Thunder Roads Magazine of Oklahoma/Arkansas July 2014 | Page 13

PLACES

long trip alone to South Dakota. My husband and
daughter joined me a day after my arrival so that
they could follow me back to Oklahoma. I packed
my little bag and away I went from Oklahoma to
South Dakota to meet my sister friend there. As I
rode, I had many thoughts going through my mind,
like who would have ever thought I would own a
Harley and ride, and be a biker lady? On this ride,
I encountered my first time being rained on. I was
so scared of sliding, but I slowed down and took
it easy on lane changes and stops, and it worked!
I put my rain gear on and went on my way. Once
I arrived in SD, my friend had a welcome home
ride all set up for me. It was the most wonderful
time I had. We rode through the Black hills at a
place called Spearfish Canyon. It was breathtaking
scenery. I loved it. The ride was great with hills and
curves. I got some more experience there. After
our ride she had a BBQ at her house, and I cannot
thank her enough for a wonderful time I had in that

one wonderful day. I had to leave the next day and
again, went through rain part of the way in SD and
hot, hot weather after Nebraska to home. That was
my first long distance ride.
That first Summer, I made a few more rides in
the State of Oklahoma. I rode the Trail of Tears
Ride and the Washita Ride. In September, I went to
NM to go see a hospitalized elder biker friend. I did
not ride my bike there, but he said he would have
loved to have taken it for a spin if I had. He is a well
know veteran in the area named Leonard Reeder. I
met him before I had a bike at the Wounded knee
Run in 2012, where I was a support vehicle. I went

to see how it felt to be part of the largest bike run
in South Dakota. I met him amongst other Navajo
Bikers, I told him my dream story of wanting and
saving for a bike. He said, “I’m going to tell you
something. When you get enough to get a bike,
get a big one, because if you get a small one,
you’re going to want to trade it in for a bigger one
once you know how to ride.” I took his advice and
am very happy we also became friend bro’s. I told
them that I was going to come visit them and he
called me on a Friday asking if I was still coming.
Although I left to visit them soon after, he passed
away after I visited with him in the hospital. He gave
me permission to ride his bike while I was there,
so I did that Saturday on a bike run. I was able
to make one of my other dreams come true that
day. I always wondered how it would be to lead a
whole group of bikers like I had seen on my friend
Larry’s posts. I thought it would never happen, but
it did. In a bitter sweet moment, filled with sadness
at the loss of a great friend, an honored veteran
and leader of the biker community, I was asked
to lead the ride. Since he usually rides up front,
I was told to ride up front since I was riding his
bike that day. We were on a welcome home escort
for another military person. It was the greatest
moment and time I had. I rode alongside my friend
Larry, because I did not know the area, but it was
the most breathtaking, embracing ride I have ever
had. At times I had tears of sadness and happiness
flowing. The scenery is so beautiful in those areas.
I would look in the mirror and see all the bikes
following; it was a beautiful sight to behold. After
Thunder Roads Magazine of OK/AR

13