Random Thoughts

Two Weeks of Catch Up – Zip Family Reunion.

Its summer up here now.   Hit 100 degrees today, or damn close.       It’s so much different than living in the desert the last 30 years.    When its warm, everyone has an activity, or a ride, and you make hay while the sun shines.    Since getting home, I’ve had a ton of fun, but this weekend I’m going to do absolutely nothing.   Ahhhh, how ’bout a little nothing?

Flashback to June 1st.

Woke up that morning and got my shit together and met big D in the lobby of the Hotel.    We were flying out together, and it was nice to see a familiar face for one last time.    We hit the shuttle, and said our goodbyes in the half hour ride to the Airport.

Flew Home.

My plan was to stay at my older brothers house, and cook some ribs for a family get together the next day.    Skeezix had just bought a new smoker, and we were going to dial that bad boy in.    He bought 12 racks of ribs, and we’d smoke em on both of our smokers, have a few single malts and maybe a good cigar, and shoot the shit about the ride, life and whatever else comes to mind.

After my wife refused that plan in a way that no man could deny, I woke up the next morning in my own bed headed to Draper to meet up with my brother.

  Pulled into my brothers house and started prepping for the biggest BBQ I’d ever done.   Planned on 50 people, and I was in charge of the spare ribs.     Apple wood smoked for 6 hours, and my homemade BBQ sauce recipe.

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My Bro and I, making the BBQ sauce. After eating real texas BBQ, I’ll never sauce a rib again. Its on the side if you want it.
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We ended up smoking 9 racks, and they turned out good. BBQ is like golfing. You can always think you coulda played that one hole better.
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The oldest granddaughter (and my favorite niece), and my 101 year old Grandma.     She’ll make 102 Easy.
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1967 Lincoln Continental that was owned by my Dad.

Our oldest brother showed up in the Lincoln.     My dad bought this car in 1986.     I helped him strip it down, and build it back up.    Suicide doors, power steering, cruise control, monster engine.    Classic Detroit Sled.  My Oldest brother bought it later down the line, and finished it off.       He did a killer job.   The old man would have been proud.

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Joking with my brother. He’s a good soul.

The plan was… (and I missed the memo), was that this day was our Fathers Birthday.     We were all to bring something that reminded us of dad.

I will say this:  Vern Dunn was a solid and good man.    There are not many who are born into the world who had the charisma, the compassion and the sheer ability to kick ass as my dad did, all in the right combinations.   Just a good man.    We’re all proud to spring from the guy.      We all took our turn and told a story about our father.

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Pat (Skeezix, as named by my dad), telling a story about our pop.
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The beat goes on.   My kids never knew him. Missus Zip, the kids and I listened In.    Values, they happen from the ground up.     Glad to see them sticking.
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We all took our turn, and told our stories. A good day.

I started to blog to remember the trips I’ve made a bike over the years.     I look back on it, and I read them, as a record of things I want to remember in life.    This is one of those days.     Pretty cool.   When you strip it all down to nothing, family means everything.

 

Old song…

 

94 miles,  1 day.


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EagleRider’s Easy Rider Movie Inaugural Motorcycle Tour – Riding the Route from the Movie Easy Rider

 

Day 0:   EagleRider Offices, El Segundo CA

Flew into LA a couple of days before, and the next day headed over to EagleRider for a meeting about the trip.   Met the EagleRider crew, and talked about the route.

I’ll admit, I had no idea what to expect.   I just saw a group of people from the UK, Switzerland, Brazil, New Jersey, Belgium and Australia.   Just names on paper.    Could be good or bad, and I had no idea.      I was  ready to ride and I’d figure it out as I went along.   Met Steve, our tour guide for the first time.    He seemed professional and pretty easy going.   In the end, my instincts weren’t wrong.      Brandon was on his first run with EagleRider on the chase vehicle, and felt we were both kind of in the same boat in a way.    We spent the morning getting a few things ready, checking out a few locations, having some lunch and shooting the shit.    We drove over to LAX to find a spot to park the bikes for our first stop, just as a plane was coming in right over our heads, just like in the movie.

Easy Rider LAX

 

A Good omen.    The first of a few on this trip.   It was starting to feel  like I’d finally gotten here.

We headed back to EagleRider to get ready for everyone to arrive and get everything ready.     We spent some time loading Captain America, a spare bike, and double checking equipment and tools.    I paid attention and tried to learn a thing.   Getting a feel for this tour, and how EagleRider works.

Easy Rider Tour
Easy Rider Tour Signage.   EagleRider did this right.  Official Tour of the Movie.    No one else can claim that.

I knew they’d built the bikes for this ride, but I’d never seen them up close.  I am not gonna lie – I had a woody.

Captain America Bike
First thing you notice on the Captain America BIke
Captain America Bike
Pretty damn nice job methinks
Billy Bike - Easy Rider
The Billy Bike
Easy Rider Billy Bike
Another Shot

Beautiful  bikes.     EagleRider did a good job.

About the bikes:  no, they’re not hardcore original.    Even Peter Fonda didn’t ride the whole route on a hardtail.   They’re softails, and V-twin engines.    They’re made to  ride.     They look pretty damn good.

Got to drive the EagleRider van to pick  people up.   They launched a whole lotta tours that day, so it was kinda hectic.   The focus for them is customer experience.    In my 2 weeks, it showed over and over.

 When everything was somewhat settled,  they gave me my bike for this trip.   2013 Street Glide.   Six speed, 103.     11 miles on her.

2013 Street Glide
2013 Street Glide. My bike for this ride.

We all got our bikes going, headed to the hotel.   Then dinner, at Gene Simmons Rock and Brews.      Pretty Cool Place.  Conversation was good, and we were all looking forward to tomorrows ride I think.

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Everyone was a stranger at that point.    That  would change.    In the morning, we’d  ride.   Quick Easy Rider stop at LAX, then on to Death Valley where the movie really starts.

 

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I’ve found that most people don’t want to do the hard things

life is a motherfucker.    You can laugh all you want about it, but we all get hit with the hard things, at least anyone who’s lived out of their parents house more than 20 years.

Do the hard things.   Face your fears.    I’ve found, in my short life that The hardest things are usually the right things.   The right things make you the happiest.  Thats the truth.

Even if your voice shakes, speak the truth.   Even if your legs are weak, walk toward the right thing.   Stare them bitches right in the eyes, even if you don’t know why.    Its how real men get strong.

That’s my take on life.

 

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A fine toast to the Doolittle Raiders. The greatest of the greatest generation IMO

If you know your history, you know that this raid meant nothing strategically.   It was a message, and I got to think these men bore that weight,   accepted it, and flew off that carrier anyway.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/14/opinion/greene-doolittle-raiders/index.html

now there are 4 of them left.   Great men.     What i’d give to sit down with just one and hear the stories.

Pretty moving.

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