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Hiya all,

Been busy working proper, and although there are some areas that the hospital are good at in other areas they are 10 years behind, for instance tissue viability/dermatology Shell!!, they need a good nurse. I have discovered the comfort rooms, where people at the end stage of their lives are cared for and all I can say is WOW. These rooms have floor to ceiling windows and would be Fagins worst nightmare, because we are so high up overlooking SF, it takes your breath away, it has to be the most awesome sight I have ever seen. I have permission to take a picture and will e-mail it to you all when I get round to it. The ward (Floor), is constantly on the go, but it makes the 12 hour shift go quickly.

view from my room

Although the transport system is great over here, sometimes buses don't turn up So we need a car, I just can not stand getting to work with 2 minutes to spare, I need my Nescafe fix before I start. The other nurses manage on Starbucks coffee, from the campus, which is way too sweet for me. There are English run stores, but Marmite costs £5 for a small jar, so all of you who get to come out, will be expected to bring a jar!!.

Daly City

We are so pleased to hear that Pompey John has got his dream bike at last, we hope that all the disappointment and hurt we all felt is now faded away, it had to turn up good in the end Eh, Tony's description of Michelle's birthday treat, bought tears to our eyes too, we have to say that little girl has been so brave throughout and if John and Ali could give her a big hug from us that'd be great

San Francisco

Muva HOG, has a new nickname: Skully, which suits her. we wish she had been here for the custom care and bike show, there were some fantastic skull paint jobs. Ben is a little disappointed that someone has already built the bike that he designed. Weather here remains in the late teens, but we have adjusted to the climate and are wearing Hoodies and Jumpers, Fagin has got a support your 81 jumper, which we got from Oakland, it needs a wash but he won't part with it.

Biker Gecko

We got ourselves a Chinese meal the other day, what a laugh, we ordered as you do in the UK and the woman's eyes grew bigger and bigger, "You want beef fried rice too! and chicken fried rice?" when we got home we found out why, all the rice came in double size containers, the sweet and sour also came in double size containers with boiled rice in single size containers. Needless to say, we didn't manage it all, so we saved the rice and had beef teriyaki the next day.

Any how peeps, love you all loads.

Hyawatha, Fagin and Minnie two feathers.

We have been house hunting today, and enjoyed the sunshine, got back from Vacaville late and so having been across the beautifully lit up bay bridge, decided to cross the golden Gate bridge to see the view at night. unfortunately Ben's camera does not work at night and I wish we could have shared the views with you, but not possible. Anyone who has seen "Interview with a Vampire", will have an idea, from the beginning shots, coming into SF at night. I have tried to take pictures from my floor in UCSF Parnassus, without success, Ben thinks he might be able to do it, fingers crossed. Monday morning, we were sat in report as the sun came up, with an orange glow spread in a triangle across SF below us. No sunrise or sunset is the same.

Did I tell you about the supersonic lifts in UCSF?, Anyone who has been to Disembowelled and went on the house of terror ride will be able to tell you what these lifts are like. Bearing in mind I work on the 14th floor, my ears pop and I get dizzy every time I go up or down in them. Fagin hates them and usually waits for me downstairs if he comes to visit.

The days go so quickly here, there just isn't enough time to fit in all the exploring. We have been here over a month now, and are still discovering new places every day. We found a "British Pub" at the weekend, but it was obviously an Americans idea, not sure if we are impressed by that. There is an idea for any entrepreneurs in NF Hog, a really authentic British pub, with proper pub grub, with a village store, selling things like Marmite, Bisto, Marmalade and proper bread. Now beer ain't a problem nor is wine, what with a Budweiser brewers, SFs' very own bitter Angistium (My new and favourite tipple) and the Napa valley on our doorstep it would really work. There are a few ex-pats that would appreciate it and plenty of British tourists. We could get our local Chapter to use it for their natter nite. Anyone interested?

Ben will send you more piccies soon.

Love to you all

Hyawatha, Fagin and Minnie HA HA, sorry 2 Feathers.
 

Hi Snake

We went into Oceana, San Francisco and down to Pier 39 today, thought of you so we took some pics - here they are. The house seems to be going well (both purchase and sale) Mum and Dad's bikes are sat in Vacaville, waiting for purchase and riding off into the sunset. As you can see Oceana was quite windy, but it was also nice and warm. San Francisco was very nice today but the journey was evil (the bus was cramped and it smelt like dead fish) You're very lucky that the pictures of the sealions aren't pics you can smell...because the absolutely STINK!! I am hoping to go to Oceana High School - about 5 minutes from the sea...what a shame eh?

About 4 days ago Mum called me to her bedroom window because Dad spotted a raccoon running up and down Daly City streets... but it turned out to be a Pepe Le Pew (a skunk for you who don't watch cartoons)

Mum quickly found this out as he disappeared underneath her bedroom window. A foul stench (worse that Arkwright on a saturday night after a curry with a pint of John Smiths) arose and knocked Mum off her feet, when she recovered she called me in and said stand by the window. As I did I also got knocked over by the smell...it was HORRENDOUS !

Dad not being able to smell, sat and happily watched him hop around, while me and Mum choked to death

Hope some (or all) of you can get out here soon and see you when you do.

Little Feathers, Fagin and Hyawatha

>>>  View mini gallery of pics from Little Feathers as slideshow  <<<
 

Hi Snake,

On Sunday 12 February, we went out to San Francisco's aquarium and then on a boat trip around the Bay. On the boat trip we went out past the sealions, under the Golden Gate Bridge turned around went back and went past Alkatraz and then we saw Bay Bridge. A few facts that you may not have known about the Bay Bridge...

1) it is technically 3 bridges in 1 - (2 suspension bridges and a rigid bridge)

2) the center support (between and underneath the two suspension bridges) has more concrete in it than the Empire State Building and

3) the bridge goes THROUGH an island.

The Golden Bridge is actually ORANGE and not RED as most people think, one side (furthest away from "The City" (as it is called by the locals) is built on solid rock but the other is built in the Bay!) The Bay Bridge is actually 1 year older than the Golden Gate, but the Golden Gate was the first to be constructed with a safety net!

The officials had to ban the workers from jumping off the bridge and landing in the net as they thought it was fun!!

At the aquarium Hyawatha, Fagin and I all touched a Leopard Shark (it was really wierd because it felt like velvet) And we saw stingray's, starfish, sea cucumbers and other amazing animals. Over all it was a great day and i seriously advise it for a day out when all you peeps come out to visit us.

Little feathers (Votonesois (Vot-o-nee-soy) = Little Feathers in Cheyenne (Red Indian). … Hows that 2 Feathers?

>>>  View mini gallery of pics from Little Feathers as slideshow  <<<

Well, Ben has done his bit, now to update you all on what has been happening.

When I am not working we have spent time looking around, whilst waiting for the house sale to be completed. We have managed to find where Monk is filmed, Ben will send the photograph for your comparison. All I can say the hill is frighteningly steep and the local coppers had a good laugh at Fagin and my clinging onto each other both up and down.

The weather last weekend had obviously been packaged up and sent by those of you who didn’t want us to be too homesick, we had snow and hail and for good measure our heating packed in and the phone wouldn’t work. Not to worry though, Fagin and I visited Redwood City today and got a lovely tan, the bus journey was nearly 2 hours and only costs 75p return each, how’s that for public transport. Redwood city is the posh end of the peninsula, but you can get cheaper cars there. Did I tell you second hand cars are outrageously expensive, especially when you consider you can get a brand new Corrolla for £8,000. All the cars here have at least one dent, and the dealerships, don’t repair damage, nor can you get a warranty for used Autos. We tried out a Zion the other day, and when the salesman asked Fagin if he liked it he told them no it was horrible to drive (He was only joking) the sales rep couldn’t believe his ears and wanted to know what was wrong with the car, Fagin had to come clean and explain he was joking!

I have to be real careful with whom I share an English joke with at work, some love our zany, rude humour, most simply do not get it. When I am asked what I mean, when I say something with my English accent, say aluminum for instance, I tell them I am English and we invented the language. They do have a sense of humour about that and share the joke. One of the questions I was asked when I first came out here was if we celebrate independence day, I had to explain that actually that’s the day the British were defeated and so we don’t tend to.

The bunch I work with are a great crew, they have helped me settle in and listen with interest when I tell them how it is done in the UK, they just love to listen to the accent, and indeed This is why Ben has already got a girlfriend (Couldn’t be his choice of underwear or his smelly feet). Talking of smells our mate Pepe made a return visit last night, Peeeeew.

We have discovered a little Café at pier 23, where HOG seems to hang out and had a great time looking at the bikes, just can’t wait to get our own, the withdrawal symptoms are terrible.

Well all, hope the weather out there will be great and you can all get out on your bikes every day soon. Love to you all.

Fagin, Hyawatha and Little Feathers.

Hiya,

We have moved to Vacaville, 60 miles NE from SF, more of a Country town, with a gorgeous old town centre, rolling hills and several shopping Malls. A great improvement on downtown Beirut AKA Daly City. Just around the corner is a huge outlet shopping village and of course the Harley dealership. There appears to be quite a large British
Ex-Pat community, so much so that there is a store that has a British food selection. We met a guy from Shirley there the other day.

In the summer there are music festivals most weekends and thirty miles down the road is Marine World which has a huge theme park as well as Marine wild life including Walrus and Mink Whales. We have not yet got a proper working phone, but that is not long down the road. All we need to do now is sell our house so we can buy this one and our bikes!! Nearly four months now without one.

The girls are going from Manchester to Bee and Sues this Easter and they are really looking forward to seeing their NF HOG mates. At the moment We are trying to get a small Hatter HOG escort for the eldests (Caroline) prom, but we have a feeling that they may not have the experience that NF members do.

It demonstrates to us how lucky we were to join NF HOG, because from what we have seen thus far, the committee are dedicated and an example world wide as to how successfully a Chapter can run. Even here in the U.S.

Well we don’t need to say how much we miss you all, we remain part of this unique group, over the pond and look forward to your visits.

Hyawatha, Fagin and Minnie Feathers.
 

We have finally managed to sell the house in the UK!!!!!!!! We have also managed to order the bikes!!! Richard has ordered a Road King (in cobalt blue) and I have ordered a Deluxe, also in cobalt blue (we could have had a third bike for the amount of accessories Richard has ordered!!!!) The bikes should be in the dealership by Wednesday, mine should be ready after a couple of days, but Richards will be ready in about 1 week or so. We now own the house, we have been renting so time to decorate and fully furnish to make it “Home Sweet Home” More to follow soon, just going out as its 84 º f and VERY sunny. Ok I must go and sunbathe

Well at long last the weather is the real Californian dream weather, sunny every day for the foreseeable future 28c today and the same tomorrow. The house is sold, the bikes are ordered and plenty of Grand Marnier Margaritas, Budweiser and steak. Getting the Barbie shortly. Of course the first thing we did was ordered the bikes when the house sale went through, the description follows. But first, let me tell you about Fagins latest "Man Moment". We had always said we would get a Safe, so we go to Sams Club, Fagin picks out the largest one he can find, feeling Macho, he slides it onto a flat trolley. Meanwhile, I am telling him there is no way it will fit into our Contour (Mondeo), yes it will he says as if I am being a typical dumb woman, yes you have guessed it wouldn't fit, at which point, a fair damsel with an F150 (Just the Ford), offers to save brave knight and take the safe home for us. A man in another truck turns up, offers help and starts to tell the woman she could have got help from the store. Imagine the pleasure I had telling him how this was actually a British man moment which had caused the problem!

THE BIKES:

On order:

1 Road King, Cobalt Blue. 103 Cu conversion, 6 speed gear box, small screen, rear sissy bar and rack, chrome skull footplates, brake pedal, gear levers and grips, chrome engine cover, oil cooler, 9 spoked chrome wheels, with tear drop discs and chrome front end. Power commander Sampson pipes and chip. LOUD!
1 Deluxe "Nostalgia" Cobalt blue, chrome HD Grips and footplate, crash bars, oil cooler, with chrome cover., lockable panniers, chrome rack. chipped and staged, small smoked screen.

COST:

Suffice is to say you wouldn't have managed to buy all the accessories for the Road King in the UK for the money. At last we truly are Californian Dreaming and indeed any nurses amongst you who read the "Nursing Standard" will have seen Hyawatha's article about how much less stress there is over here.

We are nearly ready for the first wave of you to come over, we have discovered even more since our move to Vacaville and can't wait to take you to Lake Tahoe, where we went two weeks ago, the snow will be melted but still plenty to do.

Imagine this, 32 miles north of here is Sacramento, as you approach at this time of year, you see the snow capped mountains ahead, the sign says that Lake Tahoe is over 100 miles away, but those mountains are the Sierra Nevadas where the lake is situated. You drive over rolling hills passing small towns, which are as quaint as you have seen in films and then you reach the mountains, going up and up, the snow on the sides of the road getting deeper over 8 feet in places, after reaching the 7,000 ft marker it is time to go down. All of a sudden you can see the airport and lake ahead and below you as you drive down a twisting cliffside road, 1,000 ft below to be precise. Now as has been mentioned before, Fagin is scared of heights, Guess who was driving and the scenery was to our right no more need be said.

The journey was worth it, the lake was blue and stretched for miles, into Nevada, which was 5 miles from where we stopped. They were just at the end of scudo hiring season and starting up the summer events, boat trips, with dinner. Jet Ski hire (We reckon converted from the scudos). Time for a snow ball fight, wearing t-shirts of course, the locals couldn't have thought we were mad, cause right next to us was a heated outdoor pool, where people were taking a dip!

On the wat back, Fagin thought he had found a bear print in the snow, only there was just the one, and unless bears can fly, then unlikely.

Well HOGmates, will keep you updated, Miss and love you all loads. Thankyou all of you who welcomed Cazzie and Jo during Easter, they had a great time as usual.

The Three Nor Cal Americanos
 

We have been so busy, we guess you may have thought we had forgotten you all. Well you are all wrong, we think of you every day and besides, you have had plenty to do, now the season has started. We have discovered that in june there will be a 2,000 strong run down H 1, so guess who will be going too, awesome eh. We were getting disappointed about the lack of big events, thinking the Yanks really didn't know how to do things properly.

We have both completed our bike training (CBT over there) and will soon have our Californian driving licences. You have the choice of bike training or going round in circles a couple of times (Yes Bee I do have plenty of practice at that!!). the training is CHP organised. Despite the heat 38 c and some boredom, in the main we both had fun, seeing how quickly, we could get round the corners and weave on our massive 250 Suzuki bikes. We have been asked to become trainers, Fagin is applying, its well paid (20 pounds per hour) and you need only do one weekend a month.

Its hot hot hot, sunny sunny sunny, and so we have arranged the use of a local pool, to cool down, you need to here, AC is a must too. Funny thing though, SF is always about 18 degrees C lower. The other day it was all fogged in and when the fog comes in its fast. i watched a hawk playing in the thermals, out of one of my patients windows on that day, he was coming right up to the window, it was a beautiful site.

The Cider ally looked good, can't wait to see Spring fever Pix. Meanwhile, we are getting Quotes for replacement windows and for the outside of the house to be painted yellow instead of the dull grey it is now. it is a pretty house and needs to be brightened up, ready for Cazzie and Jo's visit in August, the plane tickets are at Heathrow waiting, and we are so excited. I understand that Jo will be coming down south to see you all in the summer first.

Snake you will be so pleased to see the frames we have organised for the Chapter Photo and the compilation poster you made for our unofficial leaving do. They are so impressed by your work, that we could probably get you a few commissions when you and Lippy visit

Well peeps, got to go for a swim. Love you and miss you all loads.

The 3 Nor Cal Americanos.
 

Fagin and I have picked up our bikes at last, Mine still needs to be blinged up, but all fagin needs is his power commander, chip, rev counter and LOUD PIPES. In true Hyawatha style, since Saturday I have clocked up over 600 miles, and my new baby will be having her 1000 mile service on Tuesday. Cause the weather is so glorious over here, usally about 30 degrees and sunny, we have both enrolled into the 100,000 miles club, it may take a couple of years, but we will get patches along the way. First Natter nite tonite with Napa/Salano HOG, looking forward to that, but won't be as good as Bob Longs Tiptoe venue I'm sure, after all you all won't be there, but we will liven things up a bit.

Any how this was a quickie during nite duty to let you all know we haven't forgotten you all, still love you and miss you loads.

Hyawatha, Fagin and Little Feathers

See Hyawatha & Fagins new bikes !
 

Hi all HOG mates it is very hot & sunny

Went to Marine World, Hyawatha fed one of the Dolphins, who laughed at her, then she stroked an Elephant, which gently leant into her for more and the Tiger just missed spraying us, you should have seen the baby cheetah, it’s a really great place to visit.

We have been back to Lake Tahoe, after going into Nevada, and checking out the casinos we came back into California and discovered a craft fair, which included Indian jewellery and Dream Catchers all authentically made and much more intricate than you can buy in the shop, Hyawatha was in her element, we intend to visit a Reservation soon, cause Hyawatha thinks that there is a huge mark up on Indian ware and she would much rather put the cash in the artists pocket. We found a couple on the way to the Avenue of Giants, which is the New Forest, but with Sequoias, some wider than a Ford 250, it had quaint little villages, shops selling wooden carvings and a river running right through it. People actually went down onto the shoreline and set up their tents. It was reminiscent of a western movie, but that is no surprise, since we are on the West coast. We went onto the river shore, and picked a few outstanding pebbles, including fools gold, it had blue, red, orange, grey striated, white striated and black pebbles. Yet another great day out.

We have also been to Bodega Bay, which is like Swanage without the buildings, it is part of a National Park, with barbecue areas and seating on the beach. Further out are rocks on which seals basque in the sun, and the sea has great waves to swim in, it is very popular with local HOG Chapters and Napa and Salono have several visits a year as part of their runs. The Director of the Chapter, which we have now joined, is quite keen for our New Forest mates to visit us here, and join in Chapter activities, we have been welcomed in the usual HOG manner. Our activities include, keeping a stretch of the I 80 clean, which we do with CHP help.

Vacaville HD had an open day last weekend, Fagin, convinced a Vallejo Chapter member that we had come to visit from England, cause we heard the food and entry was free. Yes peeps, we still wear our NF patches with pride. We have noticed the most gorgeous Harley trikes over here, expect they would be cheap too, we know a couple of you would be interested, so just let us know and we will look into it for you.

We have now had our grey house painted yellow, we are not sure what the locals make of it, but the Americans do like bland, dull colours, However, they are adjusting to bumble BEE yellow. Wonder what they will make of Fagins’ ENGLAND t-shirt on 4th July?

Will e-mail again soon love you and missing you all,

Fagin , Hyawatha & Little Feathers (AKA The Norcal Americanos)
 

Hi ya’all, Its been a long time in coming but here is another Letter from America.

We have been to Yosemite three times now, what an awesome place, photos just don’t do it justice. First time was with Napa and Salono HOG on our bikes, 480 miles we did that day, but real scary coming out on a mountainside winding road. We have also been there with our in-laws and Jo and Cazzie, its just so beautiful there, so despite the distance, we spend as much time as possible. Fagin and I even managed to do a bit of rock climbing up to a waterfall, as a challenge to ourselves, but it was a one time achievement for us both. Little feathers has taken pictures of the basin into which the falls drop.

We have also been up to lake Tahoe a few more times, little feathers and Jo encouraged me to go up on a cable car to the top of a mountain. Fagin and Cazzie were too frightened, but what a view, only thing was to see it, you had to get off onto a metal platform, through which you could see fresh air and a long drop. I closed my eyes the kids grabbed my arms and the Rangers told me I would fall closing my eyes. They were really amused by my reaction, it was like, if your afraid of heights why come up here. They obviously don’t have kids of their own! Little feathers took a picture of some golfers through a viewfinder, when we got home, we realized that the Reno-Tahoe PGA championships was being held, result or what.

San Francisco has been visited by Tony Blair, the only reaction the Americans gave was that the main street ( Market street) was closed off, making traversing the city very difficult and then UKs Chief medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, came to lecture at UCSF on behalf of WHO about patient safety. The staff were amazed following his lecture, when I told them about the huge safety issues in the UK, ie, patients being placed in front of fire exits, or in Endoscopy, or filling up nurses stations, or bespaces being condemned for use by more than a certain number of beds being filled with more and this is in an NHS hospital that has now achieved Foundation status, scary or what!

We have been to the State Fair and Waterworld in Sacramento, a great day out, loads of stalls selling, everything you could possibly need. Cazzie got a new school bag for 3 pounds, not bad eh. Nearly bought an all singing all dancing mixer, but decided to get a Magic Bullet instead at a quarter of the price. Got a great ice cream recipe which is made of nuts, cherries, pears peaches apples and natural yogurt, real healthy and thirst quenching. It literally is throw them all together and freeze. We are lucky to have fruit and nut trees here around Vacaville so can buy the ingredients cheaply at the market.

Fagin and the kids have toured the local jelly bean and Budweiser factories, they really enjoyed themselves, so there is another place to visit, when we start our tour company. Talking of which, following Uncle Phils’ Charity party, Congratulations’ “Dad”. Well got to go now, going shopping with the girls (Little Feathers is back at school)

Love to you all as always

Hyawatha and Fagin

See Gallery of Pix associated with this dispatch  (added 05-09-06)
 

Hiya All.

Yet another busy month over here, and loads more news.

We managed to help out with the Napa-Salano HOGs’ annual charity “Poker Run” this year, Fagin was sweep on the third outing while I and the kids helped out at Vacaville HD and at the end point in Yountville Veterans’ Home, grounds, which is in the Napa valley. The kids gave out raffle prizes, whilst I boogied to the band, helping out with the food. The organization was great, loads of drink and food included in the ticket price and the band was very good. The best thing was the Veterans, coming up to join in the fun, in their motorised chairs, blagging food off us and taking over sweep position as the runs came in. The kids seemed to enjoy themselves, once the waiting around had finished and did Fagin and me proud, with their hard work.

Then we were privileged to be involved in, was another happy event for, NF Road Cap’n Bob and Liz, following the birth of their grandchild and their daughters wedding, when they came over, to renew their wedding vows, after 30 years of wedded bliss?, well it certainly seems like it and their chosen spot, Vegas of course! During Bike Fest weekend, it might as well have been at the best time of the year, when 40,000 bikes, mainly Harleys’ took over the town. Melvin and Mickey, will give the details of the day in their write up, but the fun we had leading up to this event, I will write about.

The Landing:
Fagin and I decided to give Cap’n Bob, Liz, Mike and Lyn a Harley escort, but we missed each other, and so we went straight to their hotel in San Francisco (SF), which was just off Union Square. We had to call Little Feathers in Vacaville, to contact Bob, and hold a three way conversation to ensure a final successful Rendezvous. Once they had settled into the hotel, they told us that Melvin and Mickey would be meeting us in Vegas, then they wanted to book their trip to Alcatraz. So, we showed them how to get to the Cable Car, and whilst we didn’t “hang out”, that was one tourist adventure that SF has to offer, successfully completed, down California Street, which has some of the steepest hills, great. Whilst the rest booked the trip, I took Liz to my favourite coffee houses in Pier 39, on the wharf, where we had a drink and a piece of Passion Cake. Following this, we made our way to restaurant on the upper deck of the pier, and had dinner, overlooking the bay. Then we admired the Piers’ Sea Lion population and did a bit of shopping, Liz found a Betty Boop bag, which as those of you who know her will be aware, she had to have and got. We couldn’t get a taxi to seat 6, and so two taxis were the order of the day. Fagin, Mike and Lyn in the first one. Bob, Liz and me in the second. Well, I gave the address of the hotel, whilst Bob said “Follow that taxi”. The driver, decided he mean’t, get there first. Forget Roller Coasters, this taxi took off at full speed going up the hills, and coming down Taylor Street. If you haven’t already, you really need to watch an episode of Monk, his apartment is on Taylor Street, it is steeper than California street ( The award winning coloured ball advert was on California street) and Liz and I yelped as we took off at the top, diving downwards, I am not quite sure whether or not from sheer terror or excitement. We got back to the hotel a full two minutes before the others. By the time Fagin and I left, it had been agreed that the four visitors would spend a day at “Our Gate” in Vacaville and we would show them our local sites. Where’s Vacaville Bob?
A Couple of days latter, the two couples came up to Vacaville, spending a day and a night, before going down Coastal Highway 1 to LA and then onto Vegas. We met a Vacaville HD all clothing acquired was, at a discount, then Fagin and I led both cars to our favourite, country and western store, which also sells leathers, boots and HD shoes etc. They were selling bike boots for 15 quid and great hats and belts. Needless to say a few items were bought, and there were mumbles as to why we had gone there, because the shop caters for all tastes making spending money irresistible.

Shopping and Wine Tasting:
We then took our guests, back to Ourgate, to park their cars and pick their rooms. Liz loved the girls room at the top of the house, which has a Romeo and Juliet balcony, which looks down into the upstairs living room; very apt; Lyn chose the green room, which overlooks the willow tree and rose garden. Unfortunately, despite it being warm, there was no time for a swim in our pool, as there was plenty more to do. We all piled into the Durrango, and headed for Faifield, to look at more clothes. Lyn was impressed by the dress shop where we got Jos’ prom dress and spent time in there choosing a dress for her granddaughter. Dissapointingly the Indian shop was closed, and Liz checked out Torrid, she bought a skirt.

Next was the trip we had all been waiting for, Napa, wine tasting, my favourite hobby and Liz has been known to enjoy a glass or two too. Well we had a blast, Rich and Lyn enjoyed the performance while the rest of us just went for it. Mike, Bob and Liz are now experts at describing the textures and tastes of wine, so don’t be surprised if they tell you how they prefer a buttery taste to theirs! I lost count of how many we visited, but they certainly made an impression, Convincing the Wineries staff that they were Britains’ Wine Ambassadors and even taking over behind one of the counters for a photo shoot at the request of our expert. A trend that then all the visitors joined in with, Liz got a very special hat to remind us of the great time we had. 

Richard drove us through the mountains past Lake Berryesa on the way home, our relaxed visitors thoroughly enjoyed the scenery on the way back to Vacaville and finally to Tahoe Joes’ for dinner, before returning home where three of the four fell asleep, after their long day.

Vegas:
Luckily, we decided to take the Durango, to go to Vegas, armed with our trusty Satnav, we set of at 6am, to drive the 600 miles. There were a few steep mountains on the way, to go through, long trains with hundreds of carriages and peaks covered with windmills. Then we came over the top of one mountain range, into the Mojave Dessert. The wind was 40mph, with sand storms, it was hard enough keeping the truck on a straight line, and trying to avoid the tumbleweed. Some of those bikers, didn’t have protective leathers and must have been sand blasted as well as the side winds catching their bikes, you could see that it was really difficult for them. We passed the famous plane graveyard, which was hundreds of square feet of land, and even the very old decommissioned planes had the paint work as fresh as 20-30 years ago. We eventually got into Vegas at 4:15pm settled into our hotel room, cheap at the price of 18 pounds a night each, during bike fest week when prices go up. It was clean and tidy, somewhere to put our heads down. We went to the New York New York hotel to meet Bob, Liz Mike and Lyn and had time to look around, including the eating area, which was set up like the streets of New York and of course had a little gamble. We decided to walk to the Harley Café for dinner. The best way to describe this place is it has the atmosphere of the Ace Café, but with excellent food and plenty of it, I had Newcastle Brown, to wash my salad down; great! All during this enjoyable repast, 2006 models of Harleys, were floating over our heads, it had to be seen to be believed. We then took the two couples back to their hotel (following a slight delay), the Stratosphere, with a 300ft tower, the top of which has a mini theme park, including a rollercoaster, which drops the brave riders over the edge, we are unsure as to whether the two couples had a go.

The next day Fagin and I went to the Rally stalls, starting with the old town Vegas and catching a shuttle bus up to the show ground. LA Choprods ( responsible for John Lees’ bike) were there, but didn’t see any of them, only their customised bike. Big Bear, an Aussie living in California, who won one of the 2006, biker build offs this year, signed a poster for me. He is a genuinely nice guy. Then when we were looking at cool vests, we met “Chill out!! Designs”, Lyn from the Chillout Chapter anywhere, met them on her travels two years ago, they were so excited and couldn’t believe we knew her!, Lyn if you read our letters they send their love to you.

After we had spent a few hours browsing, it was time to go and get ready for the big event. Melvin will tell you all about it, but what a great time we had. Over to you Melvin *

CAP'N BOB & LIZZIE (RE)TIE THE KNOT

Wednesday 6th September & we’re at Heathrow waiting for our flight to LosAngeles, Cap’n Bob & Lizzie are already at the airport along with Mike & Lin awaiting their flight to San Francisco, a quick chat & we head our separate ways to meet the following week in the USA.

We spent the night in an LA Airport hotel but had very little sleep owing to the 8 hours time difference. We collect our car & head towards the Rocky Mountains. 9days later, having ridden two steam railroads, one in Colorado one in New Mexico, reluctantly explored several ancient Indian dwellings, visited several HD dealerships & eaten far too much American food, we arrive at Las Vegas for the annual Bikefest & to meet up with Cap’n Bob & Lizzie, plus several thousand other Harley Owners, but unlike us, most of them were riding their Harleys.

The bike show was held in Fremont street which is now under a canopy adorned with tens of thousands of light bulbs, which give a fantastic display to music every half hour after dark. Despite most of the bikes in the show capable of out classing anything in the UK, the light bulbs won most peoples attention.

Most of the action was about a mile down the road in the Convention Centre. Lots of radical bike manufacturers, clothing & after market parts suppliers were exhibiting, interesting but all were a bit of an
anti-climax with what Las Vegas had to offer all year round.

However, we’re not here for the Bikefest, we’re here to celebrate Lizzie & Bobs 30th Wedding Anniversary by them renewing their wedding vows, not by the local Vicar, but by Elvis. Believe me it was the best wedding ceremony I have ever been to.

We have now met up with Fagin and Hiawatha who have made the days drive from their new home in the Napa Valley for the big event, & Rob and Gail, work friends of Bob. We are met outside the Stratosphere by Sonya & her Limo & are soon driven to the Elvis Chapel.

A pre matrimonial briefing for the Bride & Groom by Elvis before he escorts Lizzie up the aisle on his arm singing ‘Love me Tender’ with the words aptly amended to suit the occasion. 

The wedding vows rendered by Elvis with quotes, quips & songs from lots of his hits, with Bob replying in an American accent which he had apparently been rehearsing for months, 

Lizzie in turn answered sincerely but amidst her fits of giggling.

The ceremony performed & after several minutes of audience participation in the atrium, Elvis all too soon leaves the building followed by the Bride the Groom & the guests.

After the mandatory photographs, Sonya bundles us into her Limo to take us the reception, which is to be held appropriately in the Harley Davidson Café. The steaks were really good. I’ve not had food like it in a HD Café since Lizzie left the Coffee Shop in DG20 all those years ago. Unlike DG20 they sold Bud on draft. The waiter soon got fed up replenishing our glasses & we ended up with our own beer fountain on the table, still not big enough though & the waiter even had to replenish this. 

The second fountain emptied & was I hallucinating or had the myth exploded, there were 2 more Elvis’s amongst us. Does that mean that Bob & Lizzie were married by a fake?  

Too much food, too much beer & a great day was over. We said our goodnights, made arrangements to meet for a Champagne breakfast the next day & the Bride & Groom departed for the Honeymoon Hotel. Being a little naïve & suffering from over indulgence, I assumed they would do what people do whilst on honeymoon, evidently not in Vegas.

It became clear at breakfast that Mike & Bob hit the Roulette table until after 3 in the morning, it would have been later but allegedly Mike, having won the deeds to the Casino, reluctantly gave them back together with the contents of his wallet.

After breakfast we said our goodbyes for real & vowed to meet again, although not in Las Vegas but at the Autumn Blitz Rally later that week.

Cap’n Bob & Lizzie head off to the Grand Canyon via Route 66 in their Chrysler convertible with Mike & Lin following in theirs. Micky & I have two days left to enjoy Las Vegas before heading home, I get to choose where we eat, but she gets to choose where we shop.

A terrible flight home in the tail end of a hurricane, a few hours sleep then we head for Sandford totally knackered but having had a great time

MELVYN & MICKY
NFHOG 310

Hiya everyone,

Not long now till Christmas, so thought we’d better get in a last update from over the pond for this year, cause we are intending to celebrate our first year in California and go to all the parties on offer. Can’t believe its been almost a whole year since Ali, had to leave her beloved Cleo and Casper behind, in the Wee hours of a cold (-4º C) morning to take us to the airport, with Pompey John keeping us all company on the cell phone all the way. And here were we thinking we had got away from the cold, but its been 0º C, overnight, with a promise of -1º C (29ºF) for two nights next week, Hyawatha couldn’t believe seeing the frost on the way home last night. 

Despite this had a great Thanksgiving weekend, which is bigger than Christmas. A whole month celebration, awesome! Hyawatha was “called off” on Thursday, due to not enough patients, which she didn’t mind, cause she is due some annual leave and she was paid overtime anyway. It was a beautiful sunny Autumnnal day, the town roads, were deserted and we had plenty of time. So we decided to go and find a little café in Fairfield, that we discovered 3 years ago; when we came for Hyawatha to do her Nursing Exam; which was the main cause for our buying a house in Vacaville, since the nearest HD shop was here. So we retraced our steps to where we had turned off the twisty windy mountain side road to Berryesa (It was foggy and wet and Fagin lost his nerve on that day). We too have natter nights, which because of the size of Napa-Salano HOG, is a monthly meeting chaired by the Committee, with updates, it is at the Rockville Inn at Fairfield. Most of you will at this point have a good idea of what is coming next. After 30 minutes or so of driving, enjoying the view and chatting, we reach the turning and retraced our steps. We both recognized the crossroads when we reached them sure enough, there to our left was that little café, and there to the right was the Rockville Inn. Now we are not as dumb as we may appear, for two reasons, firstly, we approach that crossroads, with the Inn straight ahead of us and secondly, the café has a porched tiled roof at the front, but looks like a Nissan Hut at the back. It was a good laugh.

Recently, one of our NS HOG Charter members died, he was a fire-chief Fagin joined the escort and was impressed by the whole occasion. Firemen are revered over here, and there are several fire stations in Vacaville. This mean’t that not only was there a 30 strong Harley escort, but police outriders and fire engines with lights flashing, the fire engines stopping the traffic for their colleagues, slow but smooth passage, making sure that not only did the procession go past his own fire station, but other stations too, so that he could be saluted, all the stations flags were at half mast on that day. It was certainly a good send off.

After Cap’n Bobs’ return to England, Fagin got himself a job, making Marina floats. It was poor pay, unsocial hours (leaving at 3AM) and they were expected to do hours of overtime with no notice. He lasted for a month, that was long enough, but he made a good friend and his Jamaican wife, who can cook!! All being well, next Christmas will be spent near Reno at their second ranch house. Fagin will be taught how to ride horses and so his promise will eventually be kept albeit, several years late!!

We went to Muir woods last month as a Birthday surprise for Hyawatha. Muir woods is on the Marin side of the Golden Gate bridge, hidden in the mountains and a wonderful place to spend a day walking. When we first came here Uncle Phil, told us we really needed to visit. Now all of us who know uncle Phil, enjoyed his rides, because they were off the beaten track and we needed to be prepared to ride small winding country lanes, which is how my riding Hyawatha's riding skills were developed. If you can imagine the same scenario, but up and down mountain roads, Luckily, we took our 4x4 SUV, Not sure whether or not Fagin got there by feel, cause his eyes were tightly shut all the way there and out. Uncle Phil was right. Muir woods has many types of trees including Sequoias, it is secluded, peaceful, with many variety of birds, it has areas where you can picnic and walks up to two hours long. When we left we made our way to Sausalito for dinner at a waterside restaurant we had been to in 2003, so we went a different root. At the end of a valley, we found an Inn called the Pelican, which looked just like an English Inn, though we didn’t stop there, we will go back. Hyawatha has asked her work colleagues, apparently the inside has character, for those of you looking for a project, it would make a great British restaurant/pub.

We have had some rain lately, not as much as in Blighty, but enough to turn the Prairie grass on the mountains from golden to luscious green. Fagin and little Feathers are happy, because they do not have to water the garden anymore. The scenery has changed to a mix of palm trees , fir trees that fill the air with smell of fir resin and trees with leaves of gold, brown, red and orange. People have started putting out their Christmas lights, the Christmas trees, baubles and decorations are so much nicer and cheap, we have had such fun, buying them. When we still need a garden lighted sculpture, and as much as the girls love Tigger and Eyaw, the big blow up sculpture aint for us. Looks like we will be having Goose for Chritmas dinner, since Vacaville has been invaded by them, Fagin is being sent out to catch one next month. Halloween was a great celebration too, but then the Americans do not have Bonfire night. Halloween is themed with pumpkin pie, Orange and Brown decorations for everything and straw bales, this continues until Thanksgiving, it’s a true Harvest festival lasting a month. Fagin bought himself a devil mask, which he wore on his bike. Other road users were laughing, making eye contact at the traffic lights to let us know that he was nuts, but they approved, one car nearly crashed were the driver was pointing out this bizarre sight to his passengers, but they were fine.

Remembrance day or Veterans day has a bank holiday on the Friday nearest the 11th, but it is not acknowledged in the same way as we do. We bought a poppy of a veteran, but they don’t wear them. The general public have little idea of its meaning, which is surprising considering that the Americans’ profess to support their troops. 

We are sad to hear about Elf, we met her last year. It is as much due to Snake and Lippys’ love for her that she survived until recently and we are impressed. On a good note, it looks like Alis’ foot is improving, as always, she has managed to accept, what for most of us would be a life changing event, with good grace and humour, that is why we love you Ali. Dirty Doris meanwhile is making a slower but progressive recovery and has been ordered to take it easy, we know you are bored, but you deserve a rest! By the way Pompey Pete, Needed 2 Dirty Doris Fan club T-Shirts. Finally, congrats to Cap’n Bob and Martha and Dirty Doris and Bee on the safe delivery of your grandchildren.

That’s all Folks for 2006. Have a great Christmas and New Year. Love to you as always. Next Letters from America on www.snakespix.co.uk 2007. Lippy, kept our promise, kept you updated.

RIDE SAFE

LATEST PIX OF FAGIN & HYAWATHA'S DES RES IN VACAVILLE (NOV 2006)

January 2007: Letter From America.

Hello everyone, We hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year. It would appear that 2006 was a year of sadness that affected all NF HOG members, lets hope for a better 2007.

We have had a great time over here. Our new friends and neighbours have made sure that we have seen Christmas American style. We swapped our British cuisine for American fare, delicious cakes and home made candy with our neighbours, they also gave us a bottle of wine or two, where were you Martha, We had to drink it all on our own! Our neighbours also suggested we should take a trip to Down Town Vacaville, to a street called Candy Cane Lane. The light show was unbelievable blue fairy lights made into rivers and ponds, deer that moved, the whole street and one next to it were aglow but tastefully done. A constant flow of  cars driving up and down the street taking in this light fiesta. Fagin and I thought that the residents must get sick and tired of the invasion, but they do it for charity requesting a donation. Having said that our end of the street, did a very good job too! Most of us using some of the techniques witnessed at Candy Cane Lane. Thankfully, the other end weren’t so enthusiastic, because we really don’t want the same kind of attention.

In the beginning of December NandS HOG, had their charity run to Macdonald House in Sacramento to take food and toys for sick children and their families who reside there. 127 bikes turned up at Vacaville HD dealership, we then went to Dixon for breakfast and had a police escort to get us back onto the I 80.  Marshall, our new Seargant at Arms and who also works at the HD shop, dressed up as Father Christmas and led us in a side car. Ronald himself greeted us at the front entrance and because we had made the effort to come all the way from England (We had heard about the party), he gave us a little Macdonald teddy bear.

When the kids finished telling Santa Clause what they wanted for Christmas, I requested a 103 CI engine for my Nostalgia (Deluxe), he promised me he would, but I haven’t got it yet, maybe he couldn’t fit it onto his sledge or the reindeer complained about the weight. After we had eaten and had a couple of cold drinks, we went out to give the children a ride. I had this little girl on the back, twice, telling me to go faster, my kind of gal. She couldn’t get enough and so I told the next chap she got a ride with, to step it up. We all got letters from the House Manager, thanking us, personally signed by her. I guess she doesn’t realize that it was as much fun for us as it was helpful for the kids and their families. Next time we will take our clear glasses cause we had to go before it got dark and there was still more to do.

The next day, we did the Vacaville toy run, organized by ABATE , who invited N+S HOG, to join in. We all met at Moose Lodge (basically a Social Club) and enjoyed a hearty breakfast, There were even more bikes and the GT Cruiser club too. The first thing that happened was the ABATE, put up a new Stars and Stripes outside the Lodge, to the cheers of us all. Marshall, gave us the instructions as to where we were going, that the cars would be at the back and since this event was marshaled by ABATE, to let them through. Then off we went, at a good rate, the roads were blocked of by the Marshals, unfortunately most of the riders are not used to this kind of riding and were not pulling over. Despite this, the Marshals successfully kept the pack together and it was a success.

When we arrived at Down Town Vacaville, traffic had to wait while we filed passed the huge lit up tree and onto the car parks. Then we dismounted, collected the toys we had brought and made our way back to the Tree, to hand our gifts to the Marines. Then it was of to a bar for Sierra Nevada and a chat.

The following week was N+S Christmas party at moose Lodge. Turkey is for Thanksgiving, ham steak and fish is the choice of food for Christmas. It was here that I discovered Brandy Egg-Nogg, luckily Fagin was driving, because the police had put up road blocks and were sobriety testing all road users. It was a great night out, and for once we won a couple of raffle prizes, including a HD clock made out of an old LP, looks great in our kitchen.

Little Feathers is a happy bunny, he got a leopard Gecko for Christmas, he has christened it Lennie. It’s a great laugh watching Fagin and Little Feathers trying to feed Lennie his live Crickets.

Hyawatha had quite a fright a couple of weeks ago, riding home from UCSF, she doing about the speed limit in the outside lane up the four lane I 80, when her bike started to behave in the most unusual fashion, almost as if the  bolt holding the handle bars and front tyre onto the bike had fallen out. She quickly realized that her rear tyre was suddenly going flat, so slowed down put on her hazard lights and tried to pull over into the hard shoulder. Now California drivers are not the best or most considerate drivers in the world, so three miles later, Hyawatha eventually arrived on the hard shoulder, put her jiffy stand down and her bike duly started to drop onto its side, luckily she was able to support it down. So here is the first lesson as given by Cap’n Bee, if you have a flat tyre, do not use the Jiffy stand it won’t work and the bike will fall down. Yep he was right. Hyawatha called up Fagin straight away, not wanting to remain on the side of the road late at night whilst awaiting recovery. Second lesson, We need to get a bike trailer ASAP, for our SUV, despite HOG offering retrieval once a year, only to the nearest dealership, and if that’s closed tough, they will pay the first $100, the rest is up to you. It cost over $200, for the retrieval. Fagin arrived, and parked the Durango behind the bike. Whilst Hyawatha, collected stuff from the panniers, in scrubs only, her bike gear being in the back of the Durrango, Mr CHP pulls up. After ascertaining that Hyawatha, really was not riding the bike just wearing scrubs, Mr CHP sat behind the Durango for a while. 1:30 hrs latter the towing company arrived. Hyawatha drove the SUV home, whilst, Fagin directed the driver. Turned out a screw had become lodged in the rear tyre. Thank goodness, this event was not as disasterous as Roger Allens, Hyawatha, all through this was thinking about what happened to Roger and his Mrs, The Gods must have been smiling on her that day.

Two days previously on my way to work, I was on third street between Irving and Parnassus, which is where the UCSF Medical centre is situated, when six Racoons, decided to run across the road, having stopped safely, I had to get going again, on a steep San Francisco hill, no laughing matter, but was successful, thanks to the quality training we get in the UK. Hill starts, emergency stops and walking speed manoevures are not part of the California bike test, and so an awful lot of American bikers are unable to manage these tasks. In fact if you don’t learn the basics on bike training, then the test consists of two circles one way a chicane up a chicane down and two circles the other way. Then you can buy any bike you want and kill yourself.

Fagin has started working for an agency, which sends staff to oil refineries, because they have to wear respirators at times, he had to shave off his goatie. He just does not look like Fagin anymore. Still he seems to be enjoying driving F450s, around. And those of you that know him would be proud, guess who climbs up ladders onto the top of these huge silos daily? Sometimes he gets bored, but he finds the variety of work enjoyable and despite the long hours (12-16 hrs a day), he seems to be quite perky
 

With this newsletter, We are sending a picture taken when we visited Yosemite in July, more proof that Fagin is getting over his fear of heights. By the way that is not snow but granite lighting up the hills.

Well that seems to be all the news for now: RIDE SAFE : Love to you all, can’t wait for the next visitors.   A big thank you to Lyn and Mike for our Christmas Pressie  We love it!!  And to Dirty Doris and Bee Ditto!!

Hyawatha, Fagin and Little Feathers            XXXXXXXX

April 6^th 2007

So here is the second letter for this year. We are delighted to see that Pompey John has become Eastern Area Rep and has already make himself known by his enthusiasm and support for the Eatern Area NF HOG membership. We look forward to joining one of his pub meets in the future.

Meanwhile, we have been busy over the pond working and playing now the weather has brightened up. Little Feathers school has a 1966, muscle car, that they periodically take up the track in Infinion and Sac Raceway, both of which they have visited in the last three weeks. Hyawatha went with the kids and their Autoclass teacher up to Sacramento. What a great afternoon was spent. A couple of lads took their own cars to go up the dragrace course and so there were about 8 cars in total, including a trailer on which the muscle car was taken. Hyawatha, took up the rear to stop cars cutting into the convoy and off they went up the I80.  A picnic had been packed, so Hyawatha, fed some of the lads and made sure they had drinks. The school car had to be driven by a sixteen year old to qualify and at the Sac raceway didn’t  do too well. Managed 2^nd place at Infinion three weeks later though, but will need to have roll bars fitted, meaning the kids can’t drive it if it is tweaked more, so an ideal result for the lads. If you want to see the teacher messing about at the school, go onto.:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_W6FbSogs  Bikes also went up the track, the fastest being a GSXR at 140 MPH in ¼ mile. It was quite disappointing that the drivers and riders don’t have good clutch or gear change control and so the speeds could have been better. Anyone can pay their money to take their vehicle up the course, and so they are not professionals, this is likely why so slow.

N+S HOG made another visit to Ronald MacDonald House in Sacramento on 1^st April, to take up candy and chocolate, for the kids Easter Egg hunt. It was a great afternoon, we hid and chucked plastic containers over the grounds and then watched the kids gather them up. Seeing grown men close to tears, watching the kids faces light up is a very touching sight. Fagin as usual pratted around making everyone laugh, his wheelchair driving skills need some attention, you need to put the breaks on when parking on an incline and letting go! To see pictures in the future of this, and other days at the house go on to www.rmhcnc.org  A freebe, biker magazine reporter (Thunder Press) was with N+S HOG as one of its members, Fagin caught her attention, so she decided to interview Hyawatha (Fagin was too busy entertaining), she was interested to hear about the NF Branch, and was very surprised that HOG allowed it to be called a Branch and not a Chapter, guess its different in Europe. We then went to a bar on a country road, between Davis and Vacaville for lunch, huge hamburgers and salads, serenaded by a band, sun shinning, Newcastle Brown, great company, what more could you ask for.

Hyawatha had her 15,000 mile service last month and had LEDs put around the engine, looks great at night and if set on strobe with different coloured lights, could be mistaken for a police bike.  Went to see Wild HOGs last month, it is hilarious, now its over there we recommend you go and see it, a few Harleys must have been wrecked during the filming, if you are the sensitive type, just close your eyes during the crash scenes and it won’t hurt too much. Well peeps that’s all for now. RIDE SAFE. The 3 Americanos

June 2007

Its been a while since we have written to all our mates and so here we are our third letter of 2007.

You have by now seen the pic of  little Feathers at his prom, he  has now graduated and waiting for the right college. Meanwhile, he is looking for full time work. Napa/Solano HOG are selling Raffle Tickets for a 2007 Night Train, so we have bought one, and will give it to Little Feathers as a graduation presse if he wins. In the meantime, we have got him a Black Jack phone. What a great time we had getting it for him. Mothers day is in May over here and so we went to Singular in the pretence that I was getting a new mobile.  Fagin called him to ask which was the best, and true to form Little Feathers raved about the Black Jack. Our salesperson “Carlos” was great, we told him what we were doing and he took over the prank, by putting all Little Feathers’ details into the new phone, which stopped his old one from working. He then took it to the back of the shop and waited for us to bring Little Feathers back, so that the sim card could be changed. We went into the house and told Little Feathers off for not answering his phone. But oh dear it wasn’t working. All three of us returned to the shop, Carlos took over.

Carlos had explained to his customer what was happening, before we entered. Fagin in a fit of peak told Carlos that he somehow, when we had visited earlier to get my phone that Little Feathers phone had become disabled. Carlos was all apologetic, he took the phone to the back and a few minutes he returned, saying he had fixed the phone, placing the Black Jack in little Feathers Hand. His face was a picture, the customer thoroughly enjoyed the prank too.

UCSF, have done it again, they have given all their staff a IPOD shuffle, by way of a thank you and 100 yr celebration. I can listen to music while I ride if I want to on the way to work. Why can’t the NHS show their staff more respect and appreciation, cause I can tell you that I still rate British nurses and Doctors number 1, they work harder than any I have seen. Having said that our Haematology Oncologist Dr Kramer, is a very caring and hard working.

Fagin is now working alone organizing cleaning schedules so hopefully a pay rise soon. I have lost count of the number of times he has been to Salt Lake City. Didn’t Make LA this month though, due to a back injury he sustained whilst using a Jack hammer in a tank, don’t ask, I haven’t got a clue, he is much better now and we have been supporting NSHOG with their charitable drives, such as supporting Ronald Macdonald House in Sacramento, they have complete new garden furniture now and of course our own fund raisers, selling raffle tickets  for the Night Train at the Vacaville HD/Abate custom bike and car show. Just as Dockgate is under new management so is Vacaville HD and it is fantastic to see both dealerships are working even harder to communicate and assist their local HOG groups. We really love the new Dockgate page in the “Good Vibes” and look forward to visiting the new site when we next visit, which will probably be a while yet, cause there is so much to do over here!!  However, our New Director Nick is keen that NFHOG members who wish to visit CA will be made welcome by NSHOG and hopes that we can all have cheap holidays visiting each other and of course riding with each other. We are preparing for our Annual Poker Run, sorry wine country tour in August, Fagin and I are on the Whatever list to assist by doing what we are needed for. After That Cazzie and Jo-Jo are back for three weeks. This year we are going to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon (Arizona side) and Monterrey, its all booked, can’t wait!

We need to make special mention of Muva “Skully” HOG (Jilly) and latterly Captain Bee and Doris, all of whom have been, injured by uncaring, inattentive, selfish idiots in cars recently, rather reminiscent of the average Californian driver . Thankfully all have survived,  Muva of course received the worst injuries, all have to wait for months before their beloved bikes are repaired and during the rally season. We want to say get well quickly, love you loads our hearts are with you.

Now for the biggest news over here, for me anyway. On Saturday  9^th June at 5am, myself and 6 others left Vacaville HD, rode to Salem Oregon and back, 5 of the 6 bikes arriving home at 2am on Sunday.  Yes Folks the Iron Butt/Saddle Sore 1,000 miles. Now there are 2 members of NFHOG and 5 members of NSHOG who have achieved this feat and my story will follow. However, lets remember Roger Allen, managed his in the UK, no small feat I can tell you, but we did have great British weather in Oregon as you will see. You can view the pics of us getting ready to go  on Vacaville’s web site  which is www.vacavilleharleydavidson.com. Go onto specials and events.

The Iron Butt/Saddlesore endurance Ride June 2007

At half past three the alarm starts going, but I’m not really asleep, partly due to my next door neighbours son, playing loud music from his car and talking very loudly with his mates till 1am in the street. The main reason, though, this is 9^th June a big day for me, I am both excited and fearful this is going to be to much, but I really need to have a go. I have just spent nearly  $1,000 on my bike preparing, to ensure I have the best chance I can. My  beautiful Nostalgia has had its 20,000 mile service early, I have bought a sissy bar and pad so I can fit an extra bag on her  for warm clothing, dark chocolate, trail mix, water(Which I put in the panniers[Saddle Bags), and a first aid box. OK so some of the money was on extra bling, but she had to look her best.

My husband is coming down to Vacaville Harley Davidson® (HD) to sign our eyewitness reports, he can’t come on the run, because he is on call. So I let him lie in a little longer whilst I make sure everything is up together. Its soon time to go, the butterflies in my stomach are getting worse, but I can’t wait to start.  When we get there, Vacaville HD had arranged for a photographer who started snapping away if that’s what you call it these days with digital cameras. Although, this is not a Napa/Solano HOG event, we are all members and being British, I am also an associate member of New Forest HOG, one of those members Roger Allen having completed this feat in the UK, for which he has received acclaim from the Iron Butt Association, due to how difficult it is over there.

There are 7 of us altogether and 6 bikes. The run leader Chris, has brought spare maps, so that in the event we get split up we could rally further down the road. Chris and Jack both have Sat Nav (GPS equipment), and Jack has brought along his pillion (Passenger) Jen. Most of the bikes also have cruise control added, mine does not, but as you will see, albeit for half the ride, these can be pretty useless in certain conditions. The others were Bob (Rear Marker), who was connected via CB to Chris, Joe and finally Lloyd a veteran, accomplished rider and the most experienced of us all.

The route was simple, up the I 505 onto the I 5 , to Salem, Oregon and back and indeed the start was that simple. The weather was mild, the road was straight, but bumpy  and we made good time, Even going over the windy roads of Mount Shasta was a breeze, despite being a little chilly. We were having a great time, looking at the scenery. Then  roughly 300 miles in, it started to spit, not too awful, but enough for us to consider putting on jumpers and waterproofs. It was not particularly cold, but we knew that it was raining at Eugene.

Within the next 100 miles, Funnel clouds began to form and then it became cold and windy, this was soon followed by torrential downpours. Even though I had brought my all weather gear from England, I had made the mistake of not wearing my waterproof trousers; never mind saddle sore, saddle soaked was the order of the day;  My Caberg helmet visor was misting up, so I had to open it up the rain felt like needles against my face,  I could still only see a few yards ahead, with the greasy spray from the road causing an opaque wall of invisibility. The wind was trying desperately to lift my bike off its course and into other traffic and the road itself was becoming like an ice rink. We still had 100 miles to our half way point and our progress had slowed considerably. Mile after mile I came to the realization that if we were going to complete this in our allotted time, the relaxed meal that I had been looking forward to was not happening  and we would need to keep pressing on. Lloyd too was having difficulties, he could not see and his joints were starting to seize. Could this have been the damp and the effort required to keep our bikes on line, probably.

When we got to Salem HD our halfway marker, most of us parked our bikes under a small gazebo, conveniently left outside for us. The rain had abated a little, but we decided as group, time to grab a coffee, use the rest room, buy a couple of t-shirts and get our forms stamped. We wanted to get out of the rain, which we believed was going North East, before getting food.  Thank goodness for the chocolate., so we turned around and headed back.

We were greeted by the same conditions on reaching the I 5, wind, rain, cold and slippery. After almost reaching the 700 mile mark, we stopped at Oakland to refuel. By this time, the pain and numbness had become dangerous for Lloyd to continue. He could no longer safely manoeuvre his bike and so decided to get a room at a local motel and return the following day. It takes a big man to admit they can go no further, especially so far in, he was clearly disappointed. For us he was the man of the run. We made sure he had his room and pressed on. For a further 100 or so miles the elements continued to throw the rain, wind and cold at us, whilst we tried to negotiate mountainous winding steep graded roads, trying not to skid or lose control. We eventually stopped at Phoenix for a quick bite and then over Mount Shasta  where the weather became mild and a straight run home. By now I was completely exhausted. Bob was feeding me caffeine in the form of coke, wherever we refueled. My face looked like it had been sun burnt, from the driving wind and rain. 

200 miles to go and despite the weather being mild, the road being straight, but bumpy, my visor and leathers protecting me from  the shower of bugs, these were the hardest miles. By 15 miles to go, I had slowed considerably, I was taking longer to compute my environment. But with the help of Bob and Joe behind me I completed the ride, arriving home at 2.30 in the morning, sore, tired and elated. Would I do it again, you bet I would.

I have proudly announced to my colleagues at UCSF Medical Centre that my bum is sore, they are not quite so sure if I really want to announce it to the whole world, course I do I’m proud of it. The sponsorship for Ronald Macdonald House, Sacramento, who Napa/Solano HOG support, helped me achieve this feat and now, I am part of the elite Worlds Toughest Riders group  As for my beloved Nostalgia, I gave her a clean on Sunday and put her to bed, for three days, she didn’t complain once, throughout the journey.

Linda Ryder: aka Hyawatha