Monday, February 01, 2010 10:39 AM

What's On Your Bucket List for 2010?

If you watched Jack Nicholson's movie "The Bucket List", you know what this blog post is about.  What better use to make of a cold, wintry February 1st than to fill in your wish list of destinations and explorations for the upcoming ride season.  Here goes!

This year I would like our family to:

1.  Grab the two Canadian provinces in Region C so that we can say we visited all 7 states and 2 provinces while we were Region C Family of the Year.

2.  Have a hobo-themed Camp-out in a railroad car... How many people can say they've slept in a caboose?  You can do that in Nebraska!

3.  Sleep with the fishes or maybe the penguins... camped out in the Omaha Zoo.  You can do that in Nebraska, too!

4.  Ride my motorcycle to the top of a volcano.  We can do that in New Mexico.  (Kind of already did that by riding to the rim of the caldera in Yellowstone, but I'm not sure if that would really count.  New Mexico has a paved road that winds around their volcano until you reach the top!)

Ohhh, and one big one...

5.  Grab Oklahoma for my "All 50 States" Map, so that Duck will stop pulling his hair out trying to figure out how we got enough velocity on the bikes to vault over the panhandle from Kansas to Texas.  (Then I can really mess with him by planning a trip to Hawaii!!!)

6.  Attend GWTA Region C Rally and check on the progress at the Crazy Horse Memorial -- of course.

7.  Attend GWTA Gold Rush XXIII and ride the BearTooth again -- of course.

8.  Attend GWTA anything that we can possibly attend.... but you knew that already!


That's a start.  I'm sure I'll have plenty of help adding to my list.  Feel free to share your own lists on the forum!


posted by U2Farmer with 0 Comments
Sunday, January 10, 2010 6:01 PM

Happy NE-W Year 2010

This year's first official GWTA event for your Region C and National Family of the Year certainly brought new meaning to the word challenge!   Each year on January 1, we participate in GWTA Nebraska Chapter W's NE-W YEAR'S DAY COLD TUSH CHALLENGE.  The Challenge?  No matter where you are, no matter what the weather, as long as it is safe to do so, RIDE.  Depending on the year, our family's ride may not be a long ride, and if the roads are covered with ice, we may only circle the drive around the house or stick to the concrete pad approaching the garage... but we ride.  The only rule to the challenge is to get the motorcycle out of the garage or storage shed and to get a picture of your ride. 

Last year, we lucked out with a balmy January 1 during our holiday visit to Kentucky.  This year at home, the temperature for our ride was 16 degrees F and dropping fast... the local temps didn't make it above zero for most of the next week.  We also had snow on the ground and flurries in the air.  January 1 landed smack dab between two big winter storms.  With both storms, we had snow, we had COLD, we had blizzard winds, we had ice and even ice fog, but most of our roads had been cleared the first time by the end of December.  On New Year's Day, the three of us bundled up, warmed up the trikes, charged Hammy's scooter and made a quick run to the highway.  Two of us (guess who) got up to highway speed for two miles, then we took our pictures, turned around, and headed home to hot cocoa.  Three wheels do come in handy sometimes, and we were lucky that no semis were out and about to pelt us with gravel.  We did get a couple of "you must be crazy" looks from a pickup full of bundled-up people as we waited at a stop sign for them to pass by.  Mileage?  Three miles total per rider, but at least we were able to get out of the garage, which is more than most of our eastern Nebraska and Iowa family could do... Some of them are still buried in snow; hopefully they'll dig out this week.

In 2009, Chapter W invited all the chapters in Nebraska to join them in this annual event.  It was fun to see everyone's pictures and to share a winter get-together with our GWTA Nebraska family, even if it was only digitally.  This year, Chapter W extended their challenge invitation to all of our GWTA family... from California to Kentucky, from Canada to Coco Beach.  Our goal is to make this an annual tradition and we hope to "see" you there (via your photo) in 2011.  Here's to better weather for the rest of 2010 and New Year's Day 2011!

To see more pictures and a slideshow from the NE-W Year's Cold Tush Challenge 2010, including photos submitted by our Region C Director (Look at those legs!), our Nebraska State Directors and some other brave GWTA souls, click here.  If you rode on January 1, either on your own or with a group, you can still send or e-mail your New Year's ride picture to Doug or Michelle to have it included in the event slideshow.  Many thanks go out to those who intended to ride but were unable to dig out their bikes due to the storms.

THINK SPRING!
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Thursday, October 08, 2009 4:04 PM

GWTA Nebraska State Friendship Campout 2009

On September 11 - 13, GWTA Nebraska held their annual State Friendship Campout at Mormon Island State Recreational Area near Grand Island's I-80 interchange.  Camping after Labor Day is always a great way to wind down your summer activity... fewer campground crowds, cooler temperatures, and a more relaxed atmosphere can make for a relaxing Destination Friendship weekend.

The location of Mormon Island SRA makes it a great spot for members from either end of the state... it’s near the middle of Nebraska and right off the interstate, which proved very helpful this year for all those who arrived after dark.  All day Friday, the skies favored the weatherman’s rainy predictions.  Those who arrived early didn’t get wet, but those who arrived after dark had a mighty cold and wet ride.  This was not a night to waste time deciphering map directions to the campground.  This year, a single turn off the interstate ramp had you right there!  Riders were greeted by the early-bird members in rain-suits who pointed them to open reserved sites and assisted them with setting up camp as needed.  The  group waited until almost everyone registered had arrived, then we reconvened across the highway at Grandma Max’s for a quick warm-up, chat, and an evening meal while the rain tapered off and moved on. 

Mormon Island got it’s name from the locals who referred to the nearby winter camp area used by some Latter Day Saint pioneers as they traveled west along the Mormon and Oregon Trails.   The late-season group chose this spot due to its access to fresh water.  Today, the campground is filled with large shade trees, clean facilities, nice electric hook-ups for motorcycle campers, and some pull-through spots for RV’s.  This year, our volunteer Nebraska Game and Parks camp host was a real keeper.  He kept the facilities equipped and clean, was always available, and assisted us with locating the GWTA camp-sites.  All weekend, he went beyond the call of duty and photographed each couple’s portrait with their motorcycle and printed everyone their own 8x10 copy to take home.  Wow!

Saturday morning’s weather was perfect for lazing around with a cup of coffee and catching up with the latest news.  Gary & Betty Smith, along with Doug & Michelle Sullivan and a posse of volunteers set up a “Come as You Are” Saturday Morning Breakfast consisting of coffee, juice, biscuits and gravy, and the best custom, cooked-to-order omelets-in-a-bag you’ve ever tasted.  The SMB event was a new addition to the Friendship Campout schedule, and it proved to be a big hit.  Campers were able to gear down and enjoy more time in the company of fellow campers.

This year’s events were a mix of activities based on a “make your own campout” theme.  Husker fans watched the televised Husker game from their camp chairs around Gary’s RV.  Paula and Jeremy (sans "Duck") set up their Ladder Golf game in a camp clearing for kids young and old alike.  Both candidates for Region C Representative on GWTA's Board of Directors were also available to answer members questions individually.  A few members brought their fishing poles to try out the stocked 46-acre pond created from an I-80 “borrow pit“, while a number of riders traveled via the historic Lincoln Highway and Loup Rivers Scenic Byway to tour Nebraska’s only underground adventure... the Happy Jack Chalk Mine near Scotia.  It was a great day to ride, and the bikes were a site to behold in group formation.

Happy Jack Chalk Mine is one of only two chalk mines known to have existed in the country, and it is the only one open to the public.  About 6 - 10 million years ago, Nebraska had a sub-tropical climate filled with elephants, rhinos, camels, and saber-tooth cats who all frequented a large area lake.  Billions of diatom organisms settled on the lake bed to form the rock called calcareous diatomite “chalk”.  In the 1870’s, locals began to mine the soft chalk for building stone and paint fillers (it's not for blackboard kind).  The mine is no longer in use except for tours, events, and haunted Halloween excursions.  Our group was amazed at the extent of the mine passages which we passed through; one shaft was as long as two football fields.  Some of us even dared to pet a few brown bats found sleepily hanging from the ceiling.  We were able to see a few of the old miner tools and learned about the room-and-pillar mining style.  We learned that the burrows exposed in the mine walls afford scientists some of the best examples in the world of ancient burrowing animals.  If you’re ever in this area between Memorial Day and Labor Day, this attraction is worth an hour of your time.

After the mine tour and an ice cream, riders joined up with the rest of the members back at the campground for Saturday Night’s State Staff Cook-out.  Officers and volunteers grilled burgers and brats while Hannah Rose made her famous Hammy Salad.  Everyone contributed a few extras to make a great meal.  Nobody went away hungry this weekend!  That evening our Iowa caucus (Green & Peters) put together a great campfire around which we dozed away the evening.  The kids roasted s’mores using some of the biggest marshmallows most of us had ever seen... if you get the chance, just ask Karen to share her source!  As if we hadn’t had enough to eat, Jim & Jean Bryant produced a campfire popper and some AK Acres popcorn.  (Thank you Chapter W and AK Acres.)  By the end of the night, we’d popped and made the rounds with FIVE big batches.

Sunday began with another perfect, sunny fall morning and a biscuits-and-gravy breakfast with coffee & juice.  State Chaplains Gary & Betty Smith conducted services before we all had a final visit, packed up, and began the beautiful ride home using a portion of the routes travelled by those early pioneers.  What a great weekend, and what a great way to slow down and welcome in the fall season.  Thanks to all those who contributed to the event and made it a great "Destination Friendship" weekend; you are what makes GWTA great!  Thanks to our State Treasurer, Barb Mills, for keeping us on the straight and narrow with all the paperwork.  Also thanks to our Region C Director, Region C Board Representative/candidates, GWTA Nebraska Rider Education Director, and to GWTA Iowa's State Directors for taking time out of your schedules to share the weekend with us.  We can’t wait until next year!

To See more pictures or a slideshow from the 2009 GWTA Nebraska State Friendship Campout, click here.


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Wednesday, October 07, 2009 8:23 AM

Bike Time Versus Family Time

Riding with young kids adds a third dimension to motorcycle touring, especially when your co-rider packs a bonus bundle of  energy.  Long trips turn into lessons in luggage organization and parental patience, but the memories made are the experiences of a lifetime.  Currently, we’re the only members in Chapter NE-W with a rider under 12.  Hannah Rose started riding when she was six years old and we owned one motorcycle.  Doug and I had noticed that our ride time was starting to cut into our family time.  We needed to cut back on our motorcycling or find a way for the family to spend time together AND ride.  Brittni was preparing for college and didn’t really have a lot of spare time for rides that summer, so the key player in this drama was our youngest, Hannah Rose.  

Four People, One Bike:  Should we buy a second motorcycle?  Doug and I made a couple of test rides with Hannah to see how she took to the back seat of the GoldWing.  She loved it!   Solution:  We bought an older used 1500 trike to use for local family ice cream runs and Thursday supper rides.  In August, when the entire Sullivan clan took off for the Nebraska State Fair, we decided it was the perfect time to test Hannah Rose on a longer trip.  If she couldn’t make it the whole way across the state to Lincoln, we’d let her finish the trip in her grandparents’ sedan.  The weather was perfect for the 6-hour ride.  We allowed an extra rest break along the way, and by 9 pm, we pulled into the hotel registration area.  I nudged Hannah awake as we waited for Doug to find our room and finish up his visit with some enthusiastic Japanese tourists.  “So Hannah, how did you like your ride?”  Her eyes almost popped out of her helmet as she responded “That was Great!  When can we go again?”  We were in trouble... this kid actually preferred the longer rides over ice cream runs!   Throughout the next winter, we made plans to upgrade to a newer second trike that could handle longer trips.  We also started looking for gear that wouldn’t break our budget.  

By mid-spring, we’d developed a behavioral reward system by which Hannah could earn her ride to her first Gold Rush. (Remember, she’s nicknamed Hammy for a reason.)  Three successful  supper runs earned a Saturday Ride.  A good Saturday Ride earned a weekend campout.  A good campout earned a trip to the Region C Rally in Nebraska City, which resulted in the trip of a lifetime... Gold Rush XXI in Montana via the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Beartooth Pass.  Talk about motivation!  Hannah owes her mother a big thank you for the many times I explained to a group of second-grade girls why we could not bring everyone autographed pictures of their favorite pop star (Just because her last name’s Montana doesn’t mean she lives there!)  By July, Hannah had secured her seat.

As we prepared for our journey, we continued to glean tips from fellow riders and benefit from their travel-parenting experiences.  This is one of the perks of GWTA membership:  the friendships and resources awaiting you when you participate in chapter, state, regional, and national events...   There’s no need to re-invent the wheel!!!    

The Gear:  When taking kids on longer trips, we learned that proper gear plays a big part in your co-rider’s happiness.... because if your co-rider ain’t happy.... ain’t nobody happy!  And comfort is key.  When you live in a prairie state just beyond the shadow of the Rockies, most of your comfort is directly related to wind, sudden extreme weather changes, and having the gear ON BOARD to cope with those changes.  That’s when your packing skills come into play.  Until kids are able to understand wind chill and dressing for 60-mph bike speeds, be prepared for a few extra stops and digging through a trunk full of gear for that extra jacket.  We found a set of child’s chaps and a leather jacket on E-Bay for under $20, also a child’s rain suit, and a $5 snow-mobile suit with velcroed wrist and ankle closures, perfect under leathers during cool weather.  Thank goodness for the internet!  

We searched for 2 years for a warm-weather solution to protect a young rider from road rash and sun.  (No teenager should have to worry about road rash scars when choosing her prom dress.)  The Joe Rocket brand’s tendency to size their women’s clothing on the small side worked in our favor.  We found a discontinued mesh jacket in a Lady’s XS which worked perfectly.  Hannah loved the hot pink color, which also made her easier to spot in a crowd.  And then there’s the vest.  One of Hannah’s proudest possessions is her GWTA vest made by a Chapter W member.  If you want to see a girl’s face light up, just give her a little bling and a place to show it off... a few patches here, a pin or two there, some pink lining, and now she’s a proud member of the club!  Jean, you are awesome!

The Helmet:  First and foremost, our serious touring friends recommended investing in a good helmet fitted so that air wasn’t allowed inside to whip around the head and neck.  We found a closeout sale on X-Small Arai helmets.  The dealer custom-fitted the padding to Hannah’s current size.  As she grows, we’ll refit the helmet with new pads.  Hannah’s reaction... WOW, the fit of the helmet exponentially increased her riding comfort and pleasure.  No more wind-whipped, bobble-head fatigue.

We also installed a head-set in the helmet, based on another friend’s experience with his grandson.   Kids want to feel part of the group.  Hannah loved being able to communicate, share her discoveries over the intercom, and keep up with “the herd” by listening to the group’s cb chatter.  The headset also allows parents to get creative when boredom sets in... how many kids can say they’ve counted all the windmills from Ogallala to the South Dakota State line?  Now’s a great time to start developing your child’s future skills.... watching for deer, signaling the location of road hazards, speed limit changes, gravel, missed turn signs, etc.  Kids love to feel important;  these little jobs do just that and prepare future riders for the day when they’ll want their own wheels.

The Bike:   Of course we have to mention some “safety” chrome!  Age isn’t as much of a co-rider factor here as is the maturity to communicate back-seat discomfort to your rider before it reaches crisis stage.  Riders must remember that if you’re feeling cold, your co-rider is probably twice as cold.  Be patient with young co-riders’ complaints.  Our first add-on was a luggage strap to secure the back arm-rests in position should the co-rider fall asleep during a ride.  It’s cheap but indispensable in my book.  We keep one in each bike... no strap, no ride.  This year, we added some Baker Air Wings.  Hannah loves them!  The “wings” deflect the moving air and bugs (think like a 9-yr old girl) off her legs, and they enlarge her comfort “bubble” behind the rider.  

The Little Things:  Family rides always have the potential for creating life-long memories when we plan ahead... take extra water, healthy snacks, gum, suckers, chap stick, and sun screen.  If you notice your co-rider (young or old) getting a little too cranky a little too often, re-evaluate how frequently you stop for a stretch, a snack, and a drink.  Into collecting souvenirs?  Try a Penny Passport for the younger crew.  It allows kids to collect a small item from places they’ve traveled without loading up the trunks and saddle bags.  Each stretched penny allows your co-rider to share her own stories and memories with friends and family back home.

The Camera:  I’ve found a down-side to riding my own bike.  I no longer get to lose myself in the scenery and capture the experience on film.  On a lark, I let Hannah borrow an old camera and shoot around the back yard.  I was amazed at the pictures that came back to me.  So when the Sullivan’s headed out on Chapter NE-E & NE-W’s 2008 Estes Park Camp-out, Doug secured the strap of that camera to Hammy’s wrist and told her to shoot away!  The camera was simple to use and small enough to slip in the pouch on Doug’s back rest during bad weather.  We came home with 786 pictures for me to filter through (and that’s after I deleted the blurs).  The majority of the shots were quite good... some even darned creative!  From that moment on, Hammy became Three Wheels West’s official photographer-in-training.  With the “Hammy Cam” on board, I get to enjoy riding my own trike, Hammy's occupied with exploring a creative talent, and our family gets a ton of photographic souvenirs.

Patience:  All the gear in the world won’t amount to a hill of beans when riding with kids if the rider doesn’t show a little patience with his passenger.  Yes, there are days which try your patience, but that’s when it helps to be riding with a partner who can give you a break and take your passenger on board.  It means a lot to Doug and me when fellow chapter members detect a problem and help out by turning “helmets on and mount up” into a race to see who will be the last person on the bike, or who gets the quarter for being first to inspect "the facilities", or who will finish their meal so we all get ice cream.  Fun games like these can defuse a developing battle of wills.  Eventually, young co-riders figure out that their actions affect the whole group and learn a valuable lesson in cooperation.  And that’s when you realize that Destination Friendship has arrived at Destination Family.  Enjoy the Ride.

(pictures contributed by Three Wheels West and Kim Petersen)
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Tuesday, September 08, 2009 7:01 PM

Which Bike Is For You?

Motorcycle Cruiser magazine's October 2009 issue included a nice comparison article on "beginner" bikes and hints for selecting the right size for you.  This issue's test committee used 4 riders, some fresh out of rider training.  One rider was a woman co-rider turned rider, another was a dirt biker turned street biker, another was a short-trip, in-town rider with little road time and few developed skills.  The volunteers were put on five machines with "newbie-friendly traits":  Honda Shadow Aero, Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD, Star V-Star Silverado, and a Triumph Bonneville.  Since so many of today's new riders are women, the article explored the experiences based on rider size (shortness) and forward leg placement versus tucked.  Also interesting was the fact that the biker with the most bike experience was the one who dumped their test bike on the course.  Watch out for the puddles!

The article provided interesting comparisons on comfort, seating, appearance, price, and thrill-factor.  Each rider's commentary and why they preferred one bike over another made for interesting reading.  Look for the "SHOOTOUT Beginner Bikes" article beginning on page 30.  Near the end is a little side piece on the benefits of motorcycle training schools for new riders.

Ride safe.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009 9:24 AM

Hammy's Ride 2009

This year, Chapter NE-W's schedule committee shook things up little.  To accommodate different work schedules, the Frenchman Valley Riders planned more events for those who have weekends free, but they also kept the traditional Thursday Supper Runs for those who can get away on weeknights.  This made for a busy schedule, but nobody expected the members to make every ride.  The group also tried creating an event to attract riders with younger families and named it Hammy's Ride 2009 after our youngest member and herd boss.   (Yes, Hannah Rose bears a strong resemblance to the movie character in "Over The Hedge".)

This year's Hammy Ride brought us to Wellfleet Nebraska's Dancing Leaf Lodge Cultural Learning Center.  The site is named for the native term given to the cottonwood tree -- the tree with the dancing leaves.  The main attraction is an earth lodge built in the tradition of the wood and dirt structures that served as the first homes in Nebraska.  Around 1,000 years ago, the people of the Upper Republican Culture lived in these lodges on the canyon hilltops while they farmed and hunted the area along Medicine Creek.  They are thought to be ancestors to the Pawnee.  Our visit to Dancing Leaf Lodge turned out to be much more than a tourist's glimpse of an earthen lodge.  Not only did we have a great day to ride, we experienced what ought to be a genuine Nebraska treasure -- it's no wonder the place has been recognized with a Nebraska Eco-Tourism Award and that the universities send so many people here.  Owners Les and Janice Hoskins amazed us with their down-to-earth introductions to ancient life on the Plains.  The kids were spell-bound by the stories of what their life would have been like as the first Nebraskan boys and girls.  It was awesome to be able to handle the fossils as Jan shared the state's early history.  Camels, elephants, rhinos, saber-tooth tigers, and mammoths in Nebraska?  Wow!

For the second part of our tour, Jan led the group out to the earthen lodge.  While we think of our home and shelter as one indoor unit, the early Nebraskans viewed the lodge as their shelter and the entire surrounding ridge-top as their home.  The Hoskins illustrated this point with recreated exterior work stations for food prep, hide tanning, and weaving surrounding the lodge.  Each earth lodge takes about 3 years to complete and requires about 300 trees to be cut, hauled from the creek, and seasoned.  The final product resembles an igloo and is a engineering marvel.  We could feel the draft of the cool breeze as it directed the smoke and air particles up through the chimney vent.  As the children sat around the fire pit, the adults sat on the surrounding sleeping shelf and listened to Jan's explanation of the shelter's construction.  The thick layers of dirt made for a cool, peaceful shelter -- quiet even in the middle of a blizzard or the hottest summer heat!  I'd love to have one of these in my back yard!!!

While the Hoskins prepared us a meal typical of the early native culture, our group explored the grounds.  Years ago, this site was an old Boy Scout camp.  Now there is a campground, picnic shelter, hiking trails, and gift shop.  This would be an great place for a GWTA campout if only the road down to the campgrounds were paved.  You can even rent the earth lodge for an overnight stay.  How cool is that!  After a short hike to explore the creek, we sat down to our all-you-can-eat meal of buffalo stew, blue corn muffins with honey, and a selection of cut melons.  Nobody walked away hungry!

If you are ever near North Platte, please make the time to visit the Dancing Leaf Cultural Center (25 miles south on Highway 83, then 2 miles east on Opal Springs Road).  The road is paved all the way to the entrance gate and suitable for two-wheelers.  Janice and Les make their home there and can be contacted for reservations most days of the week.  Regular visitors include school groups, scrap-booker, yoga and painting clubs.  The tour takes around 90 minutes; let them know ahead of time if you'd like the meal (optional).  Their web-site is www.dancingleaf.com.  You'll be glad you came.

Thanks Hammy for a great day... I think the adults had as much fun as the kids did.  We can't wait until next year!  Click here to see more pictures and a slideshow from the ride.

(Pictures contributed by Three Wheels West and Kim Petersen)
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009 2:59 PM

Gold Rush XXII: They're Off!

GWTA's Gold Rush XXII was truly a “Day at the Races”... the whole week seemed to go by in a blur as we tried to take in and remember all that happened during the national rally in Lexington.  Our hats go off to the Gold Wing Touring Association staff and volunteers who worked to make this week unforgettable and to the “Destination Friendship” members who made it happen.

The Nebraska rains timed up with our irrigation pivots so that we were able to leave home two days early and schedule a side trip to visit Brittni at Murray State University...  Nothing like changing plans at the last minute and hitting the road ahead of schedule!  Fellow farmers and Chapter W members Bob & Jacquie Grams received rain also and were able to travel with us.  We were surprised at how smoothly the ride went with hardly any time lost to stimulus-package road construction.  Before leaving, U2 had checked the DOT on-line road maps for Missouri and prepared us to take a breath, inhale and slowwwwly exhale... the state map was practically covered in orange alert flags indicating numerous road construction projects.  Evidently, our timing was perfect for this trip as we rarely encountered active construction crews.  The bikes  crossed the Ohio River on Day 2 and entered the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  We spent Day 3 touring Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and Fort Donelson National Battlefield before hitting the three parkways on Day 4 for the final leg of our Journey to Lexington.

The Gold Rush host hotel was right smack dab in the middle of Lexington and connected to a parking garage.  (It was nice to park the bikes under cover each night and not have to worry about overnight storms.)  The weather during the rally was uncannily mild for mid-summer Kentucky.  What happened to the humidity?  Even the locals commented on it.

We began our Gold Rush XXII experience with the Sunday night Welcome Dinner.  We always enjoy, catching up with our friends and seeing who’s made it to the rally before the time warp begins.  This rally began as it ended for us -- non-stop activity.    On Monday morning, we were up bright and early, dressed to the nines for our GWTA Family of the Year national interview.  So many friends had offered us advice and supported us along the way; we really hoped to represent them well.  The seven nominee biographies printed in the Gold Rush brochure gave us butterflies and brought home just what an honor it was to be included in this year’s group of finalists.  We really enjoyed arriving early for our interviews and having a chance to meet a few of these couples.  (We may get in a ride to Maine yet in this lifetime!  It sounds like a great place to explore!)

The Opening Ceremonies were a blast.  We located Chapter NE-W members Jim & Jean Bryant and Lynn & Teresa Reinhart as they arrived from the campgrounds.  Region C had the most attendees and took “show” in the Kentucky Horse Race for priority seating.  That along with Nebraska’s ranking for top Raffle ticket sales, gave us a good view of the podium and of the Illinois Chain Gang in their black and white stripes -- what a hoot!  The first high-point of the ceremonies for U2Farmer was singing Kentucky’s state song after the Canadian and American anthems.  Only a Kentuckian would realize just what it meant to an ole Kentucky gal to sing Stephen Foster's hymn so near the heart of Rupp Arena where former Governor “Happy” Chandler brought a sold-out crowd to tears with his rendition of “My Ole Kentucky Home” on a UK Parents Night.  Awesome!

Soon it came time to announce GWTA national Family of the Year... As we took our spot on the podium with the other Region FOY’s, my main concern was fielding Hammy’s reaction to the announcement of the winner.  I really hoped her disappointment at not getting to wear a tiara on stage with her #1 favorite 2008 FOY bud Teresa Larson (She had to work this year.) wouldn’t keep her from sincerely congratulating the 2009 winners.  After Frankie & Sherry Lane of Region H were announced as runner-ups and congratulated, I thought I knew whose names I wouldn’t hear.  We were stunned when Linda Keenon announced Doug and Michelle Sullivan as GWTA’s 2009-2010 Family of the Year.  The rest is a blur... cheers, victory chants from Region C and Nebraska, Doug’s tearful speech, pictures, medals, Barb’s instant Facebook post to those at home, and lots of hugs.  The most vivid memories I have after that are a big family hug with Tatonka as we walked off the podium and having so many members of our Chapter W family there to share the honor with us.  We owe this day to them... to their friendship, their love, their mentoring, their fellowship, patience and support... Destination Friendship and Destination Family rocked that day!

Click here to see more pictures from Gold Rush XXII.  (More posts from GR XXII to come.)

(pictures contributed by Three Wheels West, Dale & Deb Siepker & Jacquie Grams)
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Saturday, July 04, 2009 3:27 PM

Remember the Patriots: They Risked All

This month, our family completed one of our favorite annual GWTA riding events...  the GWTA Nebraska Grand Tour.  The theme of this year's event is U.S. Presidential towns.  Riders are asked to visit and photograph their bikes in at least 10 towns in the state which include a U.S. president's name in the town's name.  It's been fun, and if you haven't made your own grand tour, there's still plenty of summer left to ride this one.  Hannah's had a great time reporting different presidential facts in her Hammy's Hail to the Chief.  She especially enjoyed her discovery of George Washington's favorite food:  ice cream! 

We stumbled on about half of the grand tour towns during our trip to the Region C Rally in June.  To date, we've visited Grant, Ragan, Ulysses, Lincoln, Pierce, Polk, Monroe, Madison, Adams, Jackson, and this week... Hayes Center.  Today's Fourth of July celebration seems a fitting way for our family to complete this year's tour, and Hayes Center is just the place to do it.   The Hayes County volunteer fire department always puts on a great fireworks show with lots of homemade ice cream.  Life doesn't get any better than a summer evening of eating homemade ice cream with friends and family and watching some spectacular fireworks.  That's what it's all about...

but no, it isn't... not really.  There's more to The Fourth than that.

Today, I began reading William Bennett's The American Patriot's Almanac, and I learned what July 4th is really about.  It's a BIG celebration to a lot of folks, but it's also a time to honor the people who made great sacrifices on our nation's behalf so many years ago.  Bennett's almanac entry for July 4th tells the rest of the story... the stories of those men of the Continental Congress who had the courage to sign their names (and their death warrants) to our Declaration of Independence.  Life's not always a fairy tale with a nice pretty ending.  I encourage you to grab a copy of this book and find out what happened to William Floyd, Richard Stockton, John Hart, Thomas Nelson, Thomas Heyward, Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge (to name a few) and what price they paid.  So, while I hope you get out and enjoy today's holiday with Destination Friendship and Family in mind, I hope you'll also celebrate the lives of those who risked all to make our country's birthday bash possible. 

If you'd like to see some pictures from our GWTA Nebraska Grand Tour of Presidential Towns, click here.

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Sunday, June 21, 2009 8:53 PM

The Year Begins!

All we can say is, “GWTA Region C Rocks!!!”  The Wisconsin crew really knows how to put on a rally!  Thanks guys, and thanks to the staff of both GWTA Wisconsin and Region C ... it was an awesome experience.  So many faces, old friends and new... we're already anticipating the next chance we get to see you all again.  If you attended the rally in Chippewa Falls, you know who we are.  If you weren’t able to make the rally, allow us to introduce ourselves:

We are this year’s Region C Family of the Year -- Doug, Michelle, and Hannah Rose Sullivan.  If you don’t recognize our real names, we also go by RoadRunner, U2Farmer, and Hammy when we’re posting on the Region C Forum or blogging (Three Wheels West).  There is a fourth member of our crew, our daughter Brittni, who is a busy college senior.  She doesn’t get home much now, but you may get a chance to meet her at Gold Rush in Lexington.

We are fourth-generation farmers from southwest Nebraska.  We live near a small community of 300 people, one hour’s road time away from everything.  Hannah Rose attends fourth grade at a small K-12 school that is the hub of our community.  Brittni attends Murray State University in Michelle's home town of Murray, Kentucky.  The Sullivan’s started riding a little over 3 years ago as a means of  stress relief.  For a long time, we’d searched for a hobby that was compatible with farming.  A neighbor suggested a bike.  He told us that he could climb on his bike after a long hot, dirty day of fighting irrigation pivots, take a 15-minute ride down the road, and come back a new man.  “All it takes is 15 minutes.”  He was right.  And so the story goes.

Doug rides a red 2008 Honda Gold Wing GL1800 with a Hannigan trike conversion.  Michelle rides a gold 2006 Honda Gold Wing GL1800 with a Hannigan trike conversion.  Hannah co-rides and is chief photographer in charge of the famous “Hammy cam”.   We’re proud members of GWTA Nebraska’s Chapter NE-W, the Frenchman Valley Riders.  And we love to ride.  We joined GWTA shortly after we bought our first trike by surfing the web to locate other Gold Wing owners in our area.  Chapter W took us in, mentored us, and is now a beloved second family to us all.  With each rally we attend, our GWTA family grows larger and the friendships more cherished.

The Sullivan's are extremely honored to have been selected to serve Region C as your Family of the Year, and we hope you’ll tag along with us as we share our experiences and life on the road during the year ahead.

Ride safe.
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