Spring is upon us, finally, and the events calendar is filling up fast. But let’s face it; a great many things that might be a swell time for Bill strikes Bell as pretty darned ho-hum, and vice versa. This gulf in a couple’s interests is why charming little stops that hold a variety of things to do, places to eat and activities for all interests tend to get a lot of business from folks touring through. Well, with that broad appeal in mind, the Post 43 American Legion Riders of La Grande, Oregon, have aligned their Blue Pine Rally on July 13–15 with the Grande Ronde-A-View Classic Car Show and Crazy Days. The downtown celebration includes a craft fair, street vendors and a whole slew of other options. So if your mate and you are bored silly with going to another motorcycle rally, and if your threshold for saving a whale, a historic building or the tug of yet another philanthropic opportunity is falling short of getting you out of the H-D Collector’s Edition recliner, here’s an event sure to change your ways. There will be a bike show, classic car show, bike games, dancing, bike show and shine, raffles, live music, fun people watching, vendors and great chow choices galore. Come on, hit the “raise” button on that lift chair and throw your leg over some Milwaukee Iron. Questions? Lonnie Myers is your answer man and can be reached at 541.963.2908. Lonnie’s email (I admire a guy who’ll admit to one) is lonnie_myers@yahoo.com. Proceeds from the Legion event serves the needs of military families in Union, Wallowa, Baker and Grant Counties of Oregon. If you don’t find something to do, characters to enjoy, something to buy or something (or someone) to ogle, then you’re simply no fun and should return home forthwith… On July 14 in the northeast corner of Washington State, home to some of the most exquisite riding areas in the Inland NW, there’s a comedy show (Tim Behren’s McManus Comedies—advance tickets $15) in a 100-year-old theatre that’s about a dozen miles from Canada and 25 miles from the Idaho state line. The Cutter Theatre (www.cuttertheatre.com, 509.446.4108 for reservations) and the local historic mine lodging facility, the Pend Oreille Apartments (509.446.4802—drop my name and get a screamin’ deal), will make the Saturday, July 14, affair one to remember. Metaline Falls is a great little town and there are costumed youths as tour guides giving free tours of the theatre, decked out in old-time costumes. There’s a great breakfast spot at Cathy’s Café, too. Small-town charm, great entertainment, clean downtown area, zero crime (honest), rich cultural history and affordability to boot. About 100 miles north of Spokane, with me as your host, really… Now here’s an event toward the end of July in Oregon that has a lot of heart but could use your support to take them to where they want to be. It’s the 11th annual Mahoney’s Motorcycle Escort to Camp Rainbow Gold on Sunday, July 29. No one needs to tell anybody with half a heart that some of the things we lend energy and dollars to in support tug at heartstrings. This is that type of event, and those who participate are people who set the day aside. Let’s admit it: when it comes to kids who aren’t well, we’re more than OK with parting with a little coin. This event is under the hosting banner of the ride’s namesake, Mahoney’s Bar and Grill, and is all about supporting kids who’ve been diagnosed with cancer. There will be a great burger barbecue provided by Mahoney’s before the escort, and then afterwards folks will gather at the nearby Silver Dollar. Meet up at the Bellevue City Park at 300th and Elm in Bellevue, Idaho. Pat will be happy to take your calls/questions at 208.539.6885. Then, of course, there’s the ever-present Facebook page that you can access with a Google search of “Mahoney’s, escort, Facebook” and it will pop up like toast… I’m skipping ahead to an early August event, on the 4th, that would cause you to suffer over the loss of an opportunity to take a nice ride, if not for an early heads up. First and foremost, it’s a ride; one that happens to be a nice poker run from one of my favorite places, Grants Pass, Oregon, and heads to Crescent City. It’s the 34th annual Run to the Coast, put on by the Josephine County chapter of ABATE. You can expect a wonderful putt through the redwoods and out to the coast. There will be great prizes and lots of fun for all. The first poker hand will cost you $10, but it’s only $5 more for each additional hand. Start time is 10:00 a.m. at the Wilderville Store on the Redwood Highway & Fish Hatchery, west of Grants Pass (easy to find). Telephone for questions is 541.659.8715, and email contact is freeflitterfly@msn.com. See you in Wilderville…
