I was raised by wolves. Very kind, very nurturing wolves. I love riding to a town a just barely learned the name of on a Friday, making a decision at the intersection to get myself lost 1000 miles away from home on a Saturday, and trying to figure out how the hell I can get home on a Sunday. Just ride a place and see a thing.
I just got home from work, and saw that Peter Fonda has died at the age of 79 from lung cancer.
A nod to the man who produced and came up with the idea of Easy Rider. I’m glad he made it to the 50th anniversary of a movie that hit a nerve of the times, rocked the movie making establishment and inspired me at a young age to ride.
I’ve always had mixed feelings about Fonda, to be honest. Some of the things he did I loved, others I hated. Some of those things, I put in the book.
But, at the end of the day he made a helluva film that inspired me, and I gotta say in a way, had a pretty big influence on the direction of my life. It Was Easy Rider that inspired me to buy my first street bike, and start exploring the country.
I have some things I want to say, but now isn’t the time other than to say Rest in Peace sir, and thank you.
51 years ago in 1968, Dennis Hopper and his brother in law went out scouting for locations for a low budget movie called Easy Rider. The job was to scout the locations and report back to the crew. Between Taos New Mexico and New Orleans, They found Morganza Louisiana. On the edge of the Mississippi river, Morganza is a small, sleepy little southern Town, with not much of anything around it. In the heart of town, was a local cafe called Melanchon’s. It was perfect for the film.
They originally had hired a local acting troupe lined up to play in the Movie, but upon arrival, Dennis decided the locals were a better fit. It was in Morganza that the famous Cafe Scenes were filmed.
Over 3 days they filmed in Morganza.
The town has never forgotten it.
They’ve been doing various events over the last year commemorating Easy Rider and next month they’re doing a big Easy Rider Festival.
I’ve gotten to know this crew a little bit over the years, and I love these guys. The gal who is spearheading this is a firecracker, and a helluva sweet lady. They’ve got some good stuff planned.
Worth checking out, this one should be a blast. Meet some of the people in the movie, and they’ve got a few more surprises. If you’re an ER fan, this is a must see.
I came across a bike movie yesterday that I’ve never seen; Roadside Prophets. I can’t believe I missed it back in the day. I rented it on YouTube last night to check it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh3_x3mr_M8
It’s bad. Haha, really bad. But I ate the whole thing up. John Doe from one of my favorite old Punk Bands was in it, as well as Timothy Leary, Arlo Guthrie, David Carradine and John Cusack. From what I could tell, only David Carradine could actually act.
But I’m a sucker for a motorcycle movie. If I’m not riding, its nice to see people riding on an open road somewhere. The places they rode were my old stomping grounds; Amboy and Barstow California, Pioche, Ely and Jackpot Nevada. The roadrunner cafe was in it.
Check it out if you get a minute. A pretty decent road movie, and mildly entertaining. I was wincing in spots, and its the kind of movie I was convinced I only need to see once, but I’ll more than likely end up buying the damn thing to watch it again.
A day or so ago, I talked to this lady on the phone.
Man, she went on and on about Trump, America and how we’d screwed things up. We don’t have 2 weeks vacation just provided to us; we don’t have national health care, etc… she kind of rambled.
Then she went to pay for the product she wanted. Her country charges a 20% tax. It was something she didn’t want to pay. She wanted to use a US address, to bypass having to pay that tax.
Heh, socialism. I just thought it was interesting.
For the last 20 years, Easy Rider has kinda been a hobby of mine. A fun as hell hobby, with an excuse to ride somewhere, and see a thing. I’ve ridden the separate locations and back a bunch of times. Its rare I can get the opportunity to ride them all in one shot.
In 2013 EagleRider called me when they launched the Official Easy Rider Inaugural Tour of which I was a consultant. Man, It was a blast. I made some great friends on that tour, and I enjoyed the hell out of it.
In 2015 I was able to do it again, this time as a tour Guide. It was a whole different beast sitting in the Captains chair. Other than the locations, there were a few things I wasn’t quite prepared for, so it didn’t go as smooth as I wanted. I’ve been chomping at the bit to do it again, with what I learned on that tour.
A couple of days ago, EagleRider called me and asked if I’d lead it again. I quickly said yes. A two week tour covering 7 states.
I’m fired up. Man, I’m beyond fired up. With one under my belt, we’re going to do this one right for the 50th anniversary. I’ve got a few things up my sleeve that I’ve never shown anyone; and a few surprises are in motion that should make this a helluva good tour. We are gonna have some fun.
We leave September 18th. 15 bikes are booked and ready to go, and 4 more slots are open. Wanna go?
I think the thing I like the most about these tours is the friends I’ve made. Something happens when a group of strangers ride together for 2 weeks; The heat of death Valley, the cool water of the Colorado river, the pines of Arizona; The hotels, the food; the unexpected stuff that comes your way, The laughter and the beers at the end of the day; It creates a bond that is unique. You make a lifelong friendship with people that I think only people who have been in battle together understand. It’s a helluva lot of fun, and memories you never forget.
On July 14th, 1969 Easy Rider premiered. It had been a hit a month earlier at the Cannes film festival, and was a surprise hit when it opened up to theaters 50 years ago, almost to the day.
I’ve never seen it in the theaters, it came out when I was 3 years old. But that damn movie has had an impact on my life. Not because of Peter Fonda’s message, but because it had motorcycles in it.
I was a young rider at the time, brand fucking new in fact.
The tagline of Easy Rider was “A man went looking for America, and never found it”.
He found it; I just think he didn’t recognize it. It was there, the whole damn time. I’ve ridden where he rode, he just saw something different than I found.
So tomorrow, I’m going to see the movie in the theater. I’ve never done that. Remade in 4k high definition. I’m kinda stoked about it.
A toast to you: May your BBQ be perfectly done, May your day off be full of the stuff you wanna do, May you and yours be happier than hell, May the politicians all crash into the Potomac and May everyone just realize we’re all Americans. Cheers!
Proud to be an American. This holiday means something.
First, let me set the stage. I was born on May 15th, 1947 in Dallas Texas to a beer drinking rodeo cowboy and a mother who was orphaned at birth. I never knew a grandparent. I was always moving from one school to the next, always the outsider. I never built those close friendships as a kid.
My first ride on a motorcycle was when I was 10 years old. My cousin has a Had a Harley-Davidson, I guess it was a 30’s model. It was a moment in time that I have never forgotten.
Fast forward: My first bike was a Honda 250 Scrambler. I began to make friends of mutual interests, “Bikers”. A series of bikes followed, and a dirt bike phase was in there. I liked dirt biking because you could get out in the sticks, build a campfire and see the stars. In 1972 I got my first Harley Davidson, and I felt I had arrived.
My Son Steve and I, 1973
Now to the real subject, “Easy riders”. My first introduction was in 1969 as most of us. I came away from the theater with a new appreciation of riding with friends. The main characters in the movie were like my childhood heroes. The cowboy and his sidekick. From that day on I knew that some day I would follow the route from L.A. to New Orleans. 1973 brought a new profession. I was now a Barber…inside work, no heavy lifting. Along with that came a need to be working a lot with not much time to be off long enough to complete my wish of covering the route. I did a lot of riding. However, only a few days at a time. I did Colorado a lot and the obligatory Sturgis, Daytona and R.O.T. Rallies.
Inside my barbershop
Enter
Barbara. We had been dating on and off
and then married in 1999. We did lots
more riding. Then I retired in 2010. Encouraged by Barbara, I now have time to
complete a trip I’ve been wanting to do since the night I saw Easyrider in
1969, 40 plus years earlier.
Route 66 from L.A. to Amarillo. Then on to New Orleans. Plus, side trips to Monument Valley, Wupaki,
Sunset Crater and the campfire scene.
Riding the Easy Rider Route — Ballarat CaliforniaPine Breeze Inn — Bellemont ArizonaEasy Rider Camping Scene, Waputki National Monument ArizonaLas Vegas, New MexicoKrotz Spings, Louisiana
Since then we have done the PCH from Washington to San
Diego, by the way of White Fish, Montana and the Columbia River Forge, Route 66
from Chicago to L.A. and lots of Texas Hill Country.
Yes, you could say that the movie had a lasting impression on me. Many thanks to Mr. Zip.
It seems to me that some people are born a Biker. Some people have a bike, some have garage trophies that they’ve paid thousands of dollars for with 1200 miles in the garage they only bust out on Labor day. Some think they are cool and like it, but maybe not love it.
Then, there are some that love it. They just have to ride a motorcycle. I don’t know what that is, or how it happens but there are just some people who are born a biker. I swear, there is a riding gene.
I’ve always been friends with these people; some I like, some I love and some I really can’t stand, but I have respect for the biker gene; we have that in common.
I have had a number of people send me their stories over the years and I’ve enjoyed the hell out of them, and have been honored they related to what I’ve written that they sent them to me. When the Easy Rider book started late last year, I asked for your Easy Rider stories and I’ve loved reading them as well. Yesterday, an old biker friend of mine sent me his, out of the blue.
Anyway, I’m adding a new Section. The first story comes out tomorrow, and I’m going to compile them. I’d love to hear your biker story — what you’ve ridden, and why you do it and whatever else. Pictures too, if you have em. Email mrzip66@gmail.com and lets show off your bike, some of your rides and tell your story.
