Friday, July 19, 2013
Frank: Well, it’s over once again. There were goodbyes, handshakes, and
hugs. Susie, our esteemed President of
15 years has just ridden out on her Norton, heading back to Michigan. She’s riding alone with her only safety net
being other Norton Nuts travelling in trucks, vans, and campers along the same
route, and her cell phone.
We just said goodbye to Josie, our rally-week granddaughter. We first met her at the rally in Colorado
when she babysat our dogs while we went on a day ride. Now she’s about to be a senior in high school
and will have graduated by next year’s rally.
I find it hard to believe that this club has existed for 38
years. We’ve had marriages, divorces,
kids, and possibly even grandkids in the club ranks. And all because I hung a notice in a Norton
dealership back in 1975 looking for some riding buddies. Can you believe it? That notice brought six other Norton owners
to my house and we called ourselves the U.S. Norton Owners Association. I called us “The magnificent seven.” And
member #7, Steve Cantrell was here at the rally! He’s always said that if he had just sat on
the other side of me at that meeting he’d have been member #2.
For this club to have continued for so long has to be more
than that just we all like Nortons. We
are a great big family, held together by bonds much more than a silly
machine. We really love each other, enjoy
each other’s company, and we get to have a great big family reunion each
summer. It’s great.
On the back cover of my book, “Motorcycle Arizona!” is
written, “The ride is the objective; the destination is just the excuse.” Well, when it comes to this club, “The family
is the reason; the bike is just the excuse.”
Ride On!
Frank
Cheryl: Because I met Frank way back in
November of 1980, I’ve had the privilege to tag along with him on almost all
his motorcycle adventures. I’ve met countless stellar people and treasure the
friendship of each and every one of them. Together, Frank and I have friends in
almost every state, in the UK, and Mexico. Reasons; occasions that bring folks
together matter more than we sometimes realize. As we’ve aged, we’ve come to
appreciate more and more the connections and camaraderie of the INOA.
Enough
introspection and moving right along to yesterday’s adventures. Frank and I
trucked 35 miles north to Sheridan, WY. After a lunch at a nice rib and steak
restaurant, we scoped out the stores of “main street America” that we remember
of so long ago. There’s even a J.C. Penny with the ancient tile lettering above
the entrance. How often do you find an anchor store like Penny’s downtown these
days? We spent hours trekking in and out of clothing, fly fishing, sundry, and
kitchen shops lining the streets of this “too-good-to-be-true” western town.
We even
stepped into the lobby of the WYO Theater and were invited into the auditorium
to choose our seats for the Greg Brown performance next week on Thursday night.
The woman sold us our tickets and described the best places in Sheridan to dine
before the show. We chose the upscale place across the street and copied down
the number on the window to call for reservations. I can hardly wait! She also
told us about the Powder Horn Restaurant outside town at the local country
club, and we’ll try to catch a lunch there with our friends Jeremy and Leigh.
The views across the golf course and countryside beyond are billed to be spectacular
as is the food.
We returned
to the trailer in time to walk the pups, take a nap, and stroll down to dinner
under the big white tent for the awards banquet. It’s always fun to hear about
the bikers’ adventures and misadventures getting to the rally, how far they
rode, and how their entries in the concourse event show fared. Then the door prizes
called out according to the numbers on the wrist bands begins with some items
donated being very expensive and others just plain fun. A happy, but weary
bunch woke up this morning to say their goodbyes and take off on the road home.
Some were packed up and on their way as early as 6:00 a.m. with miles to put
under their wheels before gliding under cover of their own carports and
garages. We wish them Godspeed and the joy of the ride.
Love and
hugs,
Cheryl,
Frank, Peanut and Cleo Chica – Wild Ones All
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