June 2004 Newsletter Coosa Valley Wings Chapter N GWRRA Region A

Safety Educators, Chapter N & Alabama District 2003-2004 Couple of the Year Rick & Laura Brothers 256-442-6351 mailto:tworiverrats@excite.com RICKLAURABROTHERS.JPG (94994 bytes)

Chapter Historian: John & Shelly Smith 205-467-2673 mailto:jstrav@aol.com (photo not available - requested)

Asst. District Directors & District Trainers: Bill & Dian Gulley 256-229-8833 mailto:bamawing@dav.net

Two Month Events Listing

6/5 – N Fun Day at Cycle World Gadsden – All Chapter N members meet at Cycle World at 6 AM to set up. Following the fun day, Chapter N monthly gathering at Western Sizzlin; eat at 5 & meet at 6 PM.

6/11 – (FRIDAY) – Birthday & Anniversary Dinner Ride to Sonic in Oneonta. Depart Cowboys 6:20 PM or meet at Sonic on Hwy 75 N in Oneonta at 7 PM.

6/12 – Chapter D (Anniston) Poker Run at Bama Power Sports, Oxford, AL. Meet at the Poor House for Breakfast 7:30 – 9 AM. Depart at 9 via 431 S to Oxford. After closing, ride scenic roads (possibly thru Cheaha Mt. State Park) to the Bulldog Farmhouse Restaurant on Hwy 46 in Ranburne, AL (at the GA line) for dinner at 6 PM. Others can meet us at the restaurant. Jim/Joan Treadway took us there last year and it’s a wonderful place to eat with a full menu.

6/17 – 6/20 – Georgia District “Wing Fling” in Hiawassee, GA. Those leaving on Thursday 6/17, (Breakfast on your own) depart Cowboys at 7 AM. (We loose 1 hr to Eastern time). Hwy 411 N to Oakman, GA, hwy 136 E to 382 N to 76 E to Hiawassee. We can take a different route home.

6/19 – 6/20 – Charity Pig Roast for those not attending the GA District Rally. David Santos who prints our newsletters is a sponsor of this 20^th annual event at Morange Park in Gadsden. Please support them and help provide Christmas for kids of Etowah County. More details at the June Chapter N Gathering.

6/26 – MYSTERY PICNIC RIDE – Pack a picnic lunch or we will be stopping at fast food restaurants, grocery stores, etc. to purchase food/drinks just prior to lunch time. We’ll ask a couple of people with trailers to provide coolers with ice for “bring your own drinks.” Depart Cowboys at 10 AM. Dinner at El Tapito Mexican Rest. in Rainbow city 6:30 PM.

THOSE GOING TO WING DING IN TX PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND HAVE A SAFE AND FUN RIDE. THIS PROMISES TO BE THE BE BEST WING DING EVER…

7/4 – 7/8 – Wing Ding Grapevine, TX – Departure times will be discussed at the June 5 meeting. COY competition will be on Saturday 7/3/04 from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.

7/10 – Chapter N monthly gathering at Western Sizzlin. Eat at 5 & meet at 6 PM.

7/17 – CPR/First Aid refresher course by Donna Conn. Red Cross in Gadsden at______?

7/23 – (Friday) Birthday and Anniversary dinner ride to Pas’Ghettis in Rainbow City. Meet at the restaurant at 7 PM.

7/24 – Blount County Covered Bridge Tour – Depart Cowboys at 7:30 AM and take hwy 278 W to the Rainbow Café at Hwy 278 & 231 West of Snead for breakfast. We’ll spend the day riding Blount County roads and visit one or more of the 3 remaining old wooden covered bridges. Those “N” members living in Blount County; Sammy/Donna, Harold/Shari, Wayne/Liz, Lon/Liz, Jimmy/JoAnn, & John/Margorie Price, will plan a fun and scenic day of touring for your riding pleasure. We’ll eat lunch and dinner in Blount Co. topped off by a visit to an old fashioned Drug Store Soda Fountain in Oneonta before heading home. Dinner location to be announced by 7/10 gathering.

Chapter "N Director's News:

Due to our work schedule and Chase's baseball, the only event we were able to attend in May was chapter Z's fun day. It was great to see all of our friends there. We had a wonderful ride down there and back. Thanks to all the chapter N members who attended. Hopefully our work schedules will allow us to attend more in the near future. In the mean time, Please think about us while you are out riding and enjoying being with all your goldwing friends. We are sure thinking about yall. Ride Safe.

Chapter "N" Assistant Director's News

Hello Chapter N! We are back on the road again and truly enjoying our terrific riding weather. May was a very busy month, starting with Chapter Y's Fun Day. Chapter N brought home the plaque for "largest chapter" and the group who attended the Fun Day got home in time for our monthly meeting that night. The following week, a group of 7 Chapter N members rode to the Arkansas Rally. Donna didn't make it to the rally due to some family obligations (Tommy, her oldest, graduated from UAB). There were two highlights of the Arkansas trip - I learned to fly on a Gold Wing and was attacked by a HUGH catfish. We all managed to come home safely. That same weekend, Chapter N was represented by some of our newest members at the Chapter B and I Fun Day in Decatur. Thanks to all who represented our Chapter !

The following weekend began with a Birthday dinner ride to the Top of the River in Gadsden. As usual, the food was great. The next day we met VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING for a ride to Santuck. Chapter Z was having their Fun Day at a really nice park in Santuck and several Chapter N members were able to attend. Donna won a $100 gift certificate - to a Honda dealership in Andalusia. Sounds like a road trip to us! Donna and Liz also came home with some really pretty bird houses.   Thanks to Wayne and Liz for getting our bird house back to Oneonta.

On May 22, a large group of Chapter N members met at the Rainbow Cafe for breakfast before heading to Chapter K's Fun Day in Muscle Shoals. The weather was beautiful and everyone seemed to really enjoy our ride. We brought home "largest chapter" and came in second place in the dunking booth - thanks to Rick Brothers and his COY Duck. The proceeds for that event went to the Ride for Kids.   We had planned to stop at Shaw's for supper, but it was only 3:30 when we came through Holly Pond. We decided to ride on and return for catfish another day.

After Jay Bird cancelled his Fun Day on the 29th, we all decided to take a short break and enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend. And boy did I enjoy MY weekend - digging ditches and repairing a drain in the yard. Thanks Jay Bird!

May has now come to a close. Don't forget our own Fun Day on June 5. Of course, by the time many of you read this, our Fun Day will be history.   Look for a detailed report in next month's newsletter.

Ride Safe,

. Sammy and Donna Conn SAMMYDONNACONN.JPG (93643 bytes)

Safety

Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say

Sometimes our words and our actions are in direct contradiction to each other. This is especially true in many of the ways we ride. When we fail to wear our helmets in parking lots, we're saying it's only possible to have an accident or a fall on the highway, probably at high speeds. Yet, parking lots can be some of the most dangerous places we ride. They're often crowded, with limited visibility and uneven surfaces. The people in them are usually in a hurry and are certainly not looking for motorcycles. When we fail to put on full protective gear, we're telling ourselves and our co-riders we are so good we can't possibly have an accident, and all the other drivers out there are excellent, skillful, and always alert, too.

When we and/or our co-riders to wear shorts, sandals, and sleeveless shirts, we may speak the words, "I love you," but the unspoken message is "I don't care if a large area of your skin is scraped off and you must have endless plastic surgeries and are covered with deep, ugly scars." When we wear clothing made of synthetic materials, we are saying we're tough enough not to cry when that melted material is peeled out of our road rash. There is a reason for requiring Level 4 Riders and Co-riders to wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves and over the ankle boots. These are people who have attained the highest level of safety training and are expected to be the good examples to the others who are working their way up.

When we ride at excessive speeds, we may be convinced we're able to handle them. What we're not reminding ourselves is that we've used up our margin for error and the unexpected can happen at any moment. When we do something we know to be dangerous "just this once" we're saying "it can't happen to me." Do you really believe that? Borrowing from a recent Sunday school lesson, please remember that you are an example that someone is watching every minute of every day. Be the good example.

APRIL 2004 ADVENTURES OF THE JA AWARD NOTE: All you can see of me is the rear half of my body mounted on a trophy stand. However, I’m really a complete J… A.. You just can’t see my front half.

My guardian for April was Wayne Gargus. He apparently loves me because he frequently brings me home with him. As you know, my sister and I are awarded each month to 2 Chapter N Members whom the general membership determines are worthy of being our guardian until the next Chapter Gathering. My sister resided with our CD, Terry Cleveland in April.

Wayne was given the honor of me traveling with him for a month due to a series of events resulting from him dropping his cell phone onto a parking lot and not knowing it fell off his belt. He led a Trike Hike Lunch Ride from Madison, AL to Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ in Decatur, AL During the Alabama District Rally. A good Samaritan found the phone and gave it to the restaurant’s cashier. While the triker’s were eating lunch, the cashier came over and asked if there was a Wayne Gargus in the group. She returned his phone stating only that it rang and she answered it.

Upon return to the rally site in Madison, everyone from Chapter N knew about the incident. Wayne even accused his wife Liz of telling them about him loosing the phone. How would they have known otherwise? Liz demanded and received an apology for being falsely accused. Anyway, the story goes like this: The person who called Wayne’s cell phone was Chapter N’s Reverend Lon Broyles. You see, Lon was in the hospital when we left for the rally, and he was calling to let us know he was home and doing OK but would not be coming to the rally. Since he didn’t get Wayne on the phone, he called another Chapter N Member John Irwin. He gave John the information and said to tell Wayne to go back to Big Bob Gibson’s and get his cell phone. Well, during the nomination process at the April Chapter Gathering, it was said that a strange woman answered his phone, Liz denied being with him, and nothing Wayne said mattered because almost everyone present felt he should receive the honor of my presence for a month. Even Liz was delighted that he received me.

The following Wed., we departed on a trip to TX to attend their Grand Daughter’s wedding. I sat proudly on the dash of the motor home all the way to Lafayette, LA that day. You know, they ate Crawfish that evening and didn’t even bring me one bite. I was so hungry but all they fed me was grass. Oh well! The next day it was on to Houston where the weather was hot for a change. I sat on that dash for 3 days and nights, sometimes in the hot sun, but I enjoyed watching all the dogs go by and secure in knowing they couldn’t reach me…..Ha Ha Bad Dogs….. The return trip home was un-eventful.

The next Wed. I got to attend the Chapter breakfast at the Poor House and see their lovely waitress Sheri. She’s a living doll; not an old A.. like me. I kept watch over them all during breakfast and you know, not even one of them offered me a bite of anything to eat. Sheri didn’t even give me a cup of coffee !!!! Now that really hurt my feelings… Anyway, on Saturday, I got to take a ride in the trunk of Wayne’s GW all the way to Pittsburg, TN to the cornbread festival. Ever seen a JA that didn’t like corn? Do you think anyone offered me a bite of that delicious corn bread? Why heck no. All they did was giggle at me sticking my A.. out of wayne’s pocket.

The next week, I got to go to the SC District Rally in Greenville. It rained some, but it was a good rally. Wayne went on another Trike Hike, but he made sure he didn’t loose his cell phone again. I don’t think I could take 2 months in a row with him!! At closing ceremonies that Sat. evening, Wayne embarrassed me something terrible. Joe and Terry Windson, the SC DD’s, were doing a great job, but all weekend, every time Joe thought something wasn’t going just right, he would say “well this is my first time.” He seemed to think that was an honorable excuse for anything that might go wrong. Just before the ceremony started, Wayne mentioned to AL DD Ray Erickson, and A/DD Bill/Dianne Gulley, that he wished he had a cherry to give to Joe the next time he said “this is my first time.” Dianne thought that was a great idea and made a fast dash to the kitchen, returning with 2 cherries with stems, stuck onto a long cocktail tooth pick, placed inside a plastic cup. She gave them to Wayne and said “you present them to Joe when he says it again.” I didn’t think Wayne would do it, but at the ending of the ceremony, Joe finally said it again. Wayne walked up to Joe and asked for the microphone, which he reluctantly handed to him. Wayne said “We have heard Joe say many times all weekend that this was his first time, so Joe, as a memento of your first time, we want to present you with this, and he pulled the toothpick laden cherries out of the cup and handed them to Joe. OH !! I was so embarrassed standing before all those people with my A.. hanging out of Wayne’s vest pocked. I have never felt so humiliated in my life………Anyway, Joe was a good sport and turned about as red as the cherries, but his wife Terri enjoyed them. She ate them both…………

I was unable to attend the May Chapter N Gathering since I was in SC, but on Wed., Wayne delivered me to Rev. Broyles, a.k.a. “Reverend Diesel” as he is now affectionately known. You see, Lon mistakenly filled his motorcycle’s fuel tank with diesel fuel so I was placed in his care for the month of May. Wayne told him that I needed a lot of prayers, and I do as we all do, but it is so refreshing to know that I am in such good care with a preacher and his lovely wife who is also named Liz. I hope he takes me to Church with him all month and introduces me to his Church Membership. Maybe he best not tell them why he is in charge of me this month though. Ride safe and always “RIDE WITH THE EYES OF AN EAGLE.”

Thursday morning, May 6, 2004, seven adventurous chapter N members and our mascot little Al-N riding five bikes met at Springville to begin our trip to the 2004 Arkansas Rally. All were on time with the exception of Sammy Conn. Sammy arrived ten minutes late with a smile on his face to announce that he was sorry to be late. Sammy did not elaborate, but there may be more to this story. Jim Banks lead our group, followed by Virgie Banks, Harold and Shari Emery, Rick and Laura Brothers, and Sammy Conn as tail gunner. Jim Banks had promised a good breakfast at the Iron Skillet just out side Tuscaloosa and a good breakfast it was. We were then ready to ride – Arkansas here we come. Our enthusiasm held up for many, many miles. We traveled US 82 across Mississippi, and then it happened. Fatigue began to out pace our enthusiasm. After hours on a bike, your body begins to tell you, or should we say your body screams at you for relief. The conditions began to deteriate, in that it got hot, the wind blew, the scenery got bland, and road conditions were poor in areas, but in the words of Jim Banks, “we were having fun”. Somewhere in Mississippi Sammy Conn rode over a stick in the road, went airborne, and returned to earth on both wheels, but with some missing bike parts. Way-to-go Sammy. After the stick event, we all rode to Arkansas highway 7, where we turned north. Shortly after we turned north, Jim Banks declared that it was time for a break. We stopped at a service station that was closed. Sammy Conn was apparently trying to save money for bike parts. We came to this conclusion after observing him drinking water from an old green water hose, while we enjoyed cold bottle water from the drink machine. Sammy was that water hot and how did it taste? After our break, Jim Banks announced that we only had 36 miles remaining. Some curves and cooler temperatures made the last hour and half of our trip more enjoyable. Jim was it 36 miles or could it have been 86 miles? Oh well, we finally arrived at DeGray State Park at 7:15 PM. The first to speak was Jim Banks. His words were “I’ll never do this again”. After unpacking and getting our rooms, we all met at the lodge restaurant for a light dinner and to share our aches and pains. Jim Banks had tea and pie.

We awoke the next morning (Friday) to a beautiful day, the weather was great, the lodge and park was great, and those Arkansas folks went out of their way to welcome us. Rick and Laura were asked to help judge the COY selection and also the newsletter competition. After a relaxing day some of us met again for dinner. Jim Banks had tea and two pieces of pie. After dinner we enjoyed their talent show, which included The Blues Brothers, and a performance by Papa Smurf who described his hospital stay and a condition that required the use of many rolls of toilet paper. After the show and sometime during the night, Sammy Conn had an exciting fishing trip. This can be best enjoyed by Sammy telling it himself at our next chapter meeting.

Saturday was another beautiful day filled with a lot of activities. There were 38 entries in the bike show. The competition was tough. Rick’s bike won 2^nd and his trailer won 1^st place. We met up with another chapter N member, Lynn Smith, who was visiting family in the area. After an enjoyable day, we all showed up for dinner at about the same time. Jim Banks had tea and two pieces of pie. After dinner we made our way to the closing ceremony. Vergie Banks received special recognition by the Arkansas staff for being a very classy lady. Jim and Virgie also were presented with Arkansas District shirts. The truth is that Jim begged for a shirt on Friday night, so the Arkansas staff came through with a shirt for both of them. Way-to-go Jim. Diane Harris’ hard work with the creation of our chapter mascot paid off, Little AL-N won 2^nd place. Congratulations Diane. We all turned in early Saturday night to rest in preparation for the ride home.

After Sunday morning prayer and breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we rode home via the interstate. This route carried us north on I-30 to Little Rock, then I-40 to Memphis where we took I-55 south, then connected with highway 78 and 278. This was a much faster route than the southern route had been on Thursday. And, there were no sticks in the roads. Total trip miles were in excess of 1000. A great trip. I would do it again. In closing, I want to thank my chapter N friends for joining us on this trip.

The SC District Rally was another excellent one. For first timers, Joe and Terry Windsor and their staff did an outstanding job. All during the Rally, Joe kept referring to this being his first time; (thinking that was an honorable excuse for anything that might go wrong), so at closing ceremonies, he was presented with a memento of his “first time.” Ask him about it the next time you see him….. Guy and Sue Blankenship planned another excellent Trike Hike for us as well. Although the crowd was small, the scenery and food at a quaint little country store and deli was enjoyed by all. Thanks SC and we look forward to next year when you demonstrate to us that “life really is a beach.” (Myrtle Beach to be exact).

On a safety note, as I was returning to AL from the SC Rally on a rainy Sunday just East of Atlanta on I-20, a black cloud moved over me and the bottom fell out. I saw it ahead, slowed to 50 MPH with flashers on, and all of a sudden the rear of the Trike felt like it hit an oil slick. What the heck was that?? Hydroplaning of course….Think a Trike with the wide tires on the rear won’t hydroplane?? Well think again, because I slowed to 35 MPH and there was so much water on the highway that it did it again. With no place to exit and no bridge overpass to get under, I proceeded even slower and thankfully soon ran out of the hard downpour. Do I slow down even more now on wet highways?? You bet I do and I would suggest to all Trike riders that you do likewise. Watch out for vehicles behind you though. Some drivers unfortunately don’t have the good sense to slow down in any kind of weather.

The vacant AL Assistant Rep. position was filled during May by Julianna and Mickey Polka from AL Chapter B in Huntsville. Welcome aboard folks and we look forward to working with you and helping us keep our GWRRA Trike SIG members informed and happy. We’re real close to filling the vacant positions in GA and hope to get that accomplished no later than their upcoming District Rally in June. We’re also still looking for a District Rep. for FL and another Assistant for Mississippi.

Another Trike Hike will be planned for the GA Rally. Last year we went to the Dillard House which was very good, but a bit pricey. This year we will go to a less expensive location which also has excellent food (all you can eat). The ride there and back will be very scenic, so come on to North Ga and “let’s Rally.”

Award Winners

Prayer Request