PIF 2008

-Bill Shepard

Well -- I am finally in front of a computer this weekend and what a weekend it was!!

Where do I start -- how about at the beginning.

Friday morning Ruth and I got an early start and it turns out we should have waited.

We were about an hour ahead of schedule and I got caught in a bit of a storm fifteen minutes from camp, I would have been dry the whole way if I was an hour later.

Some people started rolling in during the mid-afternoon and we fired up the grill for some burgers (didn't have any dogs yet because Ultra wasn't here yet)

One of the early arrivals was Russ Mangers and his wife who were making their first PIF trip - I think they had a good time!

Things just started flying from there people started rolling in and I never did take attendance or get a list of everyone (I hope someone with a better memory than me can help me out) Ruth took lots of pictures but I wont be able to post them for a week. I am going on a week long trip with Bear and 2 of his friends.

It was great as always to see the friend that we don't see very often and to make a whole bunch of new ones!

Some folk from Minnesota and Wisconsin rolled in with too many wheels on their rides - Jerry and Patty drove up as did Curtis and Mike Quick. We all had a good time poking fun at them but it is better that they made it here safely on 4 wheels than to have them ride too far and too fast and risk injury in storms!

Ultra Steve rolled up on his four wheels but it was actually a Chevy and not an electric blue New Holland tractor, so that was a disappointment.

We were going to ride out and join the NY-W ice cream ride but we got to enjoy natures light show instead. The lightning actually knocked out the power at camp for a few hours. Everyone but Curtis and Mike went back to their hotels when the rain passed and the four of us had a nice evening of conversation as my daughter Madi and her friend Liz (who were there to help out) explored the camp and relived some of their past camp memories.

Next time I may have to re-think the bunkhouse idea because I have no idea where Curtis hid the chainsaw he was using all night but it was LOUD!!

Saturday morning had the looks of a decent day but still had a little liquid sunshine built in. We had a large group for breakfast at Denny's and we started on our various activities.

Greg Hayden, Ron Bien and a few others took off early because they made some modifications to the planned route and wanted to see a few other things. The rest of us went back to the hotel parking lot to leave at the planned time and wait for a few of the locals to join us.

We took off with 7 two-wheeled wings, 5 trikes and 4 cars and right from the get go, I should have known I was going to need to change some plans. It is really hard to keep that number of vehicles together through signal lights and stop signs. We also had the heavier type of 'liquid sunshine' to deal with, add that to a potty and gas stop and we were a bit behind schedule well before the half-way point.

When we got close to the falls we let another PIF "newbie" and local member Ron Howard take the lead since we were in his neighborhood. He took us right to the upper view where we got to look down on the waterfall (a great angle BTW) than we rode down to the lower falls view.

From there we had to alter the return route because we knew we were late. We took as many short cuts as we could and pushed our way through more rain without stopping to change into rain gear. Along the way I received a few phone calls to let me know that Don Ferguson and also Greg Hayden's group along with a number of other local "PIFfers" had already arrived at the picnic so I did what all great leaders do when they are late and said STALL THEM.

We arrived 90 minutes late but as we rode in the sun burst forth and the food was still hot so we joined the picnic.

The recipients were kept completely clueless and by the time we got started there were about 75 people there and only about 12 did not know what was going on!

I jumped up on a picnic bench and started talking and called the boy's coach up to introduce them, one by one the boys were brought up to the front of the 'room' and introduced to the assembly of travelers that they still didn't fully understand.
Kemar
Majied
Mike
Cequan
Wayne
Nelson
and Roland (Roland was at a marching band competition that was delayed)
The boys were told about the concept of "Paying it Forward" and were told that we were investing in THEIR futures. They were very surprised and VERY appreciative of the gift they were given.

We have definitely made a difference in the lives of these young men and hopefully a seed was planted to keep paying it forward.

The "biker gang" then made its way back to the 4H camp for the raffles and a small fund raising auction. Leon Sterns was our auctioneer and did a great job with some nice donations.

Raffle Prizes:
Hand Held GPS (we had 2) - Ron Smith and Dave Varnes
Both tickets were sold by Joe Austin who made no contest of the "Tire for Tickets" contest by selling 1100 raffle tickets!!
XM Radio - Carl Munkwitz
6x9 USA motorcycle flag - Tim Harman (WingDreams)
Hand made throw - Ron Jensen (My Barber)
Ring - Tom Vacanti (One of my co-workers in Buffalo)
Laptop - Wes Quick (Who is he???)

Saturday night found people scattering for a meal that wasn't grilled dogs or burgers and just out doing there own things. Ruth and I with Mike and Curtis just had to go out for some ice cream!!

Sunday morning (aka 4:30 AM) brought an early departure for Curtis and Mike while the rest of us met for breakfast at 8 (Don was the only one who heard us say 8:30) and planned our ride to see Niagara Falls.

Most people went their own way this morning but we had a tight group of wings for the trip west, Me, Joe and Gail, Bear and Trish, James Bonner, The Magers, and the Petersons headed north-west across Rochester to follow the lake to the falls. It was a beautiful morning and early ride with temperatures in the upper seventies along the lake and an abundant blue sky with just a few clouds. We made it to the falls area at about 12:30 and took some time to find a parking lot with room. It turned out OK because I managed to talk the attendant into just charging us for ONE CAR while we pulled our 6 bikes and 2 trailers into the lot!

We were right at a good viewing spot and managed to take a few group pictures before Gail and Joe needed to buy a few souvenirs and head back to get Gail to the airport for her return flight.

The rest of us went out for a nice early dinner or late lunch and the Petersons headed for their Sunday night lodgings while the remaining 4 bikes headed back to Canandaigua.

I am sure there will be more information to follow and other peoples accounts of the weekend but I call it a big success and now time to start planning for next year!!


Let me say Thank You again to everyone who supported our efforts this year and we hope it continues into the future.

Bill