So, we were notified of a post on Facebook where a woman was reaching out to the biker community to see if someone could help her: she wanted to inspire her husband's moral as he went through therapy at a nursing home to help with his Parkinson's Disease. He used to ride motorcycles, for a good thirty years at least, we learned. We contacted Pam and let her know we could help with her request for someone with a trike to take her husband for a ride!
Rallying our close group of riding friends, including John who has a Goldwing trike, we planned to surprise Ken on Sunday, October 1st, and boy did we! As he stood outside the nursing home entrance with his wife and boys, we pulled in with six bikes and the trike. He was so moved, and cried, and it was a moment that makes the Live To Ride, Ride To Live statement ever so true. And necessary.
After introductions, Chuck loaned his leather jacket to Ken as it was a sunny but chilly day. Pictures taken, we boarded the bikes and took off up Gypsy Lane to Belmont and headed north. As we left, Sandy told us Ken shot his fist into the air as in saying "yeah man"! He hadn't been in the wind for over five years due to the PD, balance and control too impaired.
But a trike, man, that is a literal life saver. For some, inspiration.
Bryon lead us up 193 to Rt. 88, and we turned west making our turnaround point at Mosquito Lake. A brief rest and some bullshitting on the causeway made for time to get to know each other.
We headed back east. And as usual on motorcycles, you say, oh, just an hour ride will be fine and three hours later you just accept that fact that time doesn't rule you on a motorcycle. Yet, we did make a pit stop at Truck World where Ken decided that he had a great ride but was done. We all went over to Waffle House for some lunch, and then parted ways.
Good days. Good times. Good friends. And good deeds. None of it goes unnoticed nor forgotten.
