Ellensburg, Washington, will be the site for the Seventh annual Iron Horse Trail Motorcycle Show put on by ABATE of Washington’s Kittitas County Chapter on May 2–3. The Fish Food Bank will be the outfit where some of the proceeds land, and helping an entity known for helping others feels even better when you realize the food bank suffered a winter fire at their storefront; a total loss. While they’re operating out of the Mercer Street (a local) church, the nonprofit is still not back to pre-fire inventory for the community. FISH (www.kvfish.org) stands for Friends in Service to Humanity and you can be a friend to Fish by attending this event. Registration for the Iron Horse Trail event is $10 and a can of food per rider. Longtime THUNDER PRESS contributor Beryl Nitrate is the go-to girl to hit up with questions. By e-mail use beno3@premier1.net or telephone the chapter treasurer using 509.925.5139. The website with more scoop is kittitasabate.org/bikeshow/index.html and there’s a Facebook page as well. All of the goings on are based out of the Red Horse Diner at 1518 West University Way in Ellensburg, but stops for the Saturday Poker Run may (or may not) include the Old #3 in Ronald, Washington, Timeout Saloon, Parkside Café, Mike’s Tavern or Owen’s Harley-Davidson. There are road-captain routes for those who’d prefer getting the back-road skinny, or you can go it alone. Once you’re registered you’re free to amble on down the road, stopping at the various points in no particular order to fill out your poker hand. There is no camping on site but a KOA campground is under a mile afield. For those who want to sleep off the ground, consider the Cedars Inn, at 1390 N. Dolarway Road, phone: 509.925.9844, offering discounted rates for Iron Horse Trail attendees. Folks will return to the Red Horse Diner for the final stamp and that’s where awards for the poker run will be bestowed and bike games will be conducted. The live music begins at 4:00–4:30 p.m. with Road Fever. As the evening rolls on, at 7:30 Powerhouse takes the stage. On Sunday, May 3, at about noon you’ll be treated to a demonstration by the Rodeo City Rollergirls, a local amateur roller derby team. A browse of their website, www.rodeocityrollergirls.com, makes it clear these ladies are a hoot. A crowd favorite, the Seattle Cossacks will perform Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Vendors will be hawking for your shekels from 10:00–4:00 and live music will be yours to enjoy from 11:00–4:00. There’s a $10 fee to register your ride in the Sunday bike show, and everyone is asked to bring along a can of food for admission Sunday. If you refrain from a visit next door at 1516 West University Way, the home of Cannabis Central, you’ll be spared the munchies, and much more likely to still have that can on Sunday. Just sayin’… Years ago riding friends went to a blues festival at Lake Osoyous in Okanogan County in N. Central Washington State; sleeping in the apple orchards, dancing until way beyond normal bedtime and hanging out around the campfire with friends comfortably equipped with actual trailers or campers parked right at the water’s edge. Those usual suspects included Sandy and Phil, Yogi and Shirley, Sas Alford and Lois Lorenz with Ken, Railroad man Wayne Multari and his (now wife) then-girlfriend Ginger, Montana Sailor Terry, Dave and Lydia out of Cashmere and others. Some great times, and the weather always seemed favorable. Well, this year I’m shining a light on the Rally at the Border Blues Fest, an event not just sprinkled with riders, but with a wholly biker vibe, organized by the Columbia River Chapter of H.O.G. with seven suggested routes to enjoy the Okanogan, and music planned on May 16 from noon until 10:00 p.m. Musical lineup includes: The Randy Oxford Band, VooDoo Church of Blues, Steve Bailey and the Blue Flames, the CD Woodbury Band, Jesse Weston Band and Royce-Govedare High Rollers. Tickets are $25 and tent camping at Deep Bay Park is $10. Space is limited, so don’t dawdle. Phone 509.485.2272, e-mail borderbluesfest@gmail.com or take a look at their webpage at www.rallyattheborderbluesfest.com.
