Open Road Girls 2018 Ride: #12

Thanks Ladies for inviting me to do photos.

It was my sincere pleasure!

Be safe out there!

Open Road Girls 2018 Ride: #11

This shot included about 1/2 of the bikes that were there.

Not a bad group photo before the ride!

Open Road Girls 2018 Ride: #10

Meet Dee and Rita!

And meet Rita's traveling companion, Chester.  She picked him up in Sturgis a few years ago.

He's seen a few miles since then!   Thanks Ladies!

Open Road Girls 2018 Ride: #9

Connecting again with friends before the ride!

Open Road Girls 2-18 Ride: #8

Friends are happy to see one another!

You could feel their excitement at getting together with one another.

Thanks ladies!

Open Road Girls 2018 Ride: 7

Meet various riders that were going by.  I wasn't able to get their names.  But, it was fun to see them going by on their bikes.

Open Road Girls: 2018 Ride: 6

Meet Malinda and a friend!

Malinda is the owner of the Open Road Girls Facebook Page and clothing retail specializing in women riders.  She also organizer of the 2018 Open Road Girls ride.

Nice bike!

Thanks again Malinda!

Open Road Girls: 2018 Ride: 5

Meet Shelly!

I really enjoyed chatting with Shelly.   I wasn't certain whether she knew a lot of the other women riders or was just waiting for other friends.  But, I had a wonderful chat with her.

Thanks Shelly!

Open Road Girls: 2018 Ride: 4

Meet Louise (again) and Vanessa!

One of the things I noticed was how comfortable and happy the women were about being together and celebrating that togetherness.  It was fun to see friends getting together again.

Thanks ladies!  It was a pleasure chatting with you both.

The Open Road Girl 2018 Ride: 3

Meet Shelly!

I really liked her smile!   She was having a great time seeing friends!

Thanks Shelly!

The Open Road Girl 2018 Ride: 2

Meet Barb and Rita!

They were obviously happy to be seeing one another again!

My sincere thanks, ladies!   It was lovely meeting you both!

The Open Road Girl 2018 Ride: 1

I managed to get to the Bison Thunder motorcycle shop in Rogers early, before any riders had shown up.  And, I was able to get into the shop to do some photos of great bikes!   Look for those as filler over the next week of so.

But for now, meet Sheila and Louise!

They arrived early and, as far as I could tell, knew one another from earlier rides.

My sincere thanks to you both!   It was wonderful meeting you!

Oh, and don't forget some bike candy!

The MSHA Spring Gala: The Featured Plants

These are always tricky to do in a limited light situation, with a flash, and hand holding the camera.

But, I think they turned out pretty well.

And, I like the color blends on this with the lens bokeh.

The 74th Anniversary of D-Day

I had the great opportunity to stand on sacred ground today.   I stood in Saints Mere Englise where I watched over 500 paratroopers jump from several flyovers.   Then, I stood in front of the church where John Steele, a paratrooper from the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, became entangled on the church's steeple.  He hung there, suspended for nearly 2 hours before the Germans cut him down and took him prisoner.   It was a horrible day for the paratroopers.  They missed their landing area just out of town and landed right in the middle of Sainte Mere Englise.  Buildings were burning at 1:40 AM.  And the Germans could easily see the illuminated paratroopers coming down.

John Steele survived the war and died in May of 1969.

To this day, the church maintains a parachute on that steeple and a dummy paratrooper.

If you are curious about the inside of the church:

Finally, I drove to Omaha Beach to pay my respects to all of those who served in WWII....and to those especially who did not survive those first few days.

I was disappointed with the beach.  It had become commercialized.   And, a beach wall had been build to help protect the sand dunes soldiers had to climb in the face of machine gun and mortar fire.  This small statue was about all that remained.   However, the American cemetery was beautiful, quiet, and respectful.   It was incredibly moving. 

It is a great honor to be here this week.  I've seen hundreds of people gathering to pay their respects to the British, French, Canadian and US troops. 

At the parachute jump, an older French gentleman began speaking to me in French.  I listened quietly until he finished speaking and said, "I am sorry.  I don't speak French."   Then, I pointed to myself and said, "American.".

He grabbed my left arm....and shook my hand.....and said, "Merci.   Merci."

To the greatest generation that ever lived.   Thank you.

The MSHA's Spring Gala: Support Team!

Meet Megha!

I thought she had a loveliest smile.  And she was keeping all the guests informed about the event.

Nicely done, Megha.  

The MSHA's Spring Gala: A Guest

Meet Bob....I think!  I lost his card!

He was a guest.  And, he is a professional photographer.  So, I was feeling a little nervous when I took this photo.  I think it turned out great.  And, he liked it, too.

My sincere thanks!

A Proprietor at the MSHA's Spring Gala: The Beer Silent Auction

This gentleman was garnering support for the beer Silent Auction.  And, he knew about beer!   He was quite informative about the various beers and how they were made.

And, he looks awesome in the bowtie!