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| The Quintet from left: Sue and her Oboe d'amore, Jed and his Heckelphone, Tim and his Cor Anglais (English Horn), Jeannie and her Shehnai, and Bev and her Hautbois Baryton (baritone oboe) @ the Dee Wright Observatory |
The beat goes on in the Comet Man’s Opus and the quintet,
shed of the bit-players are cruising on to Boise, Idaho as I write this, my
first ghost post. The Northwest Victory Meeting awaits them with a time of
biker fellowship and a full orchestra of instruments both amazing and mundane,
all making beautiful music with scheduled renditions of the classics and jazzy
riffs of an unplanned nature.
Our heroes for the story have made their way from San Jose (they
knew the way there) to Fort Bragg, CA to Coos Bay, OR, and to Bend, OR for a
layover day of no riding to tune up for the Boise concert; a meeting up of old
friends and the making of still new friends.
Not even a third of the way through the trip and already they have
amplified the opus with shopping, drinking, and eating; sights and sounds to
tuck away in the memory banks. They’ve seen Trees of Mystery, bays, rivers, and
roads to inspire the best of road songs. The quintet has had roadside repairs
and puppies, winery repairs to go with a toast or two; wineries and fruit of the
vine. Did I mention the Comet Man is a sommelier par excellence?
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| @ Naked Winery gift shop |
I have perused photos showing them all, including the shot of Paul
Bunion and his nearly anatomically correct blue ox, Babe - team members fondly
observed those amazing things. Food and wine, wineries and casks of promise…the
good stuff. True to their word my friends have taken me with them and rather unceremoniously
added me to photos, some best left to the imagination. I love them for this and
have been laughing on and off each day. Heaven knows why they put me in a women’s
tank top…
Our Shehnai player’s
ride? A 2009 Kingpin, rumored to have been formerly owned by Stephen Thrasher. ‘Twas
her bike hoisted on a forklift in a wine cellar (Handley Cellars Winery) for
wiring repairs by McGyuver Jed, aka our Hecklephone player. Jeannie rides a
very nice line on the twisties and keeps time to the ride like a pro. My day up
to San Jose with the group was my first real chance to ride with her and I know
it would have been a great pleasure riding with her for the rest of the Amazing
Motorcycle Adventrue. She fits very well with the others of the quintet and
offers a fine counterpoint along with her distinct harmonies.
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| Forklift Hoist and Wine Cellar wiring repair ongoing |
I offer here a quote from Jeannie that captures the heart of the
rider on a grand adventure: “Well, tomorrow is another day of glorious riding,
and I can’t wait to see everything that is on the horizon. I really wish my
memory was better so I could forever have these amazing times with me but I
know I will forever have the best of friends. I can never thank them enough for
what they have allowed me to experience!! Y’all are absolutely the best!”
Enjoy the day wherever you are; whatever you are doing, go easy on
the binders, and keep the iron side up. Peace
jerry
Post Script: When I ride I recognize other riders using a low two and
three finger wave. For groups of three or more riders I add an Iron Side Up
salute for the last rider whereby I raise my arm and fist at a forty-five
degree angle and give a pump, a howitzer canon salute. When I offer my prayers
for this quintet and my other riding friends on the road I punctuate my ‘amen’
with the Iron Side Up salute. Boom! Bless you all.
Facebook comment from Betty White: Seems like a great group! Nice of them to take you with them while you are at home! Love your posts, Jer!
ReplyDeleteThanks mom. These are good people, good riders, and a pleasure to be with. Fun folks. Perhaps I'll bring some of them by on a ride. They were pretty close on this ride of their. A ride up, a rafting day, cruise Crater Lake... Sounds pretty good to me.
ReplyDeleteFacebook reply from Betty White: Me too! Bring 'em by!
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