Volume VI Issue X

Getttin’ Ready... We all prepare for motorcycle journeys in different ways. I start by checking the bike, usually why I clean it, for any problems. Then I get it gassed up and ready to roll. Of course you have to pack the essentials, toothbrush, change of under clothes, maybe a couple of your best T’s, some clean socks, throw it in a small bag, strap it to the back seat. I’m ready. For others the essential list is a lot longer. Whatever your list make sure you check it twice so you don’t have to go to Walmart while you are traveling, unless of course that is your motive.
Gettin’ our minds into the ride is just as important. The journey may be to the corner or to Montana, either way you have to be ready to concentrate on your ride and enjoy it to the fullest. Both physical and mental abilities are important. Being ready to follow your journey will make the experience one we want to repeat and tell all of our friends about. Now I must go get my mind ready for the next journey.... The ride to Ezells Fish camp.. I can’t wait to try the catfish that is so highly rated by this group. I am looking forward to enjoying the journey

Dan
Ride ft Like You Stole It and
Keep the Rubber Side Down

Trails End Minutes by Stan Viets

October 2007

Members in attendance, at our September meeting, Paul and Dian Talkington, Mike and Brenda Hopper, Terry and MC Scott, Rick Totty, Bobby Sharp, Dan and Linda Randall, Charlie and DarneIl Gibson, Paul Romesburg and yours truly. One visitor, Mark Henson, come back anytime.

We will have 5 Birthdays in October; Bobby Sharp on the 1st, Billy Max on the 9th, Stan Viets on the 14th, Hubert Gross on the 22nd and Rick Totty on the 23rd. We have I anniversary, Sandy and Saundra Stroud on the 28th. Best wishes and congratulations to all.

I understand some of the phone numbers and info on the web page are not current; please check your information and telephone numbers on the Members page. I will be sending the current info listed by email requesting either a confirmation if it is correct or revision if necessary. Thanks to Eddie Garner for the good job he always does with our web page.

We still have a few MTR antenna flags available for $15.00 each.

We also appreciate and thank our Advertiser/Sponsors for renewing their ads. We only have one that is due to renew at this time.

As you know we didn’t have an August meeting to review our rides, events, etc so we spent the rest of the meeting with reports from folks on what they did and trips they made the past few weeks. My brief contribution.
Floyd and I left Pueblo on highway 50 west headed to California. Our immediate destination would be to Lodi, CA for our tandem jump. After a successful jump we left and picked up I-S North to the Columbia River, State Hwy 4, and coastal Hwy 101, crossed Oregon again to get on California highway #1 for a fantastic, scenic ride with the Pacific Ocean on our right most of the time. We saw beautiful redwoods, very curvy roads, and postcard type scenery along the way to San Francisco, then headed home. I rode a total of 6827 miles, used 166.5 gallons of gas that averaged about $3 a gallon. I was pleased to get 41 MPH pulling my trailer. Our longest day was 676 miles from Shamrock, TX to Memphis. As you know we all bad a wonderful Pikes Peak or Bust ride and Dian and Paul brought their fantastic trip scrapbook/picture album, a great log of the event. Several of us scattered to the 4 points of the compass departing Colorado. Please check our MTR web site for details and pictures. Another great experience coordinated by Billy and Hildia Max.

Dan and Linda shared their recent trip to see their daughter Melissa, son-in-law lake and family, in Hawaii. Jake is going back to Iraq for his fourth tour of duty and the family will be coming home. They had a great time but Hawaii has too many cars, it’s bumper to bumper in downtown Honolulu. Dan rented a Harley and toured the island with lake. They also visited the Historic Pearl Harbor Memorial. Mike and Brenda reviewed the Battle of Britten’s Lane Civil War reenactment on her Dads farm, near Toone, TN. The next reenactment will be in 2009. Now that Mike has retired from his real job with the City of Memphis, he had a lot to do to get the farm ready for the event, Brenda’s mother and grandmother hosted a Tea for the ladies that were all attired in authentic Civil War period clothes. It was a rainy weekend but the
rain stopped a few minutes before the reenactment battle on Saturday and Sunday. The South and the North shared victories, this weekend.

Past and future Rides and events.
Sept 8th. MTR BB VI Arkabutla, MS Was a great cookout, another good one. See pictures on web site.
Saturday September 15th MTR Trail of Tears Ride, Florence, AL we met at the Kroger Store in Collierville. We had 12 members and 9 bikes make the annual ride to McFarland Park. The weather cooperated with a beautiful day. We had a nice picnic lunch, thanks folks for the makings. We had a great catfish dinner at the Catfish Motel on the way home, thanks Billy for another good one. Maybe next year we will go back to Waterloo? See pictures on web site.
September 22nd, MTR Martha’s Menu at Corinth, MS. Report and pictures will follow.
September 29th. MTR Lamberts, Sikeston, MO. Report and pictures will follow.
October 6th—-MTR “Blazing Saddles’ This year we will again return to Ezell’s Fish Camp. And it is a real fish camp. It sits right on the banks of the Tombigbee River. Catfish filets, Fried Pickles, delicious Cole slaw and atmosphere oozing out of the woodwork.... see Billy’s emails for additional information. This is an overnight ride and we will be staying at the Best Western in Meridian, MS. Has everyone made their reservations?
Saturday October 20th. Veteran’s Thunder VII, Sam’s Town, Tunica MS. Please let me know if you need details.

Important reminders

At our October meeting we~ want to discuss our plans for the TBCH Boy’s Ranch and what we want to do this year. Also Dan has access to a lot o f surplus toy bears this year, so let’s come up with a plan on about what we can do for the children at hospitals or homes in the area.
At the October 11th meeting MTR members will nominate officers for election at our November meeting and take office in January 2008. Think about who you want to lead MTR next year.

Our next meeting will be October 11, 2007 at Fox Ridge Pizza, Try to make if you can. Eat at 6:00 PM, Meet at 7:00 PM, Gone by 8:00 PM
Thanks to all that brought door prizes, win one bring one. Riding safely is as simple as ABC... Always Be Careful! Plan for tomorrow but for today! That’s All Folks Adjourned at 7:55 PM

Stan

Door Prizes
Win One Bring One
Donated by	Prize	Winner
Paul and Dian Paul and Dian Paul and Dian Paul and Dian Mike and Brenda Stan Terry and MC Dan and Linda Dan and Linda Charles and Darnell Charles and Darnell	Green bell door hanger Red bell door hanger Flexible lighter Yellow bead night light Photo memo box Box crackers Surprise bag mix Doorag Doorag Jar of peanuts Jar of peanuts	Rick Stan Paul R Charlie Bobby Mike Paul R Mike Rick Dan Terry
50/50 Jackpot	$30.00	Dan

Mary Carole’s Dream Vacation

By 6 AM Aug. 9th we were all up & packed, ready for our destinations. Terry’s & mine was to go to Denver to see my relatives there. It was wonderful to see my96 yr. old Uncle Rudy, ‘ole wine-maker, & gardener.. .he’s going strong; Aunt Dottie his wife (who does her share of keeping up with him). Then there was my dear 96 yr. old Aunt Emily, ( hope I’m as well as she is) just terrific to be with them. I was able to introduce Terry to them.

The morning of Aug. 13th were rode to Spearfish, So Dakota through the awesome Black Hills; rode through the very picturesque Badlands... .on through Wyoming on Highway 18(104 degrees).

Aug. 14 B’fast at a B.J’s Chat n’ Chew in Sioux Falls, So. Dakota.

Aug. 15 Terry took me to the kids & my old home in Omaha, Nebraska.. .took pictures for the kids.

Aug. 16 rode into Nebraska City to Warrenton, Missouri.

August 17 Home around 7:00 PM... Our BJ was a great trail boss for our initial trip of ‘Pikes Peak or Bust” & and that puts us in the right spot to see the Denver Relatives

Trail of Tears Ride 2007 Recap

The weather for this years Trail of Tears Ride was absolutely perfect. Seventy two degrees with winds at 5 mph at one point during the day. You don’t get many days like this. We had nine motorcycles show up with twelve souls aboard. On hand were Paul and Dianne on their trike, Terry on a Harley, Stan on his new 1800 that he hates, Paul Romansburg on his Vulcan, Don Hester on a BMW, David Elston on his six shooter Valkyrie, Tod and Cindy on a Harley, Buck on an 1800 Wing, and Hildia and I on an 1800. This year I pulled my trailer and so did the Talkingtons. We brought chairs, cold drinks, cheese and crackers and the Talkingtons brought sandwich fixings and once at the Trail of Tears site in Florence, we opened the trailers and had a great spread for lunch.. .This was a first for us and it turned out to be a huge hit and will no doubt be repeated again and again...

Didn’t seem to be as many motorcycles this year as in the past but they could be attributed to the war that seems to be going on between two factions for the rights to host this ride. One being McFarland Park in Florence and one being Waterloo, Alabama.. The sad thing about this is the ride that originally began as a way to honor the Indians who suffered on the Trail of Tears, so named because of so many deaths along the trail as the southern tribes were forced to move to Oklahoma. Now it seems that it has deteriorated into a battle of ego’s and the Indians have once again been left out. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back.

But the Memphis Tour riders had a nice ride. On the way home from Florence we stopped off at the Catfish Hotel on the Tennessee River and had dinner. Great place to take a break and the food is always good. We had a pleasant ride home and most except maybe Buck, were home by nine PM...

A few trivial statistics: We rode a total of 315 miles officially, our average speed was 48.5 MPH and maximum velocity attained was 74.5 MPH. Saddle time was six hours and thirty minutes.