Yakima Canyon

Our June ride will be an all day jaunt to Yakima Canyon. I have our meeting listed as normal as far as time and place, but I think that has been modified... so I will post the appropriate info, and get an email out to distribution.

Digger

2009 is underway

Our January meeting is behind us, and we are moving on into the new year.

I finally got the minutes sent out to distribution, and am looking over the maps for western Washington to come up with two or three ride to eat (RTE) events. We have a few members who work on week ends, so they have to take time off to join us on our regularly scheduled rides (which usually take place right after each meeting). The RTEs will be planned for mid-week to accommodate the week end workers.

Registration for STAR Days will open up on line February 2nd. I'll have to go shake the change jar to find out if I am camping or reserving a nice room. Either way, I am going...

It will be sunny and warm any day now...

Christmas Potluck

We are planning our Christmas Potluck for December 9th at 6:00 PM.

I will send out an email with directions to the complex in Port Orchard where Greg has scheduled a room for us.

In addition to bringing a main or side dish, we are asking everyone to bring a White Elephant gift for exchange. It can be motorcycle related or not...preferably something that you no longer want or need.

Plan to be there...

Veteran Appreciation

The following was sent to me from Pete and Suzanne:

Hi Richard, Will you pass this on to everybody.

We would like to see as many bikes and people as possible. Pete can meet everyone at the McDonald's in Port Orchard (Sedgwick Rd.) @ 12:00 or high noon as he said.

Please bring snacks for munching for the guys. Crackers, pop corn and such. Remember most of these guys are diabetes and don't need the sugar.

Personal item's will work too.

We will be meeting the other chapters at the Roy Y off of Hiway 512 @ 1:00 and going to the Veterans Soldiers Home in Orting.

Spend some time and let them see your bikes and just talk. That is what we are all about.

Please e-mail or call to let us know if anyone is going. If not, we might go over the night before. Pete and Suzanne

August update

It has been way too long since new information has been added to this blog, so I will try to get you updated.

Our August meeting is two days from now, and our scheduled ride is the Hood Canal Loop. I don’t know who the Road Captain will be or what the exact route will be, but I am looking forward to an awesome lunch somewhere.

I am hoping to have a guest at our meeting from the American Legion Riders to give us a rundown on the upcoming “Remembrance Run” that will take place on September 6th. The proceeds from this run will go to provide educational assistance for the many children having lost a parent as an unfortunate consequence of Operation Iraqi freedom and America’s war on terrorism.

Chapter 403 participated in the Whaling Days Parade last month, and we were joined by some of the American Legion Riders. It was my first ever attempt to ride the motorcycle slowly in formation, and it was almost painful. My clutch and brakes must have an additional month of wear on them from thirty five minutes of parading. However, it was an opportunity to join some of my motorcycling brothers and sisters in community support, so it was ultimately enjoyable.

The Northwest STAR-B-Q in Post Falls, Idaho on June 27 and 28 was definitely one for the memory books. The host chapter (Spokane, Chapter 174) did an excellent job planning and running this event, and it will be difficult to top in the future.

Some of our members helped out with the Don Blair Memorial Poker Run on August 3rd that was sponsored by Brothers Power Sports, and held to benefit the WMRRA Injured Riders Fund. The Blair Family put this event together, and they work hard to make it go each year (this was the fifth year).

I hope all of you are taking advantage of the summer weather to get out and ride. The price of fuel is still hovering around $4.00 a gallon, so it makes sense to ride when you can rather than drive.

Above all else, stay safe…

Training Accomplished

Our safety training workshop was well attended and well received. Greg Sandstrom, Chapter 403 Sergeant-at-Arms, did an excellent job facilitating the workshop and sharing a wealth of knowledge acquired during his time as a Motorcycle Officer for the WSP.

We discussed issues pertaining to safety when riding in a group, as well as individual maintenance responsibilities, and overall considerations for the Road Captain and Tail Gunner before and during a ride. Many of us expected nothing more than a review of material we should already know, but came away from the workshop with one or two new pieces of information (like hot pipes can ruin some fine rain gear...huh Blaine?) and a better understanding of the effort required to maintain a safe edge whenever we are enjoying a ride. I am confident that this type of gathering will take place more frequently than once a year, and it will help all of us improve the quality of our motorcycling experience.

Richard Lamphere (Chapter 403 Shepherd) was the driving force to make this workshop happen, and he went above and beyond the call to provide a clean and comfortable facility for us, as well as providing an excellent feed for everyone attending.

”Well Done” to both Greg and Richard for your work on behalf of your motorcycling family. Thanks!

Note: Almost half of our attendees came from outside the immediate Chapter 403 area, and we greatly appreciate their friendship and support.

Safety Training

Our Road captain/Tail Gunner/group Riding Safety Training will be held immediately following our regular monthly meeting on March 15th.

Our meeting will be held at the Brother's Power sports (as it usually is), and we will proceed to the training location as soon as the meeting is over.

Directions to the training site are being emailed to the distribution list for Chapter 403.