A Day and a Ride to Remember
Went on a perfect ride Sunday.
Took part in an organized ride for Wishing Star/Make a Wish Foundation. The ride was 135 miles, heading out of Spokane to Coeur d’Alene and then circling around Lake Coeur d’Alene, finishing up at a small bay for a BBQ lunch, music and socializing.
Weather has been hot and dry all summer, with some hazy skies lately due to forest fires in the state. Friday was in the 90’s, but Saturday brought change and a shift in the winds. Sunday morning began refreshingly cool, with clear blue skies. Afternoon temps would be in the 70’s. Even got sunburned. (Go figure, you ride all summer and get burned in September). Lakes don’t come much prettier than C d’A. The lake’s a deep blue; the vegetation is starting to turn color. Already signs of fall coming, but today it was perfect. The roads are good with endless twisties as it follows the shoreline, heads past the St. Joe’s river to Saint Maries and around to the west side of the lake.
The C50 performs admirably, keeping up with the big bikes on the interstate, playfully nipping at the fenders of those Harleys throughout the ride, and slowly parading beside the big Victory V-twin past the small town gawkers. In another stretch of the trip, we got into an adrenaline-injected game of chase. After being split from our group, I find myself following two bikes behind a slow-moving cage. When we finally get around, these guys are “ridin’ ‘em like they stole ‘em.” They are attacking the curves with methodical precision – boy, they can ride. I’m pushing the C50 as hard as I can, trying to follow their lines, trying to keep up. I keep them in sight, but continually tell myself “to ride within my limits,” making sure the adrenaline doesn’t get the best of me! A few scraped floorboards and one heckuva rush later, before they are able to get too far away, we catch up with the rest of the group and fall into formation. Fantastic weather, beautiful scenery and a motorcycle! That’s a pretty good day. But that’s not what I will remember from that day.
This was a “Make a Wish” ride, and we had an unexpected, but familiar special guest. Six-year old Mary Elizabeth, a prior local “Make a Wish” recipient and Harley fanatic (more on that later), showed up to watch the bikes. The leaders offered to let her ride, Mom agreed and the Harley manager opened up the shop to fit her with a helmet. She was put on the back of one of the lead bikes and we were off. For probably 30 miles late in the ride I had the privilege of riding next behind her bike. She was continually throwing her arms up, like she was on a roller-coaster, and waving at those she passed. She often would turn, look back and we would exchange a smile, a wave or a thumbs-up. Mary, who does not have the strength to stand, never seemed to tire and rode the entire 135 miles. When we arrived at our destination someone produced a silver sharpie and many of us signed her helmet and gave it to her as a keepsake.
After lunch her Mom said a few words of thanks and told Mary’s story. Much I knew, much I didn’t. Mary was never supposed to live to be two. She has spent most of her young life in the hospital and much of that in ICU. When she was 4, while she was briefly feeling better, she had her wish granted to meet Snow White at Disneyworld. Prior to her 5th birthday in April, 2005 she was in the hospital but began to feel better for a few days. Two days before her birthday her Mom asked her what she wanted. “A Harley,” she replied. Mom called Wishing Star and 2 days later on her birthday, a group of five Harleys showed up to give Mary and her Mom a ride. Mary was put in a sidecar, Mom went 2-up and they were given a 2 hr ride followed by dinner and birthday cake at a restaurant. Mary said it was the best birthday ever! Days later she became very ill and went into ICU. She was in ICU and mostly unconscious until August, a year ago. When she regained consciousness, she began to tap her wrist and say Larry. This confused them initially and then they realized, Larry was the biker with the sidecar, and as a present the bikers had given Mary a charm bracelet. Mom raced home to get her bracelet and Mary has cherished that bracelet ever since. Mary has been out of the hospital for 12 months now, and her Mom fully credits Mary’s memories of that ride with giving her the strength to recover and to strengthen this past year. With Sunday’s ride, hopefully she will have memories to keep her going for years to come. And for all the “bad-a**” bikers, with tears in their eyes, it gave the ride and the day a little added heartfelt meaning.
Mary and her Mom have promised to come back every year, and as I left to ride home, Mary’s wheelchair was positioned in front of the drums – she was gently shaking a tambourine while the band rocked on…
