May 2015
ID-H
WWW>GWRRA –ID.US/ID-H/
Up Coming Events
May
8 Coffee break 9am
@ LePeep’s
16 CH meeting @ JB’s
Restaurant 9:00
22-25 Wa-L Spring fling
28 ID-H Dinner Nite
6pm @ Toro Viejo
April showers bring May flowers
ID-H Chapter Director
Annie Piper
Come Fly With Me
NORTHERN GEM WINGS
As I reflect on this month and think of what to write, I am reminded that our Northern Gem Wings Chapter started on the 12th of May, 2001. We are now 14 years old. It makes me proud to have been a part
of starting the chapter back then, watch it grow over the years and then return to it as your Chapter Director again – 14 years later.
Our Kickoff Party was at “Steve’s Dugout” in Post Falls. We had a turnout of over 120 GWRRA Members
from Boise, Idaho Falls, The Tri-Cities, Mosses Lake, Port Orchard, Spokane, Harrison and the Coeur
d’Alene area. From the Charter Members, we still have Rick and Willa Poppe, Bob & Nancy Stewart and me.
If I have forgotten anyone, please let me know. We had Don & Sharon Weber, Chris & Patricia Morton
joined us just after.
Our Chapter Staff at the time: Assistant Directors: Duane & Lee Huff, Treasurers: Rick & Willa Poppe and
Store Keepers: Rex & Lori Jenson. Idaho District Director: Rex & Jacque Saunders, Assistant Directors:
Jerry & Mary Jo Blacker.
Some of the ‘old’ pictures of the Kickoff Party in 2001are in the other parts of the newsletter
As I look back through all the Photo Books and remember all the rides, fellowship and friends that have
made through the years. I hope this chapter lasts a long time and everyone can have as many good memories from being a part of ID-H as I have had. I am looking forward to having many more memories ahead.
Now….Back to the Present….
Our last gathering had 12 Members with Terry Morris from WA-R and a guest of Marti Mitchell’s. We had
our Coffee Break at Michael D’s with 8 members that enjoyed breakfast and visiting.
Our last gathering had 12 Members with Terry Morris from WA-R and a guest of Marti Mitchell’s. We had
our Coffee Break at Michael D’s with 8 members that enjoyed breakfast and visiting.
Our Dinner Nite Out was Thursday at Sargent’s. We had 8 members enjoy the delicious food, but we had a
couple that lost track of the week and showed up Friday to have dinner with the chapter. As they arrived
and asked to be seated with the Gold Wing Members, they were informed that the chapter ate the night
before. They both look confused and the waiter told them that this was ‘Friday’. Laughing at the mistake,
the waiter told them ‘as long as you are here you might as well eat. From now on they will not be so busy
as to see what day it is. If you tell me at the breakfast who this was, you will win a 50/50 ticket.
Get Ready to Ride after our Gathering….
We are having guests at our May Gathering, so please come and meet them. Brain and Loretta Richards
have traveled from Tennessee. After our meeting we will be riding to Palouse Falls so please come with
your bike or trike filled up. This will be an all-day ride and be aware that is may cost each bike a state
park fee of $10 to see the falls. If you don’t want to be out all day, the “Lost in the 50’s” car show is
going on in Sandpoint. It is always fun to ride there and enjoy the cars.
…….Annie Piper –Chapter Director
Dinner Nite Out – Sargent’s
2001 Kick Off Party for ID-H
Lots of cars and bikes arrived at the party
Chapter H Out and About
WA-N’s Brown Bag Auction
Simon & Steve – Let the auction begin!
Rich Davis and WA-L
Steve starting the bidding
Alex won a Piper Cub Plane Ride!
TOPIC: Do You Ride with the Right Attitude?
Rich Davis
When you decide to take your motorcycle out for a ride, what are you thinking about? Where is your attention? Are you thinking
about the things you will be doing when you get to work? Is your mind playing with the words you could have said, or should have
said, in the debate with your boss or your spouse earlier in the day? In short, where is your head at when you saddle up? Each and
every time you throw a leg over your motorcycle it matters what you are thinking about. Whether you are simply commuting to work
on your motorcycle to reduce fuel costs, or you are heading out on a week-long vacation on two-wheels, your mental attitude plays a
big role in how safe you will be on the road, and how much you will enjoy the ride.
Riding a motorcycle is an activity that is 80% to 90% mental while the rest is physical. When you are thinking about the job on your
way to work, or going over the list of errands you need to complete, or just letting your mind drift as you idle down to the end of your
driveway, your level of safety is reduced. You need to shift your attitude and focus only on the ride to insure an incident free trip.
So how do you make the shift from thinking about daily issues to the ride at hand? Establish a routine that you will go through before
every ride. Start by evaluating the condition of your motorcycle as you walk up to it. Do a mental T-CLOCS. Look at the tires as you
approach (inflated, tread, visible damage). Are there any oily or wet spots on the ground under your bike (where did it come from, is
it safe to ride)? And try to be conservative when you answer these questions to yourself. Keep your eyes open for anything amiss.
Then, if everything looks okay, gear up. (Of course, you should do a physical T-CLOCS regularly, too, especially before starting a
long ride!)
Next step, finish donning your protective outer layer. Most of us put on our gear in the same sequence every time. Long pants and
boots are usually put on in the house. Out at the bike, your jacket, helmet, eye protection, and gloves complete the process. Consider
the weather and make sure you have packed any other gear you may need before the ride is over.
Put the key in the ignition and start the bike. While the engine warms, check the fuel level. Determine how far you will be able to go
before you need to stop for a fill-up. Do you know the route you plan to take? Do you have all the necessary information with you to
get you where you want to go? Good.
With those aspects considered, you are ready to focus on the journey. Now, when you shift your bike into gear, shift your brain into
“active rider mode” because nothing else matters now except your safety. All your thoughts should be about the ride you are beginning. Your eyes should be active and scanning your surroundings - aggressively! Look for potential hazards that might cause you to
change your speed (by braking or accelerating), to change direction (by swerving or turning), or to communicate to other road users.
A wave of the hand, a flash of your high beams, or a toot of your horn tells others that you are there. Make sure they are aware of
you.
All the while your mind should be translating the inputs from your eyes and ears into pictures of things that might happen next. Evaluate in your mind what your response would be to each of the possibilities. When a hazard comes up, keep your options open until
you have to choose one – the best one – the one that lets you avoid the hazard safely and without any drama. This is riding with the
right attitude - the attitude that your job is to ride safely until you park your bike and remove the key from the ignition. Develop a
routine like this for yourself and every ride you take will be a safer and more pleasing ride.
Ride Smart & Be Safe!
Bruce & Melissa Thayer
Former MI Asst. District Rider Educators
I just completed a ECR course through the Idaho Star program, many of the items in this article are covered. Please consider this
course, or one presented by GWRRA, you always learn something.
Rich Davis, Chapter educator
For Sale
1995 Timeout camper. Not a cream puff but still a good unit. No
major tears in fabric, recent tires, zippers repaired in entry door.
Any reasonable offer will be considered. Also have a Dunlop E3 18060R16 tire for a GL1800, $150. Call Rich Davis 208-755-4466
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
May
21
Dave Irvine
31
John Bolstad
May
5
Richard & Bert
Lambert
19 Terry & Betty
Bolsted
June
June
12 Pat Bolstad
21
Rich & Sue Davis
15 Terry Bolstad
27
Chuck & Janelle New
16 Rick Poppe
21 Rich Davis
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Is YOUR birthday or anniversary missing? That means we
need you to give us that information so we can include them
on our calendar and in our newsletter. Please contact
Patrick Holmes with your dates.
50/50 winner for April
was: Marti Mitchell
Search-a-Word winner
for April was: Richard
Lambert
Winner of the breakfast ticket for
April was: Jim Roose
There was no winner for the marble
game, so the pot keeps on growing…..