The rio, rib roast and Ralphie

DATELINE NEWLY RENOVATED MOTEL 6, TOM BODETTE'S PLACE, DOWNTOWN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS --- The past few recognized American holidays have seen Don and I in several funky spots (the northern Dakotas near Can-Am line was sort of exotic, though), supping on turkey or ham or red meat or chocolate bunnies or roasted pumpkin seeds, depending on whether the occasion was to mark some pilgrims, a rebirth, birth or drug store costumes. This month's 24th and 25th were no exception.

    Wintering in Hondo, Texas means being less than an hour from San Antonio, a wonderfully diverse city that embraces Christmas with gusto. They string lights along the River Walk and decorate a giant tree in front of the Alamo. I decided we would celebrate at a recently renovated Motel 6 downtown. Compared to the dive flop houses of yore we generally prefer, Tom's people have gone swank for $43 bucks a night. Imagine a regular size room that screams walls and bedding swathed in Creamsicle-meets-Orange Julius colors, accented with a few George Jetson furniture pieces and a mounted 32 inch flat screen t.v.

     After tossing a strand of small holiday lights on top of the t.v., changing into sweats and x-mas fuzzy socks, Don and I prepped a 5 1/2 pound prime rib and roasted it to perfection in our makeshift kitchen/banquette area where the mobile convection oven lay. The entree turned out perfect and was accompanied by fresh asparagus, scalloped potatoes and the requisit brown liquor on ice.

    The journey and its repast were the presents Don and I exchanged. Thumper and Bob didn't have to wait too long for their wrapped gifts. Santa or the wise men and women spoiled these young ones with a pile of new stuffed toys and tennis balls. Don and I gave them each a rib bone, which were promptly inhaled. The remainder of the Tex-Mex adventure had the dogs eviscerating cheap stuffed snowmen while bounding from bed to bed, the four of us watching Ralphie's pursuit of the elusive Red Rider BB gun, strolling through the ghetto to find a bodega that sold tomato juice and generally being professionally lazy and festive.

    All in all, it was an excellent time. It's back to the workshop in Hondo to build the toys for next year and see which rallies in this country have been naughty or nice. In 2013, we will surely visit and vend at both.

Happy New Year all, and to all, a good night.
Hol-Ding-Thumper-Bob

   

    

   

    

Howdy all....

DATELINE GRAY COMPOUND, HONDO, TEXAS---My 'o my....one shouldn't subscribe to a belief that he or she is hyper-intelligent (and has "been there, done that, got the T-shirt") without committing to a life journey that is filled with curiosity. To be a student with so much still to learn is the way to go. 

The short of it is: 1. We are rested, eating far healthier, chipping away at small work jobs and home/trailer projects and getting regrouped and humbled; 2. Turns out a revamp of sleeping space with great shelves from Ding, a little decore bling from me; and a few holiday lights makes the mood much mellower; 3. All that and some said, spent a little holiday gift money on a nice television and Blue Ray

To guild the lily, Don wired in television and we watched the great 12-12-12 concert live at Madison Square Gardens. It was surreal falling alseep to television after three square meals and nice conversation, as well as hard work and dog time.

Me likey...me appreciate...
More later
Ding, Hol, Bob and Thumper

Happy Commercial Season!

DATELINE COUNTRYSIDE OUTSIDE HONDO, TEXAS, COLONEL GRAY COMPOUND --- First of what I hope are a few attempts at online holiday cheer. A few snapshots from the inaugural American tour. All going smooth. Much needed rest, preventative medicine and Billy keeping the customers rolling in. Dogs in heaven with huge fenced property. Sharing meals with the Grays at a dinner table nightly is a pleasure. More soon....  US

Turn out the lights

DATELINE THOROUGHFARE THREE SISTERS VETERANS RALLY, CAMP WOOD, TEXAS --- Well folks, we made it. Feels like we ran a marathon while chain smoking cigarettes, which we did. There is, without a doubt, a reflective, detailed summary coming from me at some point but for now, I offer a quick wrap-up.
     We currently reside in the hill country of west Texas. This rally, in some ways, was our best. Let's not measure on money but rather the moments that will stay engraved on us. The best day was Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, when we celebrated the U.S. Marine Corps birthday. The day started with offerings for my warrior, which included a copy of the commendant's message rolled as a scroll, a giant card for public display and the official cake (a ding dong emblazed with his service logo). We tinkered throughout the day on minor service and repair matters and by sunset, when the riders returned, it was evident that folks wanted to let Ding know their respect. Slowly but regularly, bikers in this camp wandered over to our spot and  offered wine and spirits and celebratory words for Ding and all other Marines at this location and far away. Unplanned and utterly organic, our site became a place to regail each other with stories of war life, road life and rally worlds. There was live music nearby and the air was crisp.
     There was Sunday, Veteran's Day and my grandmother Gege's birthday (RIP), when we worked as a team to detail a bike. Ding taught me what I needed to know regarding washing, waxing and handling chrome - o my, the latter is a bit of a timely bitch. It was fun and actually new to work side by side with my husband. We made it more lively by blaring NFL games on the truck's Sirrus radio and sneaking a red beer or two. We went into town afterward (my first off-site visit in a week) and supped at a place called Harleys while talking to locals who want us to stay and winter here and service their bikes. Later, we sat at the campground's pavillion with worker bees here and dissected the good, bad and ugly of this year's Three Sisters Veterans rally.
    There were unique food vendors here to include roasted quail and crawfish sausage with one man's homemade hot sauce that was excellent. Thursday night saw an incredibly good blues band, the kind I used to hear many years ago at those smoky gin joints in Chicago and New Orleans. Interestingly, we didn't sell a single tire but through oil changes, repairs, T-shirts and detailing, actually made the nut and then some. Our friends Rick and Susan were at another nearby rally - the proverbial bastard stepchild of this one - and crushed it with their leather goods. They will drive over today to visit.
     We were without cell service here the entire time and continue to be telephonically impotent. It's ATNT country but we have Internet, obviously. Junkyard Dog "JD" and his gal Jessica were here. He patented a great shock system and sells all over the country. They are based in So Cal but rally when they can. We worked side by side with them in Ignacio but being here gave us chance to get to know each other. Their partnership is a hoot and wholely representative of how this road life is for couples. One minute you want to fling pots and pans, the next, you're in the grass wrestling for fun and kissing.
    Larry the seemingly lazy bark-o-lounger vendor was here too. We first met at the Porkchop rally in Point Blank. He stands as a reminder that lest we judge to soon. He's at the top of the list for a heart transplant but won't do it. He tells us his main MD thinks he likely won't survive it or, if he does, may have very little time or quality of life afterward. He left camp in a blaze of glory in his Cadillac convertible, this, after telling Ding and I we could set up shop on any of his land in Texas. The generosity of carnies is remarkable.
    Of course, despite being humbled at many a turn at this event, I must gripe a bit. The bees are biblical here. They swarm and hover and are so persistent. As a fan of butterflies, I am alarmingly done with them as well - they are omnipresent and annoying. The wind is epic and it's a miracle our canopies survived. Each day brings temperatures that will either fry or freeze you.
     We are taking a few days off now and must deal with another truck issue. We will likely head to Hondo to stay with Billy Gray and his bride and then we need to figure out the off -season. Will it be back to the oil fields for a couple of months or shall we roll the bones and set up a service shop around here. Next year's first rally for us will the the Valentine's Day Massacre in Hondo.
    All suggestions for 2013 tour stops are welcome.
    Happy Fall All....
    Love Hol, Ding, Thumper and Bob (as well as the Algona Iowa fly and east Texas cricket living on board) Pics forthcoming when cell phones have life.

It's five o'clock somewhere

DATELINE HARBORSIDE DRIVE, GALVESTON ISLAND, TEXAS --- The Lone Star Rally is finished, ended in a major gulf rain storm bang. We did a few tires and enjoyed vending with Harley Ridin Woman Deb. The collision company where we parked was great and we've even made plans for this site next year. We had patch-wearing customers, police and others. We did a big tire Sunday after the storm (yeah, we lost another canopy) and then buttoned things up and went to Casey's on the beach for a great seafood dinner. We are headed to a campground on the beach tonite and then forging west toward Camp Wood. Susan and Rick will caravan with us. I think HRW is maybe going north toward home. Next weekend will be finally rally of season. Dogs are well but Bob has a sore hind leg. No  more to report. Cheers from the island, Hol, Ding, Bob, Thumper, HRW, Rain Dog, Rick and Susan....

Deb shooting pics of the riders.

Don working at Lone Star Rally.

Don on the boat, talking to a dude. Truck, BFT and dogs behind him.

Us on the boat to Galveston Island!

BFT on the boat.

Galveston Island setup.

Galveston here we come!

DATELINE PORKCHOPS ICEHOUSE, POINTBLANK, TEXAS --- This would be the sheik, his military wife and a knife borrowed from a neighboring vendor. This Halloween rally was held in at a really nice multi-acre roadhouse and campground near the massive Lake Livingston, but the turnout was small. That's OK, though! We sold a tire and did some other work and made the nut, barely. I spent a hunk of time being chased by bees - odd, considering I wear nothing of scent - but the plus side was a lot of good marketing for us for Lone Star Rally in Galveston and Three Sisters in Camp Wood.

We met some great folks here. Rick and Susan are from Oklahoma and they sell really nice leather and other merchandise (I bought a great throw blanket). Deb, Harley Riding Woman who has been talking with us online via OFOPOS (Old Farts on Pieces of Shit), came out and she did very well seling and sewing patches and was wonderful about pitching what we do. She had so much fun she decided to come to Gavelston with all of us.

I pushed Don into buying a cool pumpkin chimi-ha-ha fireplace before we got here so evening visiting took place at our camp. Susan and I got talked into the wet T-shirt contest (yes, we had been getting loose) and she won! There were 20 year olds with thousand dollar boob jobs and my 53 year new friend won! Everyone in the bar signed her shirt, including two cops who showed up to visit a small situation.

We have left Porkchops as a group and officially become a canivale carivan. We currently reside in a nice campground a few miles from a giant ferry that we will all board and float to Galveston. The crossing is free and the boat men tell me our 23,000 pound, 60-foot rig will be no problem. We are a group that is Dings Custom Cycle, Deb the patch goddess and seamstress and Rick and Susan, leather and all things extrodinnarie. Rick is a great cook who made exceptional burrittos this morning. Another fellow Tim, who does his own drawings, also spent time at camp.

The Gulf is but a mere few hundred feet away. Our hearts go to the east coast folks who weather the storm.
 More soon,...Hol, Ding, Bob and Thumper

Porkchops, Halloween and hot showers

Flier for this rally.

DATELINE PORKCHOPS ICEHOUSE BAR, GRILL & CAMPGROUND, POINTBLANK, TEXAS --- What a property here! Rolling grassy hills, beautiful huge Lake Livingston and a massive roadhouse that is very well-appointed with bandstand, outdoor seating areas, food, pool tables and lots of giant doors leading outside. This rally is in its first year but the bar has held a Halloween party for several years. So far, the weather is hot and very humid but the watchers say anticipated rain may skirt around us.

Two large pieces of news to report. Our shower is back in working order with hot water. This may ultimately save our sanity for the next few weeks. Secondly, we have purchased the coolest Halloween item around - a giant ceramic pumpkin fireplace. Don was adament this was a weird buy and we didn't have room but has now come full circle and thinks this little slice of seasonal crap (yeah, i wanted it anyway) is fun. We learned a trick in Paris, Texas, at the O'Donnell estate - toast a rice crispy treat inside the chimi-ha-ha vessel and then coat in Hershey syrup - yum-friggin-o. It also helped that since we've landed at Porkchops, a half-dozen people have asked Don where we got it because they think its cool and funky. His apology and acknowledgement were humble and swift! Pictures of "Jack" forthcoming.

We are set up and ready to go. We have a pinstriper adjacent and a nice leather dealing couple across the way. The first of the food vendors has arrived. We await the arrival of Deb - Harley Ridin Woman from Old Farts on Pieces of Shit. She will come down from the Arkadelphia area and sew patches on our site.

Spread the word on this event. It should be really fun.

Cheers from the front line.

Hol, Ding, Thumper and Bob

Texas sunset

C'est la vie mes amies, c'est la vie



La tour effel! Tres bien vino!

O'DONNELL DRIVEWAY, PARIS, TEXAS --- Not that I subscribe too much to these sorts of things but I spent my six month wedding anniversary Friday at a fancy hotel in Dallas, alone. The allure of gay Paree wasn't enough to subdue my wonderlust so I ventured into a new city for me for some adventure. I won't bore you with the "why" other than to say the institution of marriage - likely combined with being business partners with your spouse inside a 20-foot box - is not for the faint of heart. I'm terribly aware - knowing some of my family reads this - that such matters should normally be kept private but frankly it feels a relief to just type this. I've spent three decades never realizing what true partnership entails. Yes, yes, one can claim to understand it with parents, siblings and that incredibly small half-handful of people who are true friends but I don't think a person can appreciate this institution until they have tried it. I believe another portion of my angst or wonder is being a person who has willfully wandered into military territory, particularly being a, ahem, Marine wife - the spouse of a human being who spent 20 plus years doing things most cannot imagine and in fact would have nightmares about. My day-pass of relief consisted of giving a homeless man a C-note, eating a great chili cheese dog from a street vendor and taking a bath. There was a bit more seen and done but I digress.

Fast forward a day and via train, Iraqi Muslim cabbie and a lot of walking, I returned "home." I stopped, of course, at a tav named One Eyed Jacks and availed myself of the local color and spirits (which, in Texas, is both easy and brutal to find on any given day and at many locations, if you can understand that) and then Don picked me up and we headed north to the O'Donnell driveway where we have lived since Wednesday. Today we hit Wally World for supplies and new bedding because the Jefferson rainstorm rendered our accomodations toxic. We have patched, sealed, scrubbed and brought the BFT back to some life, all in spot that is very pretty. John and Chris have a lovely estate in the most wooded of areas in east Texas. There are trees everywhere that are shedding their leaves and other than the occasional yap from a terrier near the manse, the situation is ideal. The dogs run freely and smile constantly. Sun shines through the timber and there is a nice breeze. Air conditioning, though, is still a must.

My return was greeted with hugs and reminders that it's OK to take a break and, well, gifts, of which, of course, I never expect but always appreciate. There was no bended knee, but Don presented me with a lovely opal ring. I was relatively unfamiliar with this stone but Chris, a  connoisseur of these gems (seriously, the woman buys in bulk from Australia), claims the Marine outdid himself. I agree. Later in the day, Chris came roaring up the driveway in her fast car and launched the biggest gift box and bow I'd seen in a while. The contents - a belated wedding present - were wonderful. She, knowing that my favorite city on Earth is Paris, France, gave me a glass set from Paris, Texas that is engraved with the Eiffel Tower. It was complemented by some very lovely candles. I burn one of those as I write, as well as sip Diet Dr. Pepper from one of the new vessels.

We supped at a great pub last night - just the four of us. It was a joy to feast on perfectly chilled raw oysters with three fellow sea bug lovers.Tomorrow, we finish up some laundry and I will make cheeseburgers on the grill for the O'Donnell family. We head south Monday to Point Blank, Texas, which sits on what appears to be a lovely lake. The Porkchops Icehouse rally will be very small but that's OK. If we can assist a rider or two, the event paid for itself. Then, it's off to Galveston for the granddaddy of rallies - the Lone Star.

We still don't know what the off-season holds. My father said Barnum and Bailey usually winter in Sarasota but that Phoenix is a much nicer seasonal destination. I suspect Texas will hold us until Spring. Unless I actually write my book or publish something, there's a likelihood I will land as a copy editor at some local daily rag or be a Walmart greeter, the former being my preference. I am thankful for Don, my family and friends, the dogs, and for being upright and breathing without too much physical pain.

Thanks for bearing with my rambles. Ride safe and be well.

Hol......

 

No Boo-Hoo here!

BOO BENEFIT THOROUGHFARE, JEFFERSON, TEXAS --- I'm not overly religious but I'm humming the phrase "God Bless Texas" a lot. This rally was excellent! Just like the young man in the photo who's toting his first place trophy (granted, he won for having the coolest metrics bike), we too grabbed a gold here. All day Saturday and Sunday we had the bikes "racked and stacked." Our rubber inventory is heavily depleted after changing A LOT of tires, and we did a big recovery operation out of town, as well as several oil changes, brake pads, batteries and minor repairs.

For two solid days we worked solid, and only survived with the help of Billy Gray and his wonderful bride Deb. The timing of the customers and the work that needed to be done was as smooth as Laconia - while Billy changed oil and tires on the rack, Ding did front tires on the ground while Deb handled all the invoices, money, QuickBooks and copying. This freed me to spend a lot of time writing estimates for potential buyers, hawking the merchandise on the tables and hangers and advertise. The rent rate was excellent for a prime location with great access for the riders in and out. We could send folks to easily shop and hit the beer garden and we had great live music from a stage nearby.

Despite a heafty unemployment rate in this Republic, and humidity that could choke a chicken, many riders attend this event. It's smoothly run and family friendly; the"patch' guys can prowl at their leisure; and the cause is a huge draw with all proceeds going to hospital burn units, Shriners hospital and kids who are burn victims. We even worked on Boo's bike --a bad ass ride that needed some adjusting. He gave me a great hug and asked us to come back next year.

In Texas - here and many places we have and will go - folks say the need for motorcycle tires and repairs is big. Dealerships are not location-friendly for most. So, we've decided to stay here and finish the season. We will headed to Point Blank, Texas for a small Porkchops Icehouse rally; then on to Galveston for the mega Lone Star event and then over to Camp Wood for the Three Sisters Veterans rally.

Some highlights from Boo were a fun couple named Tex and Melissa who set up next door. He's a well-known pinstriper who's been on television a bunch. He looks like Guy Fiedi from Diners Drive-Ins and Dives with his blond spikey hair. They gave us great info on future rallies to attend. Some old carnie buddies from Algona who sew patches and sell leather were here and we hung out with them. Don's longtime Marine buddy John and his very funny wife Chris came down from Paris, Texas for the day, too.

Heavy rains ended the rally Sunday but that was OK. Granted, we sustained some water damage to the BFT but it is repairable. We buzzed over to Marshal and took Billy and Deb out to a great Japanese dinner and some fun conversation. Bob and Thumper were a big hit here an it helped to have a big swath of green grass out back.

Jefferson, Texas is a very quaint town reminiscent of old world Lousiana places. Brick streets are lined with great antique stores, old-school candy mercantiles, cafes and bistros and a pretty river runs through it all. The area is very green, hilly and filled with old trees. Ding said from the start he had a good feeling about this rally. I should have known, considering several merchants have giant pink, wrought-iron flamingos outside their shops.

Hugs from the road.....Hol, Ding, Thumper and Bob

Tex the pinstriper

A Marine on his newly pinstriped bike

Tex's work on the Marine's bike

Deb and Don working on a bike

Billy ready to ding Ding

Billy holding court with curious customers

One night's crowd at the rally. Town was packed!

Our camp at Boo

A successful bike recovery

Santa lives, Oklahoma cold, a brother returns

Another Santa - this one in Tecumseh, Oklahoma!

My brother Guy came down from Tulsa for a night - I think he had a really fun time!

THOROUGHFARE, HAWG LAKES 2012 FALL RALLY, TECUMSEH, OKLAHOMA --- Hawg Lakes was full of surprises, most notably that my brother Guy came down from Tulsa and spent the night. The four-day stretch here was cold, a bit wet and a little slow but we muscled through with a few good customers, a great visit with Guy, a lot of free firewood and some new interesting characters. Thursday and most of Friday were slow but once the hearty started rolling, we were able to pick up some biz with the burnout pit being nearby. One of our major customers was a young guy who hit the pit hard on Friday. He put on a great show and we got him a new tire but fiery pieces went flying and he scorched his leg pretty bad. Luckily, there were a lot of firefighters camping here and someone was able to patch him up. He will have a good scar and a great story to tell. We met a nice gal named PJ who made great food right next door - excellent B & Gs in the mornings and hot coffee. Another group of people included a funny guy who walked up to camp with an extra hand in his right sleeve (for a total of 3 hands). I thought it was real and acted PC and kind as everyone gathered near the fire had a good laugh. I cracked up when I realized my mistake. Visiting with the man was nice because he is suffering dementia and I believe he enjoyed talking with someone who wanted to hear his stories and was patient. Santa lives here, too. We found him the first day on his giant red trike. It was cold enough I had to dress the flamingos in company shirts and turn the heater on inside the BFT. Temps that dipped into the 30s and 40s stunted ridership but we covered rent and gas so that's OK. Guy had a good time - I think he's amazed his sister is out on the road doing this! I put him in company clothes and Don taught him a thing or two about mounting and balancing tires. He chopped a lot of wood; reveled at the burnpit and the various critters (human and not) roaming the thoroughfare; and hung out a lot with Don. The two of them sipped whiskey by the fire and listened to old Molly Hatchet performing live on the big stage while I lounged indoors and read (by day three, I was getting a little whimpy on the cold). We're off to Boo Benefit in Jefferson, Texas tomorrow or Tuesday and then possibly headed back to Oklahoma for another small rally in Sparks before hitting Galveston (also hoping to possibly visit Twisted Sister en route to one of these events). Dogs are exhausted - they stayed up and played non-stop and ate way too much at PJ's cafe. Thanks for the blessings from the Christian rider folks here and the two pounds of Oklahoma blue and gold sausage from BJ the emcee. Hugs from us. Ding, Hol, Thumper and Bob!

Three-handed man!



This burnout dude was very good and a great customer!



Cold flamingo.

Man on a mini bike in burnout pit.

Robert, a good customer.

Where the wind goes whistlin thru the trees!



Sunset at Hawg Lakes in Tecumseh, Oklahoma.



THOROUGHFARE OF HAWG LAKES 2012 FALL RALLY, TECUMSEH, OKLAHOMA --- O-kla-home-a, where the wind goes whistlin through the trees. I'm pretty sure those aren't the correct lyrics but o well, it's what I recall. My god, I'm alive again and it feels great! We had a thorough, laugh-infested visit with my pals Shank and Bob-Oh at Tom Bodette's place in Barstow and then blazed east through northern Arizona, New Mexico, the Texas panhandled and landed here yesterday. It's a gorgeous, green, tree-filled, water-kissed hunk of 80 acres in place most will never visit, let alone have ever heard of. We found this rally on the Internet and decided to sub it in over the Texoma ABATE rally, which I believe draws fewer riders. Our host Lee owns the property and has promised a strong turnout. So far, the signs are good: Met a nice guy named BJ who will emcee the musical acts and he's vowed to announce our services regularly; the weather is exceptionally nice with clear skies and mild temperatures; our immediate vending neighbor is PJ and she cooks breakfast daily; and the camp preacher stopped by this morning and blessed our site and endeavors - even invited us down to his camp for coffee and donated pastries later this week (I think he may believe we are indigent and in need of a hand-out, which would be correct!) Not much more to report. We've had a couple of scrapes on the BFT but Dinger got those patched. We've had a chance to do some reading and watch several movies while parked at various truck stops along Interstate 40, including Deliverance one day. Hadn't seen that flick in a few decades and it sort of made me not want to ever vend in the deep South, if you know what I mean. The dogs are in heaven here - tons of grass to play on and right on the main thoroughfare. If you haven't seen Don's mom's renderings of the black and white ones, check them out at her website at http://www.carrouselgraphics.com . Take care and I'll check back later....
Luv Hol, Don, Thumper and Bob

Bob and Don reading their morning emails and drinking coffee. They are the hyper two while Thumper and Holly are pros and relaxing.

Hol in Death Valley.

Don donning a hat at Tom-Fi's billard room at his ranch in Fernley, Nevada.

More of that Oklahoma sunset.

CORRECTION!

All: My bad. Left an "n" out of Don's mom's blog. Correct address below. Check it out!


www.tardis-journeys.blogspot.com

Reno over

DATELINE KOA CAMPGROUND, GHOST TOWN, CALIFORNIA --- Were we too far out in Fernley, Nevada to make it work? Did it help that the annual Street Vibes poker run they used to do through Fernley at the Silverado Casino didn't occur? Or was it telling 50,000 "patch" wearers to leave their colors at home? That's as far as I go on how bad Reno rally was. As usual, I seek positive. We had a wild fun visit with Ding's old friend and Marine Al and his wife Kim; and a really nice dinner with our friend from Laconia, New Hampshire, a man named Dragon - the one who sells beads. We also met three new folks - Tom, the Fernley fellow and friend of Al's who helped us set up; another Tom (now Tom-Fi) who was a Marine who visited often, gave us business but who also took us to dinner and most importantly had us over to enjoy his company and his wonderful property; and also Sean, a local sheriff's deputy who regailed us with stories. Tom-Fi and Sean have daughters who are beauties but can also shoot the guns. There was Reno one night and a hot shower.We sit currently near Barstow, hoping to see some old friends of mine, and then we are blazing east to get to Oklahoma. I don't have much more to say. Looking for a way to rejunvenate and make the final three rallies a success. The BFT is cleaned up, tires stocked and T-shirt inventory down (actually sold some of those in Nevada). We planned for some tough times. We got em. If anyone knows of any work for us in the off-season - starting Nov. 10 for us - shoot me a line. It's Hawg Lakes Rally Oct. 4-7 in Tecumseh, OK; then Boo Benefit in Jefferson, Texas Oct. 12-14; then Galveston for the Lone Star Nov. 1-4. Tell everyone you know. Dogs are well. Don's mom Bobbie is an artist and rendered a couple of great works of them. Check out her blog at www.tardis-jouneys.blogspot.com

Hand-painted pin-up art on the side of Tom-Fi's ride.

Hand-painted pin-up art on the other side of Tom-Fi's bike.

Bikes in Reno.

Sean, a local who had great stories!

Street Vibes from far away

A little gold panning operation in Virginia City.

DATELINE SILVERADO CASINO PARKING LOT, FERNLEY, NEVADA --- Apologies for not checking in sooner. No real reason other than there hasn't been a lot to share. We landed at the Silverado and the management team and staff have been really nice. It took a couple days to set up, another to post signs and posters in Sparks, Carson and Virginia cities and various other spots. The rally officially started yesterday but we likely won't see any traffic until Friday or so. It's a good thing we aren't paying to stay here because there's a chance our first skunking could occur. We have twice daily radio ads running and friends coming to visit who have spread the word but this location may be just a little too far from the action. I'll let you know how it goes. In between cleaning the trailer inside and out and other chores, we've popped inside the casino a few times to watch really bad Bronco football, play the slots and eat some good food in Jake's Restaurant. Whoever is cooking over there does a great salad bar, homemade soups (beef and barley and a cajun sausage one), huevos rancheros, and more. Since we're abutting the north side of the casino near the kitchen, some of the cooks and waitresses and other casino staff come outside at night for smoke breaks and chat with us. They really like our T-shirts so I've been giving some away and selling a lot more. We've met a nice local named Tom who Ding was able to help with his fueling system (he paid us in cold Sierra Nevada beer and an invite to his home for BBQ.) Another fellow named Don who was headed to Wyoming to hunt antelope broke down in the parking lot so he came over with his dog to visit. Tom Hoynes, a good friend of Ding's buddy Al, helped us set up one night and has been delivering our tires and mail because he lives locally too. Al and his wife Kim will arrive today from Nor Cal, and our buddy Dragon we met in Laconia drove over last night from the bay area and will surely be around to collect the bags of beads we've hauled across country for him as well as sip some Balvenie scotch with Ding. When we went to Virginia City to post signs, I recalled for Ding my visit to that old mining town many years ago with my buddy Shank. I showed him the very slot machine at the Bucket of Blood Saloon where I made a killing back then. Before we left, I sprung for two very fancy high ball glasses for his sipping time with Dragon. Tonight it's buffalo and barbecue wings on the grill with fresh carrot and celery sticks and dips. I've got some ribs marinating for when company arrives and Ding and I are thinking about an appetizer dinner night for everyone for which he will make his awesome jalapeno poppers wrapped in turkey bacon, and I will dish up some potato skins, garlic shrimps and some seasonal roasted veggies. Spread the word we are here everyone - we need the business! Bob and Thumper are well, as are Ding and I. Happy Fall and we miss everyone a bunch.

The Bowling Hall of Fame in Reno.

The BFT's first bath since starting tour, minus the rainstorms from the east.

The Bucket of Blood saloon in Virginia City.