Here's Trainwreck's wrap up of the events of last weekend. I found it to be most eloquent. Hope to source some spare parts for Clarence and maybe get some prints of the trip pics made for him.
Enjoy TW's literary prowess. I certainly did...
-Scott
Just as the "Mother Road" bore the hopes and dreams of those heading west for a new beginning, so old U.S. Route 66, in the guise of Interstates 44 and 40, carried BoneDaddy and myself across this great land to deliver a tangible expression of the hope of this Yahoo Group for the betterment of one man. And though St. Louis to Tucumcari and back in two days seems exhausting, it wasn't. An opportunity presented itself to get involved in something good and I was happy to do it. I have not been an active member of this group as I no longer ride a Star but I got involved because I am friends and V.P. to BoneDaddy in our riding club, Ronin R.C.
Driving across the plains of western Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle, I knew we were delivering something extraordinary. In the back of my Ranger was a nice used motorcycle bought with the donations of dozens of people from across the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and even New Zealand. Those people, moved by the story of Clarence were generous and trusting enough to give money to strangers for the benefit of a stranger. In this day of Nigerian lottery scams and other internet phishing schemes, that alone is remarkable. But the fact that the idea to do something nice for Clarence actually progressed from an internet idea (the stage where most such things die), to the donation of real money, to the purchase of the item and finally to the delivery of that item is most remarkable. It is a great thing you all have done.
The measure of the greatness of your deed could be seen in the eyes of Clarence; the gleam when he read and mouthed the words "Clarence's Ride" on the gas tank and the sheer joy when he roared of on his first ride. You have done a generous thing for a nice man, a man well-liked by those with whom he now lives.
I thought it appropriate that we stopped at "
Cadillac Ranch" on the way out. This modern day stonehenge has become a must stop for people from all over the world and they leave their signatures and their own artwork on the 10 earthbound Cadillacs there. But on the fence gate on the way in, wrutten very low on the cross brace were written these words: "Looking for the spirit of Tom Joad." That spirit of hope in the future expressed by Tom in the closing sililoquy of The Grapes of Wrath, that he would be present in the laughter of hungry children who know supper is coming, was present in the Honda CM250 strapped into the bed of my truck. Bonedaddy and I signed the rest of the donors names to the tank of Clarence's ride right there on old Route 66 in front of the ranch.
Thanks to all of you at YamahaStarRiders. The spirit of Tom Joad could be seen in the glee of one old veteran on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Tucumcari.
Peace,
Trainwreck ...
