THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO ALL BIKERS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLDWIDE. TO ALL THE VETERANS, THOSE LIVING AND TO THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE; TO THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING AND TO THOSE IN THE FUTURE WHO WILL SERVE LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE, TO PRESERVE THE FREEDOM THAT THOSE IN THE PAST, WE IN THE PRESENT AND TO THOSE IN THE FUTURE HAVE ENJOYED, ARE ENJOYING AND WILL ENJOY, AS WE RIDE FREE AND ENJOY LIFE ON OUR CHOSEN MODE OF TRANSPORTATION: MOTORCYCLES.
REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE!

Monday, March 28, 2011

PGR MISSION: JAMES "JIM" EHLERT USN 3-28-2011



Today,  Monday, 3-28-2011, the North Texas  PGR had a mission at the Riverside Cemetery in Wichita Falls Texas, for the graveside services for James "Jim" Ehlert. Mr. Ehlert served in the US Navy and was a Pearl Harbor survivor and was aboard the USS Oklahoma when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Scroll down and join us for this Mission  as we pay our respects and final honors to the hero of World War II and a member of "The Greatest Generation". REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE                                                                     .                                                                                                                                      


 This is the entrance to the Riverside Cemetery located off of Seymour Highway in Wichita Falls Texas


 As I circled in back of the cemetery, I saw about seven wild turkeys running towards me. By the time I stopped the Harley and took off the lens cap to my camera, this was the only shot I could get of the last two turkeys as they ran behind me.


 I parked the bike and got this picture of Floyd & his wife Cathy, Tessica his daughter-in law and his step-son, Michael

Another picture of, left to right: Floyd, Cathy, Tessica and Michael. and Tessica is pronounced like Jessica but with a T (For those who thought I was misspelling her name.)


 Here are the PGR members setting up the static flag line. Ted is pounding the rebar into the ground and the other members slide a flag pole down over the rebar.

 Here are Floyd & Tessica getting some flags out of the PGR support truck, with the help of Barbara. Barbara is one of our Senior PGR North Texas Ride Captains and in charge of this mission.

 Here is Barbara,  a North Texas PGR Senior Ride Captain. All the PGR Ride Captains, wear the maroon ball caps or do-rags. The other members wear blue ball caps or do-rags


 Here are Cathy and Floyd. I felt bad for Cathy as she was about to freeze to death. There was a cool nip in the breeze today..


Here are Crazy Mike (black leathers) and Troy (blue levi vest). This was the first time I met Troy..


 Troy listens in as Barbara gives a short briefing


 I like this patch: WHEN YOU NEED HELP, ASK GOD.  WHEN YOU DON'T, THANK GOD"


 Here is Ted. Ted is a Bronze Star recipient for his actions during the Vietnam War and he is also a North Texas PGR Ride Captain.


 Another picture of Ted. I take extra pictures of Ted and send them to his daughter Vickie, who lives up in Fort Collins Colorado, so she can keep track of him. She runs an outstanding biker blog at : http://www.ourharleydays.blogspot.com/ .


 Here is Jimmy, another North Texas PGR Ride Captain, and Laura has her back to the camera.


 We gather by the hearse and wait until we get word the family is enroute and then we will form up our flag line around the gravesite.


 Here are Floyd , Tessica, Michael and Cathy as we stand around and talk.

 Floyd talking with Mike and Troy


 Here are Tex and his wife, Laura. Tex is a North Texas PGR Ride Captain and a recipient of the Bronze Star for his actions during the Vietnam War.
Another picture of two of my favorite people, Tex and Laura.                                                                      


 We get word the family is enroute to the cemetery and we get ready to form up our flag line.


 Here we are looking towards the cemetery entrance to see if we could see the procession arriving.


 Last second instructions being given out and then....


 A quick picture of me and Mike together,


 And then we form up the flag line and wait. The flag line to my right.



 Mike is to my left and is the end of the flag line on this flank.


The flag line is looking good. Not a sound from any of us.                                                                       


 To my right are: Laura, Ted, Tex, Jimmy and Michael.


 Mike at his position.

After a quick graveside service, we break the line and go put up the flags.  Here is Laura before we head to the truck.


 That is Tim and Tessica furling their flags. We unfurl the flags when walking and when we return to the truck, we furl the flags back up for storage.


 Barbara positions the flags in their bags as Ted furls his flag



 Here is Tim furling another flag and that is Floyd to his left..


 Barbara aligning the flags in the duffle bags. There are 20 flags to each bag.


 Tim looks around and sees there are no flags left in the static line.


 Here Mike, Ted and Jimmy talk before we get dismissed.



Tim , talking to Jimmy right before we leave the area.



Ted and Tex start walking to our bikes and trucks.


Mike checks his bike as Ted, Laura and Tex talk.



Mike, Ted and Tex talk and this is the last picture of this post and will conclude this post.      


It was an honor to be invited to attend this service by the family of James Ehlert. It was good to see my fellow PGR members and meet Troy, Cathy, Tessica and Michael.                                     

Scroll down for more rides, runs and events and don't forget to click on the "OLDER POSTS" link at the bottom of each page or directly under the last post on the page.

Continue to pray for all of our troops both in and out of Harms Way, especially for: CHE WHITAKER, CHRIS DRAGUE, FRED HUGHES AND WILL HIGGINS, all are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre Of Operations:  and for PATTIE JACKSON who is serving in Qatar.   

Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel and most importantly of all...........................RIDE SAFE......................... JOHN                                                        



Saturday, March 12, 2011

JIM'S NEW BIKE 3-12-2011

Today, Saturday, 3-12-2011, I received a call from my good friend Jim, who was down at his business, Jim's Bike Detail Shop. Jim told me he had traded in his Harley for a new 2011 Harley Street Glide. I grabbed my camera, jumped on my Harley and rode down to see Jim and his new bike. Scroll down and join me on this quick run and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.

Jim's new bike is a 2011 Limited Edition Harley Street Glide FLHX. with a 103 cu. in (1688 cc) engine. The color is a Merlot (just like the wine) with gold metal  flake.  Jim's bike is pictured above.



Jim's bike, in the shade, almost looks black. Jim traded in his beloved Road Glide for this Street Glide. I always get confused on Street Glides and Road Glides and Jim set me straight. The Road Glide has a fixed fairing where the Street Glide's fairing turns with the front wheel                                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                
   
The 103 on the derby cover lets the curious know that this bike has a 103 cu. in engine. (1688 cc). For a site to convert cu. in. into cc, see this link:  http://www.convertunits.com/from/cc/to/cu+inch



The gages and radio, CD player on Jim's new bike



Jim's bike from the rear.



A head on look at Jim's new Harley Street Glide

When moved into the sunlight, the metal flake almost gives off a root beer color.


Jim's bike is great looking and that paint job is great.

If you click on this picture, it will be larger and you'll be able to see the metal flake in the paint

While we were talking, Joe pulled up on his wife's (Christina) Harley V-Rod.

Here is Joe as he pulls the bike into the bay of Jim's Bike Detail Shop to get a State Inspection Sticker put on it.

After Jim inspects the bike, Joe visits with us as Jim fills out the required paperwork.

Joe and Christina use to have matching V-Rods, but last year Joe moved up to a Harley Ultra Classic. Christina stayed with her Harley V-Rod.

Jim also sells motorcycles on consignment. He has several for sale. This Road King is for sale. If you see any bike that you are interested in, give Jim a call at 940-691-1121 and Jim can give you all the details and prices on the bikes. I bought my beloved Harley Heritage STC from him.

This Harley Screaming Eagle Softail Custom belongs to Jim's girlfriend, Tammy, and is NOT for sale.



Dearl was at Jim's when I got there and this is his Harley. He just replaced the saddlebags after the other set broke loose from it's fasteners when we were on a run down to Bowie Texas.


This is Dearl and he and his wife, Anne, are mutual friends of Jim and I.  I love talking to Dearl. He has some funny stories and is a riot to be around.

This is Jim. Jim is a good friend of mine as is his girlfriend Tammy. Tammy was there at the shop but told me in no uncertain terms NOT to take her picture. So, discretion being the better party of valor, I honored her request. Jim owns Jim's Bike Detail Shop at 1001 Holliday Street in Wichita Falls Texas. He washes & details motorcycles, does oil changes, cable checks and several other minor motorcycle services. He also is an approved Texas State  Inspection Sticker business and he does motorcycle & car inspections. Call him today at 940-691-1121 and see what he can do for you if you need your bike serviced or need  bike or car Texas State Inspection  Sticker.



Another view of Dearl's Harley.  I  know that is one fine running motorcycle. I have been on several runs with Dearl, and other than the saddlebag mishap a month or so ago, he has had no problems with it.

This bike is Jim's baby. And NO..IT IS NOT FOR SALE.He won this last year at the Adult Biker Rally in Alvarado Texas. He said he really freaked when they called his name at the drawing, as the winner. I don't blame him one bit. I probably would have had to change my pants if it had been me...

Right before I left, I took this picture of Dearl's Harley and my bike. If you are looking for a Harley, Jim has a 1977 Shovelhead for sale for $6,000, a 2003 Harley Ultra Classic Police Special for $11,500 and a 2003 Road King pictured above in the bay of the business. Call Jim today and get the lowdown on each bike. All three are priced to move.  And this will conclude this post.

I had a good time riding down to Jim's and seeing Jim & Tammy and Dearl and Joe. I enjoyed looking over Jim's new Harley and I hope my slobber didn't screw up the paint job.

Scroll down for more rides, events and runs and be sure to click the "OLDER POSTS" link at the bottom of EACH page or directly underneath the last post on the page for more of the same.

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops, both in & out of Harms Way; especially for Che Whitaker, Chris Drage and Fred Hughes, as all three are currently serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and for Pattie Jackson who has been deployed to Qatar.

Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep your head on a swivel, keep the rubber on the road and most importantly of all..........................................RIDE SAFE!!! ............................JOHN