cowpuc Posted February 12, 2014 #1 Posted February 12, 2014 I went to grab a shirt out of my closet today and noticed this old shirt hanging there.. Took it off the hanger and the memories started to roll.. This shirt is something that my oldest daughter had made for me a few years ago for a Fathers Day gift.. It made me cry when I opened it then and still brings tears to my eyes to this day - all "good memory tears" of course!! Back in the 80's I started taking my kids (I have 4) cross country motorcycle touring on my first 1st Gen. My second born got the ball rolling (she was/is the most daring of the bunch). After experiencing places/things like "Santa's Village", tital bores, a HUGE moose statue on the Atlantic, diggin clams in Nova Scotia, riding down the east coast and watching a space shuttle launch in Florida, her and I rode route 66 and she discovered why I have a deep love for the hot/dry/bugless riding/camping of the west.. We were out in Needles California, sitting in a resturant letting the rubber on our tenner shoes re-solidify, when we met another biker who inquired about our trip.. He introduced himself with his "biker name", which, a couple days later while camping on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, my daughter started sharing thoughts about.. After I explained to her the bases for colorful "biker names" she says,, Daddy - we need "biker names" cause we are real bikers too.. At the time, she had very very fine blonde hair that caused a major problem for her keeping a wet dew rag on,,, just plain slippery... She almost passed out a couple times in the 118 degree heat trying to wear a helmet.. We found that a wet dew rag with a ball cap on backwards fit the bill perfectly - she could easily ride sunup till dark pouring water over her head out in the desert heat!! I named her "Cappie".. She named me Cowpuc cause I had a nasty habit of finding cow manure to step in every time we camped.. When we got home from that trip and got caught calling each other by our biker names all the other kids wanted biker names too.. After thinking about it, I told the other kids that I thought after at least a week in the saddle, sleeping in the tent and hitting some western trail, they too would find a "biker name".. IT WORKED!! The next year my first born daughter made her first trip, we rode out to Washington, spent a few days at Yellowstone outrunning big groups of Harleys, did some Arizona ghost towning, got kicked out of the Badlands for tenting on the rim, and ran real low on gas near a Casino on the way home up in North Dakota.. We ended up camping in a small cornfield a couple miles from the Casino's gas station that opened at 7:00 am.. When we woke up the next morning the Morning Doves were singing their song "aaahwaahooo".. My daughter laid there sawing logs, deeply sun tanned from miles and miles of biken, snoring a song of her own that sounded a little like the song of a Morning Dove and thats all it took, she went home with "Awawhoo" for her biker name.. My son and I were headed out across Northern North Dakota headed toward Glacier.. We got low on fuel and ended up in some little cow town named "Butte" something or something "Butte".. Got yapping with the guy who owned the only gas station, resturant (had pickled eggs and crackers) and repair shop.. He answered a bunch of my sons questions about "free range cattle" and they some how got off on the subject of Prairie Dogs.. This got my son started in watching for those little critters everywhere we went... He was also fond of Star Fish living on a jetty in the Puget sound, had issues with "Goat Head" pickers (NASTY SUCKERS) camping in New Mexico/east Texas and enjoyed panning for gold with a hub cap near Kanob UT.. Any of these experiences could have produced a pretty good biker name for him BUT, after spending a whole day watching him play with the "P-Dogs" at the east entrance of the Badlands National Park, none of them seemed as appropriate as the name he came home with - P. Dog.. It took a few years for my youngest daughter, being considerably younger, to get into the biking mode.. It finally hit shortly after my 3rd 1st Gen followed me home.. Interestingly enough,, even after experiencing the west and visiting her sisters, her favorite biking area came out to be the "Tunnel of Trees" that her and I discovered up in Northern Michigan!! Perhaps it was the deer that came out and chased us down the road, or maybe it was the "Tunnel" affect for miles along the Lake Michigan shoreline,, or, maybe it was knowing she was getting closer to sleeping in her own bed.. At any rate, she came home with TOTR (stands for Tunnel Of Trees Rider - we pronounce it Totter) as a biker name.. My wife of 34 years, Cheryl, spent weeks on end watching over our home while one of the kids and I were chasing the wind.. Her and I had spent many hours doing exactly that before we were married 34 years ago and she knew first hand of the "bonding" that takes place between two people on a motorcycle, sleeping in a tent and chasing the road.. Because of this, she always encouraged me to go "bond" with the kids.. Ok,, maybe she wasn't to happy with me at times when the kids came home with slippery stories of the Sturgis Rally, or getting kicked out of Cemetery's for camping, or almost getting arrested for my 10 year old son playing the slots in Vegas BUT she still always encouraged us to go!! She was and still is a treasure.. Shortly after all the kids left home and empty nest started playing mind games with us, she announced her intent to occupy the saddle anytime the bike left the driveway!! Since that time we have made several trips out to California, done countless National Parks, chased bikes around the Sturgis Rally a couple times, followed the Cannon Ball Riders (1929 and earlier bikes going from New York to Frisco) across the country, rode the Dragon a couple times, and even FINALLY got a chance to meet some new friends from VentureRider last year!! Even after countless 16 hour days in the saddle watching the sites go by, coasting Kings Canyon for 37 minutes and 29 miles (a record coast for us), running out of gas a number of times, hail storms in Utah, 121 degree heat in Death Valley she has NEVER complained and ALWAYS finishes the ride season ready to stay on the road.. Cher IS a true treasure and thats why her biker name is TIP,, which stand for Treasure In Person.....
Midrsv Posted February 12, 2014 #2 Posted February 12, 2014 Cowpuc you are truly blessed! Good read. Dennis
bongobobny Posted February 12, 2014 #3 Posted February 12, 2014 GREAT story and insight to your character! Thanks for sharing!!
JohnT Posted February 12, 2014 #4 Posted February 12, 2014 Somehow it doesn't seem so cold in Northern NY right now.
Stealthblade Posted February 12, 2014 #5 Posted February 12, 2014 Dag nabbit Puc... I think there's something in my eye. Wonderful story, thanks for sharing.
rutman Posted February 13, 2014 #7 Posted February 13, 2014 man. I didn't want the story to end. pretty cool.
Eck Posted February 13, 2014 #9 Posted February 13, 2014 You are truly blessed.. Thanks for sharing Puc!
Aussie Annie Posted February 13, 2014 #10 Posted February 13, 2014 Loved the story...... Truly blessed Puc
The Tooch Posted February 13, 2014 #11 Posted February 13, 2014 Awesome! Puc, no more leaving that shirt in the back of the closet. You got to wear it & share it on the right occasions......or you got to display it in your home, as the treasure it is! Box-frame it! I think I would display the back & two sleeves and have a photo of the front in with the shirt.....Just saying! Something like this......
cowpuc Posted February 13, 2014 Author #12 Posted February 13, 2014 Awesome! Puc, no more leaving that shirt in the back of the closet. You got to wear it & share it on the right occasions......or you got to display it in your home, as the treasure it is! Box-frame it! I think I would display the back & two sleeves and have a photo of the front in with the shirt.....Just saying! Something like this...... Thanks to all for the kind words, its always a pleasure reading and writing about our lives and things we have been through!! As always, the pleasure is mine folks!! Tooch, I do wear my shirt on special occasions, usually something to do with when the kids are all home. Its really fun when the wife and kids (with boyfriends/girlfriends) get dressed up for a family dinner date and I go strolling into a resturant with my "biker" shirt on!! Your idea of framing it is excellent!!! Tippy read that and said that is exactly where it will eventually end up!! Thanks for idea!! Puc
JohnT Posted February 13, 2014 #13 Posted February 13, 2014 Thanks to all for the kind words, its always a pleasure reading and writing about our lives and things we have been through!! As always, the pleasure is mine folks!! Tooch, I do wear my shirt on special occasions, usually something to do with when the kids are all home. Its really fun when the wife and kids (with boyfriends/girlfriends) get dressed up for a family dinner date and I go strolling into a resturant with my "biker" shirt on!! Your idea of framing it is excellent!!! Tippy read that and said that is exactly where it will eventually end up!! Thanks for idea!! Puc Just an idea here. One of the items I deliver is called a shadow box. Pretty much a deep picture frame. In addition to the shirt you arrange other items that go with the thought in the deep frame.
cowpuc Posted February 13, 2014 Author #14 Posted February 13, 2014 Just an idea here. One of the items I deliver is called a shadow box. Pretty much a deep picture frame. In addition to the shirt you arrange other items that go with the thought in the deep frame. Interesting John,,, you got any pics of one set up,, I have TONS of cool things from those days... Side panels from our first 1st Gen, an old worn out pieces of coal and a coal pic my kid found in the Mountains of Virginia, chunk of concrete from 9/11, bird feathers, TONS of pictures and on and on.. I would LOVE to see an example of what your talking about John..
Prairiehammer Posted February 13, 2014 #15 Posted February 13, 2014 Interesting John,,, you got any pics of one set up,, I have TONS of cool things from those days... Side panels from our first 1st Gen, an old worn out pieces of coal and a coal pic my kid found in the Mountains of Virginia, chunk of concrete from 9/11, bird feathers, TONS of pictures and on and on.. I would LOVE to see an example of what your talking about John.. Puc, just do a Google image search for "shadow box". Lot's of ideas and variations. Basically a shadow box is a wall hung display case with multiple cubbies.
Barry1951 Posted February 14, 2014 #16 Posted February 14, 2014 You are a very fortunate man to have a wonderful wife who loves to ride but also kids that you have been able to spend TIME with. I saw a pic the other day, , , "I always wanted to win the lottery. But Tonight I looked around at my beautiful family and realized I already have" It sounds like your lottery winnings are paying off. Congratulations.
Carbon_One Posted February 14, 2014 #17 Posted February 14, 2014 WOW what an interesting story you've shared with all of us. So many wonderful memories you and your family have done over the years. You are truly a blessed man even when you've gotten into minor troubles. :rotf:That's just part of life friend and what makes it interesting for sure. This is one reason I have the tag line below my traveled map. Larry PS: I sure hope you all are still creating those memories for future sharing.
cowpuc Posted February 14, 2014 Author #18 Posted February 14, 2014 WOW what an interesting story you've shared with all of us. So many wonderful memories you and your family have done over the years. You are truly a blessed man even when you've gotten into minor troubles. :rotf:That's just part of life friend and what makes it interesting for sure. This is one reason I have the tag line below my traveled map. Larry PS: I sure hope you all are still creating those memories for future sharing. ""Todays Experinces = Tomorrows Memories"" Well put Larry!!! And ohhh yea,,, the saga continues!! Grand kids out in Sacramento just be crawling all over that thanggggggg, both 100% BOYS (notice the rubber knife in the 6 year olds hand) who LOVE motorcycle camping!! And got that son-in-law very well trained in 1st Gen tire swappin:happy65: All part of experiences and memories my friend!!
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