Drifters Newsletter May 2015
The President’s (aka “The Survivor”)Message:
Spoiler alert: Hardly a scratch on me. But for those of you who like to slow down and gawk, here’s a couple of aftermath shots. In the flying business, one isn’t supposed to leave the safety of the planet’s surface unless the mantra IMSAFE has been satisfied as a self-assesment:
I – Illness
M – Medication
S – Stress
A – Mr Booze
F – Fatigue
E – Eating
It’s probably not a bad set of rules to apply to motorcycle riding as well, and for all of the ride back from Laughlin, with an overnight at the Cameron Trading Post, I was fit as a fiddle. Mike Roe, John Marshal, and I had decided to extend our return from Laughlin via parts of old 66 through Oateman, Williams, etc. We bedded for the night at Cameron. Next morning, Friday, we were well fed, well rested and fit for the final 4-5 hours from Cameron to The Dixie for Mike and John. I was going to meet Barb at the hanger in Parowan.
But on leaving lunch, certain “feelings” inside started to announce themselves. We split at Carmel Junction and I rode north on 89 to the 14 junction and bought some gas. Starting to feel less than 100% now, but certainly didn’t think there would be any reason I couldn’t get to Parowan.
Wrong – just shy of Cedar I felt a huge hot flash come over my whole upper body. About six minutes later I was looking up at a women on a cell phone and watching paramedics walk up to my dazed self. So I guess it’s true what they say about drunks surviving wrecks because their bodies are essentially rag dolls. Drunk I wasn’t, but my innards certainly weren’t behaving themselves. I hadn’t violated any of the IMSAFE moniker except not paying regard to the “I” in the 40 minutes since feeling fine at lunch.
I had definitely blacked out and was not any part of that wreckage you see above. About the only thing I seem to have suffered was a bruised left heel and slight sprain of the left ankle. No bruises, no scrapes!
Putting it all back together – Barb had gotten sick after lunch while riding with Margaret on the way to Laughlin and had been out of commission for the rest of Wednesday afternoon. I think it really improbable that both of us would have suffered food poisoning two days apart at different restaurants. I’m blaming it on the Norovirus or some other highly contagious bug that she probably brought with her from a shift at the emergency room registration desk Wednesday night.
Pulling off the side of the road would have been easier than landing an airplane in the same physical condition. And I should have heeded my pilot training.
Blue skies and tailwinds!
John T.
Secretary’s Corner:
Our Mr. Prez is certainly one lucky guy! So glad he survived with nary a scratch..my sympathies go out to his poor Harley!
The ride to Laughlin was enjoyed by many Drifters. A good sized group departed the Shivwits Indian gas station at 10am. Our caravan included Bill & Judy’s Slingshot (aka The Batmobile), Margrete drove her cage with Barb & Trish, Mike was aboard his Trike, and the rest of us followed on various makes of two-wheeled conveyances.
A few of us went the long way around via Oatman…Steve’s new pet donkey took a nap using Steve’s gas tank as his pillow! So much fun, we barely made it to Laughlin in time for dinner.
There were so many Drifters in attendance, that the dinner bunch split into two groups – those wanting seafood went to Bubba Gump’s Shrimp, and those wanting land mammal went to Claim Jumper. I went with seafood, hence no dinner pictures of the land mammal group (sorry). I heard no complaints about any of the offerings! Here are a few pics of the gang to prove we were actually there.
Bubba Gump’s Dinner Bunch
On to other news…The April monthly Drifter Dinner at Rib N Chop house was attended by 19 Drifters! The food was good (if a tad pricey) and the company was great!
I was out of town during the May Drifter dinner, so if anyone has a report back and or pictures, please send them to me and I will add to next months’s newsletter.
Reminder: Drifter Ladies Lunches are still on…May lunches are: Tuesday, May 12 at Noon at Breakfast At Tinfiny’s located at the Green Valley Spa. Tuesday May 26th at Noon at Red Lobster in St. George. See you ladies there! Still taking suggestions for next month’s lunch venues.
On-going foodie events….Friday Morning Breakfast at Golden Corral 9:30 am Saturday Burger Lunch at Zion Harley Davidson 11:30am
Other Interesting Happenings:
A non-Drifter Event
3RD ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY RIDE – MAY 16, 2015 – 9:00 am
Where:
Ride meets at 9:00 am at Exit 2, I-15. Rally at 9am, Kickstands up at 10am.
Ride ends at Zion Harley-Davidson®
2345 N Coral Canyon Blvd.
Washington, Utah 84780
When:
Saturday, May 16 – 9:00 am
Donation $10.00 – Lunch 12:00p – 2:00p
Webmaster’s Notes:
Be sure to read about Mike’s 1970 cross country (Easy Rider) motorcycle adventure in the Member Spotlight section. More episodes will follow in future newsletters. Anyone else that wants to contribute stories or photos, please contact me.
Keep the shiny side up!
Dawn