My pal Shirley is once again in Texas for the winter. Here’s a look at what she’s been up to!

by Shirley Patterson

Okay, so we’ve been in Texas since the first of December and, although I promised to do so, I have not yet written a ride report. You may have heard that Texas is in a severe drought so while the December weather was not what we really wanted to see, the cool, damp, drizzly weeks were a small blessing. January, however, started out warm and dry so – yep, out came the bikes.

On January 20th the temperature hit 86 so it was just too great not to ride. This is not the first ride we had taken – nor is it one of the longest – but it is one of our favorites so thought I would take you all along. We winter in Kingsland, TX. For point of reference Kingsland is about 12 miles slightly northwest of Marble Falls or about 60 miles northwest of Austin. We left Kingsland taking Farm Road 1431 (the main highway between Marble Falls and Kingsland) west past Pat’s Bar and Fuzzy’s Corner (more later) and on to Highway 261 which is a great two-lane, curvy and fairly scenic road.

Our destination was the Fall Creek Winery at Tow (rhymes with cow). I mentioned the drought earlier so we pulled into the Llano County Park to see just how badly it had affected Buchanan Lake, one of the major lakes in the area. A couple of years ago a long paved boat ramp was put in at the park. Hopefully, the picture taken will show the devastation the drought has brought to the area. The ramp is now easily one to two miles from the water…folks who have million dollar “lakefront” homes are high and dry!

So, out of the park and on to Bluffton Store. This is at the convergence of highways 261 and 2241 and we usually stop here to gas up, get a Coke or a 50-cent ice cream cone – really! On to the winery. Fall Creek has a great tasting room where you can taste five wines for a fixed price of $5 per person. But, what we discovered last year was they also have a beautiful covered patio where you can simply take a glass or a bottle and sit and enjoy. This trip we decided to buy a bottle of our favorite blush and a box of crackers and enjoy the patio – c’mon, it was cheaper than the tasting! We met a couple of really nice guys who were also riding that day and they took this nice picture of me and Garry.

Finally decided to reverse the ride and head back for Kingsland. Now, last year we usually stopped at Pats for a drink but found that this year our favorite bartender, Jen, is now working at Fuzzy’s. Fuzzy’s is a beer bar (although they will serve set ups if you bring your own) but since Garry and I drink Rum and Southern Comfort respectively we have never gone to Fuzzy’s. Today, however, we stopped in to say hi to Jen. Giving a nod to the wine we had already drank, I just had a Diet Coke. By the time we left for the short 10 mile ride home it was 4:30 so decided to bypass the house for another 1/2 mile and stop in at Spykes BBQ for an early dinner. Spykes has the BEST BBQ in the area. For those of you who think Llano has the best – you have to give Spykes a try. After dinner it was a very short hop back to the house and a beautiful easy day on the bikes.

Can’t believe we made it to mid-January before getting ANY measurable snow here in central Iowa! We’ve even had a couple of days in the upper 50′s – more than nice enough to ride, but alas, I wasn’t able to enjoy them. At least, not on the motorcycle. And, even though it’s currently bitter-cold, the mild weather we’ve had up to this point has made the off-season infinitely more bearable.

Anyway, thought it was time to start working up the 2012 calendar of local, statewide, and a few national events. There are some missing from this list that I know are out there somewhere, but their websites haven’t been  updated with 2012 dates yet. I’ll be on the lookout for those and will add them later with a link back here.

Meanwhile, if you know of something in Des Moines, in Iowa, or in the mid-west, let me know in the comments!

Gathering on the Grounds Mid-Winter Bash – January 28, Des Moines IA
Capital City Custom Bike Show & Swap Meet – February 11-12, Des Moines IA
Daytona Bike Week – March 9-18, Daytona Beach FL
Indianola Bike Night – Third Friday of the month, April 20 thru September 21, Indianola IA

ABATE/CMA Blessing of the Bikes – April date TBA
Gathering on the Grounds – Tuesdays throughout the summer (start date TBA)
Mississippi River Motorcycle Rally – June 13-16, Davenport IA
Iowa State HOG Rally – June 14-16, Des Moines IA
Bikes Babes & Bling (all women’s rally) – June dates TBA, Fayetteville AR
J&P Cycles Open House – June 23-24, Anamosa IA
ABATE Iowa State Freedom Rally – July 5-7, Algona IA
Sturgis Rally – August 6-12, Sturgis SD
Iowa State Fair Motorcycle Day – August 19, Des Moines IA
Bikes Blues & BBQ – September 26-29, Fayetteville AR
Biketoberfest – October 18-21, Daytona Beach SD

Well hi! Remember me? Once again I seem to have taken my traditional, annual, accidental hiatus from blogging… I swear, it’s getting to where you can set your seasonal clocks by me, no? Well I’m happy to report that things are humming along just fine, I just ran out of steam like I usually do at the end of the riding season.

And we had the small matter of my hubby Steve being hospitalized for 18 days – he is STILL dealing with complications from his surgery right before Thanksgiving, but at least he was home and (relatively) healthy for Christmas.

We had a lovely Christmas here, I was fortunate to have four days away from work and felt like I was able to slow down enough to enjoy it. (Today was my first day back and I learned we were having a Norovirus outbreak – ick!! I feel like I need to wear a mask and rubber gloves!)

Finally, worth a mention has been the weather – we’ve had no measurable snow as of yet (highly unusual for late December in Iowa) and temperatures often in the 40′s. I have no doubt we’ll get some eventually, but for now, every day that passes without snow is one day closer to Spring. (I’ve got what’s still just a nagging little thought, but might become a full-blown idea: given the weather so far, I wonder if I’ll get to ride at least one day every month in 2012?)

By the way, the amazing “Santa Bike” photo accompanying this post was snagged from the Facebook page of A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson Buell of Columbus, OH, “America’s Oldest Harley Dealership” celebrating 100 years in business – wow!! Congrats on this amazing milestone!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Our warm-weather days are numbered here in central Iowa, but October has been a really beautiful month for end-of-season riding. We noted today at brunch that we hadn’t yet visited the Freedom Rock this year, so we decided to head over to Greenfield to take a look at the 2011 mural painted by Ray “Bubba” Sorensen. (Fun side note: stopped for gas at – where else, a Casey’s General Store – and ran into faithful blog reader Tim, who was just getting out to enjoy a ride too. Always nice to see you Tim!)

I wrote a bit more about the Rock’s history previously, so this year I’ll try to share a few more pictures. The theme of the mural this year is “Uncommon Valor.” The scenes and tributes depicted include a quotation about valor, a portrait of Iowa native Jackie DeHart who was killed in Viet Nam in 1969, the US Navy SEALS storming Bin Laden’s compound, and a portrait of Iowa native Salvatore Giunta who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Afghanistan in 2007.

Suffice to say the Freedom Rock has become a “must-stop” for veterans (and bikers) from all over Iowa and even around the country.

I do have a couple of really neat rides to report on… more on those soon, but first a little horn-tooting if I may.

I was recently offered the opportunity to write a guest post for the Allstate GoodHands Community website. They invited me to submit several topics for consideration, centered around motorcycling from a female perspective. My best thought – and I’m glad they picked this one – was to round up a little info on some of the community organizations that female riders support through rides and bike-centered activities.

Here’s the post, which specifically mentions a few of the efforts I’m familiar with. If you’re a woman who rides and you are involved in supporting a community organization or cause that speaks to your heart, I encourage you to leave a comment on the Allstate site mentioning your event or cause. I would love to make it an even bigger “round-up” of ideas, and I really do thank Allstate for the opportunity to contribute to their site!

Disclaimer: In exchange for researching and writing the article linked above, Allstate compensated me via cash payment. Groups and causes mentioned in my article did not pay to be included; they were included solely at my discretion.

For my local readers, just wanted to share this info on the ABATE District 4 Toy Run coming up in October! This is one of my favorite rides, and I’ve missed it the past couple of years. I hope and expect we’ll be able to participate this year! Thanks to Laura Strovers for the info and please note that ABATE is unable to accept stuffed animals this year. (And that’s a  shame, because I remember the Toy Run when it used to be a column of big, burly bikers with teddy bears strapped to their bikes!!)

ABATE OF Iowa Pre-Toy Run Party
Saturday 10-08-2011
Fat Boyz
200 Gateway Dr
Grimes, IA
starts at 7:00 PM

ABATE Of Iowa District 4 28th Annual Toy Run
Sunday 10-09-2011
Leave State Capital east parking lot at 1:00 PM SHARP.

Please donate one educational toy. All toys and donations go to the kids.

If you’re from (or just IN) the area, I hope you can participate in this terrific event – it’s somethin’ special!

This past Saturday we took some time to visit a unique site that has some significance for our family. The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience is a traveling three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and it was recently installed at Resthaven Cemetery here in the Des Moines area. Since 1990, the traveling Wall has been displayed in more than 200 U.S. cities, and has hosted millions of visitors.

My husband, who is 12 years older than me, is a former U.S. Marine and a veteran of Vietnam. It has had a lifelong impact on him. I respect him a lot for the service he voluntarily gave, and for the nagging physical and emotional effects he deals with on a daily basis. Sadly, it has only been relatively recently that he has been able to see his service as something to be proud of – for far too long, this generation of veterans was maligned by this country’s shameful inability to separate its hatred of the war itself from the courageous men and women who served in it. (When people talk about The Wall in D.C. having healing powers, that’s the reason: perhaps these veterans could not get aid and comfort from those they returned home to, but many have found it when surrounded by granite slabs filled with the names of the men they served with.)

Because the official memorial in D.C. is so meaningful for those who served, the Dignity Memorial Wall was developed by Dignity Memorial – a nationwide provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services – to provide a potentially healing experience for those who might never have the opportunity to visit The Wall itself.

The installation at Resthaven ran from September 16-18, was open 24 hours a day and was free to visit and view. (See the full 2011 tour schedule, and be sure to look for the 2012 schedule in the near future.)

Here in Des Moines, the American Legion Riders, Patriot Guard Riders, Iron Warriors, Vietnam Vets MC, and other bikers provided an escort for the Dignity Memorial on September 14 from Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino to Resthaven Cemetery. The American Legion Riders were on hand throughout the weekend to help visitors understand not only the Wall replica, but also the accompanying Battlefield Memorial or “Soldiers Cross.” Several groups participated in scheduled ceremonies throughout the weekend.

As the wife of a Vietnam veteran, and as an American who is grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served in that war, I would like to say thank you to Dignity Memorial for such an outstanding project, to the riding groups that escorted it to its installation, and to the sponsors who made it possible.

Sponsors: Prairie Meadow, Perficut Lawn & Landscape, Contractors Rental, HyVee Food Stores, Pepsi America, Sammons Financial Group, HR Green Engineering, Golf Cars of Iowa, Ziegler Power Systems, HCI Care Services, Freeman Decorating, Matthews Bronze, Watts Vault & Monuments, Created in Johnston, Wolf Construction, Best Portable Toilets, Computers in Motion, Willis Auto Campus, Bob Brown Chevrolet, Electronic Engineering, Pearson Bollman Law, FastSigns, Pratt Audio Video, Heartland Custom Flags, Boy Scout Troop 111 of Grimes, Boy Scout Troops 9, 13 and 217 of Des Moines, Competitive Edge, True Value Hardware, Felix & Oscars, Big Barn Harley Davidson, Iron Hearse Destinations, Barton Solvents, Dr. Scott Neff, Polk County Sheriff, Quality Resource Group, Polk County Recorder, Iowa National Guard, Target, Lowe’s, Action Print, General Fire Safety, Doves of Love, J.R. Wagner.

Wow, it’s been a hectic summer, and it’s almost over already! I guess once again I’ve been on a brief hiatus… oh yes I’ve been enjoying the bike as much as possible, plus we’ve gone to a couple car shows to enjoy the Corvair, and we’ve embarked on the adventure that is my daughter’s senior year of high school. (If you are local to the Des Moines or central Iowa area, I highly recommend Randy Shebek for senior pictures – he’s friendly, affordable, and best of all took ah-MAY-zing pictures of my beautiful daughter!)

Oh, and, we added a family member – Dexter, the English bulldog my hubby Steve has always wanted.(He – the dog, I mean – is just about the poor-babyest dog you’ll ever meet!)

Aside from all that, I’ve been busy with a new bike-related endeavor that I hope to be able to mention soon – so, there’s been no extra napping going on around here!

As far as bike rides, I’ve taken a couple shorty solo trips and done some zipping around here and there, but nothing major. Except… EXCEPT – a wonderful ride I took last weekend with “just us gals” – friends Janet & Shirley, and (finally!) Miss Iowa Harley Girl herself, Stephanie Maiers! (Seriously, we live – what, 10 miles from each other, and this is the first time we’ve ever ridden together!)

This ride was one big silly grin from beginning to end. (I swear there’s something about an all-women’s ride that just feels different!) We met up on Steph’s home turf in Johnston, just south of Saylorville Lake, and took off to the west along Highway 44. At Highway 169, we turned South and cruised on through to Winterset. (Yes, I rode North to go South – that’s how I roll!)

In Winterset we expected to visit Biker Diva Apparel, a women bikers’ clothing shop just off the Square. Sadly, we discovered that the brick-and-mortar store is no longer there – BUT, fortunately you can still shop online for a variety of super-cute shirts and must-have accessories!

Headed over to Godfather’s Pizza for lunch, then set off for a scenic loop around Madison County beginning with G50 heading east into St. Charles. Unfortunately, that too was derailed… “ROAD CLOSED” signs kept us just out of reach of the much-needed gas station in St. Charles. I mean, we could SEE IT from where we stood, like wishful little kids with our noses pressed against the department store window at Christmas! (It sort of looked like we miiigghtt be able to sneak through the blockade, but a friendly MadCo resident assured us that, indeed, the road was actually closed.) Not wanting to test our luck on the gravel detour, we instead headed back to the west along the road we’d just traveled and back into Winterset.

Still, G50 was a beautiful road (parts of it reminded me so much of the Lead and Deadwood area in South Dakota, with tree-covered bluffs rising up from either side of sweeping curves) and I’m certain that the loop we had planned (G50 east to St. Charles, R35 south to Truro, then west along G68 – the PEE-ru road!  – back to P71 into Winterset) is a stunning, curvy ride. I’m determined to go back and prove this point!

Anyway, back to Winterset for a break at (where else) Casey’s General Store, then took the scenic G4R home.

Probably the run-on sentences of this post are a clue to how excited I was to take this ride with my “gal pals” – it was a gorgeous day spent in great company!

 I took part in a good online discussion recently that stemmed from a photo of a guy wearing a t-shirt that read, “Loud pipes save lives.” The question that arose was whether loud pipes do indeed save lives.

I believe that they can, and here’s why:

When I am driving my car, if I hear a motorcycle coming from any direction, I look around until I see it so I know where it is, the same way I do when I hear an emergency vehicle siren. Maybe I only do this because I ride, and am therefore more sympathetic. But I would certainly hope that at least a percentage of others do the same.

Conversely, I’ve been startled by quiet vehicles (including motorcycles) that suddenly pass me, seemingly coming from out of nowhere. These situations have made me acutely aware that I was not aware of their presence, and that’s dangerous.

It was suggested in this discussion that I should consider the AMA’s position on loud pipes. The AMA states that bikers should keep noise levels reasonable out of respect for others. I think this is actually a good “play nice” position, similar to their position on helmet use: it should be voluntary.

The AMA also believes that law enforcement should enforce “appropriate” laws against excessive sound. Noise ordinances already exist in most communities. Where loud pipes are truly a problem, I imagine law enforcement is out there writing the tickets and collecting the revenue – just as they are out in Sturgis right now writing tickets for high handlebars.

The best argument the AMA makes is that excessive noise eventually causes fatigue for the rider and could thus impair their riding abilities. I think they should be putting some resources into proving this point, and making a fact-based argument for it.

In reality, all the “play nice” thinking doesn’t matter much. What matters is what happens on the road. And on the road, drivers who hit motorcyclists love to claim, “I didn’t see the motorcycle.” Obviously, then, awareness of motorcycles is a big issue. And if loud pipes make drivers aware of motorcycles, then perhaps that will mean fewer accidents.

So – do loud pipes save lives? I think they can. What do you think?