Memories of Memorial Day weekend



Our group of six heading to Grizzly Bear.  This was taken at Denali View South.  McKinley wasn't quite out all the way, but we had sun, and that always makes for a pleasant ride.  But we were prepared for rain as well.  I'm wearing my "snowpants" rather than chaps.

The Harley Owners Group does a run to Grizzly Bear Campground, a place about 240 miles north of Anchorage. We leave on the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, end up at the campground (which also has cabins, a hotel and camping), and have a big barbecue, catered over the past few years by the Black Sheep, the religious arm of HOG. We've always had great feasts for this barbecue.

Steak, burgers, salads, desserts.  Even hot water with tea for me.  What more could you ask for?  Black Sheep rock!!!

The evening is one that is memorable for a number of reasons. It's the first overnight ride for the HOG group for the year, a time to park the bikes and let your hair hang down, and a chance to get to know your fellow HOGs. We always have a great time, great food and make new friends in addition to seeing so many others we've not seen for a while.

Friends before things started getting silly.

I rode up with a group of friends, avoiding most of the rain others had run into. I was glad to find that this year was no different, and although we had rain during the barbecue, it didn't spoil the fun.

We obeyed the sign and placed our butts accordingly.

This wasn't part of the silliness.  This is Paul's rainhat.  Ya gotta keep the beer from getting diluted.

On Sunday, most people go back down the road to Byer's Lake, where there's a memorial ceremony honoring those who have served, those who have fallen. It's a moving ceremony and one that I've attended multiple times.

But there's a group of us that heads north, into Fairbanks, and around, doing a loop of more than 900 miles for the weekend. This year was no different, and while there was one of our core group that was unable to make it (We missed you, Harvey, me especially cuz I had to lead.), we picked up a couple of new folks, Maria and Doug.

that

Usually it's the other way around, with Birdie giving the pushback.  There's a photo of Zookeeper getting a pushback too.  But I'll use that one another day.

We left Grizzly, with a sprinkle or two, then on through Fairbanks and out the other side. We stopped in Salcha since it looked like we'd run into rain. I figured people could put on raingear, and it doesn't hurt that they have ice cream and we nearly always stop anyway.

While we were eating our ice cream, the skies let loose and it poured. But once we were ready to get on the road again, we encountered a few sprinkles and then good weather. Hooray for sunshine.

We were on to Tok where we spent the night at another bear motel, Golden Bear. We stay here everytime we come through. It's owned by the father of a guy I used to work with, and we like to give business to locals and people who are part of our family in some way. We like to eat at a place called Fast Eddy's, which has a great salad bar, and then we raced for the motel as the rain was coming again.

We all seem to end up hanging out and visiting in one room.  Okay, maybe we weren't visiting.  We all had our phones out texting and checking e-mail and Facebook.  Sickos. 

The ride Sunday was made ducking and bobbing, weaving and somehow avoiding rain for the most part. Friends who had left a bit earlier than we had dealt with rain most of their trip.

And here's the proof that we had sunshine.  Zookeeper, Maria and Doug.

Monday dawned with a sprinkle, but the sun was shining and we knew we had it in the bag for the day. The big mission was to make it to Copper Center to visit the remains of a historic lodge that burned a few weeks prior. We'd often eaten at the lodge, and had stayed a time or two.

The beloved Copper Center Roadhouse.  But it will be rebuilt.

It was a sad time, with our Harley Parking Only sign charred and hanging upside down. I straightened it so we could park in our spot, for old time's sake. We have heard it will be rebuit, but while there will be a lodge, so much of the character that is associated with the old one will be missing.

Then it was back on the road and heading for Eureka for a late lunch. We met up with a few other friends, and now our group was 10. Riding down the road heading back to Anchorage, it was a beautiful sight to see those 10 motorcycles riding in a perfect formation. It's an awesome feeling to have such good friends, to spend quality time and to share a meal.

While I mostly spent Memorial Day weekend riding and having fun, it was a time to remember those who have served our country, those who have died for it, and the families that continue to sacrifice. I truly believe that freedom is not free. Thank you to our service people and their families. What they do is not forgotten.