Arizona Bike Week/Memorial 2011

The usual texting went between us all.  Peeps texting for meet up, peeps texting to ride in, peeps needing buddy rides back, peep wanting to meet up and party.  The wonders of what a biker rally brings to us just by texting.  Even though we have been to many... they seem to be all different... each time.  This rally held up to that.  Arizona Bike Week 2011 was upon me.

I left on Wednesday and set out for a meet up in Cabazon at noon.  Starbucks as usual.  I have never ridden with Steve, but he was one who was in the texting realm of things.  He comes riding up and we talk for a bit over coffee and we set off at our KSU time.  No one else arrived.  Most trailered their bikes.  Maricruz was riding in on Friday.  So off we went. Its a bit warm but the hills still have snow on them in the Palm Springs area.  Its always windy on the freeways out of Palm Springs.  Its only about 210 miles or so to Blythe and that is where I am staying over night.  My plans of seeing the Intaglios and river were thwarted by low gas and a very slow ride in to the next stop.  Also turning off at an exit for what we thought was a gas station didn't help.  The longest 48 miles I have ever ridden.  Blythe finally came upon us and a nice sigh was heard from my gut for miles around.  It was too late to see the Intaglios... instead we spot a retro coffee shop straight out of the 70's.  Had to go and enjoy a couple of margaritas and some dinner.  After all, I am on "vacation rally time".  We split up after dinner and its off to my room and him his camping site on the river.

Again, the a.m. brings the Starbucks meet up at 9:30ish.  We seemed to eat there for about an hour and leisurely take our time getting into Arizona. Its only about 167 miles and that leaves time to get settled and ride around and get my Arizona bearings when I get there.

The road gets punchy when there is nothing but straight desert.  I look over at Steve and he is riding his bike like a bicycle.  Legs going around and around in circles to make me laugh.  I start cracking up and do the same.  My favorite shirt is looking like a spinnaker because of the wind and I proceed to stand up on my floorboards and swoooshhhhh my Panoptx go flying off.  All those cars and trailers we passed up, are now laughing at us pulled over to the side and looking for another spare pair.  I am laughing and at the same time feel a little stupid. I find my other spare pair and off we go. Needless to say... my eyes were pretty red at destination Arizona from wearing a cheap pair...at least I had one though.

So, Steve and I get into Arizona.  We went to our respective hotels and decide to meet up for eats and drinks.  Food and The Dirty Dogg.  Bean're was there along with Jack Shit reveling with the crowd of the Dogg.  We walked in and friends John L., Gayle, Gunner and Tamalyn are in the bar having drinks.  Its always great to see familiar peeps at the rallies.  I am finally meeting Ann and  Daryl of our own blogging world Friday night.  Karlene is not there and we never crossed paths... but I heard she had a great time, and from looking at her pics she did as usual. 

Friday, brings a ride about town.  Larry, CC's, guy is in the same hotel.  We ride over together to Westworld,  Its damn hot.  Hitting triple digits today and going to Westworld early is a good thing.  I need a new pair of Panoptx (now 7eye).  We walk around for the morning and I get my goggles. Glad I did, it was windier than all hell riding back.  I also get one of those leashes to keep it on this time.  This is the 3rd pair of goggles I have lost on the freeway.  Somehow I knew they were the perfect goggles when I looked down and there was a Katy Did sitting right there on the table...looking right through them.  I grabbed my phone camera and took that pic.

The day was a relaxing ride around exploring the desert.  I took a short ride around and back to the pool to relax and stay cool until evening.

Friday Night Plan:  Nap and meet up with the Caveman's.  Have a little din din and see Heart in concert at Westworld.  Nap good.  I text Ann.  She texts back "will text you in a bit".  A bit goes by.  I call and Ann tells me they are buying a new bike and will see me when they are done.  About 20 minutes go by and they call.  They bought the bike and they are on their way.  YEAAAA!!  About 30 minutes later they ride up to the hotel and we meet and greet.  She calls me a "wee".  Hahahaha.... I love these guys already.  Okay... so its 9:00 already.  Concert has started.  Karlene is texting "where are you".  We are hungry and not going anywhere till we eat.  So we ride and do a dinner at Denny's and get to know one another.  Talk about everything we can. Who could leave these two!  Ann always with her laughing and smiling and Daryl laughing along and telling jokes. We talked so long the concert is now another dream yet to be fulfilled.  So we get up and go across the street to the Dogg for the evening.

We walk in and I see friend Chopper Doll sitting there, give her huggz and talk a bit.  We head to the back because the Cavemans are smokers.  So we find a spot in the back of this intimate cocktail joint where there is air for me, and we start having the time of our lives.  They have a couple of other peeps joining them and all is loose now and we dig into the evening.  Of course, I have to pee... Ann says "she's not breaking the seal".... I say I have too.  Off I go laughing.  Chopper Doll has now been joined by Betsy and Qian and a couple of others.  It was great.  I get thrown onto the booth with them, hugs and hellos to them all and then stuck in the booth trying to get down.  My body got down but my leg didn't.  Jack Shit grabs my boot and there... I am on solid ground. I love seeing them at the rallies.  They have such a great presence with riders.  I was told I couldn't take photos but there was plenty of cameras going off surrounding everyone.  I look over and Steve somehow is up there too.  He is smiling and probably just glad to be around a bunch of pretty ladies.  The Dirty Dogg was doggin that night for sure.

Anyways, I make my way back and the beer, jokes, tears and laughter brings the evening into closing.  Chopper Doll says her goodbyes.  She is pooped.   Ann and Daryl and I get aboard our rides and off we go.  I get back around 3:00 a.m. Gaawwwdd I haven't pulled an all nighter in decades!

Saturday Plan:  Get up and meet the Cavemans for the Buck Cherry Concert.  Karlene wants to meet me too.  Plan...totally fails.  I am junk.  I don't even wake up til about 3ish and when I did I couldn't stand my smoke smelling self.  Man that was a good party last night!  I went into Old Scottsdale with Maricruz and had some great Mexican food.  As soon as I stuffed myself with another margarita and food... I was junk again.  Into the room I fled and took a nap.  I didn't wake up til Buck Cherry was on.  I text Ann and just told her no can do.  She said no problem and made arrangement to see them on Sunday at the Memorial for Kimmy Chapman.

Sunday was a busy one for me.  I wanted to see the Frank Lloyd Wright house, Taliesin West.  So I mapped it out and Maricruz and her son Enrique joined me in the morning.  We took half the tour.  This is a spot I would recommend.  Its actually not that far from Westworld and its just beautiful from where it sits on the hill with the desert surrounding this famous architect's home.  Its a very soothing place. 

Memorial:  After leaving Maricruz I made my way back to Westworld for the official Celebration Of Life of Kimmy Chapman.  Kimmy was a good friend of Ann and Daryl and an outstanding leader in the biker community of Arizona.  She was much loved and her death was, and always will be a shock to them.  For those that don't know, Kimmy Chapman was killed while riding on the back of her boyfriend's bike going home from a charitable event on March 26, 2011, right as Bike Week was ready to begin.  She was one of the original sponsors of Arizona Bike week in 1997 and was recognized in 2009 as the Arizona Bike Week Honoree for her relentless giving to the motorcycle community. 

I knew this was going to be a tough day for Ann and Daryl and those that knew Kimmy.  What I didn't know was how hard it would hit me.  I took pictures most of the time and decided to take the images so that people can remember what pain looks like.  Instead, the images showed me what love looks like instead.  These people were gathered there because they loved her and admired her and will truly miss her.  They stood under the tent and listened to prayers said in her name.  After the prayers, the crowd of love was moved outside the tent to view hundreds of white balloons go up into the sky and away while her family and friends looked on.  After that, an Eagle, which was named after her, was set free into the air.  With wings soaring, and the sky being freedom for the Eagle, everything came to a head for me.  I broke down in Daryl's arms and felt so grateful for her presence in him.  All it took was putting the camera down and watching the Eagle fly into freedom.  It was truly a site to be seen and a feeling to know and one I will never ever forget.

After the memorial, we all came together for hugs and kisses.  I feel that the bond that we share now has a life of its own.  Maybe brought on by Kimmy's spirit.  In any case, it was brought on by and with love.  Something I will always honor.  So.....

We said our til next times at Westworld and I left to go take a little ride and back to the room to pack up for the ride home with Maricruz in the morning.  I felt my weekend was complete and felt no need to do anything else but remember the days givings.

Maricruz and I enjoyed our ride home with our thoughts of Arizona going through our heads. She had a wonderful visit with her son and I got to meet and know knew friends.  The wind was alive and kicking, but Maricruz took it perfectly and me riding The Beast had not a problem.  I can part the Red Sea riding that thing, and its one of the reasons why I love that bike so much.

Anyway, another year... another bike rally, but this rally made me proud to be a rider. 

Theyear has just sprung with our Spring and I surely hope I can meet up with more of my blogger peeps.  One day we will have a Blogger Ride Rally and enjoy the reading of that tale. 

Thank You Kimmy For Your Spirit... It Surely Touched Me!

Spirit Trailzzzz
KT Did