Squidley

Annie....we can work on that, lets see how things play out. I have to get ahold of customer relations at Blue Bell and I'll fill them in on what we are planning. Let me see how it all will fit together and if we can accommodate it while your here in Texas, we will.

Hal, His hand still guides us, he will always be with us, especially this Houston crew, he was our patriarch. I totally believe you, it's just like you to make the wrong turn (GPS guided) and pull up next to that, that is so funny I had to laugh out loud! We wont be doing a ride immediately, we'll let things settle down and we'll plan something towards the middle or end of next month.

I have been pondering this all today and yesterday, and nothing has really jumped out at me. I'm leaning towards renaming the exceptional member the Gunboat award. I also think we should let this run for a bit, not every good idea comes in a few days. Don did embody what the exceptional member award is all about. Someone that goes above and beyond to help a fellow member. Don will always be a hero to me, he has set the standard high for who I need to be, and I will strive to be like him in as many ways as I can....

That is a great idea, I'm not sure right off the top of my head of the criteria, but I absolutely agree that we should have one!

Here some pics of that breakdown Jerry, it turned out to be his battery. We were leaning towards the R/R and I took the one off my new '08 that I had just bought, that wasn't it, so we swapped it back and I took my new battery out of that same bike and thats what the problem was. I remember I told him that if we couldn't get it fixed that I was going to take my trailer and drive him back to Texas....I remember that like it was yesterday

Good luck for his team and their quest for the gold

Paul, After I got a better grip on this yesterday, I started thinking along the same lines. I spoke with Lonna and Monkey Boy about it last night. There WILL be some sort of a memorial ride in Don's honor. I am actually thinking of making it an annual thing. Don was bouncing around the idea of a M&E ride to Blue Bell Ice Cream plant in Brenham Texas. I am strongly leaning towards that being the memorial ride in his honor. We'll get past this and then we'll figure something out, but we will make something happen.

I want to share something with y'all, Monkey Boy and I were just talking on the phone. Many have mentioned here that Don would want us to celebrate his life, and they are absolutely right. I know many of us are still reeling from this, and this is to be expected. Dave mentioned about 3 of us, that were given a gift by Gunboat. There were actually 5 of these gifts given, but only 3 were delivered to the final phase of the gift. Don baptized 3 of us in the Brazos, as master of ceremonies, he applied the soaking. When Dave mentioned this it made me laugh, and cry at the same time. I am so very fortunate to have been able to call Gunboat my friend, he really was like my 2nd father, and I loved him dearly....I still do. So I wanted to post some "Fun" pics of Don being....Don, and blessing, David, Lonna and myself in the Brazos to make us officially Texans! BTW: The other 2 Passports were given to Gary N and Bruce Iller from Ontario Canada

Thanks Gary, here are a few more of Don... The 8th pic is from L to R Kenny Branton (Kbran) Myself, BoomerCPO, Owen, and Gunboat The last picture is a rare one as it has from L to R Gunboat, Ponch, Don Hiltabidle (TX Venture, who left us almost 3 years ago) and his wife Linda when they came to Lonna's mothers and sisters houses to give the kids a Christmas.

To y'all that are on the road, PLEASE be careful getting back home.

I just received the news from Dave, and like many of you, I'm devastated. Don was one of my best and most trusted friends, he is the main reason we are here in the Houston area. To say I am numb is an understatement, the tears come and go, as I'm sure they will continue to. I'm usually good with expressing things, but right now words escape me. I have lost one of my best friends and there is a huge hole in me. As we find out more details and such Dave or I will come on and keep y'all informed. Please keep this Texas crew in your prayers, Don meant quite a lot to many of us....God Speed Pop....

Thanks Y'all, you shouldn't have Doodle. We just got home a short while ago from dinner. Went to Red Lobster and had a great meal and are now like a couple of beached whales! we've trained eachother for 16 years today, seems to be getting a bit easier Thanks again for thinking of us

Happy Anniversary Carl and Dorothea!!!

You Stalker!!

Looks great Jeff, you deserve to get some miles on her, all the best bro

Most of us have bought them directly from the UK, here is the link. It also has the colortune on the web page http://www.carbtune.co.uk/c.com/

Welcome back Rooster....it's good to see you here again my friend

I looked at the title and said DUH! they are with Muffin and Mini...that was a no brainer

It doesn't seem to burn it Brad, it leaks it that bad. I have to figure out where it's coming from, I believe it's mainly from the valve cover gasket. Surprisingly it didn't kill us with the bouncing, the interstates were in pretty good shape. By the time we did 200 miles I was ready to get fuel, oil and stretch a bit. So it worked out ok for us.

I remember you saying in the garage something about "US" being a "BUNCH OF DRUNKEN IDIOTS" I remember something to that effect too, I still love you buddy, but you really dont need any of our help when it comes to sticking your foot in your mouth. You do a fine job all by yourself

For the guys that are looking for Yamaha to make another V4 powered touring machine, I hope this happens. Yamaha has needed to pull their heads out of their rears for atleast the last 5 years with the RSV. It desperately needs upgrades like a better charging system and some upgraded amenities. Unfortunately if this happens the price tag will be north of $20K and I wont be buying one. If I stay in a Venture, it will be a used RSV as they are cheap to buy and lots of parts as they didn't change at all in 14 years I'm not sure what my next newer touring bike will be, obviously an RSV is at the top of the list, but a 1800 Goldwing is right up there too if I can make it fit Lonna and I better....we'll see what happens.

Zaggers bike! That is the king of the Venture Rat bikes

Thanks for the input fellas, I appreciate all of it. Unfortunately the Jeep is my only cage now, the step son has my truck. I can fix the leaks, thats just gaskets and a little wrenching. I would love to get a newer vehicle, but if and when I do, it will be for Lonna. I'll do a bit of fixing and Scary Jeep should be ok. It's paid off, doesn't need emissions testing here in the Houston area due to it's age, and pretty easy to work on. It runs good, and when I get my truck back, it will be nice to have an additional vehicle here if folks want to come down and need something to use. Thanks again for all the little prayers and following the adventures of "Scary Jeep"

Look at it this way Lewis, It stayed in the family

Cool Beans!!