The Bikes of the Blessing

Remembering our friends

by Larry Gore

Memorial08

It started small four years ago when friends Ace, Harry and James decided to take a memorial ride the 4th Sunday of January to honor friends who had been lost to them.

The second year other bikers heard about it and asked it they could come along. By the third year there were over 70 bikes present.

In 2008 when the event was held for the 4th time 173 bikes and well over 200 bikers showed up. There is truly a spirit of brotherhood among riders and the realization that, while fun, our sport is a dangerous sport. So we pause to remember and honor those who have left us and at the same time we pray for our own safety.

Herding that many bikes towards a destination takes planning, along with nerves of steel. This ride is not police escorted and that means each individual biker has to be concerned about side traffic and intersections. Fortunately the entire round trip (Blessing is about a 90-mile ride) went off without major mishap.

It is always a relief to the organizers and riders when an event like this is over and everyone is safely back home.

The Hotel Blessing, located in Blessing, Texas, has been around for over 100 years. Although from time to time the Blessing has ceased to function as a hotel it has an unbroken tradition of serving food. All you can eat for about $6.95.

Old, well-used stoves line the dining room with pots and pans on every burner. The smells are wonderful as you get close, turkey and dressing, fried chicken, pork chops, chicken-fried steak, hot biscuits, and homemade desserts. They are open seven days a week, on Sunday you can expect to have Turkey and dressing along with at least two other meat choices and just about every side dish you can envision.

By dark about half the total riders had shown up at the Line to finish off a day of having fun with their friends.

Thanks to James, Ace and Harry for organizing this Memorial Ride and giving all of us an opportunity to honor friends that we have lost. Next year, rain or shine, I know where I will be the 4th Sunday of January.

Why not join us?

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