On the Road Again

by Gary Klinker

Even after a few winter rides it is good to get back on the road for longer rides with a purposeful destination. A few Saturdays ago, Shawn and I loaded Willie the Wonder Dog in the car and headed to Wausau for the 49th Annual Wausau Swap Meet. USA Pride, who put on the Swap Meet have always been supporters of Safe Rider. We really appreciate their donations to support the cause of motorcycle safety. It was great to meet some of the people in charge and see a lot of old friends that we have not seen for a while. After many years of doing the Region 7D Bike Show and Swap Meet, I know how much is involved. To get to 49 years of doing it is an unbelievable accomplishment. Congratulations to you guys!

This past weekend I attended one of the Wisconsin Motorcycle Safety Program continuing education workshops for Rider Coaches along with Devin Felber, one of our newer Safe Rider coaches. Since it is only about 60 miles to Wisconsin Rapids, I decided it should be a bike trip. Being one of the coldest days of the previous week I was dressed for it, but it was 27 degrees in the morning and got all the way to 38 on the return trip. Still felt good to be out going somewhere.

Our classes are filling fast, and things are looking good for the coming season. We will soon be hauling bikes back to the range and getting things cleaned up for the first class at the end of April. We are working on a July 13 BRC2 class for the ABATE BOD. It will be scheduled by the time you see this.

I want to thank everyone who attended ABATE Lobby Day. Great turnout. As always Steve and the ABATE staff did an excellent job of setting up the whole day. The fine weather was just frosting on the cake.

I’m looking forward to getting ready for the ride to DC in May for Bikers Inside the Beltway with the MRF. If you are not a member of the MRF you should be. They are doing the work for all of us.

Ride Safe, 

Gary