Saturday, June 19, 2010 9:48 AM

Camping: Anybody Need a Light?

We're only 15 days into June and Three Wheels West has already attended  two camp-outs... one in Colorado and one in the Black Hills.  It's gonna be a great year!  There are two things that I'm grateful for this camping season:  Camp Dry and our new lantern.

Camp Dry?  Region C's Rally was wet, but our camper was dry... need I say more?  I read a review while preparing this post and found that some Army medics overseas were requesting this stuff  by name to use on their boots during the rainy season.  A Soldier's Angel donated a whole case to them.  Each spring, Doug always treats our camper and tent while prepping our equipment for the upcoming season.  For more info and a demonstration video, go to www.kiwicampdry.com.

The Lantern?  We have a Hammy in our family.  Flashlights and their batteries don't last long.   Last year, Coleman came out with a new LED quad lantern that replaced all the flashlights in our camper.  Michelle saw a review of this item in a KOA newsletter.  Camping Life magazine selected the new product for it's 2009 Editor's Choice Golden Spike award.  It didn't take long for this item to make it onto the Sullivan Christmas gift ideas list.  U2's Mom and Dad love their lantern for power outages and outdoor events, especially when one of the grandkids needs to make a trip to the washroom... nobody gets left in the dark.  As soon as the family used it, my brother (who has a set of twins who are increasingly mobile) inquired where he could get one.

The great thing about this lantern is the 4 "pop-off" sections that allow a family member to grab a light when they need to wash up and still leave the main lantern with the remaining campers.  These pop-off lanterns are bright and can last 90 minutes.  When they need recharging, simply pop it back onto the base lantern.  Having the one lantern also makes it easier to pack a camper without having to gather up or check batteries on all the traveling flashlights.  The only batteries used are in the base portion of the lantern. 

You can buy the Coleman LED Quad Lantern in the store or on-line at www.coleman.com or at camping supply or hardware stores.  Right now, Tropicana is running a Juicy Rewards program that lets you earn points towards different product coupons.  Just enter the code from the caps of your Tropicana orange juice containers on-line and you can earn a coupon for 30% off of a Coleman product over $60 when purchased from Coleman.com.  That discount can cut around $21 dollars off the price of the lantern.  To register for the program, go to www.juicyrewards.tropicana.com.

Ride Safe and Happy Camping!
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010 4:02 PM

I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together...

One of my all-time favorite shows was (and still is) the Carol Burnett Show.  There's a gal with real talent, class, and brains.  She assembled a once-in-a-lifetime cast and staff who knew the value of good family humor.  Anybody can throw around foul language, but it's a sign of real creativity and smarts when you can make people laugh without resorting to blatant vulgarities.  Genius!  I also enjoyed the way Ms. Burnett ended the show with a pinch of the ear to her grandma and a "comes the time we have to say so long."  And now it's the Sullivan's turn to take their final bow and hand the reins (or reign) over to your new Region C Family of the Year, Bob and Pam Beveridge of Iowa's Chapter H.  Congratulations, you two!  Welcome to a whole new level of Destination Friendship.  Oh, the places you will go!

During the Region C FOY interviews, the committee gives each couple a chance to ask the panel any questions that they might have.  The most common question is "What Are We Expected to Do?"  My response:  Your job, in a nutshell, is to keep on doing what you're doing... having fun and living Destination Friendship.  I would also ask you to remember two simple words:  "visible presence".  You are the visible presence of GWTA.  That doesn't mean you have to do everything or attend every event, but I would suggest you keep these two words in mind when you're trying to decide what to wear, when to show up with your medals, what to write each month, and what you need to do to promote and serve Destination Friendship.  And I know Bob and Pam will do a great job of doing just that and more.

To those who were unable to attend the Region C Rally Banquet and Family of the Year ceremonies, I would like to share our Family of the Year  speech, given during the ceremonies.  It addresses not just the Families of the Year but each member of GWTA as well:

"The Family of the Year Award is one of the highest honors that GWTA bestows.  The selection process for this award begins as members of your chapter nominate and select a couple or family to be Chapter Family of the Year.  Being selected as Chapter W’s Family of the Year was a huge honor for Doug, the girls, and me because this honor was bestowed by our closest peers... by the people we ride with each week, who see your good side and your bad side, who share your ups and your downs... these are your friends and your family.

Members should take this selection process very seriously.  It’s not about who did it last year or who hasn’t been selected Family of the Year yet.  The award IS about participation and involvement in events at the chapter level and at all other levels of GWTA -- state, regional, and national.  Does the family live Destination Friendship?  And finally, are they having FUN?!

Members, please support your Family of the Year... not only financially, but also by encouraging and honoring them.

Some chapters pay their family’s registration for state annual events like Fall Follies.  GWTA Nebraska and Region C hold special auctions to help their State and Region Families of the Year offset some of the expenses incurred while attending the regional rally, Gold Rush, and other GWTA events.  Many states do a GREAT job of supporting, recognizing, and encouraging their Families of the Year, and we must CONTINUE to do so, so that others will follow our lead and maintain the tradition of this great GWTA honor.

Last but not least, all Families of the Year, be PROUD and respect this honor given to you.  Wear your medals and sashes with pride!  Remember, YOU are representing your CHAPTER, your STATE, your REGION, and GWTA.  Most  of all, cherish every moment and HAVE FUN!  I know we have.  For the hugs, the smiles, and for letting the Sullivan's be a part of each of your GWTA families, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Pam and Bob, buckle up!  It's gonna be a great ride!


To view the slideshow from our trip to GWTA's Region C Rally in Spearfish, click here .

To view pictures from the rally, click here.

(taken from the GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; pictures taken from Region C's Facebook page.)
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Monday, May 31, 2010 5:42 PM

Memorial Day's Wallace to Wallace Tour

It's official!  The Sullivan's got 'er done!  In late 2009, your Region C Family of the Year set a goal to visit and ride through all 7 states and 2 provinces of GWTA's Region C while serving as Family of the Year.  During our trip to the Region C Rally in Wisconsin, we traveled through the majority of the Region C states.  With this in mind, we looked for an opportune time to fill in the missing states in a grand tour.  We named our trip the Wallace to Wallace Tour because it started in Wallace, Nebraska, and would end in a Manitoba municipality named Wallace. On Memorial Day weekend, we (Doug, Michelle, and Hannah) accomplished our goal with a 4-day ride through the Nebraska sandhills, both the Dakotas, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.  (Alas, Brittni is still in Kentucky preparing to take her CPA exam.)  It was a beautiful journey through a variety of terrain with mostly (Note, I did say mostly!) good riding weather.  We followed Highway 83 for most of our route... which was appropriate for this holiday weekend since the road is also designated the Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Highway.  If you ever want to get on the bike, pull back on the throttle, and just ride... this is your road.  It has lots of long distances through beautiful countryside with good pavement and few slow-downs or big cities.  And it will take you all the way to the US/Canadian border and up through Canada.

Some of the road took us alongside the Missouri River and right through the heart of Lewis and Clark country.  We spent the first night in Washburn, North Dakota, at a privately-owned hotel right near where Sakakawea lived and joined the famous explorers' party.  It is also the beginning of the Sakakawea Scenic Byway.  Our second day's journey began with ominous clouds but the weather held as we rode north through Minot and on to the International Peace Garden bordering the United States and Canada.  The border crossings are located right at the entrance of the Peace Garden.  The Garden is easy to get into, but it is the visitor's responsibility to have and present the proper documentation in order to return to either country.

The International Peace Gardens is an awesome place to visit, even early in the season or when the weather is cool.  We arrived after the park employees had just finished cleaning up all the dead limbs and debris from an early morning thunderstorm.  The employees said the lightning and thunder were so violent that the ground shook constantly until the front passed through.  The park is filled with many one-way roads which allow vehicles to roam freely at slow speeds and enjoy the scenery.  There is also a cafe which accepts both American and Canadian money.  Our family had a lot of fun by straddling our bikes and our bodies on both sides of the border and having our pictures taken.... how many people can say they've been in two countries at once... or had their picture taken while the rider was in Canada and the co-rider was still in the States???  We spent a few silent moments at the Peace Tower, gazing at the metal taken from the 9/11 World Trade Center Towers debris and incorporated into the garden towers. 

After the Peace Gardens, Hammy got her first experience of using a passport and passing through customs and being questioned by the border patrol.  We didn't really have any problems; politeness, respect, and direct answers to their questions got us through quickly.  The rest of the day was an experience in wet weather riding... Canadian style.  We know all about stormy weather on the plains, but this day brought a whole new meaning to "reading the clouds".  We learned very quickly that northern storm fronts and cloud formations take a whole new direction from what we are used to.  Dark clouds hovered low and looked full of bad karma... yet, we passed through these fairly safely even with all the street lights tricked into lighting up as if evening had already begun.  The really bad weather hit us when we thought we were coming out of the storm and back into the light.  The rain poured down in blinding sheets and the wind gusted from every direction leaving us no visibility and no place to take cover.  Thank goodness for good rain gear and good tires.  The climax of the storm hit and the thunder rattled our rides as we passed through the Wallace area.  The area had been inundated with wet weather and a low was forecasted to hover over Verdeen with similar storms for the next 3 days.  We may not have had beautiful weather for the afternoon ride or been able to capture a lot of pictures of the two provinces, but we approached the Saskatchewan border with an adventure to remember.  From there, we raced the sunset to our port of entry (open during daylight hours).  I think the US border guard felt sorry for us and took it easy on us with few questions and just a basic pat-down of our bike compartments... Our GWTA business cards came in handy and helped confirm our answers when the guard came across some of the cards stuffed in my trunk.  'Nuff said; welcome back!

After grabbing one Minot hotel's last available room, we opted for pizza, comfy beds, and a late morning before church.  Then on to explore the Native American Scenic Byway and Sitting Bull's resting place.  Highway 1806 is an awesome ride through the Standing Rock Reservation.  The weather was beautiful; we seemed to have arrived at a perfect time of year... everything was lush and green.  As we pulled into Fort Yates and the site of Sitting Bull's incarceration and first burial site, we got lost.  Doug stopped to ask directions while I explored another avenue.  Soon, an extraordinary young lady offered to get in her car and show us around.  Lexie was fantastic with her local knowledge and her hospitality.  We had arrived at the end of the annual Chiefs Ride honoring Sitting Bull and other chiefs.  Horseback riders rode into town and assembled for good food and fellowship.  She pointed out several places of interest that we would have missed and answered all our questions.  Thank you Lexie!  This young lady would make a great guide!

Our route after Fort Yates left Hwy 1806 and detoured  deeper into the reservation lands.  The scenery and the weather made for an ideal roadtrip.  At the end of the detour, we came upon side-road leading to Sitting Bull's current resting place and the Sakakawea memorial.  This has to be one of the most beautiful 4.5 miles of road in the whole country.  An undeveloped stretch of pavement rides right along the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, almost right up to the burial mound.  To get off the bikes, remove your helmet, and hear absolute silence... just the wind blowing through the long grasses is unforgettable.  As we approached the burial mound, we were welcomed by a man there on a private visit... after a while, he started offering us bits of the site's history and finally shared with us that he was the last living member of the original caretakers for the memorial.  His stories made the visit much more personal.  He showed us the bullet holes on the memorial and the repairs that had been made to the carved bust.  Tom, thank you so much.  PS: This statue was carved and signed by Korczak Ziolkkowski, the same sculptor who started the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills.  We left the monument near dusk and spent the night in Mobridge at a great privately-owned hotel that had just been renovated.  The Wrangler's Inn reminded us of the vacation hotels of the 60's.  What a great place to stay with some great prime rib.  Yes, we decided to treat ourselves to a relaxed sit-down meal at the Grand Oasis... with its fantastic view, overlooking the Missouri River and the bluffs at sunset.

Day 4 was all about getting home, we enjoyed the Dakota scenery and noted that the area was still struggling to dry out enough to get last year's corn picked.  One farmer had his combine, his semi truck, and his planter out in the field all at the same time... not a sight you often see.  Much of Hwy 83 had water right up to the roadway in places and I could see how a person could get trapped during a rainstorm and risk trying to escape by crossing a water-breached highway.  With the ground so saturated, I'm glad we weren't scheduled for another pouring rain.  The lilacs were in full bloom and mile after mile was ridden with their perfume filling the air.

I could go on and on, but in short... Region C, you gave us a wonderful holiday weekend to remember.  It has been an honor to serve as your Family of the Year and to explore your roads, meet some wonderful "Destination Friendship" people, and enjoy your respites after a hard spring of fieldwork and planting.  The Sullivan's say "thank you".

If you'd like to see the Hammy Cam Slideshow, click here:  http://albums.phanfare.com/slideshow.aspx?i=1&db=1&pw=fFxJbfzE&a_id=4696780

For the pictures from our Wallace to Wallace tour, click here:  http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/fFxJbfzE/1/4696780

(taken from our Region C Family of the Year blog)
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Thursday, April 01, 2010 5:18 PM

It's National Park Week!

Just because Doug and I are stuck in the field planting corn, doesn't mean everyone else has to cut back on their ride time (yeah right).  Take advantage of the warmer weather and enjoy the spring by visiting a national park.... for FREE!  During National Park Week, from April 17 - 25, entrance to all 392 national parks is free.  Some National Park concessionaires are even adding their own discounts (One Yellowstone lodge offered a second night's stay for free).  For more info, go to http://www.nps.gov/npweek/.

This week is also a good time to get all your travel paperwork out of way if you didn't do it during the "Winter of Endless Snows".  The Sullivan's used one white-out to create a rough draft of our summer travel calendar.  In view of said calendar, we decided to purchase an annual America the Beautiful park entrance pass for 2010.  It should save us some money and eliminate some time sitting at the entrance fumbling for cash, etc.  The fee is $80 per pass and allows for the signature of two pass owners.  You can purchase the passes on-line or at a park.  There are different passes for senior citizens, volunteers, and for persons with permanent disabilities.  For more info on the America the Beautiful Annual Entrance Pass and other passes, visit http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

According to the National Park Service web-site, the Annual Pass admits pass owner(s) and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas; and pass owner + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free.)  At sites that charge per vehicle entrance fees, the Annual Pass will cover entrance for the two pass owners on two motorcycles or scooters.  The signatures of both people must be on the Pass and must match identification.  The pass owners do not have to be married or related.  A free hang-tag is included to display your pass in an un-manned vehicle.

If you drive an open-top vehicle or motorcycle, annual pass owners may ask for a free decal to use also in parks with unstaffed entrance stations .  These are not offered on-line, but may be obtained at Federal recreation areas that charge an Entrance or Standard Amenity fee, and at some Federal agency offices.  You are allowed two decals per annual pass.  If your decal becomes weather damaged, you can ask for a replacement decal as long as part of the decal can be identified.  (Decals are not offered with Senior Passes or lifetime passes since people change vehicles over time.)  You still need to carry your annual pass card to use at manned park entrances and stations.  To obtain your decals, you'll need your annual pass, your driver's license and vehicle registration(s).  (Note:  The signatures must match.)  For more info on decals, go to http://store.usgs.gov/pass/decal.html.

Now that your have your pass, you just have to decide which of the 392 national parks to visit first!

PS:  Now, would also be a good time to grab your state or provincial park entrance permit if you need to purchase one in advance of your trip.

To purchase a State/Provincial Park permit on-line for your Region C state or province, visit any of these links:

Illinois:  No Park Entrance Fee
Iowa:  No Park Entrance Fee
Manitoba:  No Park Entrance Fee for 2010 (changes in 2011)
Minnesota: (no on-line purchases; info only)  http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/permit.html
Nebraska:   www.ngpc.state.ne.us/parks/permits.
North Dakota:  http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/parks/fees.htm
Saskatchewan:  (no on-line purchases; info only)  http://www.fwsp.org/stickers_passes/
South Dakota:  http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/General/Annual.htm
Wisconsin:  http://www.fwsp.org/stickers_passes/

NOTE:  2010 is a significant year for Saskatchewan with a number of historic anniversary celebrations.  For more information, click here.

Let the travels begin, and Ride safe!

(Taken from our Region C Family of the Year blog.)


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Friday, February 12, 2010 11:37 AM

February Valentines: Hearts, Health, and Rider Ed

A couple of months ago, Doug and I obtained our GWTA Rider Education Program Level 3 and 4 rockers.  Finally!!!  We'd obtained our Levels 1 and 2 through our chapter and at Gold Rush XX and XXI.  For quite a while, we’d been trying to find a First Aid and CPR course offered within a reasonable distance and at a reasonable cost.  This was proving difficult since most of the courses in our area have been restructured and are now offered through the area colleges.  Along with this restructuring came the higher costs associated with higher education.  Our GWTA chapter could have sponsored a course, but many of our riders had already updated their certification through their place of employment.  

The need for training hit home this past year when Doug’s dad became a farm accident statistic.  A trencher which he was moving to a work site popped out of gear, accelerated down a steep grade in reverse, went through a cattle fence, and landed at the bottom of a canyon.  Doug’s dad was thrown clear of the equipment at the first impact, halfway down the canyon wall.  Each second after Doug’s dad disappeared from view lasted an eternity... getting to the patient, climbing up out of the canyon to find a cell signal for 911, waiting for a volunteer First Responder team to assemble and locate the remote off-road scene, and slowly maneuvering a rescue vehicle out of the canyons and through a rough cattle pasture with a back injury patient on board who’s going into shock.  Forget an ambulance in this terrain!  Enough said!

Doug’s dad survived a broken back and two broken scapula and is walking again.  He’s lucky... but that day brought home the importance of being prepared and knowing what to do during that critical time of waiting for help to arrive.  When an EMT (who also happens to be our nephew) and a community church offered us the extra seats at their local American Heart Association HeartSaver First Aid & CPR course, we were there.

Much has changed since the last time I took this type of course.  Years earlier, all the CPR rules and exceptions based on adult/child/infant, etc. intimidated me.  Today, the instructions have been simplified immensely.  Our training included video examples of each course segment and repetition of the step-by-step procedures ("The scene is safe", "Do you need help", "You!... Dial 911!", "You!... Get a first-aid kit and an AED!", etc.).  There was plenty of time for questions and help from the instructor.  The course also provided enough CPR dummies, so that we had plenty of practice... No taking turns.  One new thing I learned... when doing CPR, think John Travolta!  Saturday Night Fever's song "Stayin' Alive" is the perfect tempo for doing CPR compressions.

Another first for me... We even got to practice using an AED...  I love the way these machines walk you through the steps and are practically dummy-proof with all their built-in safeguards... no accidentally shocking the patient or yourself.  We also learned that the phrase "I need an AED!" can tell a 911 operator and emergency responders quite a lot about the situation in just a few key words.  (AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator.)  I no longer feel intimidated by these machines and would not hesitate if the need arose to use one.  It's amazing what this little piece of equipment can do to increase your chances of survival!

February is Heart Health Awareness month.  Why not prepare for the upcoming riding season and refresh your First Aid and CPR skills.  If you need forms to update your GWTA Rider Education Certification Levels, contact your Chapter Rider Education Director or go to the GWTA web-site.  It's so easy, and you never know... your Valentine and a few others might thank you!  Happy Valentine's Day to all the First Responders who repeatedly give of their time and training and who were there for us the day we placed the call.

(Taken from our Region C Family of the Year blog; CPR and Pocket First Aid Pictures from the American Heart Association web site.)
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Monday, February 01, 2010 1:19 PM

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!


(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; pictures contributed by Three Wheels West)


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Sunday, January 10, 2010 7:43 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!

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; pictures contributed by Three Wheels West)


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Thursday, October 08, 2009 6:00 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.

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; pictures contributed by Three Wheels West)


posted by U2Farmer with 0 Comments
Wednesday, October 07, 2009 9:45 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.

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; pictures contributed by Three Wheels West and Kim Petersen)
posted by U2Farmer with 1 Comments
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:10 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.

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog)
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:49 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.

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; pictures contributed by Three Wheels West and Kim Petersen)
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Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3:16 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.)

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year Blog; 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.

(taken from our GWTA Region C Family of the Year blog)

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Friday, July 03, 2009 3:39 PM

Hammy's Hail to the Chief: President #7

President Andrew Jackson was our 7th president.  He was a major general in the Tennessee army, and his men gave him the nickname Old Hickory because he was super strict about following rules.  Mom said he had to be because the government told him they didn't need his army any more and wouldn't pay for food and stuff for the army to get back home.  He didn't like the British because he had been a prisoner in the war and an officer had cut his hand so bad that you could see the bone. 

All President Jackson's brothers and sisters and parents died when he was a boy.  He didn't go to school every day.  When he was a teenager he started studying and he learned to be a lawyer.  He owned a racehorse track and liked to play cards and joke with friends.  He got in lots of fights when a man said bad things about him and his wife. He loved her very much.  The man shot him and he shot back and the man died.  Some people say the president never smiled again after his wife died.

President Jackson was sick a lot before he stopped being president.  He went home to his farm.  Mom grew up in Kentucky in the Jackson Purchase.  President Jackson bought the land and made it a part of Kentucky.

PS:  Jackson Nebraska has a little ice cream shop on the main street with hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream.  We ate supper there on our way home from Wisconsin and the Region C Rally.
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Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:53 PM

Region C Family of the Year Blog: The Year Begins!

Two Blogs?  As part of our GWTA Region C Family of the Year duties, the Region C director has asked us to create a Region C Family of the Year Blog.  The Region C Webmaster has completed his "Number 1, Make It So" techie stuff.  The rest is up to us.  With an eye to the future, Three Wheels West has decided to keep our two blogs separate so that the new blog may be passed on to the next Region C Family of the Year without any hassles.  To help Three Wheels West blog fans and family stay on track this year,  any posts made to the FOY (Family of the Year) blog will also be posted here also.  TWW readers will only have to check one web site to keep up with all our activities.

Here is the first post from the Region C Family of the Year Blog:


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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