Doug and I met at 7:30 at my house then headed for the gas station to fill up.
After that, we road into town and to the Nugget here in Pahrump.
As we came up on the parking lot, we notices a bunch of other bikes.
There were 15 of us to start with.
We milled around and talked and shook hands with new riders.
When 8:am came along, we lined up behind Espi and we were off.
It was a great feeling to be in a pack. Just the feeling of the rumble and hearing all the pipes roaring to life as we kicked our bikes into gear and headed out of the parking lot to Hwy 160.
We made the signal and cruised down through town. I just love that feeling. All the excitement of a parade.
When we got to the edge of town and we started to accelerate, I found myself sitting in back with Pappie who hasn't ridden in a long time. So needless to say, the crowd left us and we were cruising 60mph in a mild breeze. I noticed Pappie kept taking his hand off his grip and stretching it out. So I stayed on his six and kept an eye on him. I leave no man behind.
My wife was relaxing on the back of my bike, just taking in the site of the morning desert. Just sitting back, taking it all in.
When we got about half way through the desert, I saw blinking police lights, so I moved to the next lane and cruised by and after that, Pappie picked it up to almost 70mph. Now we were cruising along. Pappie started to slow as we started up the pass. About half way, I saw another biker on the side of the road. I started to slow and honked my horn and gave a thumbs up and he returned it, so I knew he was ok. Turned out to be Tom and Dragon Lady from our group. I figured Espi and the rest were at the top of the pass at Springmountain Bar and Restraunt. He always wants to stop for a cigarette break there.
So Pappie and I pulled off, but no one was there and then Tom went by like a flash, so we took after him.
We crested the top and headed down the other side. It was a bit brisk on top but we were dressed for it and it got a bit breezy on the Vegas side of the mountain. On the way down, we passed a group sitting at a gas station and it turned out to be our group. Then we saw one of our trikes and Doug heading back the other way, so I took it as they were lagging someplace in the middle of us and the leaders.
We turned around and headed back up to he gas station just to see everyone had already left and now we were playing catch up again after another u-turn.
Espi just waived as he went on his merry way with about six other riders.
As we turned again and headed down to Decatour Blvd, I was wondering, what happened to the other five that were now missing?
Espi finally waited for us on Decatour and we all jumped on the 215 to Henderson together, but then again, everyone was gone and I stayed behind with Pappie because like I said above, I leave no man behind.
We did 50mph the whole way through town to the 93 return towards Vegas again and got off on Boulder Hwy.
We made a right then went down about a block and a half and made a u-turn then parked near the Leather Headquarters where we need to register for the run.
So far it has been eventful.
Pappie, it turns out hasn't ridden in a few years and his hands don't work so well because of arthritis. I told him to stay with the Espi in the lead so we can all stay together and he was good with that.
We all registered then a few of the guys wanted to go in and do some shopping before leaving for our next stop on this poker run.
While they were shopping I was looking for this other guy, Gravy, that I was suppose to meet there but I never saw him.
When we get ready to go, Pappie told me that he was going to ride with Sam. OK, no problem.
I started up my bike and road up to where I thought everyone else as and came to find out they had all left and we were now down to four bikes and a trike together. I guess no one understands the concept of riding in a group. I guess that's why they are not in my club but they also had no problem taking advantage of the discounts I got them at Leather Headquarters.
Ok, Espi and another guy, Tom took the lead and the trike and I were in back with Doug in the middle.
We ran down Sahara to Las Vegas Blvd and tried to make a left but the trike and I got caught by the light.
After we made the left, we caught up to the others almost. We were three cars back when we got caught by another light and that was it. Now it was just us two in the back and the other three just left.
Oh well, nothing new for me. I'm starting to get use to being left behind, or everyone else quiting and leaving me to run by myself.
We had fun running the strip down to Warm Springs and made a right and pulled into the ScrewBall bar where most of the guys were sitting and waiting.
Espi was working on a flush, I was hoping for something at all and Mary was working on a straight. Doug was out pretty quick.
We got some water and soda and was getting ready to leave when the rest of the crew wanted to sit and have a meal.
I didn't understand that one since we had food waiting for us back over in Pahrump, but Oh well.

Espi, Doug and I left and headed to our next stop on Blue Diamond on our back up to Spring Mountain for our next cards in our poker hands.
I ended up with a pair and everyone else ended up with nothing at all.
Tom met us at Spring Mountain before we left so we waited for him to pick his card and then we road back down the mountain and on to Saddlewest in Pahrump. Now we are doing 80mph all the way there.
I don't know what the hurry was but we on a missiong I guess.
We pulled into town and made our left into the parking lot and the guys then made a right to park, but I made a left to enter my bike in the beauty contest in the Dyna Class.
My wife and I went and met up with some other friends and shook hands and gave hugs then headed for the food line. I was hungry and so was she. She had a hamburger and fries with a diet coke and I had the hamburger, hotdog, fries and baked beans with a rootbeer. Espi, Doug and us sat together and ate. I talked with some people at the next table about our club and gave them my card then we went to vote on the best bikes.
There was a band playing on stage and a few other clubs were there also. I talked with old friends and new ones.
When they started calling out the winners for the contest in the different classes, mine came in first for the Dyna's and Sam won first for his bike and Tom and Dragon Lady also won first for their bike too.
There was one more guy that did not run with us but also took first for his custom bike that all had work done to them out of Jmar Customs.
All in all, it was a great day of riding and comradely.
Hope you enjoyed the story and join us on one of our next runs.
Doc

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