Debbie and I went to the Biker Living Rally held in Albert.  Of course it was raining cats and dogs, so attendance was a bit light. We had some bikes, some tent campers and a bunch cars. It turned out to be a realy nice event, the music was excellent and the Buffalo burgers were quite tasty.  True Few MC provided the bike games, and since it rained, they were held in the dance hall.  You might be surprised at how much fun you can have with some buckets, tennis balls, some rolls of toilet paper and some plungers.  Oh, yes, and we can’t forget the sand paper! Everyone had loads of fun, either watching or playing. We even had a tour bus load of people on a local tour stop by for a couple of hours. Seems their washer toss game got rained out in Fredericksburg. Albert is definitely a great location to hold a rally, lots of space, grass and trees for shade and of course the dance hall in case it rains.  If you missed it, you missed a good time.  Oh, and we picked up a couple of “Watch for Motorcycles” yard signs that Red and Kat brought out. Let me know if you are local to Austin, and you want some of these yard signs, I will hook you up. We want to help keep all those car drivers aware of our presence.  On the way home, we stopped at our favorite Texas Stop Sign (Dairy Queen), and we caught a shot of a rainbow. Enjoy!

Well, it has been a little over 9 months since we lost Phil to heart failure. God had been keeping him alive and active for a long time prior to that day. I guess that up to that day, God needed Phil to say something to someone to encourage them. We will miss Phil, he was an important and long time member of New Life Riders, and he kept Riding for the Son, right up to the end. We decided to have a memorial ride in honor of Phil, so we rode from his home church “Red River”, down on 45th, through the back country, and ended up at Hardtails restaurant up in Georgetown for lunch.  We had 12 bikes, and 14 people.  It was a good ride. The photos start out with one of Phil on his bike, hugging his harmonica.  Well, actually Phil and I created this image one evening so he could use it on his facebook page.  He did love motorcycles and harmonicas.  Enjoy!

I went to the TMRA II meeting at La Palapa restaurant this evening. We had a good crowd, 18 people I think. The main topic was beginning the preparation for the January 2013 Legislature day at the Capital. So, now that we are growing again, we are starting to have problems with the restaurant environment being too loud, with the music right in the next room, so we will be looking for another place to meet starting immediately. The primary location we are looking at is the VFW hall. The plan is to meet early, say around 6:30, have our business meeting, and then retire to one of the local restaurants just down the road from the VFW hall for dinner and socializing. Sounds pretty good to me. No photos of Debbie this month, she is in California helping her mother have a garage sale. Enjoy the pics.

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Several of our New Life Rider chapter members and out area rep met at the VFW 8787 this evening for the monthly UCOA meeting, where all the clubs in the area get together for information distribution and some good old fashion fellowship. We might not be a church, but we sure have a lot of brothers and sister. Anyway, it was really good to see Pitbull at the meeting, proudly displaying his cast and head wound from his accident last weekend at the Sweat Hog Rally. He was adamant that he would be back in the saddle in a couple of weeks, contrary to his doctors recommendation. I notice that in the photo of the right (my right) side of the room, everyone seems to be having a great time, and in the photo of the left side, everyone is all serious. Well, that is just because I took the right one before the meeting started, and I took the left one after all the official talking had begun. So don’t think those clubs on the left don’t smile, cause they do (usually). Further on down, you will note that Bandido OneWire was happy to receive a donation for J. W. Rock from an earlier event put on by Dark Horse MC. Thank you Dark Horse. Finally, a picture of me, taken by Bandido Doug. He said I never get my picture taken so he helped me out. Good job Doug!

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We have all experienced loss recently. The passing of Bandido Stonecold brought us all together for what was to me an amazing memorial service. There were so many bikes, and so many people from all over these south central United States. It was truly something special, and James would be proud. His loss to this community will be felt for some time to come, and though his role will eventually be filled, the hole in our hearts will not. We will find the strength to move on, but it will take time and God’s healing….

On a similar but not as serious note, Debbie and I went to the Brotherhood of Bikers Sweat Hog Rally out in Burnet this past weekend, and during the bike games, Pitbull the President of the Hill Country chapter went down hard, right after the Barrel Race. An ambulance was called, and he was conscious when the took him away. Fortunately, he will be ok, with just a scar on his forehead and a fractured elbow to slow him down for a while, but the rest of us found a new reason to be cautious for the rest of the day.

We all know that riding a motorcycle is dangerous of course, I suppose that danger is part of the reason we ride, but whether we are fending off cars on the highway, or avoiding holes in the asphalt, life can throw a curve at us at the most unexpected time. For my part though, I don’t worry “too” much about the danger;

Matthew 10:29-31 says; “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid;  you are worth more than many sparrows.”

So, we don’t need to worry, but we still have a part to play in being safe, so I will be doing my part, and I will be praying that our newly found caution and God’s protection will stick around, so we don’t have to go to anymore funerals this year, will you join me?