RickkciR

 I used to think that I had a hoarding problem of sorts.  I'm really bad about collecting things sometimes.   I first noticed this with NASCAR, and realized it's with pretty much anything I touch/experience Working out. Back when I was 13 shit went sideways in a scuffle with .. I can't resist...  two racists (true .. of course never used that term back then)... and I came out on the losing end.  Hey .. I was freshman and they were seniors.  My excuse and I'm sticking with it.  On the upside I began taking marital arts and lifting weights.   Lets just say . it was the last time I ever came out on the wrong side of a fist fight.  As every year went by, I spent more time in the gym.   I probably peaked at about 23 to 28 age time frame, but still continued to work out hours a day until my 30s.   Around 40, I slowed down but wasn't until about 50 that .. it was on the back burner in the big picture.  I still work...

Back around 1986, I visited my first Biker Rally.  Three of us headed from Omaha, NE to the Sturgis Bike Rally.   Two of us on jap bikes, one on an HD.   We filled up the tanks, tucked away a few C Notes, and headed to South Dakota.  We were all active duty military , so we had decided on staying at Ellsworth AFB , a few miles east of Rapid City.  After 400 plus miles we rolled in and it was dark already, so we found a ditch ( literally ) , and rolled the bikes in, pulled the bags out and got some sleep!  The next day after some riding, we pulled into the base and got our low cost rooms and the game was on! We hit the hill climbs.  We hit the downtown party scene.  We rode through the hills and stopped at just about every beer joint and had a single beer at each.    We had a blast and when the smoke cleared, we weren't broke and we'd had a great time! I've attended three times since, for four trips total. It'd be anot...

I missed it last year.   Was actually pretty bummed about it, but it conflicted with the Durango Reunion event.  They intentionally spaced it out this year, moving it from June to late August, so being one of the guys that 'bitched' about the date conflict, no way I was going to miss it.  Well, I almost did.  We were going to Cozumel, Mexico for my birthday to celebrate but I told mama' I'd rather do this event, which surprised her, so we changed it up and I'm headed to the Ozarks. Last years looked to be a little on the smaller size attendance wise, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.  You get to visit with folks.  Get to know them.  Have a great time. And I'd rather be on a 200 mile ride with 10-20 bikes than 100-200 bikes.  Fact.   There's another upside that occurred last year and carrying on this year.  The Flatlanders ( Nebraska IIRA Chapter ) did a lot of cooking for the crowd last year, and are stepping it up and makin...

Gotta' admit, I'm starting to get psyched. The North Winds IIRA folks have a week of rides planned.  Dinners planned.  An overnight ride planned.  We'll be knocking out an average 275 miles every day .  Now that, is a weekend of riding! If you haven't seen the schedule, reach out to me and I'll get the info that you need.   As many know, we'll be doing a lot with Bison Thunder Motorcycles that week as well. Two weeks, and we'll have some new faces in these photos ....  hope yours is in there as well  ____________________ North Winds IIRA  hitting the roads this past weekend

Historically, I've always waited until the last moment.   It seems like the day before I leave, I'm washing the bike, packing my bags, getting the jackets and rain gear out.   I swear, whether its the Ozarks, Sturgis, MN, you name it... I wait until the last day.  Hell, we did Durango last month and there I was the night before changing the oil and washing the bike.   Nuts! Not this year.  This weekend, I'll begin the preparations.  I'll get it washed, check the tire pressures and tires themselves ( now there's a thought!), and ....  park it.  Off in the corner with a battery tender on it.   And then, begin the packing process.  Leather jacket, rain gear, various misc tools.   Get the GPS mounted and put in some way points. Print the maps and get them in the map pouch , in place.  All pretty obvious, but when you do all this the day before, one ALWAYS forgets something.  Always.  Not this ti...