Sunday, February 8, 2009

Ronald McDonald House

February 7, 2009
Mid Life Cycles Ride
Ronald McDonald House








Saturday, February 8, 2009 the Nana and I met up with our Motorcycle Gang, known as the Mid Life Cycles, about 2:30 PM at our organizer's (Spongebob) house to ride as a group to the Ronald McDonald House in Houston. For those of you that don't know about this great place, just know this is for children who have very serious medical condition that need treatment in outpatient setting, and don't live in the Houston area. Located right in middle of the greatest medical facilities in the USA (maybe world) the patient and their family member can stay in a nice and loving environment with out cost to them. The house is funded by private donations and many of the meals are provided by volunteer organizations. You can learn more about this great facility by going to their website - http://www.ronaldmcdonaldhousehouston.org/home.htm.

Saturday night was our night so we went as a group, carrying all the hamburgers, hot dogs and fixings necessary along with a trailer load of paper goods all donated by members! We had great time, but wanted to provide you an opportunity to see the pictures we took --- as they say, one picture is worth a 1000 words! Here are a couple, but to see all go to http://community.webshots.com/user/Dandy1945














Saturday, January 10, 2009


Blessings!!! They just keep coming!
Our very first Flat tire on a motorcycle....

Since we have owned a motorcycle Carolyn and I have taken a long drive on New Years Day! We just can't think of a better way to start the year off than "saddling up 'n riding out" into the wide open spaces with no particular route or destination! Usually at least 300 miles....

2009 was a little different in that we decide to leave Pearland early afternoon on New Years Eve and drive to San Antonio to visit with Brendan and his Dad and Step Mom. We arrived mid afternoon and after short visit we drove on into New Braunfels where we had nice supper and went to bed early! After breakfast the next morning we had pick a tentative route that would lead us north east and then east and up around Lake Livingston and south back to Pearland. However, it was getting chilly with overcast skies and after a couple of hours we decided to get up on Texas Highway 290 and take straight shot on into Houston and then to Pearland. We were about 20 miles west of Brenham (home of Blue Bell Ice Cream) when I started noticing a wobble from the bike that I have never experienced before, so I got off the road and onto the shoulder immediately where I had my fears confirmed...back tire was flatter than a pancake!

Hwy 290 by this time was very busy and even though we were on long straight away and off the road we felt somewhat vulnerable with those cars and trucks whizzing by at high rates of speed. Cell phone reception was not too good, but got through to Roadside Assistance, but best they could do (on a holiday) was have someone pick us up and take us to a Honda dealer and "drop us off"! Of course, the dealers were all closed so we would have had to leave the bike outside the dealership and get ourselves home best way possible! While talking to them, Jim & Diane H. each riding a bike pulled up to check on us (bikers are like that....always looking out for each other....just an attitude that comes with two wheels...but I digress...) and they offered to call another biker friend who had a trailer and would probable help us out! Eric agreed to come after us but he was almost an hour away and to sit tight. Jim and Diane stayed with us and kept us company until Eric showed up with his trailer and an air compressor which did not help at all as the air would go out as fast as we could put it in. Eric has done this many times and he immediately took charge and in matter of minutes we got the Wing on the trailer and tied down. We said good bye to our new friends and got in the truck with Eric. He informed us that he had called the local dealers and could not get ahold of anyone to open up the service department so he was just going to take us home....a two and half hour trip, one way! We could not believe how lucky we were! Eric was a real blessing...as was Jim and Diane! Eric helped me get it off the trailer and in my garage and then as we were saying good bye I offered to reimburse him for his gas and he would not even consider taking a nickle! He was serious when he said that all he wanted me to do was....."pay it forward"!!
Our new friends, Jim & Diane!!


Bikes are made "to ride" not ride....

You have to admit....it's a good looking bike...ain't it?
(but..we are saving on gas......)


We got the bike (and us) home Thursday evening and next morning I got up and drove half way to San Antonio, met Dave and Brendan and brought him back for a week end visit....here is a couple of recent pictures of him!


He's giving Nana a few pointers....


Visiting with his Mom and sisters via web-cam...ain't this modern technology grand......?

He's a good looking boy! We love having him close by!