For those of you who don't know me, I am a passionately dedicated motorcyclist (cue Flip rolling his eyes as I talk about motorcycles...). For me, two wheels are a magic-carpet, perhaps my favourite way to travel. One reason is that a motorcyclist is
outdoors. I may be shrouded from head to toe in my helmet, gloves, boots and armoured, weather-resistant clothing, but I am still NOT in a box, still subject to the ambient atmosphere (and all the smells it carries...). Until you've traveled by motorcycle you just don't realise how isolated you are inside a car.
My travels by motorcycle are actually quite relevant to Pax Brewitas because along the way in those travels I have made many friends and shared many a drink with them.
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT consume alcohol before or during the riding of motorcycles. I drink after the bike is parked for the day. The safe operation of a motorcycle requires approximately twice the attention and concentration as required for automobiles, so PLEASE do not EVER ride drunk.I belong to a large club called the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America (
www.bmwmoa.org). The 'MOA (as we call it) has 40K members mostly in USA and Canada, and every July throws a get-together called the International Rally. The location is different every year, but the activities remain the same. One large part of the Rally is the Beer Garden. This is area generally becomes the social-hub of the Rally, and every evening is packed with hundredds of fellow enthusiasts. The beers range from canned BMC-type stuff to draught micros from whatever breweries are within a reasonable distance, and they are sold for only about two dollars a glass (actually it's in plastic mugs, one of which is issued to each Rally-goer for this purpose when they arrive onsite. This provides both a souvenir AND a way to reduce the amount of waste generated).
Here's a shot from the Beer Garden at the 2005 Rally which was held at Lima Ohio. This Rally-goer seems to be rather intrigued by my kilt:
Sometimes I meet interesting new friends by myself out on the road. I was on my way to the 2007 Rally when I stayed a night in Spring Green Wiscowsin. A local rider spotted me unloading my bags in front of the hotel and decided it would be good to stop and say hi.
The guy was really nice and we talked for quite a while. At one point he reached into the cooler strapped onto his bike behind the seat and offerred me a cold Rock Star. Not beer (or even as good as beer), but on that
HOT July afternoon it really hit the spot.
Here is that rider and my bike, in front of the Usonian Inn (
http://www.usonianinn.com/):
Earlier on the same trip I was offerred a can of beer by a guy in Hannibal MO who saw my bike and was curious about my travels. Another good conversation.
I also ride twice a year up to the wooded mountains of southeastern Oklahoma, for a much smaller and very informal gathering of riders I know from the fora at
www.boxerworks.com. One of those riders is a very active homebrewer, and one time a couple of years ago flew down a month ahead of time to brew some special rally-beer for us. She made 5 gallons each of 4 flavours. The one that resembled dirty motor-oil ran out first. I'm proud to ride with friends who have such great taste in beer!
Here's a scene form our most recent gathering:
At the very first of these gatherings in 2004, One participant was a teacher of theatre arts at a community college, and he did a very hilariously stirring reading of a bottle of Arrogant Bastard Ale.
So if you see me parking the bike at the end of the day, wander over and say hi- I just might be ready for a beer.
