A Most Difficult Ride

Yesterday, as many of you PCRs know, was a ride that broke our heart monitors and made the entire body hurt. As we attended the funeral of our Captain My Captain (Kim Briggs), the memories were flooded with all the rides we have taken and our hearts, minds and souls longed for just one more. Kim, you were the glue and guidance that kept this crazy crew together.

Vicki, Tyler/Holly, Eric/Jamie and Jordan/Carly, know that your husband, dad and our best friend is greatly loved, admired and missed.

 Yesterday morning the heavens were a little brighter as they welcomed Kim 

 Thanks to Prez Hale for putting this table together..... :-) & :'(
(Jodi was the decorator, which we badly needed)

 Look who Kim is riding with now.... 

Hope there are bikes in Heaven??

 No one could bring a BIGGER smile to Kim than Vicki

Ode to My Old Pardner

I’ve been missin’ you old pardner,

Just wishin’ I could turn back the clock,

The bunk house ain’t been the same since you left,

            ‘member how we used to talk?

Every day we used to laugh

‘bout family, work, and what came our way.

 Sometimes we would curse our bad luck

            For havin’ to work all day.

Lately my mind has begun to wander

            As it will sometimes do,

Runnin’ back along the days and times

            And years I’ve worked with you.

And as I got to thinkin’

            'bout those hours of yesterdays,

                                It dawned on me that we’ve been                                  Down the road quite a ways.

Together we’ve serviced many great clients,

            And traveled round this earth

From St. George to London

It’s done nothing but add to my girth.

Our jobs have required much travel

            Each harder than the last.

With me totin’ my saddle and yours, too

            A constant reminder that you da boss

If I came to the office disgusted,

            Grumblin’ ‘bout the job I had,

All you had to do was threaten to fire me

            Then things wouldn’t look so bad.

Then it was off to the golf course

            My clients ever so demanding

I could see you shakin’ your head in thought

            That idiot could be the last man standing.

You ruled with an iron fist at J&H then Marsh.

            You’ve earned the reputation of a task master.

From 9 to 3 you punched those doggies hard

            Then off for a bike ride to work off the lard.

When Marsh management came callin'

            There was always tension in the air;

Straighten those pictures and clean those offices

            Call Linda, she’s gotta cut my hair.

Monday mornin’ meetings were a must,

 and everyone had to attend.

That is ‘til Vicki called

Then we found out who was the real boss

Your family always came first

            The rest of us could wait.

In the end we really didn’t care

            One less meeting with you would save us all some hair.

We should have had an army

            To finish all the work you gave us to do.

Though we grumbled and stayed up late,

It was your relentless barking that helped us get thru.

And now when you look in the mirror

            At the old trail boss standin’ there,

Take comfort in knowin’,

            You always led with a certain flair.

For 25 years you gave all you had to Marsh.

            But now it’s time to ride on.

When you look back where you’ve been

            Turn back ‘round and reach out to a new dawn.

So while we’re lookin’ at that image,

            Although we maybe won’t agree,

Here’s what that reflection

            Standin’ up there means to me.

You’re my boss, my Pardner,

            And my very best friend,

Thanks for keeping me on the ranch

            And the fun times ‘round each bend

But I’ve been thinkin’

            Let’s meet in the old bunk house one more time.

I haven’t had a good laugh for awhile

            And reminisce ‘bout ridin’ in our prime.

           

Love ya,   

Taylor Wray  (Kim's Business Partner)

Big Man's Last Ride with the Captain

12th Annual - Bandit/Deadhead Marathon Ride

Yesterday was another great marathon ride through Salt Lake City. As always, the 6 AM start is hard for many of the PCRs who need more beauty sleep than others. This year the Prez decided he wanted to be seen and not hit, so he came with a light and booties that lite up the entire race course. Sexy Legs Triathlete Trabert started with the bandits, but at mile 20 realized that he had waited long enough for the Big Man, who was socializing with two school teachers from Bingham, who were much better company, and the Prez, who was changing a flat, left for a mad dash to the finish line so he could get to his next activity, skiing at Alta.

Tow Truck Moesser, had problems with the alarm clock, so he says, and hooked up for pictures and a ride home from the finish line. There was a siting of Morgan Daines, but he was swept off quickly to avoid the paparazzi. Some of the younger PCRs, Wild Man Max and Rocky D Clawson decided this 6 AM start is for the birds. I trust the rest of you were able to enjoy a beautiful Saturday, worthy of riding at any hour.

YIPPY SKIPPY

"Man this is early.... Has anyone seen Tow Truck Moesser?? "

Starting and finishing the race together is one thing, but how about riding together??

Loved the NEW light, but the NEW booties.... ????

Prez, not sure why you are flippin off Big Man??? I know he was making fun of your new booties, but aren't you in the bishopric??

For some PCRs, 26.2 miles is NOT enough

We Summit Once Again

This sunny Sabbath afternoon we rode up Emigration Canyon with our biking brother Kim.  As we have done some many times before on our bikes, we summited Little Mountain together, but this time our means of conveyance was four wheeled.  There were several poignant moments.  One was Kim’s simple refutation “that’s a lie” to something the Big Man said.  Then, as we traveled towards the last bend before the summit, there was golden glint of the late afternoon sunlight reflected from Kim’s smile as he gazed upon the Salt Lake Valley--where many of his fond memories of meaningful events in his life were made.  A photo op at that top of Little Mountain that the boys planned was nearly thwarted because Hale forgot his smart phone.  It does not matter how smart the electronic device is if the operator is challenged.  But alas, Big Man, in his inimitable and gregarious way, imposed upon a young buck who just summited the mountain with his biking brothers and asked him if he would spare a moment to memorialize on his phone camera a picture of brothers who once summited that mountain together on their bikes when they were younger and stronger.  We shall never forget the respectful manner in which the young man took the picture, recognizing the dire circumstances of a veteran biker.  Without hesitation, he took the picture and sent it to us, a token of charity towards complete strangers that will forever be remembered as we gaze upon the image that he made.  On the way home Kim became anxious.  To comfort him, we told him that Vicki was waiting for him at home.  Though his memory was clouded by medication, causing his mind to wander hither and yon from time to time, with a surety in his voice that can only be forged from a lifetime of love and commitment, he declared: “I know she is”.  Not much was said during the journey, but much was felt as many tears were shed traveling to the summit and back, listening to Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Seals and Croft and John Denver.  Before returning, a stop was made at the fire station so that Wood could fetch tissue to hide evidence of a tender moment shared together.  Vicki, thank you for sharing him with us.

Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote in the summation of the longing for adventure Ulysses surely must have felt while living a sedentary life on the Isle of Ithaca, after a lifetime of perilous adventures:

         

                      It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,       

                      And see the great Achilles, whom we knew

                      Though much is taken, much abides; and though

                      We are not now that strength which in old days

                      Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;

                      One equal temper of heroic hearts,

                      Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

                      To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

May we all strive, seek and find all life has to offer and never yield to all the curves balls life throws at us.  

WE LOVE YOU KIM!    

PCRs Continue to Grow in Numbers

This week was a good week for recruiting additional riders to the PCRs. Big Man is happy to announce a new rider, Cora Sue Wood, 6 lbs 12ozs, 21". She looks forward to joining us as soon as she can.... :-)

The other BIG recruitment was Prez Hale in convincing the young ladies seen below to also join the PCRs. Way To Go Hale! Working with the Young Single Adults over the last 3 years has made you a rider we all want to follow.

YIPPY SKIPPY

Cora Sue Wood 

~Congrats Kari and Joey~

"I promise you can lead the ride at your own pace and the rest will follow closely behind"

3rd Annual - Trains & Bikes with your Buddies

Yesterday was another great ride for the PCRs. Big Man was determined to show his biking buddies what a scenic ride it is in the spring along the foothills of the Utah County snow capped mountains. The 1st success was getting to the the train station with 22 mins to spare. After last year, Big Man was NOT going to miss the train again. As always, the PCRs were quick to make new friends and invited their NBFF, Carly, to join them for breakfast.

After arriving in Orem, some of the older riders (all of us) needed a potty stop, 2nd success, and so Big Man took them to his home away from home, SimTek Fence.  The ride finally started the and the journey began. At the 1st summit, Mr. T gave the TATS (Thought At The Summit), and in the spirit of the Irish, since Prez. Hale had just visited Ireland last week, Mr. T shared the following, in an Irish accent.... TOO FUNNY!

“Nodding the head does not row the boat”.

“When you marry your mistress, you create a job vacancy.”

“The Irish don't know what they want and are prepared to fight to the death to get it.”

“A man in love is incomplete until he has married, then he is finished.”

The 3rd success was getting to Alpine as a TEAM, where Mr. T suggested he leave a little early, while little man repaired a flat. We're not sure if Mr. T intentionally let the air out to get a head start on the big climb over SunCrest, but we do know next time you leave early, take someone that knows the way. As the the remaining riders rode quickly to catch Mr. T and Prez Hale, they got to the summit and NO Mr. T/Prez Hale.  Thinking they had reached the top and keep going, they raced down the hill, not knowing that Prez Hale had once again be personally challenged with directions. Mr. T, we're glad you had access to a map to find your way home... 

The 4th success was hooking-up with the BIGGER MAN, Dave Robbins, 5 times LOTOJA. Big Man thought he was a good draft. Dave, thanks for joining the older guys.

 Before jumping on the train, don't forget your luggage

 We're ready to ROCK N ROLL

 "Young lady, are these old guys causing a problem?"

 So this is where the Big Man works

 Great Vistas

 Big Man & Bigger Man

As we all enjoy this Easter weekend, I share words from Prez Hale. 

Happy Easter!  Easter is on one of my favorite Christian “feast days”—those days on which we give joyous celebration of historical events that occurred in Jesus’ life.  In commemoration of the day of his resurrection this morning I read the 19^th and 20^th chapters of St. John in which is recounted the death and resurrection of Jesus.  John’s statement in the 31^st verse of the 20^th Chapter struck me.  He wrote: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”   What better proof could be offered to a skeptical mind than an eyewitness account of someone who saw Jesus crucified, the soldier stab Jesus with a spear, and then saw Him alive on the third day.  Jesus’ resurrection is tangible evidence of the divinity of his mission.  Often times the significance of that fact is overlooked.

It's great to know that when we fall, which Mr. T and Big Man can tell you how it hurts even when coming to a stop, WE WILL ALL RIDE AGAIN!

YIPPY SKIPPY 

Two of our favorite PCRs had to miss the ride as they continue to train "new missionaries".