WOODLAND TOY RUN

                                                                   NOVEMBER 4, 2001

 

                Hello everyone. I want to tell you about the Woodland Toy Run put on by the GWTA Chapter V in Woodland.

                It all started on a BEAUTIFUL Saturday morning at 8:00 A.M. at my home in Vacaville. Shirley and myself were getting ready and up rides Jerry Grimsley in front of our house all ready to go and wanting a cup of coffee as usual. He got his coffee. While he was drinking his instant coffee, up rides George Rogers on his bike. So far the turnout was looking fair for a Saturday morning at 8:00 A.M. It was a REALLY beautiful morning in the high 70’s at least.

                After Shirley finally got ready, we left to meet everyone at the Indian dealer at our appointed departure time of 8:30. When we arrived, we took a ride around the parking lot the way we Voyager riders do. NOBODY was there to meet us. We waited for a little while and, who shows up, Stewart Bowen on his new Voyager 1200, new to him. A beautiful black and blue Voyager, all clean and ready for the days ride. I handed out the ride pins I had bought for the run. Everyone from our club who went got a flag pin shaped like the U.S.A. and painted in red, white, and blue of course. I also gave them to all the other Voyager riders we ran into.

                We got on the road to the freeway toward Woodland around 8:50. After turning off I80 to Pedrick road (the back way to Woodland) we continued on our ride running 2 by 2. I was enjoying the ride, as usual I was leading, and after a while I didn’t see anyone in my rear view mirrors? We pulled over and waited for about five minutes and here they came. Seems like Jerry had something pinching him someplace I won’t mention. Everything was fine so we continued on our way to the run. Just before we got there, George comes up on my right side and wants me to pull over. We do. Well, he thought it was an ambulance or police bike but it was only a couple of Gold Wings with the pulsating headlights. They sure CAN BE SEEN a long way off. We continued on to Woodland again, following the Gold Wings, and having a mini parade of 6 bikes. Half way down Main Street we spot the main attraction. Bikes every where. We go up and hang a U-turn to get parked on the right side of the street.

                After dismounting our bikes and stripping off some clothes, it was getting darn right warm; we proceeded to the check in point with our toys in hand. Well, we met another member checking in riders. It was Dolly Stark. We were also met by Duane who is never far away from Dolly. We handed them our toys and were given our door prize tickets.

                Now for the good stuff. FOOD. Donuts galore, and me on a low carb. Diet! Damn the diet. I had to have a chocolate donut. I did. It was delicious as expected. They had coffee, chocolate, hot dogs, and almost anything you would want on a beautiful Saturday morning ride.

                The Door Prizes were laid out like new hundred dollar bills, three tables full at least. We mulled around and met a couple of other Voyager rider from Yuba City and another couple from points I can’t remember.

                At 11:00 A.M. we started to line up on Main Street, side by side, to go on an escorted ride through and around Woodland. One policeman on a motorcycle. You would have thought he was 4 by the way he kept traffic stopped for us at the many intersections we went through. After we got back from our tour, they started the drawing for the raffle tickets.

                The winners in our club were Dolly, Shirley, Stu, Jerry, and myself. Not bad for a charity ride. Give a toy and get a present in return. The 50/50 drawing was held after the raffle prizes were all given out. The 50/50 drawing was split in two and the winner got over $250.00. TOO bad it wasn’t any of us but we did have a good time. George left early because of feeling sick and Jerry left with him to make sure he got home ok. Good going Jerry. After the clean up, we were invited to Duane’s home for a bar-b-Que. Shirley and I said yes but Stu had to bow out because of some yard work that needed his attension back home.

                It was truly a wonderful day and we ALL had a very good time. The run was extremely well done. Congratulations on a job well done buy the GWTA chapter V of Woodland. We will surely be there again next year and maybe even have some more bikes come along.

                Thanks for the nice day.