing me intake issues making the motor run erratically. So much for my famously built “Jim McClure” motor. I had to have the whole top-end rebuilt to get it running again and did it right away.
I enjoyed being stationed in Missoula, MT. One of the unique rides they do every year is the New Years Ride. It doesn’t matter if there is snow on the ground or if it’s just wet a bunch of them get together every year to celebrate the new year. I attended this twice during my 3 yr hitch as a recruiter there. If there is a lot of snow and ice on the road you will see some of the bikers wrap there wheels with rope, chain or use stud tires just to do this annual ride.
Funny that with all the pictures I take I don't have one of my completed bike. It was one of the nicest bikes I have had. Paughco frame and springer along with a lot of other custom parts all built in my garage. I was very proud of this bike even though I had so many problems with it.
Having it as a kick start sure brought on it's own issues. That thing was a pain to start sometimes. But it sure looked good and was a real head turner.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Rp4J7yrwU]YouTube - Sturgis Rally Hotties at the Buffalo Chip Campground[/ame]
Another segment to this long old story!!!
October 1989 had me reporting to Orlando, FL for Recruiter school. Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) has a very strict selection process for recruiter applicants. This was going to be a 3 yr tour but as many recruiters will tell you its really 36 “one month tours” as you succeed or die month to month based on how well you do at encouraging our finest young men (boys) in joining our mighty US Navy. Orlando was cool though and I made it successfully through this very hard school and was detailed to Missoula, MT as part of the Seattle Recruiting District that covered Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EllK3SDlO_4]YouTube - The story of Rambo Knife[/ame]
How about Arnold in Commando?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRlEsDQ-Hlo]YouTube - Arnold[/ame]
I had been collecting Randall Made Knives for several years now and had about 6 of them. Bo Randall’s family raised oranges in Orlando but his passion was making knives. Bo’s history is quite historic in that before WWII he had created a knife that would be reviewed by the US Marine Corps as the K-Bar but he lost the contract to a major company that pretty much used his design and was able to stamp them out by the 10 of thousands whereas Randall hammer forges all his. But his design became well known to the Sailors and GI’s and after the big war started he was soon receiving orders through the mail simply addressed to “Knife Man, Orlando, FL”. Randall never expanded and only used his family and a few employees’s to create his wonderful knives. A man that went over to Europe with the Army Air Corp had one of his knives and soon became his liaison over there for the GI’s to order through. That man’s name was Ronald Reagan! Randall became so famous with his design that NASA included his knives as part of the survival packages in all the earlier space ships (Gemini I think). Then in Vietnam Gen. Westmoreland carried a Randall Made on his side throughout the war.
I have about 8 of these knives now in addition to ordering one for each of my brothers that I hunt with. All of us have the same model and in the same configuration all with our names engraved on them. I ordered a like one for my son several years ago! Yes, several years ago as the waiting list is now over 5 yrs as they refuse to expand to the displeasure of the collectors.
http://www.randallknives.com/history.php
So, while I was at Recruiting School I was able to visit the Randall Made Co. several times and enjoy the museum there that dates back to when Randall started making knives in the 30’s. It was said then that any knife that was ever produced was in that museum. I graduated the week before Christmas in 1989 and moved on to my Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) in Missoula, Mt. Sadly the next week on 25 Dec Bo Randall died. I never met him but I learned a good bit about him being in his shop.
I arrived to Missoula, MT in December and it was probably about 20 degrees. It was a bitch to drive there because it was so cold your windshield defroster melted the snow and ice and the outside temperature quickly refroze it to your wiper blades. You used a lot of windshield fluid just so you could drive a few miles down the road. The temperature never raised above freezing my first month there.
I was soon unloading boxes and crates in my new home. Besides getting settled in, one of my first requirements was to get my bike back together. I had just finished it up in Kalifornia and then had to take it apart for shipping. In those days the Navy didn’t ship bikes but you could take them apart and crate the larger parts and they would ship it for you. I soon got it all together and one of the first things I had to do was get it licensed in Montana. I visited the DMV and got the requirements for new motorcycles and learned that I had to have a horn, turn signals and reflectors which were no surprise. So I get it all done and call up the State Patrol and schedule a visit. Soon a Trooper shows up at my door and says he’s there to inspect my motorcycle. I say come on into the garage. I’m in full uniform thinking that it may help me out in any way possible. He walks around the bike and is admiring it and asking a few questions and signs off after verifying I met all the requirements. I didn’t have to start it up nor do a sound check which I was pleased with. So I take my new construction certificate down to the court house and get a personalized license plate.
You know what I got?
9BIG1Z
Yes, they bought off on it and that is what I had on my bike. Wish I still had it for my garage but when I sold my ole shovelhead it went with the bike. It was pretty cool cause at stoplights I would be watching the car behind me and when they saw the plate they would point and start snickering.
So I get through all that and am settling in with my new job and discovering all the new things I have to learn to be a successful recruiter but I’m thinking of summer. I hadn’t been to Sturgis since 1987 and this year was going to be the 50th anniversary. There was no way I could miss this one. I had to go even if I couldn’t get the time off! This was projected to be the largest rally ever and I think it did turn out to be. So I had to go no matter what. Work goes on and the spring comes then summer and finally we are in July and even with a massive schedule at work I keep thinking of going to Sturgis again.
Sometime during the first week of August my Uncle shows up on my doorstep. He’s on his bike and it’s all loaded down for his trip to Sturgis. He rode over from Walla Walla to get me so we could go together. I still hadn’t got the time off with a busy schedule and all. He doesn’t wait around and heads on. That night I’m tossing and turning knowing I need to be there. I’ve got to be there for the big 50th one, “Damn”. The 50th drew the largest crowd ever recorded in history, an estimated 400,000 bikers.
Next morning I go in and call headquarters in Seattle and tell them I’m taking off for a few days. Hell, I’m and E-7 (Chief) and in charge of my station so that’s what I did. I ran home and loaded up the bike and called up this girl named Sandra and off we go.
It’s about 700 miles and we ride straight through. We get into town and boy oh boy; every biker in the world must be in Sturgis. It was rough getting through town and my clutch hand was about done. But we made it across town and over to my standard place to pitch a tent. The Famous Buffalo Chip was ready for me so we pull up and get our wristbands and go in and find a place to set up our little camp for the next few days.
Sturgis is so cool you have to be there to understand but back in the 80’s and 90’s it was a real party and everyone was either at the Glencoe campground or the Buffalo Chip which was about the only campsites back then. Sandy and I made good use of our time visiting all the sites such as Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We ride through all the little towns of Deadwood, Lead, Hill City and Keystone. Back at the Chip we enjoy some of the major bands at the time. My all time favorite band is playing this year, The Allman Bros rocked the house as they say. I wish they would play every year kinda like ZZ Top does today.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEP_dPN3Haw&feature=related]YouTube - Gregg Allman- I'm No Angel[/ame]
1990 also drew a great band called the Blue Rockets with Billy Gordon.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-lyKNpbWIQ]YouTube - Billy Gordon and the Blue Rockers[/ame]
“Wolfman Jack” showed up. The Chip was real crazy back then with naked girls running all around and couples doing there thing right out in the open. Back then the Chip was just the arena that is there today but back then it didn’t have all the buildings it does today and there was nothing else outside the arena. It was a small venue but a great one.
One of the best events they had at the Chip was just after dark they would bring out some unlucky dudes “rice burner” and cremate it. First everyone would be offered sled hammer turns then when it was all mangled up they would raise it up high in the air and with a band prompting us all on they would drop it to a fire pit that had been started underneath it. Was quite a sight and I was able to collect a couple pictures of this rare event.
It isn’t like this anymore, there are many rice burners showing up now and many crotch rockets. The scene has changed very much from a couple of decades ago. Now a day’s there isn’t even any nudity allowed inside the arena! But we sure had fun back then. I remember early in the evening we would all ride our bikes up to the front of the stage to get a good position to watch the main concert. Sandy and I got up pretty close and we were just fiddling around and fondling and Sandy jumps back and says “stop that”. Some jackass is walking by about that time and asks “is everything is ok” to her. I tell him to get lost and he stands his ground thinking he's Mr. bad ass till I reach in the back of my belt and make like I’m pulling out my gun. He walks off then which probably was a good thing since I really did have a gun in my waistband, I always carried my little Walthers PPK .380 with me. Oh, I had a permit for it. But you always have some guy out there that seems like he has to prove something to himself. These guys are the jackass’ that end up causing all the problems at these events too. He would have had a bad night if he had pursued anything with me. Guess I would have too!
Well money is running short and the week has come to an end and it’s time to head home. It’s been a hell of a trip and we’ve collected out t-shirts and souvenirs and had our good times. Now it’s time to pack up and make the journey home and get cleaned up. We had no issues on the road in either direction and soon we are back in our comfortable home to reminisce on our fabulous journey.
Some statistics from 1990:
The following year in 1991 the Sturgis bank got robbed. Word was the APB put out was to be on the lookout for “a man dressed in a black t-shirt and blue jeans”!!!!
Where oh where do I go next?
I have been writing a segment sporadically for a long time then took a break after many spring runs that were on my schedule. But now I'm back in the "story" mode and this is the latest update to my life story here. One thing though, I may use the word "story" but I will guarantee you this is 100% reality. I try to substantiate my writings with actual pictures and videos for the current times. Hope you all enjoy the continuation of this story.
Coors commercial
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3h7Q3YkoM]YouTube - coors light commercial from the 1990's[/ame]
I had spent a lot of money on that ole Shovelhead bike over the years. But it had taken me all over the country many times and just kept on going albeit with a little bit of wrenching along the way. I was really regretting switching it over to a kick-start though. It was just too hard back in those days especially with that old B S&S carburetor that didn’t have an accelerator pump.
I was pretty good friends with the local bike shop owner that now owns the local HD dealership in Missoula and he had enticed me to put my bike in the local fair this one year in 1990 for the Rod and Bike show. So I did. I got it all cleaned up and spent many hours detailing it just for this show. I entered it in the Custom Class as it was a ground up build with custom Pauchco frame and springer as well as most of the other parts. This was a ride in show so I was classed up with other bikes that were daily riders. There were many nice bikes to compete with and I wondered how I would fare with all this competition. The show went through the weekend and come Sunday the finals were being tabulated and low and behold I find out I won best Custom!!! That was pretty kool when I got to go up and get my trophy and I was elated. Then after the announcements for the other categories and all the winners had claimed there trophies they announce the “Best of Show” and lo and behold I win it. That was so kool. I won two trophies for my first event with this latest build of my ole Shovelhead.
Joe Montana, Mario Bros and Starburst
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVzUYaAnJo8]YouTube - 1990 Commercials #2[/ame]
I was dating this girl named Cathy and she had raving red hair all the way down to her fine ass. I have many pictures of her but I’ll be damned if I can find any right now to scan and upload. She was a real beauty but was only 23 yrs old and I was like 31 but we had great times together. It was this year that I made Senior Chief in the Navy and she was there with my C.O. to pin on my E-8 “Anchors” on my shirt collars. Boy oh boy do I miss that girl!!!
Funny some of the things you remember from the old days. I had just got a new computer and it had 80386 SL processor. Fastest thing around at the time with a whopping 64mb of memory! A far cry from what we have today. It was at this time that you also had limited access to “bulletin boards” used as a mail service prior to the introduction to the World Wide Web in 1991. Yes that was 1991 way before Gore’s claim to it!! One of the best games at the time for the computer was the “Leisure Suit Larry” series. I know many of you remember it. Don’t deny it.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJBvaZKDXdE]YouTube - Leisure Suit Larry 5 - Trailer (1991)[/ame]
We had other games like Kings Quest
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Rni6mH7oQ&feature=related]YouTube - King's Quest II[/ame]
And of course Doom
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c73m4mzpxxk]YouTube - Doom 1 :: Episode 1 Mission 3 :: Toxic Refinery[/ame]
I hunted quite a bit while in Montana and as I’ve posted before I only hunt with a Bow and Arrow. I remember taking out his new guy that was rifle hunting (you can do both in the rifle season in MT) and we had stopped for lunch at the truck. We laid our weapons in the bed of the truck and were sitting on the side of the road eating out sandwiches and enjoying the beautiful day. All of a sudden this gigantic black bear comes out of the tree line about 100 yrs away and starts coming out way. I tell my buddy to get his gun and he slowly moves to the truck and gets his fancy Browning Auto. I still have my sandwich in my hand as the bear wanders our way and is only about 50 yards away now. I tell my friend to site in and take him down.
Funny looking back on it now. Here was the largest Black Bear I had ever seen and being as calm as I could be I’m coaching my friend in getting his first bear (I’d taken a bunch with my bow already). He is trying to find a good rest and hold the rifle steady and I could see he was shaking like a leaf! I’m thinking to myself “if I had my bow next to me I could take it out with a 50 yard shot”. My friend is scared shitless. It was still coming our way and we wondered if it could even see us or was worried about what we were. I still had my sandwich in my hand and am whispering in my buddy’s ear to take the safety off and gently squeeze the trigger. The big bear is only about 30 yards from us now and I’m thinking what an easy shot this would be for me with my bow. Finally he pulls the trigger and low and behold he has a clean miss!!!! That bear was less than 30 yards away and he missed it with a modern rifle and scope. I would have plugged that big ass bear with my bow easily.
Earlier in the season I was hunting Elk with this guy during Archery season and we came across a bunch of Grouse in the road. One particular Grouse flew to a tree next to the road and lit there. My friend had a .22 with him just for shooting these Grouse. He shot and shot at the Grouse time after time which was no more than 20 yards from him and finally I got pissed cause we needed to move on so I went over pulled a Flu-Flu arrow out of my quiver and shot the god damn thing. Then I had him retrieve my arrow and bird.
My other passion in Montana was Fly Fishing. I was in Missoula which means something like “meeting of 5 streams” or something like that. We had the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Rock Creek and I can’t remember the other one! I sure loved fly fishing though and still do. I would make all my school visits then pull over on the side of the road where ever I was and put on my waders and grab my rod out of the trunk. It was great fishing on all the rivers and all you had to do was “match the hatch”. I would have a good selection of flies in my boxes. Elk Hair Caddis, Blue Wing Olive, Madamm X, Pale Morning Dunn, Royal Yellow Humpy and my favorite of all time the Royal Wolf. It often determined what was on the menu for dinner.
I used to do an overnight adventure to a small town called Plains, MT that would include Thompson Falls and Trout Creek. This was a great little town and when I was in the area I stopped at the VFW in my full Dress Blue Uniform and would never have to pull my wallet out of my pocket. I would often walk out of there with a grocery bag full of fish, venison, caribou, moose and even musk ox. The old veterans in that town and many more just enjoyed seeing the uniform that is rarely seen in rural America.
I was having a blast as a Recruiter but all fun must come to an end. One day I get a call and it’s from my old command in Mare Island, CA (San Fran). My tour was being cut short and I was going back home. I had the security clearances and proper tickets for this exclusive command and I was being recalled. My Recruiting Command didn’t take kindly to that but they had no other choice than to release me and back to California I went.
I pretty much grew up in the San Fran area having spent a full 13 years there in my career. I enjoyed every minute of it also. All those trips out to Lake Berryessa or up the Russian River or over to the coast to Bodega Bay it was all good. Even Reno and Shasta was just a few hours away. It was nice to be going back home.
We didn't need "no stinkin helmets" back then!
Next up - the 50th Sturgis Rally and the most memorable run to date!
It’s about time I updated this story. So I’m going to jump ahead to 2005 for now because I ran out of photos from the 80’s. It was discovering some old photos and scanning them that got me started with this story in the first place. I ran out of old photos for now and without these old photos the story is hard to replicate or reflect on. It’s the old pictures that bring back the memories that bring about this story. So let’s see what we can come up with for 05.
On or about June of 05 I got a set of orders to report to the Navy Selection Board at Millington, TN (Memphis) for duty to be a board member in selecting the next years promotion list for E-7’s. I had already sat in two other selection boards and it’s a very desirable and honorable duty to sit one of these boards.
I was living or stationed at the time at the Naval Station in San Diego, CA and instead of flying out to Memphis I decided to ride my bike out. This would give me the opportunity to see some more country and participate in some of the local events across the country. The “Board” convenes at the end of June and runs to the end of July or until all eligible candidates for E-7 are reviewed. E-9’s or Master Chiefs from across the country are selected for this prestigious duty and I felt honored to be selected again. This was my fourth selection board I have attended since becoming a Master Chief.
It only made sense to ride out to Tennessee since I had got my new Big Dog Chopper and it was ready for a long ride. I really had a secret reason for riding out instead of flying and that will come out later. So come the end of June I load up my bike and hit the road.
It’s 1930 miles to Millington, TN and I plan on making it in three days with an overnight stop in Sparks, OK for the Sparks America rally. I figure I could get to New Mexico for my first stop and spend the night in a hotel and continue on to Sparks, OK for my next stop. Grants, NM was only 760 miles so thought that would be a good place to spend the night.
I load up all my uniforms and toss in my laptop along with all my camping gear and hit the road. It’s 5am and the sun is coming up as I hit I-10 and head out across California towards Arizona. It quickly warms up and is hitting 100 + so I roll up my jacket and attach it to my handlebars as I usually do. It’s kind of a trademark of mine to have something attached to my bars. Getting out of California is pretty easy and as I cross into Arizona at Blythe, CA the temperature is over 100 degrees. Bike is running smooth but I’m melting under my helmet. So once inside Arizona I ditch it and put it on the sissy bar and continue on my way. I have my stereo earplugs playing rock & roll to keep me alive as I cross the dry high desert.
I stop in a small place called Salome, AZ and have a couple Margaritas’ to quench my thirst and then hit the road again. I get up to Flagstaff and hit thunder clouds, they really started showing up as I was coming into the mountains or Prescott, AZ. It had started raining but it was really a godsend as it was so miserably hot that the rain was such a relief. But after I became soaked it wasn’t so pleasant anymore so I pulled over and put my jacket back on and got and I-17 and headed North for I-40. The desert had changed to high mountain forests as I passed through Jerome and Sedona Arizona. This is beautiful country and I recommend all to ride these back roads if you ever have the opportunity.
I reach I-40 and head East now in pouring rain and thunder showers. As I pass through the Coconino Mountains the thunder turns to heavy rain and lighting that only the summer heat brings on. You have to experience it to truly understand the veraciousness of this weather pattern. The thunder was so loud that you could feel it in addition to hearing it as it thundered across the high desert. But I was in my cocoon all wrapped up and listening to my music with only my eyes showing outside my mask and hood.
Eventually the thunder showers turned to lightning that was spectacular on the horizon but as I was nearing Winslow, AZ it was getting too close so I figured I had better cut my trip short and hole up in a hotel for the night. The next town was Holbrook and that was where I landed for the day. It only made for a 560 mile day but the lightening is something that I don’t like to play in. I will ride in heat, rain, wind, hail or snow but lightening is just too dangerous for me.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHowlDlYFrY&feature=related]YouTube - AC/DC - Ride On[/ame]
The hotel I perched in had a restaurant so I grabbed some dinner and had a couple drinks then I unloaded my bike and tried to dry out all my gear the best I could. After a phone call and some weather news I “hit the skid” for the night. I did bring a bottle with me so I could have a couple more drinks in my room.
At 5 am I had the bike loaded again and woke up all the hotel guests by warming up my scoot. It didn’t echo to loud!! I really needed to make it to Sparks, OK today. I had planned on making New Mexico before stopping for the night but the lightening cut that short so now I had more miles to make up. Sparks was still 840 miles away and I really wanted to spend a couple nights there before reaching Memphis. But this weather just cut that plan all up. If I could have gone another 250 miles last night I may have had a chance of making it to Sparks today but as it looks now I won’t make it. I hit the road and head East at my usual 90 per hour. Gassing up every hour sure is a pain but with a small tank like the one I have I have no other choice so about every hour I have to stop and fuel up but it gives me time to grab a coke from the soda fountain in the store and spike it a little bit with my favorite additive!
I make good time crossing the rest of Arizona with only about 70 miles. I then head out across New Mexico and enjoy the scenery as I’m passing through. It’s less than 400 miles crossing this beautiful state but soon I’m into Texas and in about 80 miles I will be at my favorite Steak House in the country. I always stop at the “Big Texan Steak Ranch” when passing through Amarillo.
If you’ve ever been there then you understand but if you haven’t been then you NEED to put this stop on your route as it’s one of the best steak houses in the country.
I stop for about 2 hours having a wonderful Rib eye Steak and a couple glasses of Cabernet wine. It was time to hit the road again and I continue East headed to Oklahoma. The road it wide and baron but I run at 90 mph gassing up every hour till dark. Finally I get to Eastern Texas to a small town of Shamrock and call it a day. It’s been a hot and dry ride and I’m beat so I grab a room and unload the bike again as I did yesterday. It’s only been 620 miles today and the stop at the steak house has cut my day shorter than I wanted. I would have liked to been in Sparks today but that is still 225 miles away and I probably would have made it if I didn’t stop so long before.
I walk next door to a restaurant and find that this is a dry county and no alcohol is served! What kind of crap is this? I couldn’t believe it, there was a bar here but you had to be a member to be served alcohol so I sign up and have a few Crown and Cokes. It’s been a long hot day in the saddle and I’m worn out from the last two days of riding so call it a night and plan on an early day tomorrow.
Who the fuck are you?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgWQ1erBnMo]YouTube - Keith Moon - The WHO - Who Are You[/ame]
I get up load up the bike and hit the road again. It’s just a short ride over to Sparks where I thought I would already be but road conditions had changed that plan. I get on the road again crossing wild open country and soon get into Oklahoma City. The traffic is heavy and I’m slowed down for quite a while. As I’m riding through this heavy traffic in 5 lanes of traffic I experience what almost cost me my life. A car in front of me runs over and spits out a rubber block. It’s one of those rubber blocks that is used as a cushion between the barriers and post on the side of the road. I swerve to miss it but it goes under my left foot peg and my frame hits it. It bucks my up into the air and I almost think I’m going to lose control of the bike but I end up in control but shaking terribly bad. I weave over to the right side to pull over on the shoulder to check the bike. The block had bucked me so hard that I thought I was a goner and I was shaking real bad as I give the bike a once over. Nothing seemed harmed so after I got my wits back I headed out again. It’s would be months before I realized the read damage that rubber block had done to my scoot.
I finally get to the exit that will direct me to Sparks America. I really should have been here last night but that wasn’t so.. so I planned on only stopping for one hour now as I still had 460 miles to go to Millington and I had to be there by tonight.
I really want to stay longer.
It’s something that you can get on a bike and ride across most of this wide open country of ours and plan your trip down to the last minute. I so badly wanted to get into Sparks for the night but weather had detracted me from that. Still 1400 miles in two days is quite a ride and I made the most of it. I planned on staying for no longer than one hour then I would hit the road again and continue East to Memphis. Boy what an hour it would be.
I do leave and continue my journey East and make it into Memphis by dark. Traffic was a bitch and I had somewhat of a problem finding the base but when I got there I finally checked into my room that would be my home for the next month. What a ride it had been. Three days for almost 2000 miles in some horiffic heat, lost of rain, thunder, lightening and wind. But it was fantastic and the bike had ran flawless getting me there in time for my duty (remember, I'm never late when it comes to the Military!). I will be here for the next four weeks but there will some fun to be had!!!!!
Next up...... Little Sturgis
Stay tuned
I remember the first year I went to the Redwood Run. It had to be 1984 or 1985. I got together with a group of bikers from the Napa area and we headed out North to the Redwoods up 101 to Garberville. We must have had 30 bikes in our group and behind us was a couple of chase trucks with all the gear and foods we would need for the weekend. The Redwood wasn't an organized event in those days the way it is today. It was just a free for all.
I took a girl named Trish and she worked at a bar in Napa called the White Horse. She was a great looking blond that I had been running around with for a while. She was a good rider and we made many trips/rides together. Our favorite ride was out to Lake Berryessain the Napa area. We would have many great times out here. She was a nudist and enjoyed showing her assets.
For this trip we packed our tent and sleeping bags in a military duffel bag and threw it in the back of one of the chase trucks and made our way up North to the Eureka area. It was a one day ride but we stopped often for gas and a refreshment along the way.
When we got there we unloaded the trucks and the bikes and everyone jumped in to the river to cool off "skinny dippin"!. As soon as we arrived we had started a couple of fire pits (something you can't do today) and when the coals got good and hot a couple of Turkeys were dropped in then for roasting. Everything was prepped before hand so that when we got there we just had to cook the food.
In the mean time everyone was refreshing in the river and I was swimming around also. I finally got out and perched on the bank of the river to dry out and right in front of me came this girl buck ass naked with raving red hair that to this day I think of every day. She was a goddess in my eyes. Young, beautiful, perky breasts and that raven red hair (on both sides!!!). I can see her today as if it was yesterday. She came up the bank and asked me if I thought the water was cold. I don't remember what I answered but don't think it was much...... "Yeah, it was a little cold" I said to her. Holly Cow she was gorgeous!!!!
Anyway, after a full afternoon of relaxation and play in the river we all huddled around the fire pit and smoked some good stuff and drank some with the "music boxes" in the background playing some good Rock & Roll. I remember the fire reflecting in my eyes and people telling "tall stories" about this and that. Some of the group were in their tents which were circled around the fire pit and there were sounds of moaning and groaning from within. Soon it was time to go to sleep so Trish and I jumped in our tent and made the same sounds we heard earlier. I can remember looking through the fabric of the tent at the fire pit as we did our thing inside the tent. Trish was moaning and crowning real loud and causing quite a stir. Afterwords we came back out and joined the group. The party went on till the wee hours of the morning.
Ironic that I can remember this vividly probably from the good smoke I had. But I can remember seeing through the tent material as we "were getting ready for sleep" and aware of the fire pit and the flames. What a great trip this was.
There used to be a swing rope that everyone would swing on into the river. I had pictures but I'll be damned it I can find them;
Dinner was outstanding as I got a leg of Turkey and a cob of corn. What more can you ask for at a camp site remote in the woods with the river sounds in the background!!!
Saturday morning was pancakes and sausage. I can smell it now! The maple syrup with breakfast is something that you can't forget in a campsite. After breakfast everyone moved back to the river and was running around nekkid (skinny dippin) till lunch time. Lunch was sandwiches of Turkey and leftovers.
The rest of the day we played in the river and hung around getting high and drinking a bit. There was wine, Bobine and rum for everyones delight. But the best of the show was all the girls in the river!! Oh how I wish for those day to come back now.
Sunday morning we all packed out gear and prepared for the ride home. It was a great weekend and something that you would want to attend again.
So lets get on with pt 2 of "A Sailors Story":
1987 came with the resurrection of my motorcycle. But I had a long ways to go yet and a lot of stuff to buy. I also had a full time job so all my spare time when into getting this thing on the road. Here are some of the things that were going on within our country at the time. As you can tell I used to like MTV. Too bad it went to shit!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_vssdys8lk]YouTube - Matt Le Blanc - Heinz Ketchup Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE_Vq-jxdJU]YouTube - Madonna - MTV 1987 Who's That Girl Tour Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSOLs9-TcAQ]YouTube - MTV Spot 1987
I was so anxious to get this bike back on the road. It was going to be totally different than what it was before. No more “electric start” I was throwing out the cast primary and putting on an old “tin” primary cover like all the old panheads had. This was a kooler looking cover and ironically looks similar to what our current Big Dogs have with the DSSC Baker system.
Here is a pic of the two different primaries. The newer HD heavy aluminum primary inner and outer on the left and the simple lighter tin primary on the right:
I was now going to have to kick start that bike every time I got on it. Oh boy, if I knew then what I know now I would never have done it. But that’s life and looking back its pretty kool watching someone go out to some long chopped bike, get ready, put the key in and unlock the ignition switch then put the key back in their pocket. You might think the next part would be to twist the throttle a couple times to prime the carb! Ha ha ha, S&S back then didn’t include an accelerator pump on their carbs. What you did was turn the petcock on. Flip out the kick pedal and while either straddling the bike or standing to the right side of it with one knee on the seat (my preferred way) you roll the motor over with the pedal through to the compression stroke. Remember how they used to start airplanes back in the early 20th century, remember seeing movies where they would roll the prop around before yelling “Contact”!!!
Some guys liked to prime the motor with a couple kicks. Depends on how long it had been since you last stopped I guess.
Anyway, once you had it primed then you would turn the ignition switch to run then rock the kill switch to start and then grab the bars, jump high in the air and come down hard on that kicker pedal with all your weight. If all went good then the motor would roll to life. A lot of times it would just be a puff out of the intake and you say “oh shit” gotta do it again. Many times you would get kick back and the pedal would kick back up and slap the back of your calf as if you got bull whipped!
Sometimes when we were in a group we would be waiting for minutes while someone attempted to kick start his bike. Pretty soon someone would get pissed grab a couple guys and we would push start it.
In this You Tube vid you will see a guy prime a motor and then kick it over:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2CUijE8cdE]YouTube - Rodeo motorcycle Shovel Kick Start with SU carb
Here’s another one that took a few kicks. Sometimes you would kick all day meaning maybe 10 times then it was time for a break!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8M_qCuhbtU]YouTube - Kick start a cold 1976 FLH Harley Davidson
When was the last time you saw someone with a kicker bike? Pretty rare now a days but back in the 70's and 80’s they were real common. I guess people were still reluctant to change from the starter equipped bikes. Lots of hard core HD guys refused to recognize the new Evo motor that HD came out with. They were wary of it for being designed and funded by AMF. It didn’t leak or mark its spot like the old Knuckles, Pan or Shovels did. No soul or heart to that new Evo motor!
Do you know when the first HD model was to come standard with an electric starter? It was also the last of an era of one of the most famous motors HD ever made.
As I assembled parts I was laying them all out on my work bench then numbering my chalkboard on the proper assembly steps I need to do to get this thing on the road. I also had to separate things for paint or chrome. I had to wire this thing from scratch, I didn’t use any harness just a shitload of colored wire and lots of connectors. I got good at soldering and crimping.
With a loss of almost the whole bike I had to order and fit almost everything together like the tanks, seat, fenders and oil tank. Not like today when most things have some standard to them and you just bolt them up.
Here is a picture of the thing coming together:
I had to do a lot of research on the wheels and brakes. Of course I went with Performance Machine on both. They were the best back them as they are today. For the rear wheel I went with a solid wheel then spokes in the front with the Springer of course! On the rear I used a 4 puk PM caliper just like what we have today. On the front I used the single puks PM make and I used them in a dual setup. Paughco’s Springer came with all the mounts and things needed for the brackets. I got most everything from Paughco for this re-build.
Here is a picture of it as a roller:
Here’s the big fat 140mm tire on the rear. Still have that SuperMax dual belt drive system on it too. I had to fit the sissy bar to the fender which has internal struts for a clean look. In this picture you can see the old S&S “B” carb up there. Notice the clean top of it? Also had a neat King and Queen seat:
So, do you think I got this thing ready for Sturgis this year of 1987? I will tell you I was there staying at my favorite place the Buffalo Chip! I even made it in 85 & 86. But 87 would be my last year to Sturgis till 1990 which was the 50th anniversary. That damn submarine I went to just had to spend the summers gone to a different part of the world where it wasn’t warm or sunny and there were no girls or MTV. No radio, phones or mail. Just long times under the ocean leaving in the spring and coming home in the fall!!
Answer: First year of the electric start was the 65 FL and it was also the last year of the great “Panhead” motor. One of our members here has one in his garage!! Think you might know who it is?
What color would I pick for my new chopper? Would it be some more fancy graphics like it had before or maybe just a plain Jane color!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5iqpb6L7pY]YouTube - Roger Clemens 1987 Zest Commercial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrZvUlGJr30]YouTube - 1987 Juicy Fruit Commercial
That old Shovelhead provided me with a lot of miles. I don’t remember what was on the odometer then, been too many years ago but I can tell you it was 10 of thousands of miles. My old shipmate Shag and I really put some miles on in the 3 yrs we lived together. I really miss that guy; I haven’t seen him since we rode to the 50th Sturgis Rally back in 1990. Just thinking back now reminds me of some great old times that in one instance seem just like yesterday and in another seem like long ago! Do you have those thoughts also?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuYgdYc0Ie4"]YouTube - I Can See for Miles (Live Smothers Brothers 1967
I grew up in a little town of Pingree, Idaho. My father was one of a large family of Mormon settlers from Utah back in the early twentieth century. My father was the oldest of 8 kids and was a twin to boot. There were actually two sets of twins in my father’s family.
My father is second from left front row:
They grew up in the Ogden, Utah area and then migrated to Blackfoot, Idaho and settled in Pingree, Idaho where my Grandfather had purchased thousands of acres of land. Each of the kids got a segment of property and my father’s was a 700 acre parcel in Pingree.
We grew sugar beets and potatoes as well as kept a bunch of milk cows and a 100 head of Herford cattle. Growing up on this farm/ranch was hard work. My brothers and I would be awakened at 0430 in the morning and we would have to go milk the cows and feed the horses before breakfast and then do it again after school. Milking the cows was not to hard for us young kids as we used a vacuum milking machine so the hardest part was getting the cows in the stalls and carrying the buckets of cleaning solution that we dipped the vacuum nozzles in prior to milking the cows.
After our morning chores we would go back to the house and have breakfast. I distinctly remember having fresh milk. Our mother made it with cocoa powder and put the pitcher on the table and before we poured it into our glasses we had to skim off the fat from the top of the pitcher! We also raised up to 2000 chickens so we always had fresh eggs. Life was very busy back then but it was a necessity that required your full participation 24 hours a day 7 days a week all year round.
It was this work ethic that contributed my success in the US Navy years later I believe.
My father had built the home we lived in. He was still single at the time. He and his brothers all helped in building his home on this property. My father worked with my grandfather to ensure all the siblings properties were doing good. He put his personal life aside while the family was being looked after. My father had hundreds of acres of potatoes and sugar beets and during the harvest season migrant workers would come up from California and Texas to work the fields.
My father had a row of old railroad box cars on his property that were converted over to temporary housing. Each had a wood stove in them and that was about it. Outhouses were provided outside for sanitary needs. The migrant workers would usually come up by families. They worked hard bagging potatoes and clearing future fields of rocks and stones.
This one particular family always came up from Brownsville, TX and my father always hired them. Back in 1957 this family had a daughter that was about 17 and her name was Bernarda. As the family passed the home that my father was building Bernarda would always state to her family that she would live in that home someday!!!! Well as you can imagine my father fell in love with this little Mexican girl whose family came to work his fields and they eventually got married and my mother got to move into that home she always said she would live in!
Years later I myself would meet a little Hispanic girl from El Salvador and marry her too. Ironically she would find a post card of a hotel in Waikiki named the Sheraton Moana Surf Rider from a previous visit to the island where she inscribed the back of it with the note of “someday I will get married in this hotel”. And it did happened several years later and she had forgotten about that postcard till several years later when she pulled it out and showed me! Mysterious it all is!!
1997
What’s not mysterious is my love of travel and motorcycles. I would travel where ever the road took me. No concern for any problems that may happen along the way. Even today I will load up my Big Dog Chopper and hit the road like there was no tomorrow. Even now I sit here at my keyboard and see the “white strips” from the road zinging past me on my left side. I dream about those white lines.
Since my early days of riding across country I have always had some kind of music of sorts. Whether it was just some headphones or some fancy ear-plugs like I use today my miles are measured with the music I listen to. I have many miles left in me and if all goes the way I want it to this year I will add about another 20,000 to the old odometer but we’ll see.
Here is a couple of my favorite all time songs:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_VhXnqt-gA]YouTube - The Who I Can See For Miles from 12/31/69[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3eeVuIs1uc]YouTube[/ame] - Bob Seger Roll Me Away
The new bike build was coming along very nicely and I was getting down to paint selection. I had been going over lots of paint samples and finally narrowed it down to a few colors. What I really wanted was gold leafing. I thought this looked great and it was pretty popular back in the 80’s. I wouldn’t have any murals this time. Just a pretty paint color and some scroll work done in gold leaf. The color I selected was “kandy Brandywine” on top of a black pearl base. This allowed the color to “come out” in the sunshine. It was absolutely beautiful in the sunlight. The added gold leaf just set if off more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOFwXiA2JrU]YouTube - El Cheapo doing goldleaf part 1
The rest of the bike was coming along fine. I had the new wheels all set up with new tires. I got the dual Performance Machine “puks” set up on the Paughco springer front-end. On the rear I had a solid disk polished wheel. It was a 16x4 if I remember right. On the front I of course went with a skinny 21 spoke to enhance the springer.
I had the motor and transmission all mounted and then plumbed all the oil lines from the new chrome Paughco oil bag. I installed the gas tanks and got the fuel lines routed. Installing the primary was a piece of cake now that I didn’t have a starter. Just the clutch unit from SuperMax and the existing rear belt drive I already had. I installed the headlight, bars, controls and clutch and brake controls.
Then I had the difficult job of wiring the bike. I enlisted a couple of my “Electrician-Mates” (EM’s) from the Submarine I was on and using an Easyrider Electrical manual we wired up the bike from scratch.
It looked basically like this:
My electrician buddies made easy work of the wiring loom for me. They had their Fluke test equipment that is standard issue in the Nuclear Navy and make quick work of my wiring harness.
After all that was done it was time to fill all the tanks and fluids and prime the motor up. Starting it for the first time was a challenge. No more electric start, it was all kick from now on. Good thing I was young cause there is now way I would do it today. It takes some effort to start a stroker motor with a kick starter. But it fired over pretty quickly and so I ran it through a couple heat cycles and then checked all the nuts and bolts and made sure it was all good to go.
It was looking like this when I got it all done. No paint on it but you get the picture of how the bike looked with the solid rear wheel and the springer on the front.
During this year of putting this bike together it kept me busy along with my Military duties. But I did find time to get over to Sturgis again and I did ride. You know how I did it?
My good buddy let me borrow his HD and I rode it over to Sturgis from the San Francisco area and back. A real “shipmate” he was. Some guys you can just trust and those you can’t you know about. This buddy of mine trusted me enough to put a couple thousand miles on his new HD and did I put some miles on it. I got my girlfriend and loaded up that scoot and we hit the road. We rode up I-5 to the Columbia River on the Washington/Oregon border and followed it inland then crossed over Idaho, Montana and into South Dakota. We stayed at the Buffalo Chip of course. I’ve never stayed anywhere else. 1987 was a kool year to go as any year is. We had a good time enjoying the bands and shows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os5wH_H7cng]YouTube - TRIUMPH - Magic Power [1987]
I guess 22 years ago was a long time but seems just like yesterday I was there. Funny how you forget so much in life but when it comes to some of the best times the memories are instantly there. I can vividly remember riding along the Columbia River on the Washington side. It’s a highway where as the Southern side in Oregon is a freeway. Crossing over to Idaho and the long stretches of Montana and the “white lines” I constantly refer to. I dream with “white lines” flashing by my left side as if I’m rolling down the highway.
Of course duty has its place in my life and I was still spending a good portion of the year under water in some remote section of the world. This was what caused me to get my bike done in that we always collected large advance checks prior to sailing so we could pay up bills while we were gone for the 3 or 4 months sometimes 5 months. It was a long time away from home and life in general. We didn’t have phones, newspapers, radio or TV. I missed my MTV back them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwLyqHh1szo]YouTube - MTV Spot 1987
But we did get some news from home. For you submariners out there you will remember “family grams”. These were 50 word news grams you received in a one way broadcast. Prior to sailing you gave the blank “family grams” to your loved ones or girlfriend and they could fill them out and weekly send you a short note telling you all was well. They were of course screened so no negative information was received.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LStRiwjxD1U]YouTube - MTV Spot 1987
Life at sea was a ritual, you sat your watch then followed up with some maintenance then you had your few hours a day for personal stuff. Our boats spent thousands of dollars on games, projects and anything to keep you busy at sea. One thing I did was lots of leather projects. We would get hundreds of “Tandy” leather kits and we had all the tools and I stamped out a lot of projects including wallets, purses and notebook covers for all my family members. We even had a couple sailors that did the Saddle kits that Tandy offered. Some guys did wood carving. They could take a 24” stick of wood and carve it out into chain links. You had a lot of time on your hands so this helped pass the time.
Our missions required us to do some fantastic stuff. A lot of it I can't pass on right now but it will be published at a later time when the statute of limitation pass but here is a couple examples I found in my files. “Disclaimer” I have no idea where these photos came from!!!
Fire drills….. Always fire drills!!
You know how I stayed in shape out to sea? I rode a bicycle. We had rowers, ski machines, stationary bikes and dead weights but I brought my own bike with a trainer for the back tire and rode it about an hour or two daily. I used to put on thousands of miles on a bicycle yearly:
Can anyone tell me what’s happening in this picture?
Next will be firing up this new beast for the first time. And my next trip to Sturgis on this new chopped Shovelhead!
Many of you have followed my story as I've recollected my life over the last 30 yrs while I was enlisted in the US Navy. I love the Navy and it took me all over the world. I would never have experienced the things I did if it haven't been for the Navy. :2thumbs:
Anyway, I have been writing a segment a week for a long time then took a break after many spring runs that were on my schedule. But now I'm back in the "story" mode and this is the latest update to my life story here. One thing though, I may use the word "story" but I will guarantee you this is 100% reality. I try to substantiate my writings with actual pictures and videos for the current times. Hope you all enjoy the continuation of this story.
Pt 1 is located here.
http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/dog-pound/10513-sailors-story.html
I had to break it up cause the software wouldn't let me combine the posts together anymore cause it got to big
.Next part!
I left off with the last thread on final assembly of my new Chopper after it had been wrecked and re-built.
My brother in the hospital:
It was coming along fine and most of the parts had been manufactured on the Mare Island Shipyard fabrication and welding shops. Guess it's good to know people in the right places.
Here are a couple MTV commercials of the time:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j0UjuCbz9Y]YouTube - Information Society MTV Promo[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLLpm5OE3TY]YouTube - Classic MTV promo[/ame]
I was devestated I lost my very expensive paint job but my brother was alive so that was what counted.
I got that bike put all together all by myself from design, collection of parts, fabrication, assembly, wiring and final assembly I did it all except paint. It was a thrill all around.
I rebuilt an 81 FXWG Shovelhead Motor into a real chopper that was a kick-start bike and had a springer frontend and all kinds of other special parts all put together in my garage.
I was extremely proud of my accomplishments in putting this scoot back together.
But the Navy had different plans for me. They wanted my to go to Orlando, FL and attend Navy Recruiting school. So off in Oct of 89 to report to school. I graduate successfully or as successfully as anyone that is crammed through a 3 month fast paced selling school. I learned out to sell you on a product that I couldn't hold in my hand or carry with me as an example. I had to sell you on an idea.
I used to walk through the malls asking kids "do you want to join my Navy?" while dressed in my handsome dress blues:
I did have a great time in Missoula, MT as a Military Recruiter. I would tag team up with the Marine Recruiter. We had 29 high schools in our area of about 300 miles radius. We got along fine during our school visits. I will tell you a young kid in High school that has his mind set on the Marine Corp is not going to be presuaded by any Navy recruider to change his mind to the Navy! :loony:
I used to travel to all these schools on a weekly or monthly schedule and I always included my "fly fishing" gear in the trunk of the vehicle. After I visited my schools I would visit the VFW or American Legion and ask the "old timers" where the best places were to fish and they would either point me in the right directions or escort me out there. I had a lot of fun on recruiting duty.
Come summer time and it was time to plan for Sturgis. This would be my 4th time there and the first with my new Chopper. This thing was such a great scooter except for the kickstarting. I would never do that shit again if I could do it over again.
I entered my bike in the local HotRod and Bike show and I took both "Best Custom" and "Best of Show" awards. I have the trolphy's today down in the garage. But they didn't mean anything to me if I couldn't get the bike out on the road and ride for awhile.
I hooked up with this girl named Kelly and she was going with me to Sturgis this year. She was a nice little blonde that went to the college there in Missoula. She was a great fit for the back of my bike. I had made arrangements for camping at the my favorite place the "Buffalo Chip" and we were on our way.
It rained all the way. We were so soaked by the time we pulled into Billings, MT. We stopped at a truck stop after dark and got a booth in the reasturant and drank some hot coffee trying to warm up all the time dripping large puddles of water under the table. But as I do today I said lets go!!! Once your wet then you may as well move on cause you aren't going to get any wetter. So we move out and get into Sturgis at daybreak and get to the Chip and set up camp. It's so good and refreshing to jump in the tent and strip off the rain soaked clothing and put on some dry clothers.
Weather is now warmed up and going to be good for a couple days.
Well as you can imagine we had a great time watching the Doobies and other great bands but soon it was time to head home.
So we load up the old Shovelhead Chopper and head on home after 5 days at Sturgis. What a trip, what a ride, what an adventure, what an experience.
Are you doing Sturgis this year???? Why not????
Did that custom made Shovelhead motor make it home???
Next part of the story!
1991 was an interesting year. Back at work (Recruiting) our country was just getting into the Iraq war called Desert Shield. I was stationed in a very liberal city where the University of Montana was based. They seemed to mimic the philosophy with the Berkeley University! In fact they sent bus loads of students down to the famous Berkeley University for protest training. Many times throughout the build-up of forces in Saudi Arabia I had my windows splashed with red paint with writings that stated “no blood for oil”. I and my recruiters spend money out of our pockets to have out windows painted with Aircraft Carriers, Ships and Submarines just to have it ruined by these protesters.
One day we looked out our windows and see a couple of nice Suburban’s pull in and low and behold Hank Williams Jr jumps out with his entourage. They often ate at the restaurant that was next door. On this particular day they pulled several guns out of the back of the vehicles and were admiring them as a bunch of us recruiters go out and get some autographs. Hank liked to frequent the Chinese restaurant next door.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHjaW9sXl7s]YouTube - Hank Williams Jr. - Family Tradition[/ame]
Sturgis in 1991 was a great time as it always is. We partied late into the night listening to the bands and having a great time every night we were there. Kelly didn’t complain at all though all the rain on the way there or the camping accommodations. She was a real sport. Our tent was very small and we shared a sleeping bag without a pad on the ground as I couldn’t carry much more on the bike.
We rode out to all the sites like Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse plus all the other sites in the area. Each night would find us back at the Buffalo Chip partying to the bands and meeting new friends.
One event I remember was the final bikini contest on the Friday or Saturday night. We had moved our bike up to the front of the stage as you could back in those days. You had to get in front of the stage early to get good pictures of the girls. I got my place right in front and then sent Kelly back and forth for beer. When I had to go I just unzipped and went right where I stood bunched in the crowd. No one ever noticed. I was able to get some great pictures as the girls did there thing on stage. They really got into it unlike what they do today with all the restrictions. This was back in the film days before we had digital cameras. I got the film developed at a specialty store seeing as they were R-rated pictures!
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgb-zCnz9mE]YouTube - Pepsi Commercial ( HD ) Michael Jackson Hair catches fire[/ame]
One of the things I had picked up in Sturgis that year was a carved out walking stick for my brother. Earlier in the story you read that when my brother wrecked my bike he had lost his leg so a kool walking stick was an appropriate gift to bring back to him. I had strapped it to the side of the bike similar to a scabbard. It did wear down paint where it rested but was all worth it.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv5bN7WgaY4]YouTube - Levi's commercial - Biker - The Joker[/ame]
Finally it was time to head back home to Missoula, MT. We got out of the mud pit the camp ground had turned into with all the rain and headed west. Weather was pretty good on the way home. I had hooked up with some others that were heading west and we made good time.
But my motor had started running sour and wasn’t giving me the power it needed to keep up with the others. I stopped many times to play with the ole B S&S carburetor and look at other things but nothing worked to improve so when we got to Big Timber, MT I called it quits and told the others to go on. They had stayed with me all the way even with all my problems with the bike. I called my brother in Missoula, MT to come get me with his pick-up. He arrived several hours later. We get the bike loaded up and head home. Later I take the motor apart and find that the valves clearance was not what it needed to be and it was causing me intake issues making the motor run erratically. So much for my famously built “Jim McClure” motor. I had to have the whole top-end rebuilt to get it running again and did it right away.
I enjoyed being stationed in Missoula, MT. One of the unique rides they do every year is the New Years Ride. It doesn’t matter if there is snow on the ground or if it’s just wet a bunch of them get together every year to celebrate the new year. I attended this twice during my 3 yr hitch as a recruiter there. If there is a lot of snow and ice on the road you will see some of the bikers wrap there wheels with rope, chain or use stud tires just to do this annual ride.
Funny that with all the pictures I take I don't have one of my completed bike. It was one of the nicest bikes I have had. Paughco frame and springer along with a lot of other custom parts all built in my garage. I was very proud of this bike even though I had so many problems with it.
Having it as a kick start sure brought on it's own issues. That thing was a pain to start sometimes. But it sure looked good and was a real head turner.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Rp4J7yrwU]YouTube - Sturgis Rally Hotties at the Buffalo Chip Campground[/ame]
Another segment to this long old story!!!
October 1989 had me reporting to Orlando, FL for Recruiter school. Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC) has a very strict selection process for recruiter applicants. This was going to be a 3 yr tour but as many recruiters will tell you its really 36 “one month tours” as you succeed or die month to month based on how well you do at encouraging our finest young men (boys) in joining our mighty US Navy. Orlando was cool though and I made it successfully through this very hard school and was detailed to Missoula, MT as part of the Seattle Recruiting District that covered Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
One thing I did do while in Orlando was go visit my favorite Knife maker in the whole wide world. I had always been into knives. Remember the Rambo series?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EllK3SDlO_4]YouTube - The story of Rambo Knife[/ame]
How about Arnold in Commando?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRlEsDQ-Hlo]YouTube - Arnold[/ame]
I had been collecting Randall Made Knives for several years now and had about 6 of them. Bo Randall’s family raised oranges in Orlando but his passion was making knives. Bo’s history is quite historic in that before WWII he had created a knife that would be reviewed by the US Marine Corps as the K-Bar but he lost the contract to a major company that pretty much used his design and was able to stamp them out by the 10 of thousands whereas Randall hammer forges all his. But his design became well known to the Sailors and GI’s and after the big war started he was soon receiving orders through the mail simply addressed to “Knife Man, Orlando, FL”. Randall never expanded and only used his family and a few employees’s to create his wonderful knives. A man that went over to Europe with the Army Air Corp had one of his knives and soon became his liaison over there for the GI’s to order through. That man’s name was Ronald Reagan! Randall became so famous with his design that NASA included his knives as part of the survival packages in all the earlier space ships (Gemini I think). Then in Vietnam Gen. Westmoreland carried a Randall Made on his side throughout the war.
I have about 8 of these knives now in addition to ordering one for each of my brothers that I hunt with. All of us have the same model and in the same configuration all with our names engraved on them. I ordered a like one for my son several years ago! Yes, several years ago as the waiting list is now over 5 yrs as they refuse to expand to the displeasure of the collectors.
http://www.randallknives.com/history.php
So, while I was at Recruiting School I was able to visit the Randall Made Co. several times and enjoy the museum there that dates back to when Randall started making knives in the 30’s. It was said then that any knife that was ever produced was in that museum. I graduated the week before Christmas in 1989 and moved on to my Navy Recruiting Station (NRS) in Missoula, Mt. Sadly the next week on 25 Dec Bo Randall died. I never met him but I learned a good bit about him being in his shop.
I arrived to Missoula, MT in December and it was probably about 20 degrees. It was a bitch to drive there because it was so cold your windshield defroster melted the snow and ice and the outside temperature quickly refroze it to your wiper blades. You used a lot of windshield fluid just so you could drive a few miles down the road. The temperature never raised above freezing my first month there.
I was soon unloading boxes and crates in my new home. Besides getting settled in, one of my first requirements was to get my bike back together. I had just finished it up in Kalifornia and then had to take it apart for shipping. In those days the Navy didn’t ship bikes but you could take them apart and crate the larger parts and they would ship it for you. I soon got it all together and one of the first things I had to do was get it licensed in Montana. I visited the DMV and got the requirements for new motorcycles and learned that I had to have a horn, turn signals and reflectors which were no surprise. So I get it all done and call up the State Patrol and schedule a visit. Soon a Trooper shows up at my door and says he’s there to inspect my motorcycle. I say come on into the garage. I’m in full uniform thinking that it may help me out in any way possible. He walks around the bike and is admiring it and asking a few questions and signs off after verifying I met all the requirements. I didn’t have to start it up nor do a sound check which I was pleased with. So I take my new construction certificate down to the court house and get a personalized license plate.
You know what I got?
9BIG1Z
Yes, they bought off on it and that is what I had on my bike. Wish I still had it for my garage but when I sold my ole shovelhead it went with the bike. It was pretty cool cause at stoplights I would be watching the car behind me and when they saw the plate they would point and start snickering.
So I get through all that and am settling in with my new job and discovering all the new things I have to learn to be a successful recruiter but I’m thinking of summer. I hadn’t been to Sturgis since 1987 and this year was going to be the 50th anniversary. There was no way I could miss this one. I had to go even if I couldn’t get the time off! This was projected to be the largest rally ever and I think it did turn out to be. So I had to go no matter what. Work goes on and the spring comes then summer and finally we are in July and even with a massive schedule at work I keep thinking of going to Sturgis again.
Sometime during the first week of August my Uncle shows up on my doorstep. He’s on his bike and it’s all loaded down for his trip to Sturgis. He rode over from Walla Walla to get me so we could go together. I still hadn’t got the time off with a busy schedule and all. He doesn’t wait around and heads on. That night I’m tossing and turning knowing I need to be there. I’ve got to be there for the big 50th one, “Damn”. The 50th drew the largest crowd ever recorded in history, an estimated 400,000 bikers.
Next morning I go in and call headquarters in Seattle and tell them I’m taking off for a few days. Hell, I’m and E-7 (Chief) and in charge of my station so that’s what I did. I ran home and loaded up the bike and called up this girl named Sandra and off we go.
It’s about 700 miles and we ride straight through. We get into town and boy oh boy; every biker in the world must be in Sturgis. It was rough getting through town and my clutch hand was about done. But we made it across town and over to my standard place to pitch a tent. The Famous Buffalo Chip was ready for me
so we pull up and get our wristbands and go in and find a place to set up our little camp for the next few days.Sturgis is so cool you have to be there to understand but back in the 80’s and 90’s it was a real party and everyone was either at the Glencoe campground or the Buffalo Chip which was about the only campsites back then. Sandy and I made good use of our time visiting all the sites such as Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We ride through all the little towns of Deadwood, Lead, Hill City and Keystone. Back at the Chip we enjoy some of the major bands at the time. My all time favorite band is playing this year, The Allman Bros rocked the house as they say. I wish they would play every year kinda like ZZ Top does today.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEP_dPN3Haw&feature=related]YouTube - Gregg Allman- I'm No Angel[/ame]
1990 also drew a great band called the Blue Rockets with Billy Gordon.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-lyKNpbWIQ]YouTube - Billy Gordon and the Blue Rockers[/ame]
“Wolfman Jack” showed up. The Chip was real crazy back then with naked girls running all around and couples doing there thing right out in the open. Back then the Chip was just the arena that is there today but back then it didn’t have all the buildings it does today and there was nothing else outside the arena. It was a small venue but a great one.
One of the best events they had at the Chip was just after dark they would bring out some unlucky dudes “rice burner” and cremate it. First everyone would be offered sled hammer turns then when it was all mangled up they would raise it up high in the air and with a band prompting us all on they would drop it to a fire pit that had been started underneath it. Was quite a sight and I was able to collect a couple pictures of this rare event.
It isn’t like this anymore, there are many rice burners showing up now and many crotch rockets. The scene has changed very much from a couple of decades ago. Now a day’s there isn’t even any nudity allowed inside the arena! But we sure had fun back then. I remember early in the evening we would all ride our bikes up to the front of the stage to get a good position to watch the main concert. Sandy and I got up pretty close and we were just fiddling around and fondling and Sandy jumps back and says “stop that”. Some jackass is walking by about that time and asks “is everything is ok” to her. I tell him to get lost and he stands his ground thinking he's Mr. bad ass till I reach in the back of my belt and make like I’m pulling out my gun. He walks off then which probably was a good thing since I really did have a gun in my waistband, I always carried my little Walthers PPK .380 with me. Oh, I had a permit for it. But you always have some guy out there that seems like he has to prove something to himself. These guys are the jackass’ that end up causing all the problems at these events too. He would have had a bad night if he had pursued anything with me. Guess I would have too!
Well money is running short and the week has come to an end and it’s time to head home. It’s been a hell of a trip and we’ve collected out t-shirts and souvenirs and had our good times. Now it’s time to pack up and make the journey home and get cleaned up. We had no issues on the road in either direction and soon we are back in our comfortable home to reminisce on our fabulous journey.
Some statistics from 1990:
The following year in 1991 the Sturgis bank got robbed. Word was the APB put out was to be on the lookout for “a man dressed in a black t-shirt and blue jeans”!!!!
Where oh where do I go next?
I have been writing a segment sporadically for a long time then took a break after many spring runs that were on my schedule. But now I'm back in the "story" mode and this is the latest update to my life story here. One thing though, I may use the word "story" but I will guarantee you this is 100% reality. I try to substantiate my writings with actual pictures and videos for the current times. Hope you all enjoy the continuation of this story.
Coors commercial
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3h7Q3YkoM]YouTube - coors light commercial from the 1990's[/ame]
I had spent a lot of money on that ole Shovelhead bike over the years. But it had taken me all over the country many times and just kept on going albeit with a little bit of wrenching along the way. I was really regretting switching it over to a kick-start though. It was just too hard back in those days especially with that old B S&S carburetor that didn’t have an accelerator pump.
I was pretty good friends with the local bike shop owner that now owns the local HD dealership in Missoula and he had enticed me to put my bike in the local fair this one year in 1990 for the Rod and Bike show. So I did. I got it all cleaned up and spent many hours detailing it just for this show. I entered it in the Custom Class as it was a ground up build with custom Pauchco frame and springer as well as most of the other parts. This was a ride in show so I was classed up with other bikes that were daily riders. There were many nice bikes to compete with and I wondered how I would fare with all this competition. The show went through the weekend and come Sunday the finals were being tabulated and low and behold I find out I won best Custom!!! That was pretty kool when I got to go up and get my trophy and I was elated. Then after the announcements for the other categories and all the winners had claimed there trophies they announce the “Best of Show” and lo and behold I win it. That was so kool. I won two trophies for my first event with this latest build of my ole Shovelhead.
Joe Montana, Mario Bros and Starburst
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVzUYaAnJo8]YouTube - 1990 Commercials #2[/ame]
I was dating this girl named Cathy and she had raving red hair all the way down to her fine ass. I have many pictures of her but I’ll be damned if I can find any right now to scan and upload. She was a real beauty but was only 23 yrs old and I was like 31 but we had great times together. It was this year that I made Senior Chief in the Navy and she was there with my C.O. to pin on my E-8 “Anchors” on my shirt collars. Boy oh boy do I miss that girl!!!
Funny some of the things you remember from the old days. I had just got a new computer and it had 80386 SL processor. Fastest thing around at the time with a whopping 64mb of memory! A far cry from what we have today. It was at this time that you also had limited access to “bulletin boards” used as a mail service prior to the introduction to the World Wide Web in 1991. Yes that was 1991 way before Gore’s claim to it!! One of the best games at the time for the computer was the “Leisure Suit Larry” series. I know many of you remember it. Don’t deny it.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJBvaZKDXdE]YouTube - Leisure Suit Larry 5 - Trailer (1991)[/ame]
We had other games like Kings Quest
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Rni6mH7oQ&feature=related]YouTube - King's Quest II[/ame]
And of course Doom
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c73m4mzpxxk]YouTube - Doom 1 :: Episode 1 Mission 3 :: Toxic Refinery[/ame]
I hunted quite a bit while in Montana and as I’ve posted before I only hunt with a Bow and Arrow. I remember taking out his new guy that was rifle hunting (you can do both in the rifle season in MT) and we had stopped for lunch at the truck. We laid our weapons in the bed of the truck and were sitting on the side of the road eating out sandwiches and enjoying the beautiful day. All of a sudden this gigantic black bear comes out of the tree line about 100 yrs away and starts coming out way. I tell my buddy to get his gun and he slowly moves to the truck and gets his fancy Browning Auto. I still have my sandwich in my hand as the bear wanders our way and is only about 50 yards away now. I tell my friend to site in and take him down.
Funny looking back on it now. Here was the largest Black Bear I had ever seen and being as calm as I could be I’m coaching my friend in getting his first bear (I’d taken a bunch with my bow already). He is trying to find a good rest and hold the rifle steady and I could see he was shaking like a leaf! I’m thinking to myself “if I had my bow next to me I could take it out with a 50 yard shot”. My friend is scared shitless. It was still coming our way and we wondered if it could even see us or was worried about what we were. I still had my sandwich in my hand and am whispering in my buddy’s ear to take the safety off and gently squeeze the trigger. The big bear is only about 30 yards from us now and I’m thinking what an easy shot this would be for me with my bow. Finally he pulls the trigger and low and behold he has a clean miss!!!! That bear was less than 30 yards away and he missed it with a modern rifle and scope. I would have plugged that big ass bear with my bow easily.
Earlier in the season I was hunting Elk with this guy during Archery season and we came across a bunch of Grouse in the road. One particular Grouse flew to a tree next to the road and lit there. My friend had a .22 with him just for shooting these Grouse. He shot and shot at the Grouse time after time which was no more than 20 yards from him and finally I got pissed cause we needed to move on so I went over pulled a Flu-Flu arrow out of my quiver and shot the god damn thing. Then I had him retrieve my arrow and bird.
My other passion in Montana was Fly Fishing. I was in Missoula which means something like “meeting of 5 streams” or something like that. We had the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Rock Creek and I can’t remember the other one! I sure loved fly fishing though and still do. I would make all my school visits then pull over on the side of the road where ever I was and put on my waders and grab my rod out of the trunk. It was great fishing on all the rivers and all you had to do was “match the hatch”. I would have a good selection of flies in my boxes. Elk Hair Caddis, Blue Wing Olive, Madamm X, Pale Morning Dunn, Royal Yellow Humpy and my favorite of all time the Royal Wolf. It often determined what was on the menu for dinner.
I used to do an overnight adventure to a small town called Plains, MT that would include Thompson Falls and Trout Creek. This was a great little town and when I was in the area I stopped at the VFW in my full Dress Blue Uniform and would never have to pull my wallet out of my pocket. I would often walk out of there with a grocery bag full of fish, venison, caribou, moose and even musk ox. The old veterans in that town and many more just enjoyed seeing the uniform that is rarely seen in rural America.
I was having a blast as a Recruiter but all fun must come to an end. One day I get a call and it’s from my old command in Mare Island, CA (San Fran). My tour was being cut short and I was going back home. I had the security clearances and proper tickets for this exclusive command and I was being recalled. My Recruiting Command didn’t take kindly to that but they had no other choice than to release me and back to California I went.
I pretty much grew up in the San Fran area having spent a full 13 years there in my career. I enjoyed every minute of it also. All those trips out to Lake Berryessa or up the Russian River or over to the coast to Bodega Bay it was all good. Even Reno and Shasta was just a few hours away. It was nice to be going back home.
We didn't need "no stinkin helmets" back then!
Next up - the 50th Sturgis Rally and the most memorable run to date!
It’s about time I updated this story. So I’m going to jump ahead to 2005 for now because I ran out of photos from the 80’s. It was discovering some old photos and scanning them that got me started with this story in the first place. I ran out of old photos for now and without these old photos the story is hard to replicate or reflect on. It’s the old pictures that bring back the memories that bring about this story. So let’s see what we can come up with for 05.
On or about June of 05 I got a set of orders to report to the Navy Selection Board at Millington, TN (Memphis) for duty to be a board member in selecting the next years promotion list for E-7’s. I had already sat in two other selection boards and it’s a very desirable and honorable duty to sit one of these boards.
I was living or stationed at the time at the Naval Station in San Diego, CA and instead of flying out to Memphis I decided to ride my bike out. This would give me the opportunity to see some more country and participate in some of the local events across the country. The “Board” convenes at the end of June and runs to the end of July or until all eligible candidates for E-7 are reviewed. E-9’s or Master Chiefs from across the country are selected for this prestigious duty and I felt honored to be selected again. This was my fourth selection board I have attended since becoming a Master Chief.
It only made sense to ride out to Tennessee since I had got my new Big Dog Chopper and it was ready for a long ride. I really had a secret reason for riding out instead of flying and that will come out later. So come the end of June I load up my bike and hit the road.
It’s 1930 miles to Millington, TN and I plan on making it in three days with an overnight stop in Sparks, OK for the Sparks America rally. I figure I could get to New Mexico for my first stop and spend the night in a hotel and continue on to Sparks, OK for my next stop. Grants, NM was only 760 miles so thought that would be a good place to spend the night.
I load up all my uniforms and toss in my laptop along with all my camping gear and hit the road. It’s 5am and the sun is coming up as I hit I-10 and head out across California towards Arizona. It quickly warms up and is hitting 100 + so I roll up my jacket and attach it to my handlebars as I usually do. It’s kind of a trademark of mine to have something attached to my bars. Getting out of California is pretty easy and as I cross into Arizona at Blythe, CA the temperature is over 100 degrees. Bike is running smooth but I’m melting under my helmet. So once inside Arizona I ditch it and put it on the sissy bar and continue on my way. I have my stereo earplugs playing rock & roll to keep me alive as I cross the dry high desert.
I stop in a small place called Salome, AZ and have a couple Margaritas’ to quench my thirst and then hit the road again. I get up to Flagstaff and hit thunder clouds, they really started showing up as I was coming into the mountains or Prescott, AZ. It had started raining but it was really a godsend as it was so miserably hot that the rain was such a relief. But after I became soaked it wasn’t so pleasant anymore so I pulled over and put my jacket back on and got and I-17 and headed North for I-40. The desert had changed to high mountain forests as I passed through Jerome and Sedona Arizona. This is beautiful country and I recommend all to ride these back roads if you ever have the opportunity.
I reach I-40 and head East now in pouring rain and thunder showers. As I pass through the Coconino Mountains the thunder turns to heavy rain and lighting that only the summer heat brings on. You have to experience it to truly understand the veraciousness of this weather pattern. The thunder was so loud that you could feel it in addition to hearing it as it thundered across the high desert. But I was in my cocoon all wrapped up and listening to my music with only my eyes showing outside my mask and hood.
Eventually the thunder showers turned to lightning that was spectacular on the horizon but as I was nearing Winslow, AZ it was getting too close so I figured I had better cut my trip short and hole up in a hotel for the night. The next town was Holbrook and that was where I landed for the day. It only made for a 560 mile day but the lightening is something that I don’t like to play in. I will ride in heat, rain, wind, hail or snow but lightening is just too dangerous for me.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHowlDlYFrY&feature=related]YouTube - AC/DC - Ride On[/ame]
The hotel I perched in had a restaurant so I grabbed some dinner and had a couple drinks then I unloaded my bike and tried to dry out all my gear the best I could. After a phone call and some weather news I “hit the skid” for the night. I did bring a bottle with me so I could have a couple more drinks in my room.
At 5 am I had the bike loaded again and woke up all the hotel guests by warming up my scoot. It didn’t echo to loud!! I really needed to make it to Sparks, OK today. I had planned on making New Mexico before stopping for the night but the lightening cut that short so now I had more miles to make up. Sparks was still 840 miles away and I really wanted to spend a couple nights there before reaching Memphis. But this weather just cut that plan all up. If I could have gone another 250 miles last night I may have had a chance of making it to Sparks today but as it looks now I won’t make it. I hit the road and head East at my usual 90 per hour. Gassing up every hour sure is a pain but with a small tank like the one I have I have no other choice so about every hour I have to stop and fuel up but it gives me time to grab a coke from the soda fountain in the store and spike it a little bit with my favorite additive!
I make good time crossing the rest of Arizona with only about 70 miles. I then head out across New Mexico and enjoy the scenery as I’m passing through. It’s less than 400 miles crossing this beautiful state but soon I’m into Texas and in about 80 miles I will be at my favorite Steak House in the country. I always stop at the “Big Texan Steak Ranch” when passing through Amarillo.
If you’ve ever been there then you understand but if you haven’t been then you NEED to put this stop on your route as it’s one of the best steak houses in the country.
I stop for about 2 hours having a wonderful Rib eye Steak and a couple glasses of Cabernet wine. It was time to hit the road again and I continue East headed to Oklahoma. The road it wide and baron but I run at 90 mph gassing up every hour till dark. Finally I get to Eastern Texas to a small town of Shamrock and call it a day. It’s been a hot and dry ride and I’m beat so I grab a room and unload the bike again as I did yesterday. It’s only been 620 miles today and the stop at the steak house has cut my day shorter than I wanted. I would have liked to been in Sparks today but that is still 225 miles away and I probably would have made it if I didn’t stop so long before.
I walk next door to a restaurant and find that this is a dry county and no alcohol is served! What kind of crap is this? I couldn’t believe it, there was a bar here but you had to be a member to be served alcohol so I sign up and have a few Crown and Cokes. It’s been a long hot day in the saddle and I’m worn out from the last two days of riding so call it a night and plan on an early day tomorrow.
Who the fuck are you?
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgWQ1erBnMo]YouTube - Keith Moon - The WHO - Who Are You[/ame]
I get up load up the bike and hit the road again. It’s just a short ride over to Sparks where I thought I would already be but road conditions had changed that plan. I get on the road again crossing wild open country and soon get into Oklahoma City. The traffic is heavy and I’m slowed down for quite a while. As I’m riding through this heavy traffic in 5 lanes of traffic I experience what almost cost me my life. A car in front of me runs over and spits out a rubber block. It’s one of those rubber blocks that is used as a cushion between the barriers and post on the side of the road. I swerve to miss it but it goes under my left foot peg and my frame hits it. It bucks my up into the air and I almost think I’m going to lose control of the bike but I end up in control but shaking terribly bad. I weave over to the right side to pull over on the shoulder to check the bike. The block had bucked me so hard that I thought I was a goner and I was shaking real bad as I give the bike a once over. Nothing seemed harmed so after I got my wits back I headed out again. It’s would be months before I realized the read damage that rubber block had done to my scoot.
I finally get to the exit that will direct me to Sparks America. I really should have been here last night but that wasn’t so.. so I planned on only stopping for one hour now as I still had 460 miles to go to Millington and I had to be there by tonight.
I really want to stay longer.
It’s something that you can get on a bike and ride across most of this wide open country of ours and plan your trip down to the last minute. I so badly wanted to get into Sparks for the night but weather had detracted me from that. Still 1400 miles in two days is quite a ride and I made the most of it. I planned on staying for no longer than one hour then I would hit the road again and continue East to Memphis. Boy what an hour it would be.
I do leave and continue my journey East and make it into Memphis by dark. Traffic was a bitch and I had somewhat of a problem finding the base but when I got there I finally checked into my room that would be my home for the next month. What a ride it had been. Three days for almost 2000 miles in some horiffic heat, lost of rain, thunder, lightening and wind. But it was fantastic and the bike had ran flawless getting me there in time for my duty (remember, I'm never late when it comes to the Military!). I will be here for the next four weeks but there will some fun to be had!!!!!
Next up...... Little Sturgis
Stay tuned
I remember the first year I went to the Redwood Run. It had to be 1984 or 1985. I got together with a group of bikers from the Napa area and we headed out North to the Redwoods up 101 to Garberville. We must have had 30 bikes in our group and behind us was a couple of chase trucks with all the gear and foods we would need for the weekend. The Redwood wasn't an organized event in those days the way it is today. It was just a free for all.
I took a girl named Trish and she worked at a bar in Napa called the White Horse. She was a great looking blond that I had been running around with for a while. She was a good rider and we made many trips/rides together. Our favorite ride was out to Lake Berryessain the Napa area. We would have many great times out here. She was a nudist and enjoyed showing her assets.
For this trip we packed our tent and sleeping bags in a military duffel bag and threw it in the back of one of the chase trucks and made our way up North to the Eureka area. It was a one day ride but we stopped often for gas and a refreshment along the way.
When we got there we unloaded the trucks and the bikes and everyone jumped in to the river to cool off "skinny dippin"!. As soon as we arrived we had started a couple of fire pits (something you can't do today) and when the coals got good and hot a couple of Turkeys were dropped in then for roasting. Everything was prepped before hand so that when we got there we just had to cook the food.
In the mean time everyone was refreshing in the river and I was swimming around also. I finally got out and perched on the bank of the river to dry out and right in front of me came this girl buck ass naked with raving red hair that to this day I think of every day. She was a goddess in my eyes. Young, beautiful, perky breasts and that raven red hair (on both sides!!!). I can see her today as if it was yesterday. She came up the bank and asked me if I thought the water was cold. I don't remember what I answered but don't think it was much...... "Yeah, it was a little cold" I said to her. Holly Cow she was gorgeous!!!!
Anyway, after a full afternoon of relaxation and play in the river we all huddled around the fire pit and smoked some good stuff and drank some with the "music boxes" in the background playing some good Rock & Roll. I remember the fire reflecting in my eyes and people telling "tall stories" about this and that. Some of the group were in their tents which were circled around the fire pit and there were sounds of moaning and groaning from within. Soon it was time to go to sleep so Trish and I jumped in our tent and made the same sounds we heard earlier. I can remember looking through the fabric of the tent at the fire pit as we did our thing inside the tent. Trish was moaning and crowning real loud and causing quite a stir. Afterwords we came back out and joined the group. The party went on till the wee hours of the morning.
Ironic that I can remember this vividly probably from the good smoke I had. But I can remember seeing through the tent material as we "were getting ready for sleep" and aware of the fire pit and the flames. What a great trip this was.
There used to be a swing rope that everyone would swing on into the river. I had pictures but I'll be damned it I can find them;
Dinner was outstanding as I got a leg of Turkey and a cob of corn. What more can you ask for at a camp site remote in the woods with the river sounds in the background!!!
Saturday morning was pancakes and sausage. I can smell it now! The maple syrup with breakfast is something that you can't forget in a campsite. After breakfast everyone moved back to the river and was running around nekkid (skinny dippin) till lunch time. Lunch was sandwiches of Turkey and leftovers.
The rest of the day we played in the river and hung around getting high and drinking a bit. There was wine, Bobine and rum for everyones delight. But the best of the show was all the girls in the river!! Oh how I wish for those day to come back now.
Sunday morning we all packed out gear and prepared for the ride home. It was a great weekend and something that you would want to attend again.
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