September 16-19, 2004

Not your typical Muthuh's Ride... but the packing was about the same. I needed to fly to San Francisco with my Tour-Pack fitted bag and two saddlebag fitted canvas bags as carry-ons, because when I landed I was hopping on a (ugh!) rental bike and riding around the Bay Area for the Weekend. This trip is all in support of that Charity I am involved in, U.S. Hogs for Dogs. (www.HogsForDogs.org)

On the way, I stopped in Denver to visit my daughter and nearly 2-yr old grandson, Dylan - that's the guy in Pics #01 and 01. He already has all the right Harley T-Shirts.

Once I got to Oakland Airport, I got a ride from one of our Board Members out there, Jenny, with Mad Maps, Inc. (www.madmaps.com) to Eagle Rider rentals and picked up an Electra Glide for the next few days, immediately found a bar on Lombard Street - Liverpool Lil's (at Lyon Street)right next to the Presidio, and proceeded to work our way through a few Guinnesses and Reuben Sandwiches. Time really got away from me as we bullshit for an hour and a half, when I realized I needed to get to the East Bay and it was now rush hour(s) traffic in San Francisco - fortunately I also brought our my pre-programmed GPS and handlebar mount, so getting there was easy, but the drive was painful. On the upside, though, in California, you're allowed to 'lane-split' and 'lane-share' if you're on a bike. In short - you can ride the white striped line between lanes of traffic, or slide up to an intersection in the same lane as someone else to get to the front of the line at stoplights... this was FUN! Even on a Dresser, I was going twice as fast as the stop and go traffic trying to get across the Bay Bridge.

Even with that, though, I was an hour late for the BBQ in Pacheco. Many of the volunteers who were helping out for the past few months and those willing to help at the next few days events were chomping down burgers and chips when I pulled up. I failed to get many (any) pics of the BBQ except for two of Jesse - Pics 03 & 04, with the Biker Dogs MC (www.bikerdogs.com)- a bunch of guys who ride with their dogs. Hmmm.... might have to rig up a similar carrier for my new lil' Chihuahua, Bandit.

I was offered a place of my own to stay a few doors down from where Blaine and Janet were staying - the homeowner left us a donation and the keys to her place - so the next three nights were like being in a motel room only bigger. I was worried about crashing on various people's couches along the way here - they all had big dogs, and combined with Max and Bailey - two 100lb+ Goldens' - I was concerned for my ability to sleep! Pic #05 is me and Tracey - the tireless coordinator for the East Bay events. Her full time work is with the COntra Costa Animal Services Division so she had a lot of inroads into the dog-loving community here. #06 is the volunteers just prior to the morning event at the Wells Fargo Corporate Headquarters in Concord, California - they were very spportive and opened their doors to our event allowing their employees to wander throughout most of the day. #07 is our entertainment of the day, and #08 is Jesse again.

 
The real purpose of this Charity Ride across America is educating the school kids - well, and begging donations, too. #09 through 11 is the various awards and presentations during the event. #13 and 13 are of a Glass Blower we had at the event who presented Blaine with an excellent glass sculpture of him and Janet on their rigs, sidecars included, with the dogs, riding the roads...well done.

#14 is a shot immediately following the Wells Fargo stuff back at the Animal Shelter where a girl scout troop came out to see the dogs as they presented the shelter with collected supplies.

Starting with #15, the next day, we went to the Grand Opening of Devil Mountain Harley in Pittsburg, California. They had a big turnout and we had a successful day selling Logo Gear and grabbing donations. The Dunk Tank alone netted over $280, partly because of Lisa who stripped her duds and put on a White T-shirt from the DirtyDogs M/C, who came out to help with our events. I think Lisa was responsible for $250 of the cash from being dunked repeatedly just to keep her t-shirt wet.

 
Pics #21-24 are more of the Open House Venue.

 
#26 is of me and Sabrina (Brini), the daughter of Tracey our coordinator. During the preliminary events, Brini underwent some major surgury and seemed to be coming through it just fine. We were all pulling for her in the months that led up to this event. #27 is her with Tracey and Blaine and Bailey as things were winding down at the end of the day. #28 is the daughter of one of our other volunteers. Shoulda wrote down her name!

 
That evening, I took Brini for several Harley rides, back home, out to dinner at a buffet and back home again - to count the money... lots and lots of money. In the end, with the pre-donations before we got here, and both events, we expect the total will be around $35,000 (We're still collecting donation cans from around the community)...so all in all a successful event - that couldn't have happened without the help of many volunteers.

The next morning, we were gonna get up early to take a long ride around the north bay to come across the Golden Gate Bridge but the only rain storn this summer happened to be upon us as we got up... bad luck. However in true Southern California fashion, it slipped over us by 8:30 and we headed the 35 miles into San Francisco to Dudley Perkins H-D, the oldest Family-Owned dealership in the country. #29 and 30 is of Blaine being interviewed by the local press. #31 is he and Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, one of the City Board of Supervisors, who came out to support the cause.

Upon hearing the news that I had a new Chihuahua, Blaine - being the smart-ass that he is - arranged for a little present - a small pink t-shirt for the dog... because my plan is to ride him up front on the gas tank, the shirt reads "If you can read this, the Bitch fell off"... is he referring to me?

 
#33 is a group shot of us, Michela, and Jenny of Mad Maps, who was the San Fran coordinator. #34 and 35 are of the beginning of the group ride from Perkins to Alice's Restaurant (a'la Bob Dylan fame) through the Streets of San Francisco. #36 is Robin Williams house overlooking the Bridge.

 
#37-39 is approaching the Golden Gate and #40 is another group shot, this time Me and the HFD Crew, along with the two Jenny's both of Mad Maps. The one laying down foolishly agreed to be my back seat for the ride, but I must say I got a MUCH better tour of San Francisco with someone in my ear pointing stuff out to me.

 
More Ride Shots

 
More Ride Shots

 
#47 - 53 are taken at Alice's Restaurant. After miles and miles of twistie coat roads, followed by more twictie forested roads, we popped into a clearing at an intersection where Alice's sits. Not much of a crowd - to match the not many riders on this group ride - (the organization on the San Fran side just didn't come up to par), but the restaurant is nice, good food and I had a chance to meet the new owner, Andy Kerr, who stood for a photo with me in #51.

 
That's me and Jenny(1), friends again after a little short-lived pissed off over some event cancellations in SF and the poor turnouts, can't stay angry at friends, now can ya? From Alice's Blaine and Janet took off south, while I headed back up to SanFran with Jenny(2) to drop off the bike back at the rental place. We did a little backroads tours through the Haight and drove through Golden Gate Park to enjoy some dinner at Jenny(1)'s house, where I had a chance to meet and talk to Clem Salvadori - a writer of motorcycle wit and ponderings for several motorcycle rags, mostly on the Left Coast, and a book or two of his own. Really enjoyed talking to this guy over dinner. But - the security line at the airport waits for no man, and I was off with my mashed potatoes half eaten. Another little excursion under the belt and a red-eye flight in front of me (Will NEVER do one of those again)...

Till next time - Ride Safe...

- Muthuh

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