Steak Out 2008 Report

July 19th, 2008

Milt & Maxine met Anna at the Campbell River Store near the truck crossing shortly after 7am. 

There was over a 30 min wait at the border.  Once they open up 2 booths, the line moved a little faster.  By the time we gassed up and got on I-5, about 1 hr had elapsed since leaving the Campbell River Store. 

By the time we arrived in Monroe, WA we were quite hungry and time for breakfast.  After breakfast and topping up the tanks we headed down Hwy 2 for Leavenworth.  The route is very scenic.  We stopped briefly in Leavenworth to stretch our legs and for Anna to take her pants off (outer pants that is). 

Next stop is for gas the other side of Wenatchee after making sure we didn’t end up on the wrong route like last year.  Lots of smoke in the air from fires up the valley.  We turned off Hwy 2 at Orondo for 40 miles of straight road and I mean straight road over prairie. 

We arrived in Grand Coulee around 3pm.  Maxine and Anna headed for the pool.  The rest of us sat around, had some wobbly pop and BS’d.  Ray Harborne arrived just before dark. 

Around 5:30 we decided it was time to eat so off to ‘Pepper Jack’s’ about a block from the motel. 

The special was prime rib so that’s what most of us had.  There were about a dozen for dinner.  After dinner it’s back to the motel for some more wobbly pop and story telling.  A lot of verbal jousting between Gary Pierce and Anna.  It may just be that Gary has met his match. 

Sat am and it’s off to the local greasy spoon up the street for breaky.  Most were not too impressed. 

Later on different ones went on different rides around the area.  Some went to the Reserve to see the indian dancing and ceremonies but they weren’t set up yet.  Maxine went to casino to contribute the tribal coffers. 

Later in the afternoon Dick Fisher got the BBQ’s set up and the porterhouse steaks on the grille.  What a feast, 20 oz porterhouse plus corn on the cob and some potato salad. 

After dinner, there was more wobbly pop, wine and the 50/50 winner provided dessert. 

As darkness approached Ray and Anna headed for the Grand Coulee Dam to watch the laser show since they had never seen it before. 

The next morning Maxine and I, Anna & Ray hit the road at 8am and headed up to Hwy 20.  We came home via Winthrop where we stopped briefly for ice cream.  The weather was a little warm.  After a couple of stops to eat and take pictures we crossed the border at Sumas and hit Hwy 1 for home. 

We arrived back in Langley around 7pm.  Another great Blue Knight weekend with great friends. 

  

Milt Johnson 

Blue Knights BC I 

email coordinator 

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The 2008 SPUD RUN to Boise, IDAHO

June 12th, 2008
Back in 1991 at the International gathering at Albuquerque, New Mexico, two Blue Knights - Pat “Doc” HOLLIDAY, BC1 and Scott HUGHES, WY 1 “created” the West Coast Conference “unofficial” Run and named it The Spud Run.

So the first ride was held in 1992 and had 18 in attendance (but I have more than 18 names??? - oh well, it was unofficial).  Watching some old video, noted that the founders Doc and Scott  (and Lady Lynn) were there along with Milt and Maxine JOHNSON; Dan DORLING; Larry and Dorothy PASCH, BC 1; Gary PIERCE, Al LOUDON and the late Luke LARSON,  WA 11; Jerry BEEM, WA 1(the first Mr SPUD); Ron TESTERMAN, WA 1, Bill and Jean GERT, CO 111; Billy SWEARINGIN, WY 111;  Steve DAILY, CA III; Lance and Carol (?) and Bob POCHECK (sp), Alberta IV;and a  couple of riders from CA (Barry CA I) and NV but I cant recall their names. The first year we toured the old Idaho State Pen. and  played tourist to the various high spots in Boise.

From that first ride, the event has grown and this year 102 (unofficially of course) rode to Boise.  Unfortuately, a number did not make the event due to tornadoes in Wyoming: snow stopped some travelling from California in Oregon and some high winds and heavy duty rain caused some others to turn back and poor Rob HARBUG, OR 1, had to go back to work and fight “crime”.
This year there were members from BC1; Alberta IV; WAI, WAII, WAIII and WA IV; Idaho III; CA 1 and CA VII; UT I; CO III, NM  (?) and Newfoundland & Labrador 1 (sorry if I missed someone/chapter).
Some members showed up a day early and renewed friendships and socialized into the early hours. On Friday, folks checked out the Harley Davidson dealer’s new facility while some ladies went “shopping” to assist the economy of Idaho.  Saturday evening, the motel provided a wonderful meal with all the trimmings. Some even went back for seconds, especially the fried chicken…
After being fed, Karl HUTCHINGSON CA 1, as MC, (and soon to become the WCC Chairman and International Rep) called on Bruce CHOMEAKWICH, Alberta IV, Mr SPUD 2007 to make the presentation to Mr SPUD 2008 - Milt JOHNSON, BC1 ( Milt has attended 15 Spud Runs ). Then,  Wanda CARSON, WA IV, Mrs SPUD 2007 announced that the 2008 Mrs SPUD was Cindi TANGBORN, WA I…see the photos ( and Cindi, didn’t submit the photo with the fur hat!).
The weather was nice and warm for the banquet and the following morning, people were quite pleased to load up and say their goodbyes, without any liquid sunshine. 
Again another successful event and folks are marking their calendar for next year.  Check your social events calendar and do drop in to Boise and join in the fun.

Larry R PASCH
Mr SPUD 1996
Newfoundland & Labrador 1

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Ocean Shores Report

April 7th, 2008
WA I assisted by WA II hosted a run to Ocean Shores this past weekend.
We left Langley at 7am, took the Port Townsend ferry from Keystone near Oak Harbour and travelled down the inside of the Olympic Peninsula arriving in Ocean Shores around 3pm.
The host hotel was the Best Western Lighthouse Inn, a 2 minute walk from the beach.  We all had ocean view rooms for the weekend.
The beach is long and flat, and at this time of the year vehicles are still allowed to drive up and down the beach.
In spite of the cool damp weather, a number of us did enjoy a walk on the beach.  It was great to just stand and watch the surf come in.  Open water to Japan.
From 10am to 2pm you can also ride horses on the beach ($20 hr) or rent scooters downtown to ride on the beach.
Back again next year.
Due to weather conditions almost everyone showed up in a cage.  There were 4 chapters represented (WA I, WA II, WA VI and BC I)  BC I - Milt & Maxine, Anna.
We started off Friday afternoon in hotel lounge sampling different brews for Happy Hour and moved to the dining room for dinner.  21 people at dinner.
After dinner, some took the shuttle to the casino and some went to sample more brews at the Galway Bay Pub in beautiful downtown Ocean Shores.
Saturday am was breakfast on your own then relax, walk on the beach and get ready for the potluck at Al & Penny Loudon’s (Pres WA II).  Al & Penny have a beautiful home 2 1/2 miles south of the Best Western in Ocean Shores.
The potluck started at 1pm and the party lasted until about 9pm…….we aren’t as young as we used to be.  There were about 27 there for the potluck and more food than you could eat in one sitting.
Around 7pm there were still about 20 at the house, some left to go back to the casino, and some stayed to play LRC.  If you don’t know what LRC is you’ll have to come to the next BK getaway to find out.  Cindi Tangborn won $27.  Then we played 20,000.  Nobody won any money but Penny won the game.  All I will tell you is that it is played with 6 dice.
Sunday am a few of us met for breakfast and then visited the lighthouse tower in the hotel.  They have high power binoculars set up in the tower.
Goodbyes were said and we left for home via I-5 and 405 arriving home shortly after 5.

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