Oh the Adventures We'll Have!

DAY 2
Rigid’s to Columbus AFB, MS- Approximately 540 miles; 5 States (or least portions of them)

Yesterday, my day began with an email I received from Rigid's wife, Francine, informing me that the guys were on the road, having shoved off from Nebo, NC at 0920 EST. Nebo is in the Western part of the state, approximately 100 miles North West of Charlotte, NC. Overtime and Rigid started heading due South, straight towards Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.

When I heard from the guys last night they were headed out to grab a bite to eat, but with Overtime on the horn, I could just hear in his voice that something had happened and if nothing else, it would be amusing. He mentioned that he'd created a word doc on a laptop Rigid brought on the road, and that as soon as they were able, they'd send me the doc on the day's events. When I asked what it was all about, laughing hysterically, Scotty said "think, Easy Rider meets Deliverance... I'll tell ya all about it!" And here we go...


The following is Overtime's account of the day's ride...
"Staying at the Visiting Officer’s Quarters – beats a tent.
Casual observation here; to date, My wonderful home state (SC) has the worst roads so far.

There is definitely a bad trend starting here, as every time I commence a ride with Rigid, it is colder than an Eskimo’s outhouse, and today was no exception. We are hoping that will change – and soon.

Day started with an auspicious beginning.
Not 5 miles into the ride, one of us, graphically demonstrating a complete transition from CRS to CRAFT (if you can’t figure that out, call Shane) forgot a minor item, without which the ride/trip could not be completed. I elected to wait while Rigid retrieved said item. Not a bad idea, as the radiant warmth beat my self induced wind chill – that is until I saw a beat up old pickup truck drive by with two, shall we say, characters in it.

Let me digress for a moment to set the stage a little more thoroughly.
Here I am, where God left his shoes, with absolutely no clue where to find civilization when all of a sudden, the previously mentioned truck reappears having turned around. As it starts to slow, visions of the last scenes of “Easy Rider” come to mind.

I strategically placed the bike between me and the truck.
As it rolled to a stop, the window came down and the two men were smiling at me – at least I think they were smiling, as they maybe had three teeth between them. All of a sudden the movie theme shifted to “Deliverance” – complete with the sound track from the musical duel. All was well as they were only being considerate enough to see if I needed any assistance.

A short while later, I saw Rigid in the distance and proceeded to saddle up.
As he blew by, doing the bagger equivalent of a wheelie, he let out a Rebel yell that could be heard in the next county!

All went well until somewhere in N. Alabama I discovered that my heel shift lever had gone the way of the dinosaurs. Oops – this is a show stopper as completing the trip in first gear didn’t seem like a viable option. Fortunately, the two of us had enough functioning brain cells (and tools) to take the one off of Rigid’s bike and put it on mine. A feat accomplished without a single adult beverage."

Now, for those of you who've been reading this thing start to finish, you'll recall that the heel shifter on the Road King is a mission critical cog in Overtime's ability to ride due to a lack of vertical mobility in his left foot. With this peg missing, they have a show stopper on their hands! Though with Rigid able to make the adjustment and ride using only the forward shifter, at least temporarily, crisis averted!

And so the Ride Begins

Day 1
This morning, Overtime was bid farewell by Darlene, the dogs, and of course, the Dudley's attack McCaw Parrot, Lisa, as he set off on the road; Destination Casa de Rigid. Tomorrow begins the ride West for these two, the tandem taking off early in the morning.


I received an email from Overtime earlier this evening that read as follows...
"Uneventful trip to Rigid's beautiful place (if you don't count the rain).
It was spitting rain on my way out, but by the time I reached Orangeburg I had to don the body condom and full face.
Wouldn't you know, 2 miles down the road, the sun came out and the road was dry.
Feeling like a total dork, I decided to just keep all the crap on until the next gas stop.
Being the clairvoyant I am, I felt vindicated (and smart) when it opened up a little later.
Met Rigid at a nice little tavern in Forest City, NC for a cold one followed by a guided ride through the NC foothills.
Have a couple of pix that, if I can figure out how to do it, will forward before we take off tomorrow.
Great start all in all."

Great start indeed... Safe travels, fellas... We're looking forward to progress reports from the road!

The Idea and the Inspiration; Scotty's Ride

In a previous post, I mentioned Scotty and I becoming friends following an invitation to stay in our home should he be so inclined to ride up from South Carolina for Memorial Day weekend and Rolling Thunder. As the famed weekend drew near, we had a few conversations regarding his ride up, what to expect from the weekend, etc., but nothing more... Beyond that we were largely strangers joined through a common bond... Riding...

Sara, my wife, has known the Dudleys since she was a young girl. Growing up the daughter of a Marine Corps aviator herself, those circles ran pretty tight. But I didn't know Scotty from Adam, and as fate would have it, Memorial Day weekend 2004, Sara was heading out to a Bachelorette weekend in Dewey Beach, DE. So despite Scotty and I not knowing one another all that well, we were bound to get to know one another by the end of the weekend!

As it turned out, the weekend couldn't have gone any better... Scotty and I rode all over Virginia and Maryland, making our way out through Leesburg, VA, Point of Rocks, Rockville, and Bethesda, MD, then back across the bridge to Virginia and Washington DC. We hit a couple of Harley shops as all the Harley dealers in the DC area are having some kind of open house over this weekend, then stopped off at a biker bar in Annadale for a beer. After relaxing with a beer or two, we made our way into DC to walk around Thunder Alley; The quasi biker bizarre set up year over year on 24th Street NW. I remember the weather being perfect despite the phenomenon that are the 17 year Cicadas... You know, those clumsy, loud, annoying, gigantic bugs that, when struck on a motorcycle doing 70 mph, actually explode with a thunderous "POP!" Yeah, those... Anyhow, following the stroll through Thunder Alley, it was time for another beer and a bite to eat. What better place to go than the Old Ebbitt Grill? The place is a Washington institution and surely would be buzzing on this weekend.

Coincidentally this Memorial Day weekend in our Nation's capital was also playing host to the grand opening of the newly completed World War II Memorial; A dedication long over due... As Scotty and I saddled up at the bar in Old Ebbitt's "Corner Bar", we noticed a number of elderly men and women all wearing traditional military dress from an era long ago. In fact, these men and women were veterans of the great war, and earlier in the day they were honored at the dedication ceremony for the memorial. No sooner had we sat down, they were moving toward Scotty and thanking him for his service to our great nation. You see at the time, Scotty was wearing his military ribbons on his riding vest, and these amazing people from the greatest generation were clamoring to show their respect to a man they recognized immediately as a retired Colonel, USMC. Of course, Scotty returned the pleasantries thanking these men and women for their own service, and showing great appreciation and empathy, struck up A conversation the likes of which I will never hear again. Stories of duty, valor, and friends and loved ones lost. It's not often I'm speechless or have nothing to contribute to a conversation, but in this moment I could only sit and listen in total awe and complete admiration. The conversation only lasted maybe 30 minutes, but it's a memory I will never forget.

I explain all of this as a way to better paint the picture of how this friendship was born. Having never served a day in the service, a most unusual place for a Gen X'er like myself to be sitting is along side a decorated war hero, officer, and a gentleman like Scotty Dudley. Yet here I sat. And despite the differences in our backgrounds, we unequivocally recognize one another as true friends.

Only a few months following Rolling Thunder, Sara and I received the news that Scotty was diagnosed with Cancer. Specifically Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Doctors discovered the disease in his neck and throat, and the initial prognosis was anything but positive. Though this being his third bout with Cancer, Scotty was no stranger to it's treatment and elected to have both chemotherapy and radiation at the same time in an effort to combat the disease. We kept in touch via email and the occasional phone call, but the treatments started to take a toll and before long, Scott lost the ability to speak and was barely strong enough to punch keys on a computer.

As with every Thanksgiving, Sara and I made our annual pilgrimage to Beaufort, SC to visit with her family and the many friends we've made there over the years. Though one of the first stops we would make would be to the Dudley's home. Now, Sara and I were warned as to what we should expect, but there's just no way to prepare yourself for something like this... When last I saw Scotty, only 6 months prior, he was as strong as any 56 year old man could be. This time would be far different...

Scotty had lost over 40 lbs and every hair on his head. He had third degree burns and open sores on the back of his neck as a result of the radiation, and further, was unable to even swallow spit let alone eat or drink. He was being fed intravenously through a tube attached to a backpack that looked a lot like what a runner or a cyclist would use when running a race. He was frail. Yet here he is, meeting us and welcoming us into his home, front and center, a huge grin across his face! His spirits were high despite the state of things, and he was optimistic for a full recovery.

Though Scotty had lost the ability to speak, he carried with him a small pad of paper and a pen, and would jot down whatever he was thinking... Darlene filled us in on all the details, next steps, and the newest prognosis. Scotty had his good days and his bad days, but he was getting by. Then out of the corner of my eye, I see him standing over by the garage door waving at me to follow him into the garage... I slipped out to the garage with Scott and he jots down on his note pad... "I need you to take my bike out." Obviously an effort to get some oil through the motor and even out the flat spots on the tires... Needless to say, I gleefully obliged. I rode the bike out to Brickyard Point on Lady's Island, turned her around and brought her back. Scotty stood in the garage, beaming. Somehow, we both knew he'd ride again.

Not one month later, things took a turn for the worse. Scotty's immune system was so broken down from the treatment, he'd contracted a flu like bug common in livestock which, under normal circumstances, is incommunicable to people. His health had deteriorated so badly, the Doctors were left no choice but to place him in a medically induced coma... The procedure was supposed to be just long enough to fight the bug, then they'd bring him out. Only trouble was, they couldn't bring him out... What was supposed to be a week turned into much longer, and family were told to expect the worst. My In-Laws called Sara to let us know of the Doctor's dreadful estimation, and when she told me the news, I was truly crushed. Despite this, I refused to believe he couldn't beat it and I found myself doing something no longer familiar to me... I found myself praying...

For days I awaited any word of what would become of my friend. Then, a few weeks later, Scotty was awake! The stubborn son-of-a-bitch came out of it! Though even this miraculous news wasn't without consequence. It seems while Scotty was under he suffered some kind of stroke or some other neurological damage which left him partially paralyzed in his left hand, leg, and foot. So on the one hand the cancer was in remission... Great news! On the other, the long road of rehab awaiting Scotty got much longer, and there was a great deal of uncertainty as to whether or not he could fully function again, let alone ride a bike.

Months later, 50 lbs heavier and with a full head of hair, Scott still struggled with his range of motion in his hand but more, in his foot. Still, with the resolve and determination of a hungry lion stalking its prey, Scotty was going to ride again. He kept up with his rehab, sold the hopped up Deuce, and went after something he knew he could ride... A Road King. With the King's heel / toe shifter, Scott figured he could determine where to drop his heel in order to upshift the bike, and damned if he wasn't riding again! Three years later, Scotty was back in Northern Virginia staying with Sara and I for Memorial Day and Rolling Thunder, and once again we rode.

While Scotty was up for Rolling Thunder last year, he was introduced to a whole new cast of characters I've been riding with. Tuna, Mechanic Mike, Sarah and Charles... Friends all. We attended the Boozefighters hotel party at the Highlander Hotel in Arlington. We rode to Rolling Thunder downtown, parked the bikes, watched the parade route... It was an absolutely perfect weather weekend throughout the entire affair... Following the Rolling Thunder rally, as has become custom since we last rode with Scotty, the whole damn crew rolled back to Tuna's house for a Memorial Day BBQ.

Devin and Tuna have a great house with a large outdoor patio area for just such events. The patio is immaculately kept and decorated, part of which are the many signs that hang all along the fencing. One of those signs reads, "Live life like it's the two minute warning". Scotty saw this, read it aloud, and said, "Hell, I guess I'm living life like it's in Overtime!" Hence the name "Overtime".

It was during this BBQ when Scotty said to me and Nelson, "We should try and figure out a way to do this thing all the way... You know, ride across country?" Little did we know, he was already planning to do it, whether we were along or not... After all, life is fleeting and nobody knows that more than him... Regardless, we kicked around the idea over beers and BBQ and decided, at the very least, we'd give it some serious thought.

The following day, Scott was back at our place gearing up his bike and getting ready for the ride back to South Carolina... I was more or less just sitting and drinking a beer, engaging in casual conversation, when Scott sat down and started to talk to me about making the run cross country. Suddenly I realized how serious he was about this thing, and he told me quite candidly how much it would mean to him if I could make the ride. Considering everything the man had gone through, to be standing in my garage and even having this discussion was enough for me to realize I have to find a way to make this happen, and from that moment on, I was in.

And so, while we honor America's fallen sons and daughters with our ride from coast to coast, it's Scotty "Overtime" Dudley to whom we owe our thanks. For it was Overtime, and the trials behind earning that name, who we have to thank for the inspiration to make this great ride.

Scotty, thanks for being the catalyst to what promises to be one of the most memorable experiences any of us will ever be apart of...

ATW '08

The Route

I begin this part of the blog by stating first that, while Nelson and I aren't making the ride west, Overtime and Rigid are. And so while I give them credit for having the gumption and resolve to make the trip both to and fro, it should also be noted they're a couple of stodgy old retirees who can actually afford the time necessary to perform such a task. Despite that, and I speak for Tuna when I say this, we are indeed envious. We'd love more than anything to make the ride West with the old boys, but as the Rolling Stones would say, "You can't always get what you want..." No kidding...

Having said that, we come to the route, West to East.

This morning, 04/17/08, at approximately 11:00 AM, Nelson watched as our bikes were loaded onto a truck to begin their journey Westward. Knowing we won't be seeing our ladies of the road for another month is indeed bittersweet... For their departure signifies the ride is close, but to go without our bikes in some of the best riding weather we'll see in this region, especially after a particularly cold Winter, is difficult.


Here they are on the truck...

The bikes are scheduled to arrive at Andrew and Jennifer Dudley's home in Lompoc, CA on May 9th. There, Andrew will take delivery of the scooters and store them until we arrive on Thursday evening, May 15th. If everything works as planned, Scotty and Steve should arrive several days prior to our arrival and will have inspected the machines one last time. Barring any setbacks, we should be ready to roll Friday May 16th.

To that end, the intended (I use this term loosely) route is as follows.

DAY 1- CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
Friday, May 16th
Lompoc, CA to Joshua Tree National Forest, CA
Apx 315 miles / Ride Time, 7 hours
Five riders will fire up and start heading South by South East. There's been some discussion as to whether or not we would pull off the ceremonial "toe dip" in the mighty Pacific prior to our shoving off, but nothing has been nailed down yet. My hope is that we can make this happen. Especially considering it's likely we won't see another body of water for three days.

Upon arrival, we will undoubtedly be thirsty and word is, this is the place to get a cold beer.

The Joshua Tree Saloon

DAY 2- ONE OF SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS
Saturday, May 17th
Joshua Tree National Forest, CA to Grand Canyon, AZ
Apx 400 miles / Ride Time, 8 hours 45 minutes
We'll break camp in the JTF and make our way East into Arizona. I'm told the desert is a mysterious place to ride or drive through... It's said the desert air and the seemingly endless road to what appears to be nowhere can bring a man to the edge of consciousnous. Frankly, I find this thought inviting. Gaining any level of introspect is never a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, and being washed by the wind while rolling through the Arizona desert will provide just such an opportunity.


Once we arrive in the area of the Grand Canyon, I'm sure we'll see all we can via our motorcycles as there won't be much time for doing touristy things... Once again, we'll no doubt be thirsty. The order of the day will be to find a watering hole, cool off, set up camp, and drink more beer... I'm starting to see a theme... Hmmmm...

DAY 3- PUEBLO ROAD
Sunday, May 18th
Grand Canyon, AZ to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Apx 480 miles / Ride Time, 9 hours 45 minutes
We'll break camp and continue Eastward, skirting the Southern Rocky Mountains as we head into New Mexico. Personally I've never been to New Mexico, let alone Santa Fe... Though I hear it's amazing. I'm looking forward to experiencing the architecture and local decor as much as I am the landscape. I've always been intreagued by this part of the country, and to be able to see it on the back of a bike will be cool, no doubt. We've no idea where we'll set up camp on this night... We only know we'll be in or around Santa Fe when we do camp. So long as we find a campground near a saloon, I'm sure everything will be just fine.


DAY 4- THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES
Monday, May 19th
Santa Fe, NM to Colorado Springs / Pikes Peak, CO
Apx 325 miles / Ride Time, 6 hours 45 minutes
Leaving out of Santa Fe we'll be rolling due North through the back roads of the Southern Colorado Rockies... The whole way... Certainly this will be an exciting time for this crew as both the roads and the views are said to be absolutely spectacular. Thus far, everything I've seen and read has sited this route as one of the best you'll ever ride. Also, it bares mentioning that we will not have ridden a single highway to this point, and won't until we leave Colorado.
The goal, once we get to the Colorado Springs area, will be to triumph Pikes Peak... At 14,000 feet above sea level, all I can say is, thank goodness for fuel injection! Fooling with a carburetor after riding all day seems very unappealing to me.
My Father-in-Law grew up in the Colorado Springs area, and so following a long day's ride we'll try and meet up with the Kindsfaters for dinner or at the very least, a cocktail. For the next days ride is the bitch of the bunch.


DAY 5- TORNADO ALLEY
Tuesday, May 20th
Colorado Springs, CO to Kansas City, MO
Apx 600 miles / Ride Time, 11 hours 30 minutes
The plan on day 5 is simple... Gain ground. This will be the first day since the trip began we'll spend any significant time on the highway. We're going wide open through the flat lands of Eastern Colorado and Kansas with a very simple strategy; Haul ass and avoid Johnny Law! Oh, and umm, get to Kansas City and find some good BBQ and of course, more beer.

No Thanks!

DAY 6- SOUTHERN COMFORT
Wednesday, May 21st
Kansas City, MO to Louisville, KY
Apx 500 miles / Ride Time, 10 hours
Destination Louisville! Home of the Kentucky Derby, Muhammad Ali, Louisville Slugger, BOURBON, and of course, my Sister, Brother, and Sister-In-Law!
My poor siblings, God bless them, have agreed to put up 4 stinky ass bikers. My Dad is making his way down from Chicago to see us off as well. No doubt we'll have a great time in Louisville! Provided we're not dead on our feet from 20+ hours riding over two days through undoubtedly the flattest area of the country that is... But I digress. The Yerkes are a fun bunch to be sure, and they take on family friends as if they were their own. It'll be nice to recharge with a hot shower and an evening with family.


DAY 7- SWEET VIRGINIA COUNTRYSIDE
Thursday, May 22nd
Louisville, KY to Monterey, VA
Apx 450 miles / Ride Time, 9 hours, 45 minutes
Lets get this party started! We arrive in Monterey, Virginia at the Lundsford Cabin; The weekend mountain home and hunting lodge of my closest friend and his family who've so graciously offered their cabin to us for our last stop. Here we'll meet up with my wife, Sara, Nelson's wife, Devin, and our closest friends, Justin, Sarah, Charles, Mechanic Mike, his fiance Tracy, and perhaps a few other riders coming along for the ride. We will no doubt have a BLAST on this night... Sharing our experiences on the road with some of the finest people I've ever known. Those not sleeping in the cabin will camp on the mountain with the road weary crew.


DAY 8- THE SKYLINE RIDE
Friday, May 23rd
Monterey, VA to NoVA
Apx 175 miles / Ride Time, 4 hours
We complete the journey with no fewer than 8 bikes through the Shenandoah Skyline on our way to the Washington DC area just in time for Memorial Day weekend and Rolling Thunder.
All the Way '08

For the complete map and directions, please click the link below the following image.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Lompoc,+CA&daddr=Joshua+Tree,+CA+to:Grand+Canyon,+AZ+to:Santa+Fe,+NM+to:Colorado+Springs,+CO+to:Kansas+City,+MO+to:Louisville,+KY+to:Monterey,+Highland,+Virginia,+United+States+to:Fairfax,+VA&mra=ps&mrcr=4,5&dirflg=h&jsv=107&sll=39.577585,-85.9456&sspn=9.12491,23.994141&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=5

To Know Us is to Love Us......

Before getting too much into the ride, there's a history that simply must be explained. To do so, here's a little blurb about each rider, their "story", and how this all came about...




Scotty Dudley: Known aliases- Overtime / Chewy
Ride: 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King

Scotty, or "Overtime" as he's affectionately known to his riding Brothers, retired a full bird Colonel, United States Marine Corps. Bored in retirement, Scotty moved to do what we all secretly yearn to do in retirement... He chose to uphold the Law?! Though not as a lawyer, prosecutor, or police officer mind you... Rather as a Governor appointed Magistrate in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Have him tell you how he got the job... Nothing kinky, but damn funny!!!

Scotty is a veteran of two foreign wars. Having flown and lead squadrons of both F-4 Phantoms (Vietnam) and F-18 Hornets (Desert Storm), he knows a thing or two about what it means to go fast. Motorcycling is Scotty's methadone (for lack of a better term) and nothing, not even serious illness, is going to keep him from that. As the recipient of a Purple Heart, as well as a slew of other medals I won't pretend to know anything about, Scotty's given almost everything he's got to his country and we're all damn proud to know him. Now in retirement, Overtime is a scooter junkie... Living each day for the next ride.

When Overtime rediscovered his love of riding, it was through an Ebay ad for a hopped up '02 H-D Deuce. Having ridden a Honda street bike and a Yamaha motorcross bike back in the 60's and 70's, a 1450cc Harley-Davidson Softail is not exactly an easy bike to reaquaint yourself with road on two wheels... Though not bothered by such a mere inconvenience, Scotty drove to South of the Border, SC to meet the guy who would sell him the bike, down from Richmond, VA. He looked the Duece over, threw a leg over it, fiddled with the mirrors, paid the man, and rode it home...

A short while later my In-Laws, also a Marine Corps family and long time friends of the Dudleys, called to tell me about their crazy friend who, with little to no riding experience, bought a Harley Davidson and can now be seen tooling about Beufort on this beautiful, yet loud, Harley machine.

On my next visit to Beaufort, I met Scotty at an annual Thanksgiving event known as "The Turkey Fry". We talked about bikes, riding, etc, and I told him all about Washington DC's famous "Rolling Thunder" motorcycle rally in memory of Americas POW's and MIA's. My wife and I offered Overtime a place to park his bike and lay his head if he was interested, and what do you know... He showed up!

An otherwise unlikely pairing of friends, Scotty is now someone whom I trust implicitly and would follow to the gates of hell. Evidently riding can bring people of all ages and backgrounds together... There's certainly something to be said for that.

Scotty Dudley is a proud Husband, Father, Grandfather, and pet owner. (Pet Owner?)
He lives in Beaufort, SC with his beautiful (and extraordinarily tolerant) wife, Darlene. And while their kids are now adults and on their own, they keep the house warm with a squawking attack bird by the name of Lisa, a big goofy Akita, and an old Yellow Lab.

Scott's daughter, Jenny, and her two children live not all that far away from Beaufort in Pensacola, FL while his son, Andrew, currently resides in Lompoc, CA.

Andrew is also a big part of this ride as he and his wife have so graciously provided us with the West Coast launch point from their home just north of Santa Barbara. Andrew will also serve as the ATW '08 Road Captain through at least two states; California and Arizona.




Nelson Velasquez; Known aliases- Tuna / Flying Burrito
Ride: 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe

Nelson, AKA, Tuna, is my partner in crime. When Tuna and I met, it was through our wives, Devin (his) and Sara (mine). Immediately we began noticing subtle similarities between us. For example, Tuna had a male Rottweiler named Taz(RIP), and I have a female Rottweiler named Jazz... And that's just one of many...
Turns out, Tuna and I share the same birthday (02/16), though two years apart. Suddenly, more and more of these similarities started popping up and it wasn't long before our love of riding came to bare.

Having had a bike for some time and having been on the verge of selling it for having no one to ride with, when Nelson let me know his plan to get a bike, I knew I had a riding partner for life. Just like Ponch and John!! Only I'm not blonde and he's not Mexican... (Guatamalan, close enough)

Still, more similarities. Tuna named his bike "Annette" for his favorite Hollywood Starlett, Annette Benning. I named my bike "Willamena" for the COO of Harley-Davidson, Willie G. Davidson. Tuna decided to prospect for a club and, low and behold, it didn't take much convincing for me to prospect for that same club. So it should go without saying that when I asked Tuna if he was interested in riding coast to coast with our good friend Scotty, without missing a beat or blinking an eye he said...
"Let me ask my wife!"
And so, we go...

Nelson and his wife, Devin, have a home in Falls Church, VA with their 5 year old boy, Nelson Jr, whom we affectionately call "Nelo".




Steve Sarcione; Known aliases- Rigid / Big Daddy
Ride: 2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide
1996 Harley-Davidson FatBoy

Steve, AKA Rigid, is one of those genuine guys who just makes life a little more interesting and a lot more fun. Like Scotty, Steve retired a full bird Colonel having spent 27+ years in the Army. When I first met Steve, it was at a hotel party in Arlington, VA hosted by his club, the Boozefighters. As an active member and officer in his chapter, I was blown away with how passionately he spoke of the Boozefighters, and more than anyone else, Steve is who sparked my interest to start hanging around this club. I'm ever thankful for the opportunity to get to know and ride with the Boozefighters, and Rigid's open acceptance of me is what's made that a reality.

But on to more entertaining subjects about Rigid... I mentioned Steve retired from the military after 27 years of service... Well, when he retired, he RETIRED. On my second run-in with this character I hardly recognized him... The first time we met, Rigid was clean shaven and wore short hair... Exactly what you would expect from a ranking officer in the US armed forces. A short while later, Steve RETIRED. From then on he let his hair grow, grew a goat-tee, and has been letting it go ever since! Now, with his hair just about pony tail length and his goat-tee braided, Rigid embodies the very essence of what every biker longs to be... Free.

As I've gotten to know Rigid, the similarities between he and Scotty (in so far as both being career military men and motorcycle junkies) were glaringly obvious. Tuna and I started talking to Rigid about this ride somewhere around 4 or 5 months into the planning phase, and though he's retired from active service, Steve still works as a consultant, so for a while there he was a question mark... Then one day, he figured, "I'm gonna go! In fact, I'm gonna buy a new bike and commit to it!" And so he did! In fact, he got the Daddy of all touring bikes... The Road Glide! Tour pack, heated grips, stereo, the works!! And just in time, 'cuz Rigid's FatBoy wouldn't have made it..........

Speaking of the FatBoy... We're talking about one slick looking bike... Motor work, wheels, custom paint, beach cruiser bars, no front fender... This thing is a baffleless screaming thing of beauty... Though to say the ole gal has been put through her paces is a bit of understatement. It's the little things, you know?? Like the bottom of the gas tank falling out and bleeding fuel all over the bike, the highway, Steve himself, you name it! If some passer-by would've hit Steve's gasoline trail with a lit cigarette, 'ole Rigid would have taken off like a comet! And then there was Dallas... While pulling into a parking garge, Rigid noticed his headlight was jumping all over the place! When suddenly he realized, the headlight had fallen OUT of the light housing and was bouncing up and down off his fenderless front tire!
I'm told it looked like something out of a Road Runner and Coyote cartoon... Priceless!

Now THAT'S a well ridden motorcycle... And that's Rigid... If there was a missing piece to this crew, Steve was it. We couldn't be more fortunate to have him along on this ride. I've no doubt we'll never be short of good times and good laughter with Rigid on the road...

Steve lives just outside Charlotte, NC with his wife, Francine, in their custom built dream home... Here's to the shortest commute, Man!!





Shane Yerkes: Know aliases- None
Ride: 2003 Harley-Davidson FatBoy

As for myself, I've been riding motorcycles in one form or another since I could reach the shifter... I grew up learning to ride on my buddy's brother's KX-80 Big Wheel motor cross bike and fell in love with it from the start. My first bike of my own was this crazy thing my Dad built in the garage using a refurbished bicycle frame, a Briggs and Stratton 5 hp motor, no front brake, a twist throttle, and a cup-wheel rear foot brake... Essentially what that means is, I would stand on the brake and a spring loaded arm that reached back to the rear tire would literally LOCK the tire by grabbing the rubber on the tire's surface. It was a hell of a way to learn to ride!

I got into street bikes as soon as I had a license. In '88 I bought my first street bike, a 1983 Seca 550, for $450.00. I wrecked it that very weekend! Cracked the oil case on the motor, bent the shifter, broke the clutch handle, pitched the mirror in a dumpster, and walked it home... About a 2 mile walk. I found an old scrap yard, bought the parts I needed and fixed it up, put about three thousand miles on it, and sold it for $400.00 6 months later!

Soon after I got a job as a porter and parts guy at a local motorcycle shop and got to ride just about every kind of metric bike imaginable. It was a hell of a deal for a kid who loved bikes but couldn't afford a decent one! Some time later I bought a Honda VTR-1000 SuperHawk brand new, wrecked it twice, walked away from both, and gave up cafe bikes all together.

I got my Harley in September 2002... A Hundred year anniversary edition FatBoy, and I've been riding slow and low ever since. Motorcycling is a part of me to be sure.

After meeting up with Scotty, adopting Nelson as a brother, and getting to know Rigid, the upcoming coast to coast ride with these characters is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I can honestly say that I haven't looked this forward to anything since my marriage to my wife almost 6 years ago, and I'm honored to make this journey with these men.

I live in Fairfax with my wife, Sara, our two dogs- Jazz and Bruiser, and our two cats- Sampson and Delilah.