The Ride is on

The weather should be perfect for our three pass ride this coming Saturday, so get your grin on.

The Port Orchard riders will be meeting at Brother’s around 7:00 AM or so, and the plan is to leave from there for the Kingston ferry dock by 7:15 AM.

We will meet at the ferry dock at 8:00 AM to ensure that we all make it on board the 8:35 AM departure for Edmonds. If anyone is planning to accompany the group in a vehicle rather than motorcycle, let us know ahead of time so we keep you informed regarding scheduled stops.

Using our arrival at Kingston at 8:00 AM as the starting point, we will cover approximately 290 riding miles in about eight and a half hours (including two one hour stops). Leavenworth will show up on the highway at 11:15 AM or so, and that will probably be our first major stop. The next major stop will be North Bend at somewhere around 2:00 PM. At that point, we will have about 220 riding miles behind us. North Bend to Port Orchard is about 70 miles, so the last leg won’t be too rough.

Make sure you bring sun glasses for that last stretch in case we hit I-90 later than I expect. The setting sun can be brutal going west. Bring money for the 50/50 also.

Pete and I are hoping that someone (Bill Culbertson or Doug Mountjoy) will show up that can guide us through Edmonds to Monroe without using too much freeway. There will be about 50 miles of I-90 that we can’t avoid.

Comments, questions and suggestions are encouraged over at the Yahoo Group.

Wisdom shared by Sue

I spent some time going through my pictures this morning (everything related to Star Touring and Riding), and it came to mind that Pete, Sue, John, Lonnie, and Marty spend a lot of time riding to where ever we are going to meet up...so they can ride some more...with us. I know they all enjoy riding as much as anyone, but they also have busy lives outside our club.

I just got an email from Sue that put it all in perspective for me:

A MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much too
handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough,
remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had
some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very
large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill
it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the
jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and
poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the
golf balls. He then asked the students again if the
jar was full they agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured
i t into the jar . Of course, the sand filled up
everything else. He asked once more if the jar was
full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from
under the table and poured the entire contents into
the jar, effectively filling the empty space between
the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that this jar represents
your life. The golf balls are the important things-
your God, family, your children, your health, your
friends, and your favorite passions--things that if
everything else was lost and only they remained your
life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your
job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued,
"there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time
and energy on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your
happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get
medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18. There will always be time to clean
the house and fix the disposal."

Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that
really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just
sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what
the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just
goes to show you that no matter how full your life may
seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of
coffee with a friend."

Please share this with someone you care about.

I JUST DID

STAR-B-Q Update

I don’t know what anyone else thought about the NW STAR-B-Q at Little Creek Casino, but this was my first one…and I really enjoyed myself. I took a lot of pictures that will get posted on our Yahoo Group, and I took a lot of pictures that won’t get posted there because some didn’t turn out (some did, but they have to await the censor’s rating).

The vendors brought a lot of Star accessories and apparel for the happy bikers to spend their money on, and I certainly spent my share. The Brother’s Power Sports marked everything down 50%, and that allowed me to get in touch with my inner female side (just can’t pass up a fifty percent sale). I picked up a couple items that would have been out of my normal budget range, so I was able to support the STAR-B-Q event, kick in for the Autism Society of Washington (the NW STAR-B-Q featured charity), and indulge myself with some new goodies for my bike on a limited amount of cash. It was all good.

My overall impression of this entire experience is that it was well worth the time and effort to attend. The Little Creek Casino continues to be one of my favorites (location and food), and they gave us a lot of room to be who we are.

I always enjoy the company of our 403 members, and it was great to finally meet the gal that rides that cool chopper (Jan). We got to mingle with Star Touring and Riding Association members from all over the Northwest, and there wasn’t an unfriendly face in the lot of them.

We already have the flier for the 2008 NW STAR-B-Q to be held on June 27-28 in Post Falls, Idaho, so I am working on a new budget for that event. Star Touring and Riding, Spokane Chapter 174 will be our hosts, so mark your calendars.

Meeting update

We had an excellent gathering this morning, and actually made some headway on Chapter Business. I have a couple items to verify for the minutes, and they will be on the way to the distribution list.

We voted in three new Chapter Members (Dana, Lon, and Dan), and welcomed two new meeting attendees whom we hope will enjoy our company as much as we enjoy ourselves. It is always exciting to bring new members into the group, and we expect to see more as the word gets out during our first year as an official STAR Chapter.

We have set aside the Cape Flattery ride to once again attempt the Three Pass Ride. Instead of a regular meeting on August 18th, we will be meeting at the Kingston Ferry Terminal at 8:00 AM to begin the ride, and we will have a brief official meeting enroute to Edmonds. This promises to be an awesome ride, so make plans to participate. Maybe the weather will cooperate this time. More discussion will take place on the Yahoo Group (link is on the sidebar), so throw your two cents in.

Our after meeting ride turned out well. We made it to Belfair without any rain, but it looked mighty dark the direction we were headed...so, we went to Jimmy D's for breakfast, and Greg took us for a pleasant ride out to the end of Key Peninsula. The ride Jim Johnson started us on (Purdy Canyon) is one I would still like to do, so we can make it a lunch run to either Shelton or the Little Creek...keep it in mind.

Next week end is the Ocean Shores Sun and Surf event. It is too late to pre-register, but you can register at the Ocean Shores Convention Center on Thursday or Friday. If you are interested in checking it out, go to the website here.

I am looking forward to the NorthWest STAR-B-Q...

Stay safe, and let us know what is on your mind at the Yahoo Group.

After Meeting Ride

The scheduled ride for Saturday is Mount St. Helens, but the chance of overcast is high so we have discussed an alternate ride that will take us to Jimmy D's in Belfair for coffee or breakfast, then around the canal to Purdy Canyon Road which will take us to Highway 101 past Shelton to the Mcleary cutoff where we will stop at the Little Creek Casino for lunch. From there, we will head back to Shelton, and return through Allyn (with a possible stop at Twisted Angel Biker Wear to say Hi to Kris and Roy).

Stop by the Yahoo Group to comment.

Escorting the Dignity Wall

We met at Shari’s on Sunday morning so some of the STAR riders could grab a bite to eat before we headed for the Foss High School parking lot in Tacoma. I was surprised at the number of bikes already sitting there when I pulled into the restaurant, and I had passed two large groups sitting in other parking areas along the way. It promised to be a well attended event.

As we pulled out of Shari’s headed east on Highway 16, we had picked up at least one extra motorcycle in our group. It was a quick trip to Foss High School (would have been even quicker if we had paid attention to the guy holding the sign that told us to turn in on the road he was standing next to…we didn’t), and we rode into a parking lot that resembled a biker ant-hill. I am pretty sure I have never before stood in the middle of so many bikes and leather-clad bikers in my life, and the bikes just continued to pour in behind us.

We turned in our ride waivers, and were rewarded with a nice pin and the opportunity to pick up a beautiful t-shirt commemorating the Dignity Wall. Hundreds of bikers were wandering around the truck that contained the wall, looking at the art work and the dangerous looking Chihuahua standing over the steering wheel. Handshakes and hugs were being exchanged by new acquaintances and old friends, and the air was charged with a feeling that this was a moment to be remembered. Thanks to the camera packers, a good portion of it will also be shared.

After we all gathered to listen to the ride organizer talk about how the ride would be conducted, everyone found a place to fall in behind the truck as it pulled out of the parking lot, and the ride to escort the Dignity Wall was underway.

Our group managed to stay together in the midst of the massive grouping of escort bikes, and we found ourselves far enough behind the truck that we frequently lost sight of it, but still somewhere in the middle of the group. At one point along Highway 16, there were only motorcycles as far as I could see in front and behind us…it was awesome.

When we arrived at Miller-Woodlawn Cemetery, everything slowed to a crawl as each rider found a parking spot. It was slow, but actually well organized and smooth. I doubt that the permanent residents of that well manicured facility were even aware of our presence.

The final event for the participating riders was a complimentary Salmon Bake feed at the Suquamish Tribal Center. This was also well attended, and the food was excellent. Our thanks go out to the tribe for their honor and appreciation of all Veterans.

The next step in this ongoing event is to visit the Dignity Wall next week end after it is open to the public. If you are so inclined, and available, your volunteer help to get it set up and ready for visitors would probably be greatly appreciated. Contact Miller-Woodlawn if you are interested.

Escorting the Wall

The STAR Touring and Riding Association, Bremerton, Washington Chapter 403 members participating in this escort event plan to meet at Shari's by 7:30 AM (at the Highway 16 Sedgwick exit close to Port Orchard) for breakfast and/or coffee prior to leaving for Tacoma. We will depart Shari's around 8:30 AM for the thirty minute ride to Foss High School.

The following info is from the ABATE website:

July 8th.

There will be a motorcycle escort from Tacoma to Bremerton on Sunday.

DEPARTURE 10:00 am

FROM: FOSS HIGH SCHOOL/METRO PARKS PARKING LOT ON S. CHEYENNE ST. , IN TACOMA (S. CHEYENNE ST. IS THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO CHENEY STADIUM).

DESTINATION: MILLER-WOODLAND CEMETERY GROUNDS, KITSAP WAY, IN BREMERTON, WASHINGTON.

Then it will be on display the following weekend.

FRI-SUN July 13-15 2007

The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall.
Created in 1990, this three-quarter-scale, 240-foot traveling replica of the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in WA DC is coming to Bremerton to Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park (5505 Kitsap Way, Bremerton).

This faux-granite replica is dedicated to all Americans who served in Vietnam and honors all servicemen and women of the United States military forces.
Each year the replica criss-crosses the country, allowing millions of visitors to see and touch its black, mirror-like surface inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam. Every exhibition is sponsored by a local Dignity Memorial provider, with the help and support of area veterans groups and civic organizations. The exhibit is not a commercial venture. Dignity Memorial network providers have been extremely sensitive to this issue. We provide our replica to communities at no cost. We do not solicit, nor do we record the names of those who visit the exhibit, and an admission fee is never charged.

Website To Volunteer to help set-up or for more information contact:

Susan Teale

360-377-7648 Or (Miller-Woodlawn)