My first poker run . . . without motorcycles

  Galen Hansen shows off his Coffee Run t-shirt

I had made up my mind that today was the day for my first poker run. Yes, I've been riding motorcycles for more than 20 years but until now I had never done a poker run.

Today was the day for the ABATE Coffee Poker Run and my plans were made. Of course, long before you have any idea of what the weather will be like you have to choose a date for these organized events. Then you hope the weather cooperates.

You're probably aware that the weather was an issue today. That is to say, when i looked out the window at 7 a.m. it was 28 degrees, snow was blowing, and a stiff wind was whipping the trees. What a good day for a coffee run. Anyone riding a motorcycle in this weather will have a serious interest in coffee--or something hot--at every stop.

Still being a fairly new ABATE member I didn't know what to expect. Should I ride one of my bikes or give in to my inner wimp and drive my car. If I showed up in my car would I be in a minority surrounded by the really tough bikers?

I considered my options. If I rode I would certainly wear my electric vest, my heavy boots, my fleece-lined motorcycle chaps, and a lot of layers everywhere. Maybe it would be good to put on my rain suit, too. Hmmm.

The snow kicked up substantially and I gave in to my inner wimp.

As I pulled out of the driveway, however, the snow quit and the sky didn't look so bad. Hmmm. I headed on down the street, turned, and headed up the hill out of the neighborhood. The roads were looking really good and I was hesitating. Almost up the hill to Havana I turned to head back for the bike.

As I made my turn I saw the wind thrashing the trees and I made another turn and headed on toward the gathering spot. The car it was. That was not a decision I regretted as I cruised along I-225 and semis blasted past me spraying drenching, cold slush. I was really glad to be warm and dry in my car.

Turns out I wasn't the only one. In fact, not one single "rider" came on two wheels. The poker run was on, but we'd be doing it in our cars. It was a social event; nobody had any need to be macho.

Long story short, the middle stops were dropped from the run, we spent a couple hours talking, eating, and drinking coffee at Caribou Coffee just west of the highway on Colfax, and then drove over to the destination, Thunder Mountain Motorsports at 49th and Osage. There were raffles and giveaways aplenty in both places, food at the bike shop, and ultimately the winning poker hands were drawn.

In the meantime, I met a number of people and picked up a terrific list of story ideas that you'll be seeing here in the near future. And now I feel like the next time I walk into an ABATE meeting I'm going to be able to look around and say hello to a whole bunch of folks. I'm starting to feel like part of the group. That's kind of a nice feeling.

Anyone who hesitates about riding in inclement weather might be interested to read what the Seattle Motorcycle Examiner has to say about riding in the rain. This is a guy who knows his topic.