Polk County Wings
News Letter
June
2008
Director Notes
Well, winter and spring have not been good to us. Riding time has been cut to a minimum. We have 4,000 now on the new (to us) bike we got in mid March. I can remember last year changing oil twice in two different months so just from that, I can see how much two wheel time I have lost. I know some of you are in the same situation and all of us have lost a great deal of time with our knees to the breeze. I am hoping and praying that we finally get a break from this stuff but you never know here in Iowa.
Several (that I know of) in the chapter were affected significantly by the recent flooding. There are likely others that I don't know of who were affected as well. Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes go out to everyone who has had to deal with this. I just came back from visiting my parents in Iowa City and that area suffered much worse than Des Moines did so I guess that is one small bright note.
I hope that all of you are spending as much time as you can riding. There are a lot of events in the chapter to do as well as other chapters events and other organizations events. If you can't make a ride with us, just find some time to ride, with whoever else you choose to ride with. If you can, please make an attempt to support our other chapters by attending an event or two. They are always fun and you get to meet new people.
If you haven't read your latest Touring News, please do so. There are a couple of interesting things submitted by members. Don Thomason submitted the winning design for the Gold Rush Logo. This is on page 21. Also, Donna submitted a story on the purchase of our new bike and they printed it as well. This is on page 20
I apologize for this being late again. Our newsletter editor keeps hounding me to do this but I have a tendency to push it to the back burner. I will try to be better in the future.
Take care. Ride safe.
Dennis and Donna
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS – Out to some of our members. Louise Green is recovering well from her unscheduled dismount and we have seen Kahty Thomason on a motorcycle. Great Going Gals. We have seen Pam out some, and hope to see her more.
THANK YOU - Thank you to everyone that visited me when I was in the hospital and sent cards, all the phone calls during and after I came home. Also for the gift card from the chapter. It means so much to know so many people care. Day by day I am getting stronger everyday. I have been on the motorcycle once for a short ride. The weather has not been good and the roads are to soft to try to ride.
Thanks again for everything.” Kathy Thomason
CHAPTER DONATIONS – Please see Pam Guenther and if you can give $10 per person it will greatly help the chapter. This is our operating budget and this year we have had lots of expenses. Your donations will help us continue to do what the chapter likes to see done.
HUNGARY FOR CHEAP ICE CREAM – We have been told that if you show your GWTA National Membership card at the Dairy Queen in Waukee you will get a 30% discount.
Anyone up for an Ice Cream Run?
DINNER RIDES – Be paying attention to places you are finding while just out riding that we can add to the list for voting for next years dinner rides. You can email them right away to Dennis Irvin to be added to the list, or you can hold them, but please be looking for places you might want to add on. Also, if you have an idea for a Saturday (or Sunday) ride for a lunch or anything else, please suggest it; it makes it more fun and interesting to hear from more people!
Bunkhouse Camper Information - Found some information on a website on the proper way to close or fold up a bunkhouse. They expect you to remember all the little things when you open your camper the first time, but this website will give you step by step instructions to fold it back up. Hope someone gets a little help from this. Check it out at http://tidyville.roadstarclinic.com/bunkhouse.htm
New Bike Night Location – Told that on Thursdays Radical Cycle on NE 14th will be having bike night. They will have vendors and a burn out pit. This is not just for the V-twins, bur for all motorcycles. Old Chicago has Bike nights on Tuesdays and Scornovacco’s on Wednesday nights. Of course Victory Lane still has theirs on Tuesday, and Porkey’s and Trophy’s on Thursday.
CHAPTER B IN MISSIOURI is having a ride on - Sunday, July 27th, this marks the 5th Kansas City area Ride for Kids and the 25th year of nationwide rides benefitting the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The national theme this year is “Keeping the Promise”. Finding the causes and possible cures for brain tumors is the goal of the Foundation, in addition to providing support for children and their families and scholarships for survivors. Flyer for this event with more informtaion is going to be attached with this newsetter.
BUTTONS FOR SALE:
We had these buttons designed and are selling them for 2 for $5 ($2.50 each). See or call Pam Guenther, and she will be sure she has some with her for you,
(phone 264-8951)
REGION C RALLY - was June 6-8, 2008. Baber’s, Dennis and Donna, Cinnamon’s and Guenther’s were planning to attend from Chapter I. Baber’s and us went over on Thursday night and opted to take our cars. Baber’s did pull a trailer with their motorcycle. It stormed like crazy! Friday morning Bev called and said they wouldn’t be coming; they were filling up in their basement with water from the overnight storm. We called home and sure enough our basement had 8 inches in it at that time...oh man! Baber’s also called home and found their kids who live near had several inches of water and Baber’s were worried and home they were going to go. We went out to Camp Catron and dropped off some things for the meal on Friday night as we were going to help with some Dutch oven cooking and to dress up the hot dog dinner. Thanks to the Ress’s this got taken care of, we turned all the copies of information, and food over to them. We headed home to start the job of pumping out water and cleaning a mess. Thanks to the Green Family who helped endlessly. Work continued all day Saturday and Sunday AM went to get a trailer and load all the stuff in it that was ruined. When they got back with the trailer, the basement was full of water again! This was because the city sewers couldn’t handle the downpour of rain. The water was coming up the drain….. What a mess. Due to this, none of us were at the whole Region C. Glenn and Pam did make it over on Saturday and was able to enjoy some of the activities and meal Saturday night. Thank you for representing Chapter I.
Iowa Chapter L and Nebraska Chapter B had their annual Fun Run on June 1 and Lake Manawa State Park. Baber’s, Irvin’s went over to Lake Manawa and Cinnamon’s registered for this event to support these two chapters. Lake Manawa is beautiful and definitely something to put on your list of things to do another year. Great people, great ride and lots of fun.
Chapter Z Fun Run and Perry Bike Day 2008 - Several members from Chapter I went to Perry and Supported the Chapter Z fun run in Perry. WOW did they have lots of neat prizes, food and demonstrations and vendors. Great job for a first event from their chapter.
Region E Colorama is scheduled for October 10-12 and this year it is going to be held in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. This is only a few more miles to drive, Forsyth was 404 and this is 422. This is a riding rally. They will have several guided and unguided rides mapped out. It will be held at the KOA in Eureka Springs. This area is gorgeous to ride in if you have never been there you might think about making this trip. We will have more on this event next month.
CONGRATULATIONS TO IOWA CHAPTER I’S DON THOMASON!!!! Some time back the National asked for people to submit ideas for a logo for this year’s Gold Rush. It was to be a western theme. Don came up with an idea and the art teacher at his school helped to put that idea on paper and he submitted it. If you noticed in the latest Touring News, Don Thomason was thanked as his logo was chosen.
Don, Congratulations and we are very proud of you.
RAFFLE TICKET SALES: Think about buying some or checking some out to sell. Winner will get to choose between a 2008 Gold Wing, 2008 VTX, 2008 BMW, or a 2008 Harley Softail FXST OR $10,000 CASH! Please check some tickets out when you are going somewhere to possibly sell and think about purchasing some yourselves. We were originally told we had to turn all these in on June 26th, however, the Region is way down on sales and has asked for us to try for a big push over the 4th of July weekend. We have tickets for purchase or for you to sell, please consider helping out and selling these. Your assistance is so so appreciated.
Throughout the newsletter you will find information on our supports/advertisers. Be sure to mention that you saw it in our newsletter if you visit them.
Chapter I Travels – Well, Baber’s, Busch’s, Green’s and Irvin’s took a great memorial trip IN CARS! Pam Guenther had planned the trip and we decided we needed to take it. Weather was looking horrible and we decided a safer way was to travel in cars and we all needed a get away. Sooo off we went. Stayed in Clear Lake and had a great party time in the Baber’s room, lots of food and beverage, laughter and photos, yup, photos! Saturday AM we took off to Austin, Minnesota to see the Spam Museum. Hmmm, Spam sounds boring…nope it was great. Very interesting and lots of fun! Then northeast from there to Wabasha, Minnesota to the National Eagle Center. We saw 3 bald eagles one golden eagle, all will be there for their lifetime due to wing injuries. They had a brief program which was interactive and interesting. We were able to get very close to the Eagles for photos. From there we went down the road to eat at Slippery’s. Wabasha and Slippery’s were part of the setting for movies Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men. Food was yummy, right on the river and a fun place. From there headed south and stayed the night in Winona, MN. Sunday AM we crossed into Wisconsin and up to Fountain City (A place Linda Boone had told us about). In Fountain City we went to Elmer’s Antique Car and toy museum. They are only open certain weekends, so if you plan to go, check first. This place is located on a beautiful hillside which is the highest point on the Mississippi River and the view was breathtaking. We ended up wandering around this place and visiting with the owner about 4 hours. Left and went to the Rock in the House in Fountain City. This is not worth a special drive, but do check it out if you are there sometime. This 55 ton boulder went down a hill and crashed into a house and the owner had just left the room it crashed in, leaving her unscathed, but frightened. The house looks like they just packed and left when that happened. From there we went down to Dickeyville and stayed at our usual motel. Some went into Dubuque to the Race Track and got locked in due to a tornado warning and some went to another place to eat in Dubuque. We had tons of rain, but missed out on the tornado that hit Parkersburg, thankfully. Monday, we leisurely headed back home. Another wonderful trip with wonderful people!
JUNE and JULY Birthdays:
Happy GWTA Chapter I Birthday wishes to Hope you had great days. Happy Birthday to
Glenn Guenther on June 4,
Jim Castleblanca on June 6,
Jason Thomason June 7
Kitsie Brown June 24th.
For the July birthday’s Happy birthday to
Ray Busch on the 6th,
Rich McCullough on the 13th,
Sara Palmer on the 29th and
Greg Hendricks on the 30th.
Hope you all have great birthdays.
SAFETY FORUM UPDATE Another one
We have been in contact with those in charge of the safety forum. All people who signed up for the headlight modulators have probably received a survey to fill out. We should be receiving our certificates for the modulating headlights in the next month. We will be able to take the certificates to participating dealerships and pick the modulator up.
Campfire Information – for those of you who camp and love campfires, here is some interesting information we found.
Water-based Pinecone Fire starters
These fire starters make colored flames when you burn them in the
fireplace or campfire, and make a great party trick. They also look
cute in a basket until it's time to do the burning.
Shopping List:
Pinecones
A big bucket
Tongs
A chemical (see below)
Choosing the Chemical
Each of these chemicals make a different colored flame, and different
chemicals cost more than others. You should only make one color of
cone at one time, and should never burn different colors together, so
there's no need to buy every chemical.
Table salt – Yellow flame – The grocery store. You can use the same
stuff you fill your salt shaker with.
Borax (sodium tetraborate) – Yellow-green flame – 20 mule team borax,
in the laundry aisle. ~5$ for much more than 1 cup.
Salt substitute (potassium) – Violet flame – The grocery store.
Epsom salts (magnesium sulphate) – White flame – A pharmacy
Bright green flame – Allum (thallium) – Try the pharmacy. It's for
food processing (mostly, pickle making), but natural food stores
charge a ton for it. ~5$ for 8oz/1 cup.
Bright red flame – Strontium chloride – Used in aquarium keeping
somehow, so check a specialty aquarium store. ~10$ for 8oz/1 cup.
Boric acid – Deep red flame – Try the pharmacy. I think it's used in
soap making? ~5$ for 8oz/1 cup.
Fill the bucket with half of a gallon of hot water. Add a cup of your
chemical of choice (ONE chemical). Soak your pinecones for about 8
hours, then fish them out with the tongs and set them aside to dry
(some of these chemicals will lightly stain a countertop, so be sure
to use lots of newspaper). The pinecones need to dry for at least 3
days before they can be burnt, and will need to dry for at least a
day before you can stick them in a basket or wrap them.
Wax-based Pinecone Firestarters
This is basically a cross between the colorful decorative pinecones
and the last firestarter recipe. It's wax based, so it can hold color
as well as emit color, and it should burn longer. Watch out for wax
buildup in the fireplace though.
Shopping List:
Pinecones
Paraffin wax
Double boiler
Crayons
Tongs
A chemical (see above)
Sawdust
An old cup
Mix fine sawdust and your chemical of choice in a large container.
Melt the wax in the double boiler, and add crayon to create some
color if you want. Restrict yourself to one or two coats of wax—as a
consequence, expect some thin spots in the color. Immediately dip the
waxed pinecone in the chemical/sawdust mixture. Use the cup to pour
the mixture into hard to reach crannies, then set the pinecone aside
to dry. In a couple hours, after the wax is completely cool, lightly
shake the excess sawdust mixture out of the crannies.
Newsletter Editors:
Dennis Irvin – DCIrvin2000@aol.com
Donna McCullough – dmccuLL63@aol.com
515-287-5466
