Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas July 2014 | Page 12

PLACES

BELIEVE IN YOUR
DREAMS
By Henrietta Stands Nelson

“In this world there is no force equal to the
strength of a DETERMINED WOMAN.”
I’m Henrietta Stands Nelson, and I’m very
honored to have been asked to write about my one
year journey as a Lady Biker! It all began with a friend
I met on Facebook. I expressed my interest in riding
that was tucked away in a bucket list, because I
was raising my children. In 2011, I met this person
and talked with him about his bikes, what he does
and so forth. He organizes a ride group out of
Arizona/New Mexico called the Navajo Hopi Honor
Riders. Through this, Larry Begay became a good
friend. I would look at all the photos and videos
of that group’s bikes and their shared brother and
sisterhood. The group included Bobby Martin who

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Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR

became my friend as well. Larry helped inspired my
thought of riding and owning a bike from a dream
to a reality. He would say, “if you want a dream to
come true bad enough, you will make it happen,”
and that’s just what I did.
Bobby and Red Thunder Rolling’s, Paul
Bemore, had made arrangements for me and my
daughter to be in the Red Thunder Rolling Ride in
AZ/NM. We rode with other riders, but that was
my first time in a Run, and it was a memorable
moment to embrace. Of course it was one of many
memorable moments to follow.
I got my “M” endorsement in February 2013. In
May 2013, I purchased my first bike. The first time
getting on my Harley I did what you call whiskey
throttle, and I was lucky not to have dropped my
bike. I quickly regained control of it. Although my
husband thought I wouldn’t get back on, I did. He
was very proud of me and helped me every day
by going to a parking lot riding in first gear for one
week. About two weeks later I kicked it up a gear.
Soon, I was kicking it up to third. After a month,
my daughter suggested we go to the lake across
town. I said, “Oh no, you all go. I’ll ride home from
here.” I was afraid to get on the interstate, but she
convinced me it was time. I told them, “I’ll get on
but if I become afraid, I’ll get off the next exit and
you all can just go on.” Once I got on and kicked my
thunder up to fourth gear, I felt so confident, I went
all the way across town and to the lake. The wind
in my hair and face, and the control of my bike with
great confidence and pride was AMAZING. From
that time on, I kept gaining confidence with every
ride until I had enough confidence to make my first