First Saturday in June...Sierra Hope Ride
I thought I would do some wishful thinking, some reiminiscing, and some forward-looking.
On the first Saturday in June the Sierra Hope Ride happens. Sponsored by the local Harley dealership here in Modesto (Mitchell's) and a large handful of other noble, local businesses...it is one of the biggest, most-successful charity rides in the nation. It is open to any and all motorcycle riders, though it primarily is a Harley event.
It is a Muscular Dystrophy fund-raiser. The Harley-Davidson organization has been close to the annual M.D. drive for a number of years now, and Sierra Hope is one of the largest events... attracting several thousand riders from throughout the Western United States.
Basically, you collect donations, then participate in a ride from Modesto to Sonora (some 70 miles). On the day of the ride, we all line up along the street outside the dealership. When the horn sounds, the procession begins its journey through Modesto and up through the foothills to Sonora.
One of the wonderful things about this is that all the local law-enforcement agencies participate also. In what way? The route is fully monitored and blocked off by the Highway Patrol and the Modesto Police Department (last year, all the way to Sonora!). Residents line the streets of Modesto and the other towns on the route as in any parade...waving, shouting, displaying American flags, also signs and banners showing their support for the efforts of thousands of Harley riders.
I always get a little choked up (as most of us do) during the trip through town. Many of the kids with M.D. are parked along the route with their wheelchairs in the beds of pick up trucks. They wave and shout...we wave and honk our horns and gun our engines in response as appreciation for their presence.
I know it is only January. But with the weather being so inclement of late, I decided to post a picture from Sierra Hope last year...in the sunshine! The bikes in that photo stand riderless for a few hours as we are treated to a great BBQ once we arrive at the fairgrounds in Sonora. Last year there was a concert by the Greg Kihn Band, the year before: Jefferson Starship.
Last year Loretta and I managed to coerce our friends and neighbors out of about $550 worth of cash donations. Our own personal goal this year is $1000...which will allow us to line up at the front of the procession!
If the blog thing is still happening for me by late May, you can expect me to begin to "coerce" my blogmates to particpate in or donate to this worthy cause.
For now...thanks for reading this far.
On the first Saturday in June the Sierra Hope Ride happens. Sponsored by the local Harley dealership here in Modesto (Mitchell's) and a large handful of other noble, local businesses...it is one of the biggest, most-successful charity rides in the nation. It is open to any and all motorcycle riders, though it primarily is a Harley event.
It is a Muscular Dystrophy fund-raiser. The Harley-Davidson organization has been close to the annual M.D. drive for a number of years now, and Sierra Hope is one of the largest events... attracting several thousand riders from throughout the Western United States.
Basically, you collect donations, then participate in a ride from Modesto to Sonora (some 70 miles). On the day of the ride, we all line up along the street outside the dealership. When the horn sounds, the procession begins its journey through Modesto and up through the foothills to Sonora.
One of the wonderful things about this is that all the local law-enforcement agencies participate also. In what way? The route is fully monitored and blocked off by the Highway Patrol and the Modesto Police Department (last year, all the way to Sonora!). Residents line the streets of Modesto and the other towns on the route as in any parade...waving, shouting, displaying American flags, also signs and banners showing their support for the efforts of thousands of Harley riders.
I always get a little choked up (as most of us do) during the trip through town. Many of the kids with M.D. are parked along the route with their wheelchairs in the beds of pick up trucks. They wave and shout...we wave and honk our horns and gun our engines in response as appreciation for their presence.
I know it is only January. But with the weather being so inclement of late, I decided to post a picture from Sierra Hope last year...in the sunshine! The bikes in that photo stand riderless for a few hours as we are treated to a great BBQ once we arrive at the fairgrounds in Sonora. Last year there was a concert by the Greg Kihn Band, the year before: Jefferson Starship.
Last year Loretta and I managed to coerce our friends and neighbors out of about $550 worth of cash donations. Our own personal goal this year is $1000...which will allow us to line up at the front of the procession!
If the blog thing is still happening for me by late May, you can expect me to begin to "coerce" my blogmates to particpate in or donate to this worthy cause.
For now...thanks for reading this far.
posted by James | 9:03 AM
1 Comments:
Catch me at the beginning of May, I might donate if you remind me. Mid May I'll get going to Cali to visit a friend...
Good luck!
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