TALK MILES OR SAY NOTHING
5.00
$
GET YONDER HAZARD UP AHEAD
SEP/OCT 2017
Dedicated to those that share the joy of riding!
The 4th Annual
Bessie Stringfield Ride A FAMILY RIDE TO
49 STATES WHO’S ON THE GROUND PLUS HOAGY’S HEROES
Dedicated to those that share the joy of riding!
year ANNIVERSARY
BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE
GY
GetYonder
GY GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
>>>
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Stephanie Hampton
CONTENT 06
CONTENT COORDINATOR Shareef AsSadiq
CONTENT WRITERS Stephanie Hampton Shannon Lewis Various Contributors
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER
08 10
Yolanda Darnell
GRAPHICS/DESIGN Shannon Pridemore Stephanie Hampton
GY LIASONS
Tysaun Cook Kathy Demerle Todd Lucas Yvette Cruz Dawn Phillips Anthony Simpson Nate Pridemore
Tawana Smith
CONTRIBUTORS Various Users of Get Yonder Forums CONTACT INFO: Email: support@getyonder.com Phone: (855) 347-8955 Web: www.getyonder.com
14 20 22 30 36
2017 Calendar Of Events
Check Out What's Happening in 2017
Making The Extended Warranty Purchase To Purchase Or Not To Purchase
Featured Rider
Meet Shannon "Woo Woo" Foley
All About Hoagy's Heroes
Bikers Riding For A Great Cause
Hazard Up Ahead Things To Be Cautious Of When Riding
Who's On The Ground See Who's Getting Yonder
A Family Ride To 49 States A Family's Epic Ride Across Country
The 4th Annual Bessie Stringfield Ride A Recap Of The Annual Event
SOCIAL MEDIA INFO: Instagram: get.yonder Facebook: Get Yonder DISCLAIMER
Get Yonder reserves the right to limit the reproduction of any portion of this magazine via digital or printed access, without the expressed written consent from the publisher. Any submission of content via the use of the Get Yonder website or mobile app simultaneously grants Get Yonder an irrevocable, royalty free license to publish, display, modify, distribute and syndicate your content at our discretion. You confirm and warrant that you have the required authority to grant the above license to Get Yonder by your submission. Get Yonder is not responsible nor do we guarantee any advertising claims made by paid sponsors.
>>>
page 2
PHOTO CREDITS: Ksolo Harris Devon Devoe Photography Hoagy Carmichael Yolanda Darnell Multiple Get Yonder Contributors
30 A FAMILY RIDE TO 49 STATES
A Father, Mother, & Daughter Ride Across Country
GetYonder
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
36
16
THE 4TH ANNUAL BESSIE STRINGFIELD RIDE
STURGIS 2017
A Recap of the 4th Annual Bessie Stringfield Ride
10 FEATURED RIDER
Meet Shannon "Woo Woo" Foley
20 HAZARD UP AHEAD
Things To Be Cautious of When Riding
A Few Facts About The Annual Event
14 ALL ABOUT HOAGY'S HEROES Bikers Riding For A Great Cause
22 WHO'S ON THE GROUND Who's Out Getting Yonder
page 3
GY
From the
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Celebrating One Year of Get Yonder Magazine Welcome to our ONE YEAR edition of Get Yonder Magazine! It has been such a pleasure to follow your journey, and write about so many amazing memories! Without your support and dedication to our vision, this celebration would not be possible, so I extend a heartfelt THANK YOU! When we started Get Yonder Magazine a year ago, little did we know that it would grow in the way it has. We initially started as a website blog, and I enjoyed posting and writing about your photos at state signs, landmarks, and ON THE GROUND! So, we decided to take it a step further, and here we are today! This journey has not been easy, however, it has definitely been worth it! To our amazing team: Shareef AsSadiq, Shannon Pridemore, Nate Pridemore, Tysaun Cook, Kathy Demerle, Todd Lucas, Yvette Cruz, Dawn Phillips, Anthony Simpson, Tawana Smith, Shannon Lewis, Ksolo Harris, and Yolanda Darnell‌‌..thank you, in all sincerity! It's your dedication to our success that provide endless possibilities! We appreciate you sharing in your travels, while providing an opportunity for others to view this beautiful country and all that it has to offer. Thank you for your support! Hope you enjoy! Ride safe! Get Yonder!
Stephanie Hampton Editor-In-Chief Get Yonder Magazine shampton@getyonder.com
Talk Miles .or Say Nothing page 4
tour of honor
benefiting veterans
and first responders charities
50 states. 500 memorials. You, your motorcycle, And a good reason to ride.
A self-directed ride 1APR17 - 31OCT17. Visit seven memorials in any state to achieve Finisher status. Or travel cross-country. It’s up to you. Sign up at www.tourofhonor.com Benefiting:
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
2 017 MO T O RC CALENDAR
SEP 10 Bikenik 2017 will be held at Clayton Country International Beach & Park in Jonesboro, GA September 10th, 2017.
SEP 14 page 06
The Ocean City Bikefest will be held September 14-17th 2017 in Ocean City, Maryland.
OCT 5 The Annual Las Vegas SEP 16 Tru Ryderz MC of Bikefest will be held on OctoColumbus will host their 15th Anniversary September 15-16th ber 5th-8th 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. in Columbus, Ga. SEP 16 The ladies of Klutch & Khrome MC Detroit will host their 1st Annual Anniversary September 16th 2017.
SEP 20
The Annual Bikes, Blues, & BBQ will be held on September 20th-23rd 2017 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
OCT 7 The Have Iron/Will
Travel Ride To Eat will be held on October 7th 2017 in Kansas City, MO.
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
C YC L E E VE NT S
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
CALENDAR
OCT 13 The Savannah Chap-
NOV 2 The LoneStar Rally
ter of Rarebreed MC will host their 1st Annual Blackout on October 13th-14th 2017.
will be held on November 2nd5th 2017 in Galveston, Texas.
OCT 20 The second Annual
Rockers, Riders, & Ribs will be held October 20th-21st 2017 in Longview, Texas.
OCT 25 The 17th Annual
Thunder Beach Autumn Motorcycle Rally will be held October 25-29th 2017 in Panama City, Florida.
DEC 9 The Progressive InOCT 19 Daytona Beach, FL
will host their 25th Biketoberfest October 19th-22nd 2017.
ternational Motorcycle Show will be held December 9th-11th 2017 in New York, NY at the Javits Center. page 07
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
By Rick “5150” Mitchell Let’s face it; when we enter a motorcycle dealership to purchase a brand-new motorcycle, we already know about how much it will cost us. What we see on the sticker price is not what we end up paying, because there are taxes, license and delivery fees and of course some accessories we will want to add to the package. You know, slip on mufflers, highway pegs, tour pack or whatever. When you sit down with the contract person to sign and seal the deal, they will ask you if you want to purchase an extended warranty protection plan. There is, in almost every case, a manufacturer’s factory warranty, but there can also be an added protection plan that can, with most companies, take you an extra five years, at an extra steep cost. Some cannot afford this extended warranty coverage, so they pass on it or tell the finance person they will add it later. For those who are financing, it can raise the monthly payment amount higher than they budgeted to pay. But, let’s stop right here and take a fair look at this extended warranty plan for a minute. I will use my own experiences as the example. In early 2011, I wanted a particular motorcycle brand and model, so I priced it at four or five different dealerships. Once I had a price and deal I was comfortable with, I made my move. I added the accessories I wanted and went over to the finance person’s office to begin the paperwork. As she totaled up the purchase, the cost continued to grow. Then, it was finally time for her to spring that extended warranty coverage question on me. Her first question was, “would you like to purchase an extended warranty for the bike?” I asked her to guide me through the various levels and cost. Once I said yes to the warranty, she went on to ask me question number two, “would you like a tire and wheel protection plan?” After she explained it, I said yes. So, now I have this $24,000 bike with accessories, tax, license, delivery charges and two protection plans that have grown to a whopping $39,000 purchase. Damn! Okay, how did that just happen and for weeks and months I questioned myself if I made the right decision or not! Let’s fast forward to the present. It is six years later, and nearly 90,000 miles on my odometer and I have had many routine services and many repairs over the years. What is profoundly different from this past six years is, the amount I paid for repairs which were a deductible and not the invoiced cost to fix my bike. Let’s do some mathematics to show you all what I experienced, however, other people experiences may differ. In this past six years, I have had three tires replaced under this warranty, that failed while out on the road. I had an entire motor replaced, a transmission rebuilt, a stator replaced, fork seals rebuilt, a throttle sensor and a dozen other items I can’t seem to remember right off hand. That all totaled $13,182, which were all covered under the extended warranties plans. If you deduct the cost of the warranty purchase at $2,400, it will show I saved $10,782 over the past six years, with one dozen claims to my record. Each claim cost me a $50 deductible. That’s an additional $600, so in reality, I saved $10,182. That is nearly $1,700 each year since I owned the bike, which means I wouldn’t have been able to afford to travel anywhere. Ten thousand one hundred and eighty-two dollars saved by the mere purchase of an extended warranty plan. That is good insurance, at least in my case, regardless of whether the coverage is used or not. page 08
GetYonder
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
When a major failure occurs, will you be prepared to cover the cost of a new motor or rebuilt transmission without the coverage? A brand new 103ci motor is over $6000 installed. For me, it was the best purchase I have ever made, and it saved me over ten thousand dollars and gave me a piece of mind and a guarantee that my bike would be fixed promptly by factory trained or certified mechanics, anywhere in North America. My repairs were also guaranteed, which gave me additional comfort to know I was protected out on the road at any certified location that accepts the extended warranty plans, not just my dealership. Some of you may be mechanics yourself, and some of you may have had a negative experience with warranty plans, but in my case, it was a positive and successful outcome, and I am still rolling with my coverage, and I plan to purchase an extension before my current plan expires in early 2018. If you plan on making this big dollar purchase that you will own for years and will be riding all over the country, you should truly consider the much bigger picture and include information and knowledge when pricing that bike to add extended warranties that fit and suit you and your lifestyle. If I avoided purchasing my plans, I would have spent up front over $13,182 in repairs, I wouldn’t have 90,000 miles on my bike, and I probably wouldn’t be writing this article for you all to read. It’s truly a personal choice, and each of us may see things differently, but even if you suffer very few low-cost repairs over the life of your warranty plans, it isn’t that costly of a protection plan, to begin with. Whatever decision you make when you purchase your motorcycle, you should at least have consideration for protection, as these bikes are not cheap to fix. Good Luck on your next purchase! page 09
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
featuredRider Name:
Shannon “Woo Woo” Foley
Club: Independent Rider Hometown: Houston, TX Riding Experience: Licensed in 2004 Motorcycle: 2016 Harley Davidson Road Glide Special Longest Ride: 48 States Trip
Shannon “Woo Woo” Foley, a native of Houston, Texas, recently completed riding to the lower 48 states. Woo Woo was licensed to ride a motorcycle in 2004, riding a Honda Shadow 750. However, she later decided on selling her motorcycle after dropping it a few times. Seven years later, she decided that she wanted to ride again, and convinced herself that she would not allow fear to defeat her. Riding a 2016 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special, she completed riding to the lower 48 states, in two separate trips. Her first trip totaled over 3,300 miles, while her
foley
Shannon
page 10
GetYonder
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
second trip totaled roughly 8,000 miles. In addition to her cross-country trips, she completed her first Iron Butt Association certification, having ridden 1000 miles in less than 24 hours. Woo Woo states that she enjoys the liberation of riding. She stressed her love for visiting places while crossing state lines and the importance of stopping to enjoy different sights. A few places that she’s visited on two wheels include Pikes Peak, Four Corners, Tail of the Dragon, various football stadiums, Opryland, and Graceland.
page 11
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 12
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GetYonder
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
,
• Motorcycle Accidents • Wrongful Deaths • Workers' Compensation
• Premises liability • Slip & Fall accidents • Vehicle accidents
The Law Offices of Kanner & Pintaluga provides aggressive and effective legal representation to our clients with the highest standards of excellence, compassion and integrity. Our law firm is committed to obtaining the maximum compensation to which our clients are entitled. We always provide personalized attention and deliver prompt communication so that our clients always know where their case stands.
Alabama |Florida| Georgia| Louisiana |South Carolina
page 13
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
As stated in their mission statement, Hoagy’s Heroes, Inc is an organization that operates exclusively to benefit charitable causes by sponsoring motorcycle events and raising monies in support of the afflicted or less fortunate, allowing them to enjoy special, life-long memories. Robert “Hoagy” Carmichael, President and Founder of the organization, has committed the last 13 years doing just that. Hoagy and his team of long distance riders, have raised over $222,000.00 in pledges and sponsorships and have traveled close to ONE MILLION miles. Led by a team of volunteers, Hoagy’s Heroes, have spent countless hours of dedicated love for kids, planning and organizing rides throughout the year. These volunteers include, but are not limited to: law enforcement, local motorcycle dealerships, fire fighters, veterans, long distance riders, spouses, family, and friends. The organization’s selected charities are: A Special Wish Foundation, Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, and the Augusta Levy Learning Center.
• • • • •
To participate in a ride, simply go to www.hoagysheroes.org and select the event of your choice from the menu. Register for the ride by completing the online registration and pay the applicable registration fee. Print out the required forms, to include your Sponsor Pledge Sheet. Sign and submit all forms, including a Waiver of Liability and submit prior to your ride. Obtain as many pledges as you can prior to the ride. There is a minimum ONE pledge per rider and passenger.
100% of collected pledges and donations are provided to the selected charities. In addition to raising funds for kids, Hoagy’s Heroes rides can be certified through the Iron Butt Association (IBA). Some of the rides that can be certified are:
page 14
•
THE SADDLE-SORE (1000 MILES) WHICH IS COMPLETED IN UNDER 24 HOURS.
•
THE BUN-BURNER (1500 MILES) WHICH IS COMPLETED IN UNDER 36 HOURS.
•
THE BUN-BURNER GOLD (1500 MILES) WHICH IS COMPLETED IN UNDER 24 HOURS.
GetYonder
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
In addition to the funds raised by sponsored rides throughout the year, Hoagy’s Heroes collects can tabs from various sources throughout the year and donate them to a charity that can use the aluminum tabs for profit. This year, the receiving charity will be the Ronald McDonald House, in Morgantown, WV. All collected tabs will be delivered by dedicated motorcycle riders. In past years, Hoagy’s Heroes have collected well over 150 gallons of tabs [per year] for their charities of choice. For additional information, or to participate in a ride, please visit Hoagy’s Heroes website at www. hoagysheroes.org or their Facebook page Hoagy’s Heroes.
page 15
Th
Facts About Sturgis Motorcycle Rally • Sturgis is located in Meade County, South Dakota. • The first rally was held in 1938, founded by Pappy Hoel. • The rally was called the Black Hills Classic. • The 75th Annual event held a record 750,000+ participants. • The town of Sturgis has a population of less than 7,000 people. • The annual rally brings over $800 million dollars in each year. • Mt. Rushmore is approximately 52 miles from Sturgis. • Events held yearly include the Annual Mayor’s Ride, the Sturgis 5K run, multiple concerts, and the Annual Pub Crawl.
Motorcycle Rally
he 77th
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
IS ITcustom?
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
Specializing in
Automotive Upholstery Marine Upholstery Leather Kits Convertible & Vinyl Tops Motorcycle Upholstery LED Lighting 12 Volt Electronics
RIDEcity CUSTOMS RIDEcity www.ridecitycustoms.com page 18
RideCityCustoms
1032 E. New Circle Rd. Lexington KY 40505
859.420.3510
ridecitycustoms@gmail.com
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
business cards flyers brochures banners feather flags yard signs car magnets tshirts embroidery promotional items websites logos full color tablecloths custom e-z up tents photography
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
drop ship anywhere free quotes 24+ years experience
(812) 653-0175 wetinkdesigns@att.net www.wetinkdesigns.net
page 19
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
HAZARD U
2:00pm in the afternoon and you’re on I-40 West bound just past Tucumcari, New Mexico. By Ksolo Harris It’sPounding in your zone and suddenly, the sun hits directly in your face. Your vision is momentarily blinded and out of nowhere a dark object appears directly in front of you. The scene has played out a dozen times in your head. Your eyes open wide, you grit your teeth, your hands grip the handle bars and you tense up in anticipation of what’s about to come.
Unfortunately, it never happens like that! Before you know it, there it is…. the Highway Gator…. retread…. recap or what we know as a piece of rubber in the road! You see it laying there in the roadway, flipping, rolling, taking out another car’s bumper. THUMP! Highway debris or road debris is a part of summer time riding. From major interstates, turnpikes, and even country roads, you can find objects ranging from a simple bolt to cargo straps, retreads, automobile hoods and even campers. I think I’ve seen them all. A lot of times you come up on them so fast that your reaction time is zero and all you can do is grip tightly, steer straight and hope for the best. A good friend of mine, Quik, a member of Buffalo Soldiers MC out of Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, recently sat down with me and told me the story of his accident a couple of years ago. Thankfully he could walk away from the incident with a few broken bones, some road rash, a totaled bike and a bruised ego. Quik highlighted the incident as happening in slow motion. An object was run over by a lead biker that caused the recap tread to stand on its side. Quik stated that it happened so fast. “I felt it hit my front wheel and the next thing I remember was people standing over me.” His take away from his accident is that it’s everybody’s responsibility to keep an eye on the road up ahead for objects and to notify people in the pack of the dangers either by hand signal or foot signal. Debris on the highway is most common when it’s hot. Heat causes big rig tires (recaps) to come loose, old bolts break off and people tend to travel more during the summer months. The more miles traveled, the more wear and tear on the vehicles. Just the other day a lady was driving a pickup truck with two BBQ grills on the back. Needless to say, one fell off and caused a car behind her to swerve off the highway into the woody medium, and by the looks of it, totaled the car’s front end. And yes, even yours truly has fallen victim to road/highway debris. While traveling around Raleigh, NC on I-40, aka “forever construction zone”, I had the misfortune of running over a piece of construction pipe, which sheared off a chunk of my oil pan. The oil shot all over my exhaust, which scared the living hell out of me. The pipe somehow lodged itself between the oil pan and frame of the bike, sticking out of the left side of the bike. Talk about nerve-wracking! I was riding 70 mph with a piece of pipe dragging on the highway, sparks shooting everywhere. It was a very chaotic situation to say the least.
page 20
UP AHEAD
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
A few notes for safe travels:
1. When planning your ride review State Department of Transportation construction zones. This will allow you to forecast potential hazard areas. 2. States with higher temperatures where big trucks travel will likely have higher amounts of recap (gators) debris on their roadways. 3. Traveling in states known for potholes, uneven pavement or rough roads is a telltale sign to watch for. 4. Be aware of states with high traffic volume, northern states, or states with large distribution centers. 5. Be cautious of severe weather areas right after a storm due to trees and branches that may have fallen. 6. Crossing bridges with excessively wide joints are not suitable for motorcycles. 7. Be cautious of highway snakes; black tar used to fill gags in highways. Slippery when wet or elevated temperatures will cause oils to seep out and pool on top of tar. 8. Highway markings; turn arrows, white center lines, yellow lane markers, pedestrian crossing markers‌. all will become very slippery after rain fall. 9. Road kill: deer, cats, dogs, rabbits, armadillos, turtles etc. are all road hazards. 10. Furniture, tools, boxes, or rocks, are more hazardous to motorcycles. These are just a few hazards that are potentially dangerous for a motorcyclist. Always look ahead and plan an exit for all potential situations. Proper dress is also essential just in case an unfortunate mishap happens. Ride safe!
page 21
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 22
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 23
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 24
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 25
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 26
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 27
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Introducing SpotWalla: Data Location Manager
SpotWalla is a tracking mechanism, that supports several satellite-based tracking devices. It provides users the flexibility to control their location data.
J
ason Jonas, founder of SpotWalla, has been riding motorcycles for over 20 years. In 2000, he decided on taking some time off to travel and ride his motorcycle across country. During this time, GPS technology or tracking mechanisms, weren’t as prevalent as they are today. As a result, he got lost on the road, and was unable to keep his family updated on where he was. In 2008, as a promise to his sister, he created SpotWalla. It was initially introduced to his friends within the motorcycle community, however, over the years as its technology progressed, it is used by a number of communities.
What is SpotWalla?
SpotWalla is a tracking mechanism, that supports several satellite-based tracking devices. It provides users the flexibility to control their location data. The SpotWalla allows complete control of the information being exposed, all in a secured and private environment.
page 28
What are some of its benefits?
With SpotWalla, you’re able to share your travels and rides with your family and friends by creating “trips.” This will allow them to follow your travels, as the app updates with location data. In addition, once a “trip” is created, it will allow you to send text messaged updates, delivering up to date information. It allows you to track stops, such as restaurants, gas stations, and hotels. It saves the data from your entire trip for you to retrieve and review at any time. The user can limit the location data as needed, and provide an external link for tracking.
What devices does it support?
SpotWalla supports the following devices: • APRS Device • GibbyTrip for iOS • Bubbler GPS for Android • INMARSAT Communications Device • DeLorme inReach • SPOT Personal Tracker • Email • SWConnect for iOS • Generic Device with GPX Support • The Wirie pro Device
To find additional information on SpotWalla, visit the website at www.spotwalla.com
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 29
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
A
Family Rid
As the old saying goes, Lo husband, daughter and I, plete 48 states, then my hu where the journey began!
We left Killeen, Texas on Ju to take a chance at riding able to stand next to; we in states first; little did I know was to stay positive for Di and I wanted to fly our mo get up, eat breakfast and never stopped having a po
When we got to Nevada, w sure you’ve had the salt rin who had the most lines.
We conquered the Nevada Dead Man’s Pass and wow not hold your breath girl, j ridden passed them all thi she had accomplished. Sh of riding near 18 wheelers
We truly did not get out of has a thing about traveling to be turned around at the with or without him. He lo to go in and tell the borde the question.” So of course
Once we reached Canada, not see this in the USA, bu our first encounter with a accents. She went to the s and said welcome to the r
We found a place to stay a we got closer, she started the gas station, Big Hump the sticker and posted it i just played it smart.
As we were riding, I saw t that meant 60 MPH. I thou insisted on getting close t wish came true. A brown b the time we were clear to
It continued to rain and ra in their life. We crossed an
page 30
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
de to 49States GetYonder
by Ruby “ThunderKat” Izquiredo
ove makes the world go around; Family makes it worth the ride.....and this trip would be a combination of both! Our family, my took to the road, not realizing that it would draw us closer than we were before we mounted up. The initial goal was to comusband asked, “Wouldn’t it be cool for Dirty Bird to get Alaska too?” I was thinking, here we go, “sure baby it would,” and this is !
une 26th with a return date of July 24th. We took a photo of my fallen sister Dani. The picture was with us because Dani wanted to the lower 48 states and, because she is no longer with us, we wanted to include her in our trip. At every state sign, we were ncluded her photo to share the moment. We headed West of Texas so that we would knock out what I thought was the hottest w that it was not the case. As we made our way through Texas and out of the Lone Star state, I started getting excited. My focus irty Bird because the heat was on! As Dirty Bird would say, “the devil was touching the sun.” There were days when Dirty Bird otorcycles to Canada [giggling] so that we could lay in the cool air all day. However, my husband Big Hump, motivated us to mount up every single day. He quickly learned that we were not morning people. We would give him dry responses, but he ositive attitude. There were days when he would have to provide us both with a pep talk because we were just not into the ride.
we could not drink enough water; the more we drank, the more we sweat. If you have ever ridden in hot temperatures, I am ng on your shirt, pants, and maybe even your boots. Well, we had it, and we wore them with pride because we started counting
a heat, which led us into more heat. No one could have told me that it would be that hot, but it was. While in Oregon, we rode w what a ride! We ended up stopping at a scenic spot, and all the curves gave us a rush. Big Hump yelled out, “Dirty Bird do just breathe.” It quickly reminded me of her scare last year when the wind from an 18-wheeler caused her to wobble. She had is way but, something about going up and down these mountains were different for her. She made it and was in awe to what he said, “Did you see me; did you video me….I did that!” All we could do was laugh, after realizing she had overcome her fear s.
f the heat until we made our way to Alaska. However, let me back up and talk about our Canadian border experience. Big Hump g unprotected, and yes, we were protected, however, Canada does not play about weapons. He insisted on carrying them, only e border. He ended up finding a place to store them and back to the border we went. I told him we were crossing the border, ooked at me and said, “No the hell yall not, we are going across this border together.” We ended up getting pulled over and had er patrol where we had lived from the age of 18 years old. I looked at Big Hump and started laughing; the guy was like, “answer e, we gave up our information because we were not going to miss out on Canada and Alaska.
, I was so amazed at how clean it was, how beautiful the mountains were, and the miles and miles of land. Not saying we did ut it seemed like the air was cleaner and it was something special about being in Canada. We stopped at a gas station and made biker couple; one was on a trike and the other on a Fatboy. Dirty Bird wanted them to give us a tour of Canada and loved their store and bought a couple of things and said, “I am not buying anything else out of a gas station, I just spent $40.” I laughed road baby.
and laid down for the night. Dirty Bird was on a mission to find a Have Iron/Will Travel sticker at 150 Mile House gas station. As singing; “I’m going to find it, I’m going to find it.” We were tracking our travels, and so was she at this point. As we pulled into p and I went to the back of the store, and she pulled to the front. By the time we got to her, she had already taken a picture of in the Have Iron/Will Travel Facebook group. We looked at her and told her she cheated. She replied, she didn’t, and that she
the 100-speed limit sign, and I thought we were about to get it in. But, little did we know we were doing Km/h, not MPH, so ught we were never going to get to Alaska, but we finally made it through all the rain. Dirty Bird wanted to see a bear, and she to one. I told her and Big Hump that they were on their own when a bear appeared. As we got on the Alaskan Highway, her bear stood straight up in the woods, and she almost lost her mind. We did a turnaround for her to get a better picture, but by turn around, the bear was crossing the street. So, we turned around and continued our travels.
ain and rain, and we quickly learned that our rain gear was our friend. We saw sights that all should desire to see at least once nother border to get into Hyder, Alaska and the excitement hit us all over again. Dirty Bird had ridden her motorcycle into
page 31
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Alaska at the prime age of seventeen. Dirty Bird had just achieved a goal that she had been talking about for a short period, but what mattered is that she made it. While riding, we took pictures of the water, mountains, and anything that caught our attention to add to our memories. We rode out of Alaska, back into Canada, then into Washington, where we stopped to pick up Big Hump’s toys from storage. Again, it started raining. Did I mention we were either in heat or rain for most of our trip? In spite of the weather, we still enjoyed the beauty of Mother Nature’s mountains, waterfalls, curves, and straight-aways. We learned that we were going to ride the rain or the rain would ride us, so we rode the rain. Now let’s talk about Montana! I did not realize that Montana would feel as if we were in Texas. So, we went through South Dakota, where we stopped and enjoyed the little town of Sturgis. Of course, we were too early to enjoy the annual event there, so Dirty Bird picked up a t-shirt just to remind her of the city. We visited Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower/Wyoming, the Needle, and Crazy Horse. They were all breathtaking, as they were done in stone and by man. Dirty Bird made a point that she had learned just as much on our trip, as she would have learned in class. At that moment, we made a point to learn something new in each state we visited. We wanted this trip to be more than just a riding experience, yet one with substance, and filled with facts that she would remember. It never crossed my mind that we would all have a history lesson by the time we got home, but we did. If we did not see anything that would bring tourism to a state we talked about what brought in money to the state. This gave her an idea of where she might want to live once she left home and helped with teaching her the importance of money and a state’s economic situation. So, as you can see, this trip became more than just us chasing state signs. We still enjoyed taking photos at each sign we encountered, however, it was more to the trip than just that.
page 32
We continued riding, and our next stop would be in Chicago to chill with a couple of my sisters and their families. We ate, laughed, showered, and called it a night. We got up the next day and started back on our journey. Now let’s talk about Ohio. Our trip was delayed in Ohio, due to an arm breaking on Big Hump’s trailer. We ended up getting some assistance from Champ, National VP of Next Level MC. We joked about getting help from a brother that knew a brother that knew another brother. It’s all about networking, and we appreciate him for coming out of the comforts of his home to make sure we were ok and safe in a hotel. The next day we rented a truck, drove to Jacksboro, Tennessee where Bushtech trailers are manufactured. The guys there were awesome; they took care of us and had us back on the road the same day. I do not like Ohio weather; we rode in the rain the entire time we were in that state. We even pulled over for a couple of hours, got some sleep and tried again, only to pull over at midnight because the rain was coming down so hard and none of us could see. If one of us wasn’t comfortable for whatever reason, we adjusted, because it wasn’t about just one rider on this ride. That is something everyone needs to understand; when you get on the road with your family or friends, the ride is not just about you. Big Hump was our leader and that he did well. He made sure that he kept us safe and sound every single mile of our trip. We helped him this one time on deciding to pull over. All other times, he decided on the safety factor, even if we said we were good. There was one day that he got tired of my mouth, and posted me as the lead; he went in on me. That was because he
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
wanted me to see how he felt from the front leading, and boy did I close my mouth and got back at the end. Sometimes you must put a person in your position and give them what they give you for you to understand. I understood very fast, and no I didn’t like it, but I got the picture of what he was painting. Lessons were always being learned on this trip.
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
Next up, the state of Maryland. This is where we stopped and got some much-needed rest. We slept until our bodies woke us up. We also stopped to enjoy Sons of Solomon MC 10th Anniversary. We met people that we had previously met through Facebook and had the chance to sit down and fellowship with my sisters. I had sisters ride from Texas to meet up with us. It was great to see them pull up. We caught a state sign with them, and then on Sunday, we all headed in our directions. With all the rain we encountered, we ended up having to go north to get the northern states that we missed due to trying to make the event. Along our travels, we met up with Big Bluu and some of his brothers. Big Bluu is the President of the Sons of Solomon New York Chapter. He rode us to the Connecticut line, then off he went. While in New York, I got to see another sister and her family, and oh what a feeling it was to ride with my sister in her state. We stopped at the Bronx Zoo, road past Central Park and ate on the water. Dirty Bird decided that she would make a video riding with each of my sisters outside the state of Texas, or at least take a photo with them. We got pictures of the Statue of Liberty, Madison Square Garden, pictures with police on horses, and the 911 Memorial. While getting back on the road, Dirty Bird phone fell off her mount, and she began to cry, thinking she had lost all her pictures. We pulled over, and thankfully, no car had run over it, so her pictures were fine. From that point on, she saved them to her cloud. For the rest of the ride, she talked about memories being lost. The tears stopped, and we got back on the road heading towards New Jersey. Delaware was the state that Dirty Bird wanted most, due to it starting with her nick-name Del. When we got there, she was over excited, but the state was so small, so we kept riding, and managed to ride to several other states in the same day. We realized that we would be able to run through the North Eastern states with no issues, as most of them were close to each other. We made it to Virginia and decided to stop by and see another sister of mine at work, which happens to be at a Harley-Davidson dealership. We hung around until she got off. Afterwards, while riding, Dirty Bird started video-taping the two of them riding, which is when her headset started malfunctioning, and we could not hear her. She truly thought we were ignoring her because she could hear us but, we couldn’t hear her. The video that she made was priceless; you would have to see it to understand. Moving right along, Atlanta, Georgia was our next stop. It was there where we met up with Get Yonder Magazine Founder/Editor in Chief, Stephanie Hampton. As always, she is a breath of fresh air, and her smile is contagious. She made sure that we had a place to park because the parking lot was crowded when we arrived. We came straight off the road and enjoyed the Wednesday Night Bike Night, which her husband is the DJ. There I met up with two more of my sisters, and it only added to our smiles and laughter. This is where Big Hump went Get Yonder crazy. He purchased one of each Get Yonder t-shirt, of course, Dirty Bird and I got our shirt as well. We laughed, met folks from Atlanta and around midnight, we left to go to our hotel for the night. We thought we had a stalker; we looked up, and it was
page 33
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Stephanie making sure our hotel reservations were ok, and that there were no issues checking in. Did I say it was after midnight? Yes, that’s the kind of person she is, and we love her for that! The next day was awesome; as we were checking out and packing up, Big Hump spotted a horse. Yes, there was a horse in the parking lot of our hotel. Knowing that Dirty Bird love animals, he talked the guy into letting her ride. Can you picture Dirty Bird riding a horse in an Atlanta hotel parking lot? I just knew the hotel staff would ask us to leave, but they did not. She had a blast and made a lifelong friend with the owner. We went and ate before heading back on the road. We rode through the next couple of states with no problem. We arrived in Florida and stayed a couple of days at my brother-in-law Cesar’s home. As always, we ate good, laughed, and enjoyed the baby, pets, and his family. We rolled on and stopped in Memphis, Tennessee, where we met up with two more of my sisters. We went to Beale Street where we saw the Elvis status, took photos, and then went to the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King Jr was killed. As we approached our 48th state, I was super excited thinking we were done. However, we still needed to get the Texas Sign. We took pictures of the Oklahoma sign, but it was at the Texas sign, that I could rejoice knowing we had just completed riding to 49 states in one trip. It didn’t stop there, as we needed to make it home to Killeen, Texas. The devil was touching the sun once again but, we were almost home. We pulled into the garage, said our return prayer, then high fived each other. One lesson learned while on our trip was that you could never condition enough for the road. What happens on the road will make you a better rider, and riding with my family just made our bond even stronger. It was great to learn that family can pound together and have fun at it, even though, not every day was fun, but we got through our issues. After returning home, we took one more short trip in family mode to meet Highway Smiley, of Kings of Cali MC, to receive his Gold Star Patch, which we earned. The smile on his face and laughter from his voice made the trip all worth the ride. His patch is not just a patch, it is something that he cherishes giving, and we loved receiving it. Dirty Bird is our child, and we will continue to support her desire to ride her motorcycle around the world. We have already started planning for next year. Dirty Bird is just getting started, but how many seventeen year olds can say that have ridden their motorcycles to 49 states? You can follow her on her Facebook blog LONGBLINK or her website at www.dirtybirdtravels.com.
page 34
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 35
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
The 4th Annual Bessie Stringfield Ride has come and gone, but the movement and purpose of the ride continues. The annual ride that commemorates the life and legacy of Bessie Stringfield, also celebrates the growing SISTERHOOD among women, near and far, that share a love for riding motorcycles. The event, hosted this year in Killeen, Texas, has continued to grow each year. Although Tropical Storm Cindy detoured the ride, the event had over 275 in attendance (350 registered). Aligned with this year’s theme, Setting the Record Straight: Reclaiming Our Culture by Respecting Our Culture, the committee presented awards to honor four female motorcycle clubs. They were, the Legendary-Motor Maids, Inc, West CoastRoad Queens MC, East Coast- Harley’s Angels MC (Atlanta), and Sportbike-Wild Thangz, for their contributions to women riding motorcycles. The event also consisted of a Chat & Chew segment, which allowed a spokesperson from each of the honored clubs to speak on topics related to riding, such as Motivating Club Members to Ride, and How to Keep Members Motivated Through Leadership. The event acknowledges the challenges faced by Bessie Stringfield, as she rode during a time when it was not acceptable for women to travel alone or ride motorcycles. Next year, the event will be held on June 20th-24th 2018. Celebrating its 5th year, the annual event will be open to all riders, which is usually a female-only occasion. The event will be hosted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the birthplace of Harley-Davidson Motor Company. For more information, visit Bessie Stringfield All Female Ride page on Facebook! page 36
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 37
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 38
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 39
GY
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
THANK FOR YOUR
page 40
GetYonder
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
K YOU SUPPORT
page 41
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 42
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
Dedicated to those that love to ride!
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
GetYonder
page 43
GY July/Aug 2017 Issue 07
page 44
GetYonder
Dedicated to those that love to ride!