This has been a fun winter so far, with every kind of riding weather California gets. For those of you that went to Daytona, I know you got more than your share of that variety! But, as always, you came back with stories to tell that never would have been as exciting or worth retelling if not for the crazy conditions. I stayed home and worked, while my buddies Richard Hestlow and Jim Farrand went off on their annual trip south. Instead I managed to hit some local bike nights, a fun birthday party for Larry and Susie Jarvis, and my own annual party for the girls. That was March; now April is here with a bunch more rides and the usual perfect weather that we almost always have in our SoCal spring. So let’s get started on the rides that I promised to give a bit of extra PR to… A little out of my area, but they asked, so I said sure! Up in Vacaville, ABATE 17’s annual Spring Fun Run is on April 7, at the Str8 Shooter at 1072 E. Monte Vista Avenue. Registration starts at 9:00 a.m. and the first game begins at 10:00 a.m. You’re looking at a $5 donation per card, per stop, with no limit and there will be four stops. For more information call 707.624.6310… Congratulations to Patti Wright of Indio, our latest “Winner of a Completely Free Oil Change For Your Harley-Davidson Motorcycle” at Valley V-Twin in Indio. Halle Fetty says to “Like” them on their Facebook page to be entered in the next round. Halle also says to remind you kind readers about the Desert Dog Run on April 6. There’s a $100 cash prize for the highest poker hand, live music, a barbecue, a 50/50 raffle and more. Look it up on www.gddca.org… On April 20, the American Legion Riders Chapter 53 of Hemet is sponsoring the 4th annual Diamond Valley Poker Run out in Winchester. The ride starts at 32150 Grand Avenue in Winchester. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the bikes head out at 9:00 a.m. The ride ends with lunch, a bike show and bike games. Proceeds will benefit Ontario Airport USO. For more information call 951.929.4883. I missed this one last year, but if I find myself in town I really want to hit it. Sounded like a great time was had at the last one… Heard from Cindy Gano with a reminder about the Highway Workers Memorial Ride on May 1 and 2nd. For start-out info, send an e-mail to Cindy at FLHRLB@yahoo.com… Got a note from Public Information Officer Eric Hill about the Desert Riders hosting the 7th annual DRA Poker Run on May 4. Registration is at the official ride sponsor, Palm Springs Harley-Davidson at 19564 N. Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. The Desert Riders Association is a family-oriented motorcycle-riding club located in the SoCal desert. Of the many rides the Desert Riders put on, this one is considered their signature event and is a poker run to honor police officers that have fallen in the line of duty. Proceeds from this run are donated to memorial funds of local police organizations… Got a nice invite from Genevieve Schmitt of WomenRidersNow.com who is partnering with EagleRider to offer “All-Women R, R and R Tours” May 2–6. They’re taking reservations for their Palm Springs Escape and asked for my help in getting the women riders to take advantage of the daily rides that include the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, along with visits to Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego State Park and the mountain towns of Julian and Idyllwild. The ride will be led by senior EagleRider guide Laura “Lala” O’Brien, while the guest tour ambassador will be Laura Klock, land-speed record holder and Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Famer. Participants will also be able to attend optional morning exercise classes led by Genevieve, a certified Pilates and yoga instructor, as well as motivational talks by Laura and Genevieve. For more info, check out either of these websites: WomenRidersNow.com or EagleRider.com… It’s a little early, but I wanted to give you a heads up on the West Coast Thunder ride. Sharon Shannon Bridges sent me the entertainment lineup, and while I’m not going to give it all away just yet, I am going to tell you to reserve May 27 for an awesome 15th anniversary run. For now, suffice it to say, check out the run flyer at www.westcoastthunder.com and I’ll give you more next month. Here’s a shout out for just a few of the past workers and planners on this ride: Pat Delahunty, Steve Cifelli, Steve Aragon, Rich Greenberg, George Helton, DJ Quinn (how ya doing, DJ? Been a long time!), Lucky and Teresa Delaney, Don Odell and Bill Robbins… Got a fun note from David “Santa” Rauen—sorry I missed your March birthday, David; hope your 69th was a good one! David’s been riding over 50 years and is the on his 6th Harley. He says he still makes the Ghosties’ First and Last Days-O-Summer and also helps out with security at the Redwood Run. This year will make it five in a row, God willing. He also wanted to give a shout out to his friend and firefighter buddy “Forest” Linderman back in day at the Santa Cruz Fire Dept… Got some other birthday greetings… Valley V-Twin’s own George Fetty on the 10th. Hope your day is a fun one George, I know Halle will make it so!… Doug Whaley hope your April 17 birthday’s a memorable one. Same for Eric out at Palm Springs Harley-Davidson! … And Miss Denise Carey, a Harley-Davidson Rider’s Edge Coach, hope your April 13 day is filled with good surprises! Gene Rose and Deb Singleton Rose, have a great day. Massoudi Jacqui Chandrasena and Denise Carey, RN, you guys have a good birthday. Also out in the desert, Rick Hustead, Debby Mercer, Brian DeRoo, April Donovan, Shelia Rose and Bud England all share April birthdays—hope they’re all you expect! Also best wishes to Jim Berg on his birthday and Chandra Aldag, hope your day is great. Jo Alice Brooks, same for you honey! Butch Leach, you have yours on the last of month so here’s an early one for you! That’s it for birthdays in April… We have the 51st Yuma Prison Run to look forward to this month on April 19–21. And, of course, Laughlin following right on its heels. We could pretty much ride from one to the other—if we didn’t have to work. For those of you with that luxury—yahoo! Me, I’m gonna hang a little closer to home, work, and check out the local rides, which I’m sure I’m gonna enjoy to the fullest. Once more, I’d like to thank Dan and Patty Moon at Downtown Cycle in Fontana. You’re great! If you’re looking for a nice, honest, reasonable caretaker of your ride, you couldn’t be in better hands than with Downtown. Give ’em a call at 909.829.2987. That’s it for me and for April; see you all next month. In the meantime—enjoy your ride!