Once a year, and for the last 15 years, my Dad, my four brothers and a group of cousins called, "The Benevolent Portuguese Brotherhood Touring Company," travel on their Honda 90s, in the scorching valley heat, across the forest, on dirt roads, to the Northern California coastline- all in the name of, "you gotta love eating dirt!"
Many a man would like to ride with them, though to join their Honda ninety ride, you must be: An adult male, related by blood to my Dad, Portuguese, wear the tee-shirt that my brother Mathew creates, you must be flat out crazy, and ride a Honda ninety like a bat-out-of-hell, or like-you-stole-it.
They pack their own food, gourmet snacks and enough beer to cause gas for the entire ride!
They add clever what-nots to their bikes.
They primp and spit, before they take off,
They belly laugh, holler, and poke fun at each other’s jokes and bikes!
Each year they try-to-out-do-each-other by sparking up their bikes with over-sized motors and fancy gadgets.
They have handsome helmets and gloves, cradling them like the queen jewels. These men are serious riders; don’t let the little bikes fool you!
and constantly, they tinker, tinker, tinker!
A future cousin in trained early how to say, "zroom-zroom," as he kisses his Daddy goodbye!
Sacha boy is envious, and longs to be 21 years old, so he can go on the ride!
The ride is long, rough, dirty, full of hot dusty trails, pranks, revisited one-liners, cussing and in general a bunch of good boys pretending to be tough guys!
The line up this year for another male bonding experience, grown-up men on little bikes: STEP THROUGH IT OR STEP ASIDE! Make it to the coast and back, or walk home with your tail between your leg!
photos: The riders outside my Dad’s cow barn which is converted into a motorcycle gang hang out. Click on an image to see it enlarged.
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