Contents
Welcome
Monthly Recap
Monthly Pictures
Upcoming Events (2 months)
Members Birthday’s
Meet & Greet Update, (Portland, BC, & Seattle)
Club Business
Reader’s Corner
Day Rides
The latest news regarding rider skill enhancement classes
Officer Reports
The BRMC 2020 Calendar of Events
Non BRMC Motorcycle Events
Request for pictures & closing comments.
Welcome
Border Riders Motorcycle Club (BRMC) is an organized group of guys who like to ride and camp. Our membership spans the Pacific Northwest, with the greatest participation in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver B.C. We have one of the largest memberships of gay clubs in North America. We welcome like-minded guests to come meet us at our monthly Meet & Greets and to join us at one of our club events and our local activities.
Check out our website. We are very proud of it. www.borderriders.com
Monthly Recap of (June)
Finally, and at long last, Summer is here… and in full force! Weekends are filling up with riding activities and June was no exception. Earlier in the month, BRMC members and guests joined up with Team Oregon for another round of advanced motorcycle riding skills development. Then it was off riding around Portland with the Dykes on Bikes group to celebrate Pride Month in our own way, as no parade was held again this year. Scattered around were various day rides smaller groups made locally in their areas. Finally, the month rounded out with a highly successful and fun ride out to Dayton Washington to the Lewis & Clark Trail campground, where we were treated to 100F+ temperatures offset by a cool river swim.
Most of us arrived by Friday late afternoon at the campground. Mark, Larry, and Dave were the first to arrive, with Mark having traveled 7 hours and Dave putting on some 300 miles with early starts to avoid both traffic and the exceptionally high heat baking the region. The campground is a nice flat grassy clearing surrounded by tall pines and lots of privacy bushes. RV’s and generators were far away, but road noise out in front of the campground was pretty distracting all day long. The park managers would not let us keep our bikes near us, so after unloading, back to a parking lot they went. Lots and lots of pea gravel to keep us on our toes while moving the bikes in the campground roads, and fortunately, everyone handled it like pros.
Friday night dinner was split between some going to Dayton and others going to Waitsburg. The restaurants and service are outstanding all around, so kudos to the locals. Back at camp after having filled our tummies and quick stops at the local markets, it was great to catch up with everyone and yammer on for hours into the night. No campfires were allowed, but given it was still over 90F at night, I don’t think anyone missed it.
Saturday morning saw us drag our butts out of the tents and slowly come alive in what was already a warming day. Eventually, we mounted out bikes and off to breakfast in Dayton. Again, the staff was amazing in getting us all fed with way too much food. After a bit, we grouped into riding packs and headed out into the wild to see what there was to see. Sadly, the renowned Rattle Snake canyon ride was not made by anyone as it was promised to be a very long day in extremely high heat. Safety first!
Back at camp, it was a quick strip down and into bathing suits for a jump in the river. The water was flowing well and the temperature was refreshing in the hot heat of the day. Oddly, though the campground is right along the river, access is not well developed and it takes a bit of poking around to get into it. Still, determination prevailed and a good time was had by all who took the dip.
After a quick cat nap for many of us (well, me in particular), we regrouped for our club meeting and photo (thanks, Leo), before heading out as a group to Whiskey’s Bar and Grill in Waitsburg. Again, outstanding service and food, and not to mention air conditioning. It’s only a short few miles to the camp, where we again settled in for the evening, chatted, ate ice cream, and turned in about dark (which is around 10 pm this time of year), for early risers around 5 am to start packing up and getting a start on the long ride home before it heated up in the afternoon.
Everyone made it home safely, though some did get some traffic jams to endure in the high heat, but at least no major problems with equipment or road incidences. Now, for everyone to wash the bugs off the bikes!
…Dave J
BRMC Group photo - Lewis & Clark Trail campground, Dayton, Washington
Monthly Gallery
Photos from members and guests from last month’s rides and adventures (or stolen from Facebook pages due to a lack of submissions). No photos were submitted this month.
Upcoming Events
Respectfully, please complete your 1st & 2nd vaccination 2 weeks prior to attending any “live” club event.
July 3rd - Seattle area day ride, see details below.
July 16th thru 18th - The July Campout & Club Meeting, Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, 65068 Old Oregon Trail, Meacham, Oregon, 97859
August 20th to 22nd - The August Campout & Club Meeting, Molalla, Oregon
August Campout: Charlie Horse Ranch, Molalla, Oregon
As a group campsite was not secured for the August campout, Dave J ponied up his place just outside of the town of Molalla. Located about 1 hr south of Portland and 7 more miles up the river from the town of Molalla, it sits on the cusp of forest land into the Cascade Range and the confluence of two rivers. The 2 acre property sports a full acre of lawn, dance hall, and social areas that also provide easy access for motorcycles and tents. Power is available to keep those CPAPs running all night. A honey pot toilet will be provided to help keep the septic system from being overwhelmed, and a shower can be used inside the house. The hot tub will be opened for anyone wanting to soak after a long day riding. I’ll submit a waiver application to the fire district to ask for a campfire, but don’t put to much hope on this for it this time of year. As a consolation, there is a propane fire pit located in the social area that we could fire up.
Current plans are Friday for dinner we’ll go into town. Saturday morning we’ll head to a local restaurant for breakfast, then fire up the big BBQ and make some burgers & brats for Saturday’s dinner. Sunday morning we’ll have coffee and pastries to get us all kick started, and information on places for breakfast if you want to eat on the way out.
The river is across the road and the neighbors allow us to use their access. August is the best time of year to take a cool dip in the water. There are a number of rides in the area that might interest you, of which a highlight destination is Silver Falls State Park, where some very nice waterfalls can be seen near the parking areas without having to hike far.
Upcoming Birthdays
We have 9 members with a birthday in July. Be sure and help us make them feel special.
Scott G - July 4th
Chris L - July 5th
John M - July 6th
Marc L - July 9th
David F - July 10th
André P - July 21st
Ryan S - July 24th
Jeremy W - July 24th
Dan S - July 25th
Meet & Greets
Due to Covid-19, the monthly M&Gs were canceled for July. BUT WAIT, there’s more.
Starting with August, we will go back to our regularly scheduled meet & greets, YAHOO.
Reader’s Corner
A place for you, the reader, member and/or guest, to contribute.
Tell us about your travels, adventures, mishaps, etc.
To contribute, send your story & pictures to President@BorderRiders.com
Dykes on Bikes 2nd Annual Portland Pride Ride
Stan C Submitted
Let me start with a HUGE shoutout for DOB Road Captain Rachal for pulling this off. I am guessing there were about 20 bikes and she managed to keep us all together while we rode through city traffic. She did get some help from a couple spot-on gunners so kudos to them as well. Big respect for you & your team Rachel.
So, what happened? In attendance from BRMC where brothers Alan H, Mark B, & myself, who were joined by guest Gabe T & Jesse K. We all gathered in Beaverton and launched the ride at 1:15. DOB allowed us to bring up the tail and we weaved our way through Beaverton and Portland arriving at Mt Tabor for a break & some social time. I left the music cranked during this break and a little dancing in the street occurred to the sounds of Sylvester. I don’t think it can get any queerer than that.
From there we rode back towards downtown Portland, through Milwaukie, and took our 2nd stop at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church. We were welcomed by many warm and friendly people with tons of pride flags a flying. There were many conversations about a variety of things, but Alan, Mark, and I conversed with a couple gents from the church about motorcycling and camping.
From there the ride continued to the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Oregon City where it wrapped up. BRMC parted ways at the church but I have received a confirmation that the ride ended without a mishap.
BRMC thanks DOB for inviting us on your 2nd Annual Portland Pride Ride. We had a blast and look forward to next year very much.
Advancing Skills
Todd McNaught
By Todd McNaught
"I'm sorry, you want me to do what?" I asked Darcy Shaffneer, Team Oregon's Advanced Braking Clinic instructor.
"OK, once more. You're going to ride down to the end of the parking lot, round that lamp post, accelerate toward the first set of cones reaching 30 to 40 miles per hour or as fast as you feel comfortable. When you cross the second set of cones, you will slowly and progressively apply the brakes while swerving to the left, and continue to apply even and progressive braking as you round the corner to the right and straighten the bike. When you reach Joel, your bike should be upright and your wheels should be in line. Everybody got that?" He replied.
I don't know about anyone else's experience with braking in a corner, but I have always done my damndest to avoid it. If needed, I would apply the brakes, but it was more of a suggestion to the rotors than actual application. The reason for this is twofold; Information, I was told early on not to brake while leaning the bike as this may cause the wheels to lose traction and rider and bike would low-side crash. And experience, I've downshifted in a corner and felt the back wheel skip. My approach has always been avoidance. If you have ever read Proficient Motorcycling by David L. Hough, he doesn't mention braking in a corner and when it comes to swerving, he's not a big fan. He recommends hard braking in place of a swerve, but never braking during a swerve.
I have always been under the assumption that my general rule of not braking while leaning a bike has made me a better motorcyclist. I've learned to set up a corner, Slow, Look, Lean, and Roll, and if needed, look, lean, and roll some more. I've practiced throwing a knee off the side in order to corner while maintaining traction and I am familiar with the experience of dragging a peg without fear. Should you brake, swerve, and continue braking around a curve while leaning? I would advise against it. Yet here I am, being told I was about to do just that.
I was the third person in line and for that I was thankful. This gave me the opportunity to watch how others approached this doomed effort. I rode down the length of the parking lot, rounded the horn, and gave it some gas before fully upright as I had done during the two previous exercises, but this time I held back. By the time I passed the first set of cones, I was topping 30 mph. At the second line of cones, I applied the brakes, swerved, rounded the curve, progressively applied more brakes, and ended up stopping well before Joel. His only comment was "Get your wheels in line!"
That was it. I didn't lock the wheels, skid the tires, or slide the bike from under me. I didn't go down in a blaze of metal on the blacktop with sparks showering the spectators and engine fluids painting the tarmac. None of my fears had been realized, I just slowly came to a stop.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm the kind of person who needs to test the limits of things. I need to find the boundaries of my capabilities. My next turn I followed the same pattern as before, brake, swerve, curve, stop. I rode to the end of the parking lot and opened the throttle as I rounded the lamp post. I hit the first line of cones doing 50, slowly applied the brakes, swerved, leaned the bike, and cornered while progressively adding more brake and standing the bike up. I came to a stop right in front of Joel and kicked it into first gear. He said "Great, great, that was great." And waved me on.
I love that my assumptions of motorcycling are always challenged. Even after all this time of riding, when I think I fully understand the operation of these machines, there is always something new to surprise me. I was now forced to reassess my understanding of the operation of this thing. My fundamental rule of motorcycling, do not brake in corners, is now more of a suggestion. This doesn't mean that I've changed my cornering strategy; Slow, Look, Lean, and Roll, but it has added another component. Avoidance and stopping.
I would like to thank Stan and Alan for taking the time to arrange these training sessions, and big thank you to Team Oregon and it's highly skilled instructors.
Day Rides
BC’s Day Ride -No upcoming plans for day rides. Watch the newsletter and Facebook for updates.
Seattle’s Day Ride -Saturday July 3rd - Meet at Dirty Oscar’s Annex, 2309 6th Ave, Tacoma, WA 98403, 9 A.M. Saturday for breakfast, kickstands up about 10:15. From there across the Narrows, through Shelton and backroads to Satsop. You could break off there or continue for ride through Capitol State Forest area. Weather looks to be in the high 80’s, will formalize plans over breakfast. Contact Dennis at captain@borderriders.com for more information.
Portland’s Day Ride - There was no June day-ride in Portland.
Watch FB for last minute details about Portland’s upcoming Day Ride happening on Sunday July 3rd.
Contact Stan at Treasurer@BorderRiders.com for more information or view the post from 4/26 on our FB page.
Gear Store
Is your BRMC gear looking tired? Do you need a new hat or club shirt? The gear store is fully stocked and available for purchase. The club restocked the store in February last year, only to not be able to meet up and have the products available. Long sleeved denim shirts, 1/4 zip sweatshirts and t-shirts are in stock. To place an order contact VicePresident@BorderRiders.com. All orders placed in late June, July & early August will be brought to the August Campout..
Motorcycle Training 2021 - YAHOO!!!!
Registration for ALL the upcoming BRMC/Team Oregon classes is open. To register, call Ronda at 541.737.9660. You will likely need to leave a message, but she will call you back. Their system is not set up for this kind of bulk buying so be patient. Ronda will need to charge you for each class as she registers you, so it does take a little longer than I expected. The good news is, the entire schedule is ala-cart so you can pick and choose which classes you want.
Each class has a limited number of openings and it is first registered, first reserved, so don’t delay registering. Once classes are full, I will keep a waiting list just in case someone can’t make it. You may e-mail me at Treasurer@BorderRiders.com to be placed on a waiting list.
The August classes were opened to the public in late June & the October classes will be open to the public in early September.
OTHER NOTES:
Cancelation Policy – Team Oregon has a cancelation policy of 30 days prior to the class with a full refund. Instead of canceling, please contact me first and let me see if I can sell your reservation to someone on the waiting list. If not, then we can cancel.
THE CLASSES
August Classes – These classes occur on Monday the 23rd. We are hoping to have the August campout that same weekend. The intent is to have a group ride from the campout to Alan & Stan’s house on Sunday & a social function that evening. We will pass a hat to cover the cost of food. I will supply more details when we get closer.
October Classes – The weekend of the October classes is also the weekend of the club meeting which Alan & Stan are hosting. The cost of dinner will be a part of the registration for the meeting. There will be a social function Saturday night as part of the meeting. I will supply more details when we get closer.
When You Register for any class, please send Stan C a quick e-mail letting him know which class or classes you have registered for. Send this to Treasurer@BorderRiders.com. This will allow him to keep a head count and will allow him to make sure you are kept current of any extracurricular activities happening that weekend.
Wait List - Each class has a limited number of openings and it is first registered, first reserved, so don’t delay registering. Once classes are full, Stan C will keep a Wait List just in case someone can’t make it. You may e-mail Stan at Treasurer@BorderRiders.com to be placed on the Wait List.
THE CLASS SCHEDULE
Monday, August 23rd is the Cornering Clinic & the Advanced Rider Techniques Class. Both classes take place on the go-cart track at Pat’s Acres in Canby.
The Cornering Clinic focuses solely on cornering skills. The Cornering Clinic is appropriate for an endorsed rider with 2+ years riding experience. The Cornering Clinic runs from 8:45 to 11:30. The class permits 18 attendees and cost $99. Successful completion of the ART class is required for this class.
Shortly after the Cornering Clinic is the Advanced Rider Techniques. The ART class provides riders expert instruction on the clean, smooth curves of a closed course. The ART class is appropriate for an endorsed rider with 2+ years riding experience. This class will run from 12:30 to 4:30. The class permits 18 attendees and cost $179.
Saturday, October 16th is the Precision Maneuvering Clinic #1. The PMC-1 is appropriate for an endorsed rider with 2+ years riding experience. This series will teach attendees how to use the clutch, throttle & brake to smoothly handle challenging maneuvers. This class will run from 8:45 to 1:45. The class permits 9 attendees and cost $99.
Sunday October 17th is the Precision Maneuvering Clinic #2. The PMC-2 is appropriate for an endorsed rider with 2+ years riding experience who have completed PMC-1. The PMC-2 class will start where we left off the day before and continue expanding our slow speed skills. This class will run from 8:45 to 1:45. The class permits 9 attendees and cost $99.
REGISTER NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
From the Handlebars of the President
The second camp out of the year was another success even with record breaking temperatures. Knowing that the forecast was for very warm temps, I gave some serious thought to booking a motel room in Dayton. I took Friday off from work but did stop into the office on my way to finish up a couple of items. It was around 10:30 when I hit the road from Everett. I arrived in camp around 4:30 and found that most guys had already arrived and had camp set up. After getting my tent set up we all headed out for dinner.
We had several members and guests who for various reasons were not able to join us for the weekend after they had registered. The group that was there was a great mix of members and guests. It would have been nice to have seen a few more of our members there as it has been way too long since I have seen some of them. Unfortunately the border with Canada remains closed and we aren’t able to see our brothers from up north.
Saturday after breakfast I decided to just hang around camp. During the morning I attempted to nap but it was just too darn hot to sleep. I spent some time in the river with others and then we had our meeting and dinner.
Sunday morning I woke up to the sound of one of our guests breaking camp. I looked at my watch and it was just 4:00. He was on the road before 5:00. By 5:00 many in the camp were up and breaking down. By the time I pulled out of camp around 6:15 there were three others about to leave and Don W and guest Vicki were yet to be seen emerging from their tents.
It seemed like a long ride home with a few stops for gas and food. It was hot but fortunately traffic was good and I made it home by about 12:30 to a very warm house. I don’t have air conditioning and Sunday evening it was 90 degrees in the house.
Nest month is a long haul for me to the camp but I am looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be cooler that Dayton but then again it is eastern Oregon in July. Hope to see you all there and in the meantime
…… keep the shiny side up!
Vice President Chatter
Hello
June has come and gone with another successful campout behind us! Big thanks to Dennis for putting together a great event. While the temperatures where high, everyone made the best of it. Some of us got in rides while others hung out at the camp ground and sat in the river. Stan and I rode our Tenere’s to the campout which was the first time we rode them long distance. While the experience was great, we now realize how much fun this type of bike can be. That said, we won’t be going cross country on these bikes, our old bums need a little more comfort!
Not much more to report. It was good to see those who showed up at the June campout and I hope to see more of you at the July gathering.
Be well and I hope you are finding the time to get out on two wheels!
Road Captain Rumblings
I have three take-aways from our recent trip to Dayton – Memories, Experience, and Preparation.
Memories – I think that the trip will be talked about for a long time in the future similar to how often the 6-hour ride to Kamloops in the rain is reminisced about for many and if could have just ridden faster could have gotten out of it. The timing of the weekend trip presented a streak of record-breaking temperatures unknown for the Northwest, especially for June. The temperatures minimized day rides and made for more time in the chilling in the water than any trip than I can remember, and more cases of water consumed than any other trip.
Experience - Those that rode can add to their repertoire of things that they’ve done, not necessarily that they want to do them again, but that if they encounter them unexpectantly on a trip they can draw on that previous encounter and give them confidence in being able to persevere. Kind of like riding through an unexpected snowstorm and slush and though not seeking it out come out with the confidence they can handle the bike.
Preparation – Many of us have comforts for the cold and rain (how many of us would even dare to leave home without our raingear in the saddlebags?) That, and heated gear and grips. Maybe this will be a new norm and we need to learn lessons from our southern brothers about gear that helps to retain water for prolonged cooling. There are even misters available for motorcycles for the swamp cooling effect. Definitely something that we all may need to research especially for longer trips.
P.S. – Sorry for the recommendation to those that rode to Palouse Falls – the road on the previous trip to the falls must have been recently graded to get rid of the washboard.
The July run will be to Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, near Meacham, Oregon. Similar travel times as we had to Dayton and close to equidistant from Portland or Seattle. Riding opportunities with rolling types of hills similar to Dayton and opportunity to do Rattlesnake Grade from the south which wasn’t done in June due to the temperatures. Elevation is a little higher than Dayton, so should be a little cooler than Dayton if similar conditions. Watch for more details when registration opens.
Keep the shiny side up!
Treasurer’s Ramblings
All amounts owed to us have been collected. All the bills I am aware of have been paid. All our account balances are where I expect them to be. Briefly stated, “Piggy Bank Be Balanced”.
Please feel encouraged to reach out to me if you have any questions. Otherwise, stay safe, stay healthy and I look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Secretary Thoughts
I was really looking forward to the June ride to Dayton. It has been over a year and a half sincethe last time I was able to go to a campout on my bike. I had spent the week before the trip getting my bike all cleaned up and serviced. It was parked in front of the house all ready to go. As it turned out, “Fate” had a different plan. The day before I was to set out on my bike ride to Eastern Washington, I got a call from my friend who usually house sits and cares for the animals when I am gone. Bad news! His partner had a stroke. So I began to figure out how to get care for the animals.
Added to that bad news, the forecast for the weather in all of Washington didn’t look very good. I do not do well in extreme heat. I wrestled with all of this for a day and when I got up the next morning I started to get my travel items together and began to pack the saddle bags, but before I got too far, I decided that I needed to stay put. It was a hard decision. I spent the next four days trying to keep myself and the animals cool and sleeping in the basement.
When I started getting pictures of the campout on FB, I really missed being with you all and able to socialize with my brother Border Riders. Despite all the regret, I know now that I made the right decision. I hope to be able to join you all in July. In the meantime keep cool
2021 Calendar of Events
January 16th - Annual General Meeting - Virtual
February 20th - Anniversary Banquet - Virtual
March 20th - Club Meeting - Virtual
April 17th - Club Meeting - Virtual
May 14th thru 16th - Camp-out Bruceport County Park near Raymond WA
June 25th thru 27th - Lewis and Clark Trail State Park near Dayton WA
July 16th thru 18th - Emigrant Springs State Heritage Area, Meacham, OR
August 20th thru 22nd - Charlie Horse Ranch in Molalla, OR.
September 17th thru 19th - Camp-out at TBD
October 16th - Club Meeting - TBD
November 20th - Club Meeting - TBD
December 11th - Club Holiday Party - TBD
Meet & Greets
(M&G’s will resume in August)
B.R.M.C. members will be available for interested individuals to meet and learn more about the club and how to get involved. For locations and times, check out the cities listed below for your area. Also, in addition to the club's monthly events, local rides may be organized, weather permitting. To lean more about local event’s, check out our F.B. page or email the Road Captain at Captain@BorderRiders.com.
Portland: Meet & Greet - 1st Wednesday of the month, 7 pm at The Portland Eagle.
Vancouver BC Meet & Greet - 2nd Wednesday of the month. 4 to 6 pm at The Met Hotel, New Westminster
Seattle: Meet & Greet - 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7 pm at The Cuff
Non-BRMC Motorcycle Events
If you know of an upcoming motorcycle event or something of interest that we might want to attend, please send the information to News@BorderRiders.com and we will be sure to get it added to the newsletter.
Contributions of Photos & Stories
If you have photos and stories to share, please send to news@borderriders.com
