I needed a new windshield so I checked around and learned that a brand new Hondaline windshield right out of the parts book could go as high as $225.00. Well, I'm somewhat of a tightwad so I decided to check around and see if I could find a good "pre-owned" (cheap) windshield.
My first thought was e-bay. Have you ever used e-bay? Neither had I but I decided to give it a try. The first thing I had to do was create a user ID and password, which I forgot immediately. I realize passwords are necessary for security but I've made up so many over the past few years that I would need a secretary to keep up with 'em. But I did get logged on for that first go round and I found a stock Hondaline Windshield too. The price was $9.95. I got all excited and jumped right in with a $25.00 bid. My theory was that my high dollar bid would scare off the competition. Man, did I have a lot to learn. 
Well, my plan didn't work so good. While I slept that night somebody snuck in and bid $26.00 dollars. OK. I'll bid twenty-seven. With an hour and four minutes to go before the bidding was closed my opponent bid twenty-eight. I bid twenty-nine with twenty minutes left and congratulated myself. I just knew I had won the bid because it was the middle of the day and everybody in the world, except me, is working. I had some errands to run so I took off to take care of 'em while the clock ticked down feeling pretty slick at the money I had saved and wondered if I should go ahead and take the old windshield off now and be ready for the new one when it arrived…. I rubbed my hands together in glee. Yep, I'm a pretty smart cookie allright.
When I got back home, I logged on to get the details so I could pay for my new windshield. But, to my utter surprise, in my absence, with only three minutes to go, that dirty dog I had been bidding against upped the bid by one dollar and took my new shield. What a dirty rotten trick. Don't anybody work decent hours anymore.
Back to square one. Hillbilly suggested the GWRRA message board. So I logged on again, created another new password and user name and posted the following message: 
Wanted. Hondaline windshield for a GL1500. Prefer one with vent hole but will accept any clean windshield. No aftermarket windshields please.
Let me explain that last line. Aftermarket windshields are made of acrylic but the Hondaline is made of the tougher and more resilient Polycarbonate. Acrylic will scratch easier than Polycarbonate and will turn yellow eventually. And I like to cut my windshield down. It's hard to cut Acrylic. You have to score it then break it off. You know, like glass. But you can cut Polycarbonate with a saber saw. 
I eventually got nine hits off the GWRRA message board. From all over the country. Out of the nine I settled on two. One of those was shipped from Baltimore, MD.

Continued On Page 3

The August 2004 meeting of the Memphis Tour Riders was officially gaveled to order at 7:00PM.
Roll call: Floyd Nunnelee, Rusty Higgins, Buck Permenter, Dan Randall, Mary Carole Scott, Woodie and Lin Hill, Mike Hopper, Brenda Hamilton, Sandy Stroud, Charlie and Darnel Gibson, Stan and Jean Viets. Everyone reported getting his or her Happy Trails. We had no visitors this month.
We have a current bank balance of $ 1,224.71
Ongoing Business:
"The missing Link" For some reason our computer has a mysterious glitch, the Sponsor Page link on our MTR web page doesn't exist, has anyone else had this problem? The link is on other computers but not on ours, help, any ideas or suggestions? I have tried 3 different browsers, disabled the firewall and still no link. AOL can't solve the problem either? Please support our advertisers when you can.
MTR has tentative plans to move our meeting location to the Fox Ridge Pizza at Germantown Parkway and Dexter. They do not have a private room but do have a private area that is away from the main dining area we can use. Hopefully they expect to be open by the end of August, if you get a chance to eat there before the September meeting please do and see what you think about moving so a final decision can be made. 
We still can use additional sponsor/advertisers, if you need extra copies of the newsletter or need one mailed to prospects, let me know or if they have access to the Internet have them check our web site, all the sponsor information and of course the current newsletter is also there. 
MTR patches and rockers "WHERE WE GO ONE, WE GO ALL" are still available. $ 5.00 per set.
Our Saturday, July 31st, Second Annual Blue Moon Dinner Ride to Chapman's restaurant, near Ripley, MS. was again a success. We had 17 members attending. BJ has a fantastic Blue moon and Hildia picture posted on our web page.
Our thanks to Tim Hendrickson for taking the time to write "Airhead Dreams". Great Job Tim. If anybody else has a motorcycle story rattling around in their head, put it down on paper and send it to BJ and he will eventually get it into the Trail Dust column. That's why BJ created the "Trail Dust" column in the first place. Your stories.

Continued On Page 3

Trails End…………………Continued From Page One
Just keep in mind that space is limited and try and keep your article under 600 words...
Dan Randall, Mike and Brenda and yours truly participated in the Sunday August 22nd ride around the inside of AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds to escort Rocky the Redbird just before the home half of the first inning. We got to ride on the warning track that we can only describe as a course kitty litter, lots of fun. Mike and Brenda displayed the American Flag, Tennessee State Flag and the Memphis Tour Riders Banner/Flag all mounted on the flag poles on their Trike. A good time was had by the reported 11,739 fans in attendance, we got a good hand. Incidentally the Redbirds lost 9 to 8 to the Omaha Royals.
Also the Bike Show for Saturday October 23 at the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home Campus is on our schedule. We have plenty of gallon coffee cans for the donations for the Best Of Show Bike, the plan is for the public to vote by putting money in the can in front of their favorite bike, with all donations going to TBCH. Check this link for more details http://www.tbch4kids.org/golftourney/index.htm.

Updates: William (Bill) Jones has now been home for over a month, the longest time since May 1, 2002. All in all Julia reports William is making some progress and happy to be home. Please continue our prayers for William and Floyd's oldest daughter, Sue George
We have three rides scheduled before our September meeting. The Dinner ride to Crossroads Fish Shack on August 14th was a well attended success with 15 members and 4 visitors, way to go folks. Saturday August 28th will be our Earthquake Ride II to Reelfoot lake, see the flyer in the August newsletter or email and last but not least our Saturday September 4th Antique Road Trip to Hazel, KY with dinner in Paris. Details will follow.
Our first Long Distance Motorcycle Award will end at the Thursday September 9th meeting. Everyone that signed up please check your mileage on September 9th and email your ending Odometer reading to Darnell Gibson at katmech@aol.com Please remember it is your responsibility to get your ending mileage to her so she can total and determine the winner. Remember an officer must verify your mileage at the September 9th meeting or at the Saturday September 11th ride to the Doodle Soup Do, Bradford, TN see the flyer in this issue. 
We will continue to post rides/events as they come up both in the newsletter, Web Page, and at meetings. As always if anyone has any suggestions for rides or events please let Billy Max know.
Reminder, in lieu of our regular December meeting our Christmas party will be on Saturday December 11th. Mark you calendar now. Details will follow.

Quotation of the month: "You never retire. You just change course." ………………Norma Rogers
Ride Safe and ride more in 004 
Stan and Jean
The meeting was officially adjourned at 7:45PM

Memphis Tour Riders 2004 Ride Schedule

Sept 4th - Antique Road Trip - Hazel, KY - Dinner in Paris, TN - 300 Miles

Sept 11th -Doodle Soup Festival, Car and Motorcycle Show- Bradford, Tennessee--198 Miles

Sept 18- Trail of Tears- -Waterloo, AL-Dinner at the Catfish Hotel-Shiloh--265 Miles

October 2nd-Saddlesore 1000 Endurance Ride-Hendersonville, NC and Return-24 hours or less--1012 Miles

October 16th and 17th- 4th Annual Blazing Saddles Fall Foliage Tour-McMinnville, TN--570 Miles -Overnighter

November 6th-Veteran's Day Thunder -Bally's Casino-Robinsonville, MS-86 Miles