45 Years Spurs a Trip to Wisconsin

My Mom and Dad will be celebrating their 45th Wedding Anniversary on October 19th. They didn't want a party so they decided that the family should go to one of their favorite vacation spots...Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. I created a photo montage of the extended weekend. Wisconsin is a beautiful state. I'd love to go back on the motorcycle.

My folks rented a cottage for the weekend. My sister Margo, her husband Tim, and my niece Sydney, Dan and myself, met my folks in Egg Harbor on Thursday. Friday and Saturday we spent the day going to shops, art fairs, and roadside markets. Dan and I took a side trip to the Wisconsin Motorcycle Memorial and had a great time with June at Siobhan's Wine in Fish Creek. Thursday night I had spotted a sign that said Motorcycle Memorial Park 2 Miles so on Saturday Dan and I took a side trip to find it. I'm really happy that we did. It was a very spiritual place and a very nice tribute to the Fallen Brothers and Sisters of Wisconsin that road motorcycles. There was a large group of Honda GoldWing riders there when we pulled up.

On Sunday we headed to Milwaukee to the Harley Davidson Museum. It was really great being able to go there. There was so much to see that I could have spent hours there reading every single piece of history about every single part of the motorcycle lifestyle and the history of Harley Davidson. If you get a chance definitely go but plan to be there a few hours because it's not a place you want to hurry through.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We had a great weekend and I'm very happy that my folks suggested this trip to celebrate their 45th Anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Love you both very much!!!

A Round of Applause for a Great Lady and Her Man!!!

If you scroll down you'll see the post I put up about the Ride for Trinity. Well...I opened my e-mail today and there was a huge thank you to the gal that put it on and her husband. Toots-Twister and Spiderweb live in Montezuma, IA and they planned this event to help Trinity's family. I'm posting it on my main page instead of putting it in the comments for the post below because I want people to see what huge hearts Bikers truly have. I've been in contact with Toots and she said the ride was a huge success, which is wonderful! Visit Trinity's website: http://babygirlarthur.blogspot.com/

HI I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE BENEFIT THAT A LOCAL HARLEY GIRL AND HER HUSBAND HAD FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER ON SEPTEMBER 20TH!! IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST HUMBLING DAYS OF MY LIFE! THEY DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB PLANNING THIS EVENT AND PUT ALOT OF HARD WORK AND TIME INTO IT ALSO!! WE HAD BIKE GROUPS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, MAINLY IOWA AND ILLINOIS. WE JUST PURCHASED OUR FIRST BIKE, NANA AND PAPA ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN! BUT BACK TO THE BIKERS, WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP OF HUMANS! IF YOU WANT TO MEET SOME OF THE MOST GENEROUS PEOPLE WITH HUGE HEARTS HOOK UP WITH SOME HARLEY RIDERS!! GOD MADE THEM SPECIAL!! LOVE TO ALL!! THANK YOU! A NEW HARLEY NANA

A Little Motorcycle Humor...

Now and then people e-mail me stuff that cracks me up. Found this in my e-mails today and had to share...

I am working from home today, and I do have to work, but I look outside and its a lovely bright morning. What often happens on such days is I might take a walk to the garage, usually one of the bikes is awake, the conversation goes something like this.

bike “working from home today again huh'
me: yep
bike: need some 'thinking time'
me: thinking time?
bike “thinking time, you haul me out of the garage, ride me for a couple of hours and think about the work you need to do”
me: that a good idea?
bike: sure it is you get to think and I get to go on the road, don't be such a pussy.
me: OK I'll get my gear
bike to herself as I walk away “ that little bike whore is so easy”

Then my wife gets home in the evening and says “you are working late...you been out on that bike again!!”

IPG Showed up At Sturgis...

I have a story from Sturgis that I've gone back and forth about sharing because I don't want anyone to think I am trying to get a pat on the back or comments on how nice I am. I want to tell it because I want people to realize that a small act of kindness and acknowledgement can go a long way.

Dan and I were wandering through all of the vendors in Sturgis to try to find a better deal on a shirt that Dan wanted to get. As we entered one of the vendor tents I spotted a gentleman standing off to the side, seeming like he'd love to be anywhere but there. As I observed him more I noticed that on his vest were patches that read Vietnam Veteran, etc. It appeared that maybe he was working there. He didn't talk to anyone unless they asked him a question and he just had this sad look about him. We had worked our way over to this table that was near where he was standing. I got this feeling in my heart that I wanted to say something to him. I walked over to him and took his hand in mine. I looked directly into his eyes and he gave me this very startled look like, what the hell lady! I said to him...Sir, thank you very much for the service that you gave to our country. I appreciate all you sacrificed. He looked back at me and said...Wow, you are welcome. I squeezed his hand ever so lightly and walked away.

As Dan paid for the shirt he wanted, I observed this man again. He went from lurking to the side of the tent, to walking up to people and talking to them in a matter of a couple minutes. And the best part about it, he had a smile on his face.

The point of my story is that if you feel something in your heart do it, say it. The feeling that you have could uplift someones spirit and help them through the day. I guess I'm all about supporting our real heroes. The ones that put their lives on the line for our freedom. As D-Day has said a couple times...maybe I should change my name to Iowa Patriot Girl. I just have such a love and respect for our military that every chance I get I tell them how much I do appreciate them. I think my whole thing is, lift up those that are real heroes, they need to know what they are doing or did is that important!

Please Remember...

Friday, September 19th is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Please take a moment tomorrow to remember all of the soldiers that are still Prisoners of War or Missing in Action.

322 Days Until the 69th Anniversary Sturgis Rally

Ok Kids...we made our reservations in Rapid City for next years rally. If you are interested in staying in a hotel about 25 miles from Sturgis give the Motel 6 a call. It's not a luxury hotel by any means but it was the cheapest place we could find. The phone number is 605.343.3687. Call during the day and speak to the manager.

1st ANNUAL 100 MILE BENEFIT/POKER RUN
TRINITY BENEFIT/POKER RUN

For information on Trinity Please visit http://babygirlarthur.blogspot.com/

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2008
Poker Run- Sign in starts at 10:30AM at courthouse square Montezuma, Iowa
$5.00 per hand or $10.00 for 3 hands with payouts to highest & lowest hand
Last bike out at 11:30AM
Last bike in at 5:30PM (100 mile run)
1st stop Delta Junction-Intersection of HWY 92 & HWY 21
2nd stop Wildlife Bar-n-Grill Fremont, IA
3rd stop All In The Family Raceway (use to be Winds) Oskaloosa, IA
They will have maid rites & chips for bikers.
4th stop Longhorn, Barnes City, IA
5th stop Montezuma Tap, Montezuma, IA
Dinner and Street Dance In front of and hosted by Montezuma Tap in Montezuma, Iowa
$10.00 per person-includes dinner and dance, $15.00 per couple.
Food will be served from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Clayton Brown opening for Mississippi Pearl will perform from 8PM – 9PM
Mississippi Pearl will perform from 9PM - 1AM
Several Raffles throughout the night including 50/50
Lodging Camping available
Additional camping at Diamond Lake for a fee (payable to DNR)
Cozy Country Inn Call for Reservations at 641-623-5505
Everyone Welcome!
All Proceeds go to Trinity Arthur
Donations also accepted for Trinity Arthur at Montezuma State Bank (641-623-5766)
C/o Randy Henkle (Grandpa)
For More Info. Contact: Caryn Webb-toots/twister at 641-990-7826 E-mail: caw@zumatel.net

2008 National POW/MIA Recognition Day - Friday, September 19th, 2008

Please remember our countries POW/MIA Soldiers on September 19, 2008. You can visit the following website to view stats on the names and number of soldiers from World War II, The Korean War, The Cold War, Vietnam, and the 1991 Gulf War that are still missing. http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/powday/index.htm There is also this website that gives the names of our POW/MIA Soldiers from Operation Iraqi Freedom. http://www.aiipowmia.com/stats.html
We must never forget these Soldiers and must continue to urge our Government to do whatever they can to locate them and bring them home where they belong!

Sarah Palin

I really never talk about my political views because a lot of times they are a little unpopular. I just have to say though that Sarah Palin is one amazing woman!! Listening to her speak the other night made me proud to be an American and a WOMAN. You go Sarah Palin......Don't let the liberal media get you down. They are always pretty good at being hypocritical. Do we ever ask a man how he is going to take care of his family and do his job? NO! Don't all families have bumps in the road? Yes...I seem to remember many Democrats that have had many family skeletons in their closets. We need to stop beating this woman up for her personal life and focus on what she has done for her state of Alaska. Isn't this about politics? And to anyone that thinks about commenting on this post that if she would have been around as a Mom more of the time, her daughter most likely would never have gotten pregnant...give me a freaking break. Kids have sex and no matter how much you preach to them about using protection, you actually can't be there to make sure they use it when the time comes.(you can't tell me when you were a teenager that you always remembered that condom in the heat of passion!!)

You never know...I may change my mind closer to the election but as of right now I think McCain made an excellent selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate! Oh...and I couldn't resist putting the pix of her sitting on a Harley Davidson! :)~

The Big Gypsie Show - Swap Meet - Auction September 5,6,& 7

The Big Gypsie
Press Release

The Big Gypsie
Vintage Motorcycle
Show - Swap Meet – Auction

The legendary black hills of South Dakota will become host to the region’s largest ever vintage motorcycle swap meet, show and auction this fall. Slated for September 5th, 6th, and 7th this event will draw from a six state region including North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado and Minnesota. Staged the week after the Davenport, Iowa vintage meet this venue provides an excellent opportunity for vendors migrating back to the North West corner of the country. With 40,000 square feet of indoor space and over five acres of exhibition ground this promises to be an exceptional event for the region’s motorcycle buffs.
The swamp meet is dedicated to pre-1978 motorcycle, parts and memorabilia. A “sale corral” will be available for newer bikes in need of owners. Event promoters Gary Lippord and Coe D. Meyer see the region as teaming with beautiful old motorcycles and related items. Additionally the auction hosted by David Wilson promises to draw out some very special machines. Sturgis and the Black Hills are spectacular in September with lots to do in every direction. “We feel this is a great get away opportunity,” says event promoter Coe D. Meter. Everyone loves the Black Hills and this event affords a great opportunity to experience the area at its best. Who knows… you may just find the motorcycle you wanted in high school?
For travel, lodging, and event information you may with our web site: http://www.thebiggypsie.com/
or call us at (605)490-3632.

Green with Envy!!!

I had to go to an appointment across town. Being in Des Moines we get to use lovely Interstate 80. Well...on my way back I counted probably 50 bikes headed east to Milwaukee. I was dying! They would ride by and I'd say...TAKE ME WITH YOU!! I almost avoided 80 all together tonight on the drive home. Thank God I didn't see any packs of bikes. It's torture I tell you...pure torture! Thank God I haven't found a 105th Milwaukee Web cam site yet. I'd be all pathetic refreshing the damn thing watching all the lucky people there.

Ok...I'm alright! Have a great night everyone!!!

Harley Davidson contacts IHG

The other day I logged into MySpace and found a message from Kelly Yahr the Community Outreach Coordinator at Harley Davidson. She said that she had been surfing the web and found my blog. I was like...could this really be true? She requested that I send her my e-mail addy, so I did and she sent me a link to a free ebook geared toward women riders. The e-mail subject line was Harley Davidson and The Many Thoughts of Harley Girl. I must admit it gave me goosebumps. I had to smile when I saw the e-book because it's the perfect thing for B. B. right now with her new beautiful Sporty and her journey toward not having to be a backrest anymore!!! :)

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/media/downloads/women/HD_GTR_eBook.pdf

Here is another link for women riders and passengers http://harley-davidson.com/womenriders.

Hopefully I can grow my relationship with Harley Davidson and they'll share special stuff with me so that I can pass it on to all of you. I'm crossing my fingers and toes! I'm actually pretty darn excited. Thanks for finding my blog Kelly and for contacting me!! :)

On another note...If Joker and D-Day read this...Have tons of fun guys! May Joker and the rest of the Blackstone HOG family, that is making the trip with him to the 105th, have a safe one!! I can't wait to hear all about your experiences and everything you see. I bet we'll be ROTFL when they get back and post their many tales!

Have a great week everyone! Even though the rest of us can't make the 105th we can still celebrate it...go for a ride...come home...pop in some Skynard...and have a beer or two...and give a salute to the motorcycle company that we do so LOVE! All Hail Harley Davidson!!!!
Good Night!

IHG :)

She's a biker chick! Woo hoo! Yeah!! :)

Welcome Home Marines!

Welcome Home Echo Company!!! So glad that you are back in Iowa!! Thank you so much for serving our country and for doing what you do!

The Long Ride To Sturgis 2008

This video cracks me up. These guys are even more hardcore then the trailer queens!!! LMAO!! Too funny...I'd classify this guy as a RUB. (Rich Urban Biker)

Heroes of the Heartland Charity Bash

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR IOWA’S MILITARY MEN, WOMEN AND FAMILIES
SEPT. 27, 3-10 P.M.
COME SEE MOTORCYCLE BUSINESSES FROM ACROSS IOWA, ALL FOR CHARITY
BENEFITING:
The State Family Program Office in Assisting Iowa military service men and women in deployment and their families by providing meals, travel accommodations, appliances, mental health professional guidance, reunion and reintegration services and basic overall needs.

A special BASH to end the summer on Saturday, September 27, “Bike Down to I-Town,” the Midwest’s largest monthly bike night event partners with Throttler Motorcycle Magazine for a special end of summer night event on the town square of Indianola, home to the famous “Bike Down to I-Town” venue.

See motorcycle businesses from all across Iowa show off their stuff.

Entertainment
Matt Woods and the Thunderbolts who will play that evening, has received critical acclaim, and
finished in the top five of the International Blues Foundation’s “Best Self-Produced Blues album” category in 2006 in Memphis, Tenn. Opening band TBD.

Giveaway and raffle door prizes
Participating motorcycle businesses will raffle door prizes for charity as well as other freebies to the first 5,000 people.

*RAIN OR SHINE

DON’T MISS THIS END OF SUMMER BASH WITH YOUR FRIENDS FROM THROTTLER MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINE AND BIKE DOWN TO I-TOWN!

Raffle tickets will be sold prior to and during the event. The raffle of all door prizes will begin at 8 p.m. on the stage. 100 percent of the raffle proceeds will go to The State Family Program Office.

The Patriotic Rock in Greenfield, IA

Check out this cool Patriotic Rock that is located in Greenfield, IA. This was the rock that school students used for graffiti but one day Ray "Bubba" Sorensen decided to pay tribute to the United States and Veterans. Thankfully, out of respect, local students have not defaced the rock since the tribute was painted. The rock is located on Highway 25, just 1 mile south of Interstate-80 near Greenfield, exit 86.
If traveling from Greenfield junction 25 & 92, take Hwy 25 north 12 miles.

I'd like to thank my friend Norm for sending me these photos and also for serving our country. I can't wait to take a trip to Greenfield to check it out myself.



Here is the web addy for the artist that painted this wonderful tribute. It's worth checking out. http://bubbazartwork.com/

The Ride Home...

Thursday, August 7th we got on the road headed back east toward the great state of Iowa. We got to Wall and stopped for breakfast at Wall Drug. Blonde's love Wall Drug and they also love hanging out with good looking bikers.

The next stop was Oacoma, SD and Al's Oasis.


We made it to Mitchell, SD about 4:00 and decided to tough it out and ride to Sioux Falls and stay the night there. I'd like to thank the biker chick at the gas station that told us the exit to take in Sioux Falls to find a hotel to stay at. We stayed at a Sleep Inn and it rocked.

Along the way I had plenty of time to think about things. I kept thinking how tough and strong biker women are. It takes a lot to sit on a tiny pillion seat for miles and miles and not bitch about it at all. A trip like the ride to Sturgis is a test of how strong willed you are and how much you can take a long the way. If you have ever ridden any distance you can attest the fact that it is an endurance thing. Everytime I saw a bike on a trailer I felt sorry for it. It was like it was crying out...RIDE ME...why aren't you riding me like the people are riding that bike??? LOL...if motorcycles on trailers could talk that is seriously what they would be saying!! It's very spiritual to me being out in the elements...feeling the wind, feeling the rain, smelling all the smells, hearing all the noises of nature. You never experience that kind of freedom in a car. Not even with all the windows rolled down. When you look down at the road and watch the center dividing lines fly by it's a rush. I bet it's even more of a rush riding your own and that will happen for me one of these days but for now I'm somewhat content riding two up.

I thought about all the cool people I met on this trip. I thought about how thankful I am to be able to freely ride to Sturgis and enjoy it so much. I said some prayers for our troops. I thought about how much I miss my family back in Iowa and that I need to spend time with them. I thought about my 40th birthday that is coming up way too soon. I thought about getting a tattoo. I thought about all of my blogger friends and thought about us all getting together next year. I thought about what I was going to write here. I thought and thought some more about so many things and finally we arrived home on Friday, August 8th....Home Sweet Home. 1749.6 miles and we were back where we started the Saturday before.


I spent Saturday really pretty depressed. I missed being in Sturgis...I missed all the bikes and the people. I even cried and that's when Dan said to me...Stephanie...only 51 weeks to go until the next one and we are there! That cheered me up big time.

Thanks for following my trip along the way. It was fun posting all the pictures I took on my phone at various points along the trip. I really do hope that the Motorcycle Blogging Family that we've created can get together next year and enjoy the 69th Anniversary Sturgis Rally together.

Much love!! IHG :)

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What Not to Do on Your Trip to Sturgis

I don't have a picture of this story and you'll understand why after you read it. Dan and I were weaving in and out of the vendor booths on the main drag of Sturgis. Walking toward us are a group of Son's of Silence, a regular joe biker, and another group of Son's of Silence. Well regular joe biker decides the Son's in front of him would make a great photo to show his friends. I mean he was inches from Outlaw Gang members. I'm looking over at him and getting ready to say...DON'T TAKE THAT PHOTO but it doesn't make it out in time. Snap...he's checking out his accomplishment on the view screen of his camera and smiling all big. All of a sudden here comes one of the members of the Son's and his property charging up behind him telling him to give them the camera and giving him the riot act about taking an OGM's picture. I don't know what happened to the poor regular joe biker because we got the hell outta there but there is a moral to this story...Learn a little bit about what you are attending and some of the rules of the motorcycle lifestyle. You should especially do this if you are a weekender so that you don't get the shit kicked out of you when you decide to attend a rally.

Day 5 Just couldn't get enough of Sturgis!!

So we are riding on down the road back toward Sturgis and Dan didn't seem like he was going to exit and go into town...I was like...where are you going? He was like...where should I go? I was like...turn into Sturgis!!! :)~ So he did. Not sure if you can tell or not but I love being in Sturgis. I love the electricity of all the people and bikes. The sounds of the loud pipes gives me chill bumps. I was on motorcycle overload each day that we hung out there. It's like Disneyland for me!!! I love it!!



We are walking down the road and I spot this guy and think to myself...you know...I sure haven't taken many pictures of guys on this trip. I decide to snap a pix of him. Thanks Mr. Biker!! :)~




We head back down to Main Street and end up meeting this totally awesome couple from Nebraska. They are not bikers but curious folks who have always wondered what Sturgis was all about. Dan and I are headed to the Oasis to cool down and have some beverages and the couple from Nebraska follow us in and join us at our table. There is Karaoke going on and people are singing a wide range of tunes. As we are sitting at our table laughing and watching everything that was going on around us who should walk in but Willie Nelson. We are all like...Willie...over here. We need your picture. Willie comes over and we all get our pictures taken with him.


Willie gets called up on stage to sing a number and one of his adoring fans just can't help herself. She has to get on stage with Willie and show him her boobies.(Willie was actually a look a like that did a show somewhere in Sturgis I think)
When Willie came back to our table he said to us...That chick got up there with me and when I looked down and saw her tits I forgot the fucking words! LMAO!!! Too funny!

After hanging out at the Oasis for a hour or so we decided to head on over to the Broken Spoke to see what was going on there.








We listened to Jasmine Cain and the Band for a while and then decide to take a trip back down Main Street to the Loud American to listen to the Appetite for Deception Guns and Roses Tribute band. Let me tell you I felt like I was back in the day singing along to each and every Guns and Roses song. And the Axel Rose look a like did the Axel dance really well. :)


It was finally time to leave my Disneyland for the final time this year and head back to Rapid City to rest up before we left to head back to the real world of Johnston, IA.

It was also Dan's last opportunity to get that final boobie photo. LOL
We made our way back to the bike and headed back out on the road toward Rapid City. As we rode further away I got big tears in my eyes...I could feel them falling down my cheeks. I know there is always next year but it's hard to leave a place where you feel so at home. I love ya Sturgis, South Dakota!