Motorcycling December
In the City of Corpus Christi, Texas, the first Friday of the month marks, “First Friday ArtWalk”. Artists, craftsmen and musicians show and perform along a downtown walking route that also showcases permanent downtown businesses. This year was also the “2nd Annual Rolling Art Show” exhibit at House of Rock, a popular concert venue. My squeeze and I decided to give it a look.
One of the things we appreciated about the exhibit was the variety of motorcycles; we stubbornly cling to the belief that there is more to this motorcycling world than v-twin engines and fat rear tires.
The limited space of the bar did not make for easy photography but my trusty sidekick did a bang-up job. I may have to double her pay.
This ’72 Honda 750-4 has been “cafe’d” by a popular local musician. Got to love them bulletproof engines.
There was more than one legend on the place, too.
Some legends are still in the making. This is the first vertical twin Indian I’ve seen.
The exhibit was well worth going OTB (over the bridge). There were a number of slick Harleys, a show room-new-looking 1980 KZ1000 and some vintage daily riders and other customs. As always, we were pleased go encounter like-minded friends and neighbors.
We toured the ArtWalk then headed back to the barn to prepare for another day in paradise.
Saturday dawned gray and damp, a perfect day to join some locals for a ride over to Beeville, Texas to participate in the local toy drive and fund raiser. HQ for the ride was a bar called B.O.B.W.E, well known to the other riders, a new experience, for me. That lucky Flour Bluff woman had a previous engagement so there is not much in the way of photo documentation.
We were led on a ride out in the country, like a poker run without the poker, then back to Beeville where we picked up a police escort for a parade through town and back to our starting point.
One of the places we visited is way off the beaten track. The owner joked that the place is “invitation only”. This view is of the busy end of the street:
One of the participants, new to the area, was aboard this personalized Valkyrie. The man was a hoot; you really do meet the nicest, strangest people on a Honda.
Back at B.O.B.W.E, I enjoyed a light lunch and fellowship. Since I was one of those who didn’t want to make a night of it, and I don’t have a built-in compass, I followed a few of the US Military Vets MC out of Beeville and shadowed them back to Corpus town.
Sunday, ante meridian, the luckiest woman in Flour Bluff swung her leg over the big yella bike’s coochie couch and we made our way to the Texas A&M at Corpus Christi campus, staging area for the Toys for Tots parade along the bay front. There was a bit more organization, this year, the clubs being lined up first, then the non-affiliated.
It looked to me like a pretty good turnout with cool temperatures and overcast sky.
The “Toys For Tots” event is also old home week, for my missus and me.
Old home week
Since we were already lined up in the parking lot, the start of the parade was not the usual bottleneck/cluster hug seen in previous years. With CCPD controlling the intersections, we rolled along Corpus Christi Bay on one-of-a-kind Ocean Drive.
Then, back into the old concrete plant-cum-concert venue.
It’s always good to see youngsters immersed in the culture.
We parked near the entrance and walk to the gate where Marines collected the toys we brought and sold us tickets for the barbecue.
No shortage of parking, here.
No shortage of participants, either.
Time for us to go, bikes thinned out but there are still die-hards
Good time had, good deed done, we retraced our route back to big Bluff.
Good Yule, y’all.
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Thanksgiving Jaunt
There are certain advantages to bucking Thanksgiving Day traditions. For one, my missus prepares a great seafood gumbo instead of the usual “turkey with all the fixin’s”. And, while the rest of the world feasts or watches The Game, it’s possible to ride through the city on streets that are nearly empty. The luckiest woman in Flour Bluff and I decided to take advantage of the situation by riding around Corpus Christi Bay to the town of Ingleside for a picnic. She stashed picnic stuff in the saddlebag, hopped on the snatch pad and off we went.
The day was beautiful, breezy, the temperature topping out near 75°F (23.8° C). We weren’t the only motorcyclists out enjoying the day, either.
Northbound over the Harbor Bridge and a picture postcard view of the USS Lexington Museum.
The couple we’d seen on the bayfront found their throttles, she giving us the accepted “low wave” from her Shadow VLX as they went by. You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
Riding through Ingleside, we made our way to the city park named, “Live Oak”. Live Oak Park is plenty spacious even on days when there are more than the ten-or-so visitors we saw in addition to ourselves.
Who can resist being able to make a photograph of their motorcycle with an uncluttered background? Note the very groovy way the saddlebag lids open to the outside.
While I sat and absorbed the peacefulness of the day, Jill serenaded the trees with her Native American flute.
We were surely enjoying the day, but the clock was walking (as it’s known to do, in these parts) and it was time to head back to the big Bluff and make ready the feast.
Life’s good, we’re alive and in Texas.
