Macho, Insane, Dedicated?

[gopjohnny]

I watched the temp climb this morning as I awaited the 930 time I had to head out and meet my fellow club members. As the appointed time arrived it had reached 29 degrees. I struggled toward the door draped in layer on top of layer of clothing, my wife shaking her head.

"you men are nuts, if any of you would be the first to say lets take the car all the rest would agree. But not one of you will say anything for fear of being called a wimp"

Well Perhaps she was right, but we had commited to do the Christmas ride in for The Childrens Home and I was going to do it. It turns out our club wasnt the only Macho/insane/dedicated bikers there. My estimates would be somewhere between 300 and 500 bikes.

Harleys, Hondas, Kawasakis, Suzuki's and even those funny looking beemer guys with the weird outfits. There were hard core 1% clubs and CMA guys, insulated hunting gear, and leathers, Aerostich one pieces and thrift store castoffs.

We hudded around the barrels burning, a gleam in our eyes as we watched the kids run around looking at the bikes. We lined up to drop money in the donation bowl to meet those less fortunates needs. We ate hot dogs with fellow bikers and kids

Macho, Insane, Dedicated I am not sure but I am glad I did it and I will be back next year

[Netnorske]

Insanity is in the brain of the beholder....kudos to you all for putting the kids first!

[dogdoc]

+1, be proud.

[lw]

+2 Blessings given to others multiply and return.

[nomad]

was this the toys for tots run in eldridge, A.L.? the children's home? i was there...and yes it was cold as he!$....a bunch of us rode in from mississippi and did our part! there was quite a few bikes there for sure with plenty of clubs represented. all in all i probably put 150/175 miles or so on my nomad and i don't think it ever got higher than 40 degrees. but it was worth it..:)

[skeeter]

Tis the season. We did the Hill Country Toy Run to Cherokee Childrens Home (Cherokee Tx. no indians) . It was 27 when we left the house. "We" as in my wife and I. She wasn't the only woman on the ride. The ride back this afternoon was in the low 60s.

We had a great time. The actual fundraiser is the Johnson City Pig Roast Rally every October. With funds raised the kids get some things they asked for and more. and the Home got a check for $10,000 which will probably go into the rec center and season tickets to six flags like it did last year along with a scholarship fund for the kids that want to go to college. This was the 25th anniversary run put on by the association.
52 bikes made the run this year. Santa led the last mile into the Home from Cherokee. We had a big feast then got to help the younguns open their gifts and gave rides afterward. My wife wants to bring one home every time.

[darthvulcan]

Sounds like a lot of fun. Christmas rides up here are pretty rare.

[rksaw]

The "suffering" we go through for kids!!! Johnny, I'm glad that you were able to get out, even in the cold, and do something good for others.

[roadman]

Good job :)

[bosko]

;)

[gopjohnny]

yep it was eldridge, I was there on my nomad wearing the Mechanized Cavalry colors (riding group of the Sons of Confederate Vets)

[nomad]

you know, when i pulled up there the first thing i saw was those barrels with the fires in them... man, i was cold

[socwkbiker]

No matter how cold it is, it always warms your heart when you see the smiles on the faces of those kids.

[trip]

Dedicated........most definately.

[rewindgy]

December 6 , 08 plus 6 C no snow - December 7, 2008 - friggin 4 - 6 inches of the sh*t - blowing - not warm - ugly!! Supposed to warm up on Wednesday ( don't care - won't melt enough) I guess unless there is a miracle I won't be riding @ Christmas or New Years Day!!!
Damn!!!