DON SHULER -
Like Paul, Bruce and Lou, I am one that enjoys riding and isn't so much concerned about the destination but how
you get there. You know the old Biker mantra of "its all about the ride and not the destination". That is if you have a
comfortable bike to take you miles and miles without the NEED to stop. I have ridden a few bikes in my time that
make me cringe just thinking about riding them, but that is for another time. My first recollection of wanting to ride
occurred during one of those long car rides during one of our summer family vacations. Riding in the back was
pretty boring so day dreaming out the window was one of my more popular past times. While I was staring out the
window, here came this older guy riding a touring bike (hard bags and a trunk), I can't remember exactly what it
was, but I think it was one of the early Honda Goldwing's. He came cruising up next to us, stereo cranking and just
puttering along. He looked at me, smiled and gave me the thumbs up sign, which I politely gave back. He looked so
relaxed, not a care in the world, just enjoying the ride. At that moment all these things went through my head,
where was he coming from, where was he going, did it even matter and I thought that's what I want to do someday
too.
Well as Bruce says fast forward like 40 years and here I am doing exactly that. I had the pleasure of joining Paul,
Bruce and Lou in 2008 on our trip down the eastern coast. What a blast. What a difference from doing something
like this in the car, the sights, the sounds, the smells, all the things that you read about people saying being
different, but then experience it first hand. The back roads sounds, the smells, all the things that you read about
people saying being different, but then experience it first hand. The back roads that you wouldn't normally take and
those little towns that aren't even on any map were awesome. But what really made me stop and take notice was
on our way into Charleston, NC we were stopped at a stop light, making a left getting ready to head over the
bridge, and this lady in a minivan pulled up next to me, she rolled down the back window so her son could check
out the bikes. I hear her say to her son go ahead, say Hi.. I said Hi to the boy and his eyes lite right up. I asked
him if he liked bikes and he nodded his head with a big smile on his face. I then asked him if he knew where NY was
and he nodded yes again. I told him that was where I was from. He just kept smiling and checking out the bikes.
The light changed and it was time to move on.. I said good bye and told him that one day, I knew his dream would
come true to ride one. His mom turned to me and gave me a big smile and said thanks for talking to him, not many
bikers do that and I thought to myself here I was doing what I had dreamed about doing 40 years ago. Just amazing.
I am looking forward to many more years of the Camaraderie of being a Mild Hog and trips we embark on as well as
seeing all the new places and meeting others just like us out there enjoying the ride. It really isn't about the
destination.. It really is all about enjoying the ride and everything that goes along with that. There is nothing more
satisfying then promoting the sport of riding with others along the way. You know that little boy may just be a Mild
Hog© one day, ya never know.
Like Paul, Bruce and Lou, I am one that enjoys riding and isn't so much concerned about the destination but how
you get there. You know the old Biker mantra of "its all about the ride and not the destination". That is if you have a
comfortable bike to take you miles and miles without the NEED to stop. I have ridden a few bikes in my time that
make me cringe just thinking about riding them, but that is for another time. My first recollection of wanting to ride
occurred during one of those long car rides during one of our summer family vacations. Riding in the back was
pretty boring so day dreaming out the window was one of my more popular past times. While I was staring out the
window, here came this older guy riding a touring bike (hard bags and a trunk), I can't remember exactly what it
was, but I think it was one of the early Honda Goldwing's. He came cruising up next to us, stereo cranking and just
puttering along. He looked at me, smiled and gave me the thumbs up sign, which I politely gave back. He looked so
relaxed, not a care in the world, just enjoying the ride. At that moment all these things went through my head,
where was he coming from, where was he going, did it even matter and I thought that's what I want to do someday
too.
Well as Bruce says fast forward like 40 years and here I am doing exactly that. I had the pleasure of joining Paul,
Bruce and Lou in 2008 on our trip down the eastern coast. What a blast. What a difference from doing something
like this in the car, the sights, the sounds, the smells, all the things that you read about people saying being
different, but then experience it first hand. The back roads sounds, the smells, all the things that you read about
people saying being different, but then experience it first hand. The back roads that you wouldn't normally take and
those little towns that aren't even on any map were awesome. But what really made me stop and take notice was
on our way into Charleston, NC we were stopped at a stop light, making a left getting ready to head over the
bridge, and this lady in a minivan pulled up next to me, she rolled down the back window so her son could check
out the bikes. I hear her say to her son go ahead, say Hi.. I said Hi to the boy and his eyes lite right up. I asked
him if he liked bikes and he nodded his head with a big smile on his face. I then asked him if he knew where NY was
and he nodded yes again. I told him that was where I was from. He just kept smiling and checking out the bikes.
The light changed and it was time to move on.. I said good bye and told him that one day, I knew his dream would
come true to ride one. His mom turned to me and gave me a big smile and said thanks for talking to him, not many
bikers do that and I thought to myself here I was doing what I had dreamed about doing 40 years ago. Just amazing.
I am looking forward to many more years of the Camaraderie of being a Mild Hog and trips we embark on as well as
seeing all the new places and meeting others just like us out there enjoying the ride. It really isn't about the
destination.. It really is all about enjoying the ride and everything that goes along with that. There is nothing more
satisfying then promoting the sport of riding with others along the way. You know that little boy may just be a Mild
Hog© one day, ya never know.
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