Category Archives: Motorcycle Ride

Get Lost!

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“Let’s Get Lost!” — my plan on how to spend Thursday with my twin brother.

He is home briefly from Europe to attend some meetings in Washington, DC. He took a few extra days to show his wife around his former stomping grounds, and planned some time to spend with me. His wife and my sister went shopping on Thursday, while my brother and I became “biker dudes.” Man, I love that big lug of a guy — he is my soulmate and even though he is four minutes younger than I am, he is my “big bro” (because he is six inches taller!)

He rented a Harley — just like my Road King, but black — and we went for a nice long ride yesterday, to nowhere. We would come to an intersection and play “rock-paper-scissors”. The winner of the game picked the direction for the next turn. We found some roads that I didn’t know existed, found a farm of llamas and rabbits, and enjoyed lunch at a roadside café that I had not seen before, right here in my home State of Maryland. We found some covered bridges (and some “uncovered” ones as well) and didn’t travel a mile on an interstate highway. I died laughing when a woodchuck ran across the road in front of my brother and he slowed and swerved to miss it, only to see the woodchuck stand on its legs and shake a fist at him! I swear it did!

I wore my Chippewa Firefighter Boots… okay (AZ), I admit it, I really DO have “favorite” boots that I wear more often than others, especially for riding my Harley on a hot day. These boots are super-dooper comfortable and don’t get hot, even though they are leather-lined. I got my brother into a similar-looking pair of boots, my Milwaukee Motor Clothing Trooper Boots, which he said were comfortable, even though he seldom, if ever, wears boots. But he did for me (even though I refused to wear plastic rental shoes when I was his best man at his wedding last year).

While it was a hot and humid day, reaching the peak of 97°F (36°C), nothing could be more enjoyable than tooling around 178 miles with my life-long best friend. Man, what a great day.

When we got home, we laughed and retold our stories, which of course became more like tall tales by the time we made them up (I mean, relayed them again). My partner smiled, laughed, and was heartened to enjoy happiness with us as I grilled a steak dinner with all the trimmings to enjoy eating on our deck.

Live and love life! Wear your boots! Love those you love hard, each and every day, and show them how much you love ’em. Life is short. Keep love and a smile handy, and all else will be grand.

Dumb and Dumber

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I took the day off from work today and rode 212 miles with some cop buddies of mine. We had planned this ride for several months. We got people to pledge an amount of money (ranged from US$0.05 to US$1.00) per mile that we rode. My haul in pledges (computed for all the miles ridden today) was $2,819.60. Once collected, that will be donated to a charity that supports families of officers killed in the line of duty.

While riding across our beautiful State of Maryland, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and almost to what we call mountains way west of the bay, we observed a lot of people on the road, including other guys on motorcycles. I really can’t call some of them “bikers” because they weren’t. Dumb-dumbs wearing shorts and sneakers on a motorcycle are, well, dumb. Then there were the ding-dongs on bikes wearing (off all things), flip-flops. For a short jaunt into Pennsylvania to have lunch in Gettysburg, there were the [deleted] not wearing any helmet at all, since Pennsylvania repealed its mandatory helmet law. My jaw just dropped when I saw a guy on a big Harley like mine with his woman on the back seat riding happy-as-you-please way above the speed limit in shorts, sandals, no shirt, and no helmets. Oh my gosh. What stupidity.

Then I can’t begin to say what I think about the dumb-dumb drivers yakking away on hand-held cell phones, not looking where the heck they’re going. I really wish my state would adopt the cell phone laws that were enacted and took effect in California and Washington on July 1, which ban the use of anything but hands-free cell phones while operating a vehicle, and ban them completely for drivers who are under 18. Eventually… but our part-time legislature that looooooves to yak on their cell phones are hard to convince. I’ll keep workin’ at it.

I was booted as shown, in my Chippewa Firefighter Boots which are sooooo comfortable and they don’t get hot at all. I didn’t wear leather; it was above 90°F (32°C). Long jeans, shirt, and my full-face helmet, which is well vented and quite comfortable.

Not all the motorcyclists on the road were dumb-dumbs. Many wore boots, long pants, a shirt, and a helmet. But there were far too many in sneakers, shorts, and helmet-less. Uggggghhh… sorry, guys, I just can’t abide by the fact that even though the law permits it, some people have to be so thoughtless. Their medical bills cost all of us in higher insurance premiums and tax dollars spent at public hospitals to care for those who are injured and uninsured.

Our County’s Finest

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Lined up, ready to escort us on a ride to raise funds for C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors), here are my county’s finest motor officers. They’re great men, easy to talk to, hard workers, and among the best at what they do.

I enjoyed the ride along Maryland’s byways, non-stop along the way. An officer would block traffic at stoplights and major intersections so the 1,200 or so bikers on the ride could just roll through non-stop.

Man, what a great ride. I kinda wish the officers would take some pride in their boots, because most of the boots were dirty and scuffy. A nice shine would look good on those Dehners and Chippewas. But other than that, their graceful style of riding those big Police Harleys was quite a sight to behold, and enjoy.

One wonders about how such a big bike is handled so well. If you look closely at this officer, he is looking where he wants the bike to go — not looking at the bike or its controls. His body is upright, over the center of gravity of the bike. He is countersteering — pushing against the bar as he enters his turn. This method of operating a motorcycle takes lots of practice, skill, and training. When done correctly, it looks quite graceful. Such training for us regular bikers (in the U.S.) is available by taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Experienced Rider’s Course, offered periodically. I continue to learn a lot while watching our officers ride, and enjoy the opportunity to ride with the best.

Bama’s Boots Now a Biker’s Boots

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This 18″ Wesco Harness Boot and its right mate just arrived today, sent to me by a buddy whose photographic skill and wit have become legend on “Boots on Line” — the infamous “Bamaboy.”

“Bama” has taken these boots on lots of “adventures,” mostly in dirt, clay, and mud. One of Bama’s photos of these boots enjoying one of those “adventures” is below. But he cleaned up the boots well, didn’t he? I’ll have to go play in them sometime, so they won’t think they’ve missed much. But these boots will also go riding on my Harley, as well.

I have enjoyed getting to know Bama. He is a smart, down-to-earth, and fun man with an engaging wit. I am honored to call him a friend, and appreciate that he gave me “first dibs” on purchasing a pair of his boots as he will be thinning his collection to make room for more that suit his current tastes and interests.

Bama, I know you’ll read this, so let me say, publicly, thanks a lot! Your boots will live on long on this Biker’s feet.

Sixth & Cruise

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I am remiss in taking more pictures of my new Harley Road King, but I’m going to blog about a wonderful experience with it yesterday.

I was an invited speaker at a conference held at one of our federal government’s major training centers. This center is located about 65 miles north of where I live, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Once I get on the highway, it’s a steady cruise “up the road” to get there.

And man oh man, does this bike love to cruise. Harleys in this class now come with six gears instead of five. When you’re up in sixth and cruising at 66mph (105kph), it’s only revving at about 2500 rpm, so it’s smooth, fairly quiet, and produces no vibration at all.

The bike came with factory-installed cruise control. I never thought I would want it or use it, but I thought since it had the feature, I would try it out. Traffic was light, the road was wide open. I got up to the posted speed limit (perhaps a couple mph over), engaged the cruise control, sat back, put my boots up on the highway pegs, and just cruised…. sweet!

This bike is so heavy that it practically rides itself while cruisin’ along. The stock seat is comfortable, too. And the best thing of all is that my right hand didn’t get tingly. What I mean is that in the past, when I had to keep constant pressure on the grip to maintain a steady speed, my hand would get tingly and sometimes even go numb. Now on a long cruise, I can let the cruise control keep the speed steady, and relax my hand so it doesn’t restrict blood flow and cause the tingly feeling and numbness. I’m gonna really like going on longer trips with this bike! Just kick it up to sixth and cruise….

Dehner Booted Ride!

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Saturday was a washout with chores to do around the house and some strong thunderstorms punctuating the afternoon with heavy rain and winds. Fortunately, there was no damage around our place, but it confined my activities to indoor stuff. I spent several hours doing genealogy work for my huge family, and updating our family website.

Sunday was another story. We awoke to a bright and sunny morning, and a warm one at that. I pulled on my CHP breeches and tall Dress instep calf leather custom Dehner Boots. I especially like the big Vibram soles, which give me good traction. After preparing home-made waffles for Sunday breakfast for my partner and me, I set off to break in my new Harley-Davidson Road King.

Man, that machine is big, and heavy. It’s quite a bit of work to maneuver at slow speeds and around corners. I’m sure I’ll get used to it. I rode on backroads and byways of my beautiful home State of Maryland. I saw a lot of other bikers out there. And a state cop directing traffic at an intersection where the stoplights were out looked at me, then at the boots and breeches, then back up at my face and gave me a salute! He was cute, and the gesture was unexpected.

I stopped along the way to have some water and just take a break. A Harley group was on a ride, and they stopped at the same place I did. I had a nice conversation with those guys. Several asked me about my boots, where I got them (through Stompers, of course), and how they felt on the bike. If these guys weren’t just beginning their ride, planning to ride for many more hours, I might have joined them. But I was getting tired and a bit sunburned (I forgot the sunscreen). I shook hands goodbye and took a gentle ride home.

I put on about 100 miles on the new bike, learning how it operates and handles. It practically rides itself when on the open road. It is very comfortable. I look forward to many more rides on this beautiful machine, booted all the way. (Hmmm, what boots will be next? Stay tuned…).

What One Does for Love

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Here in the U.S., we are enjoying a three-day weekend for Memorial Day. However, it’s really not as much joy for me as it is just doing things for others out of love.

The story begins on the morning of Friday, May 23, when my Harley dealer called to say that my new bike was ready to pick up. The boss even let us off work a couple hours early.

I rushed home with the intent to change from my dress clothes to biker duds and go get my new bike! Woo-ee! However, when I got home, personal plans were immediately set aside because my partner wasn’t doing very well. He had pulled a muscle in his back a couple weeks ago, and the pain had flared up. Plus, he had promised his mother that we would visit her over the long weekend, which meant that things we had to do around our house before leaving the next day became the priority, and I had to do them. Mow the lawn, do our weekly grocery shopping, and get groceries for my elderly aunt as well. By the time all those chores were completed, it was too late to go to the dealership to get my new bike.

Saturday morning, I drove both of us on the five-hour trip in my truck to my partner’s mother’s home, instead of my partner driving in his sedan. I drove to relieve my partner of the duty. He was on a muscle relaxant, which means he shouldn’t drive. Personally, I hate to drive, especially long distances, but we do what we have to do. Also, since we were going to have my truck available, my partner decided to buy a new mattress to replace the old one on which I slept at his Mom’s house. That old mattress caused me to have back spasms. But out of love for me, my partner resolved the problem (though I did most of the heavy lifting.)

My mother-in-law is not the easiest woman to be around. She constantly complains about everything and anything. But we managed to do what had to be done, with me doing all the heavy lifting, gardening, and other manual labor that had to be done. From a positive perspective, I could use the exercise [smile].

Because my partner still was in agony, we left Sunday afternoon and I drove us back. We got home last night, unpacked, did laundry, unwound a little bit, and then went to bed.

Today, Monday, it is bright, warm, and sunny. And I’m still “bike-less.” My dealership is closed for the holiday. Today I have the fun of going to get some planting soil and a few other things at the local gardening center, cleaning over 900 square feet of outdoor deck space, and then helping to set up our outdoor deck garden. We can’t plant vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini in a regular garden due to the proliferation of deer in our yard which would destroy vegetable plants. So we plant them in containers and put them on the decks that I built ten years ago. This planting routine is usually my partner’s activity, as he gets tremendous joy from gardening. However, due to his condition, he can’t do it and unless I do it for him. Oh well, being bike-less, I will focus on getting these chores done. My partner will be happy, and when the love of my life is happy, then that’s what it’s all about.

I hope the weather forecast is wrong, where rain and thunderstorms are predicted for tomorrow (Tuesday). If that happens, I won’t be able to pick up my new Harley. Worse, I will have to wait until Saturday, because I am in charge of a major event for work which begins on Wednesday and runs through late Friday, and will be held on the other side of the Potomac River in Virginia. Because of the far-away location, I will not be able to get home during the week while the event is going on to get my bike.

They say that sacrifice is good for the soul. I hope it’s good for something, ’cause I’m not among the happiest guys while I am still Harley-ticipating and my partner is grouchy and irritable because he’s in pain. He can’t think straight and it just makes things uncomfortable for me. And to think, it’s going to be warm and sunny all day today, and I could have been out riding…. sigh. I’ll manage. Meanwhile, off to care for my partner and prevent him from trying to over-do it so he can heal.

Law Ride: Boots for the Biker

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At Law Ride on Sunday, May 11, I took a lot — I mean A LOT — of pictures of boots, cops, and cops in their boots. It was a great event because I got to hang out with law enforcement officers and ride with them, and thank them for their service. But it was also enjoyable to attend as a Bootman who particularly likes tall black boots, as there were so many to see.

I spotted these Chippewa Engineer Boots on a cop. They ARE Chippewas (see the Indian Head imprint on the side), but have a solid lug sole, which appears to be a Vibram 100. Man, I really like Engineer Boots with a Vibram 100 sole, and haven’t been able to find tall ones, especially made by a reputable manufacturer like Chippewa. Every time I tried to talk to this cop about his boots and where he got them, or if he had the soles added by a cobbler, he was involved in a conversation with other cops. I didn’t want to intrude or seem strange walking up to a cop to ask him solely about his boots.

UPDATE: DECEMBER 2008: I GOT MYSELF A PAIR OF THESE BOOTS! See them here.

I’m draggin’ this morning. I was up way too late last night, ’til after 10pm, celebrating the win of my candidate for our County Council who was in a special general election on Tuesday. I worked most of the day turning out the vote, and was pleased that he won by a 2/3 majority. He will assume office on May 23 or thereabouts. It was a pleasure to work on his campaign as his webmaster and among his legion of civic activist volunteers. I am especially pleased because he is the husband of my very close friend who was in this office for 17 years. He will carry on her work of constituent service and fiscal prudence with integrity and independence.

Even though I was out partying (defined as hugging everyone in sight, eating chicken nuggets and drinking a Sprite) until all hours, I still naturally awoke at 4:00am. I’m gonna’ crash tonight. Fortunately, I don’t have any more evening meetings this week.

Life is short: wear your boots!

What’s It Like to be Surrounded by Motor Officers?

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On Sunday, May 11, I had the pleasure of riding my Harley with members of the Blue Knights to Law Ride, which is a gathering of police motor officers from all over the country. They assemble at a parking lot at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. Precisely at 11:00, the motor officers begin the procession with us supporters following. We ride down East Capitol Street, past the U.S. Capitol Building, then across Pennsylvania Avenue to Sixth Street, turn right, then right again on F Street, past the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial, left on 5th, then left on G, and park.

My group arrived at the RFK Stadium parking lot about 8:45am. We were there early enough to stage ourselves in the first line of bikers that will follow the motor officers. Then we dismounted and watched thousands of others arrive on motorcycles of all sizes and makes. Of those who came, I estimate there were about 600 – 700 motor officers in uniform. The rest were biker/supporters, like me.

What’s it like? I’ve been asked this question often. For a gay guy, perhaps what I may look for and at may be different from others, but I’m not there for sexual or fetish fantasies. I’m not that kind of guy. I believe that the jobs of our law enforcement officers is tough and they deserve recognition. Yeah, of course, it’s a pleasure for a guy like me who really likes boots and uniforms to be there, to watch, observe, and take pictures.

But what I enjoy most is speaking with some of the officers. I begin by introducing myself. I ask the officer where he is from, and thank him for his service. Usually chit-chat about the job, riding such-and-such a bike, and working in that city or county follows. Because I have traveled to almost every nook and cranny in the U.S. over the years, I find that often I have visited the city or county where the cop is from, so I usually have something to talk about — the cop’s hometown. As for anyone, people like to talk about where they’re from, what they do, and what they enjoy — motorcycling. Most officers enjoy conversations with us “civilians.” After all, they are trained to work with people.

Many of the officers tend to hang out with each other, and swap stories based on their mutual training, background, and experience. I wouldn’t call it cliquish. I would say that people in the same profession tend to have more to talk about with each other. And many of these officers have met before — on this ride or similar rides elsewhere.

If you behave as a normal guy who enjoys motorcycles and appreciates and supports the work of police officers, then there’s not much else to it. You just stand around, occasionally chit-chat with a cop, and take pictures. That’s it. Nothing special, nothing dramatic, nothing difficult. Just hang out, being a biker among fellow bikers.

When the ride queues up to leave, a horn is sounded and a call is made to “mount your bikes.” The cops and the rest of us do that. I put my trinkets that I bought or received as a gift in my saddle bags, put on my jacket, gloves, and helmet, start my engine, and wait to be directed to join the ride, two-by-two. Off we go, down the streets of DC.

Yeah, there is something neat about hearing the roar of all those bikes, seeing all those boots, uniforms, and being one among fellow bikers. That’s what makes this ride fun. The rest — boots, uniforms, leather — is icing on the cake.