What a fabulous mid-December weekend in Phoenix. This is why we live here! Mid 70's, sunny and gentle breeze. So, we decide we gotta ride! So what I'll share with ya here is the Good and Bad of a Charity Run. I mean, we like to ride, and party and these sorta things give ya both. So we have great biker bar here in PHX and it's always rockin'. We go there often because they have live rock and we're buds with the bouncer. Everyone there is always cool and in party mode. We hear they're having a Saturday Toy Run with 5 stops, and should be fun. Especially since this bar is a rocker! So we get there at reg time and do so. Then this begins to drag on for some time til they start to round up and head out. I'm sure stands went up late.
Then about 50 to 75 bikes, about half are two-up, take to stop #1. This is an old bar in mid Glendale and these poor folks had no idea they were a stop on this run til about 10 minutes before we got there. This poor lady bartender was swamped. She had no idea. She hadn't prepared one bit! Limited on cold ones, and every cocktail, especially Bloody Marys just froze the process. The riders were cool with it, we actually felt sorry for this poor lady, but she stuck to it and worked her ass off without a snivel. Then when everyone got served, she started back with #1 and refilled! She saved this places ass! She deserves a raise, if not the deed!
Then stop two was at a biker wear store. Great place and even better staff. They have good stuff and prices are fair. Then on to the next stop, the primo biker bar in the valley. Known for genrous drinks, hot bikes and lots of hot babes. Such was the case Saturday. We had a great time there. I've always wondered how this place pulls. Rarely entertainment, most of the place is outside, and now it's really had some $ poored into it for more shade, seating and area to bullshit. But usually no entertainment, just the venue itself. A really amazing thing, bikers everywhere at this place and nothing but a place to hang and shoot the shit. They do it well! Hot bartenders, almost enough parking, and outside. By the way, the best food too!
Sunday, another beautiful day in paradise. We figure, it's gotta be the last great day for December and we're gonna enjoy it. We'll find fun somewhere! So I remember I saw some poster at a bar yesterday that said the Lost Dutchman MC Mesa were having a Charity/ Salvation Army Toy Run and Party. I figure they party and know how to have fun. We have lots of friends in Clubs and we always have fun! So we decide to ride to Mesa, cause we have friends there and they'll meet us there. Plus, we'll make new friends if this has any kind of draw. We pull up to the LDMC Clubhouse at about 5 after 10AM and no sooner drop the stand and some Prospect greets us and invites us in. Awesome! Then upon entering, this place is FANTASTIC! Bike shit everywhere, dark, fireplace, heaters, pool table, and two bars! One huge 20 footer with stools, mirrors, full refridgerators with glass doors, fully stocked with everything, moodlighting and more. The other, a specialty Bloody Mary Bar, cranked up going full speed. We were promptly greeted by Randy, wife of the LDMC Pres. She welcomed us, showed us around and then asked if wanted a refreshment. Hell yes! She took us to the Bloody Mary bar manned by none other than the LDMC Pres, Louis. (damn I hope I have your name right.) He commenced to makin' the most awesome Bloody Mary! Indescribable! Dude you got it! Outstanding! Other members greeted us, entertained and made us feel very appreciated and welcome.
Plenty of seating outside, a firepit blazin' and nothing but laughs. Laura, you're a blast! Thanks for sharin'. Keep it calm! Rick and Larry G from Peoria also spent time and shared with us. Great guys. Thanks. There were about 300 bikes or so. Quite a few Clubs represented too. Nice to see. Lost Dutchman from Mesa and Peoria, Hells Angels, Devils Own, Triple Threat, Sons of Christ, and more! ( No disrespect in my bad memory.) Every was havin' fun, laughing and enjoying the moment.
The plan for the ride, when the party is over is this. They had this Xmas Tree in the clubhouse with a bunch of tickets on it. Each ticket had been prepared by the Salvation Army with a kid's name on it and his/her Xmas wish list. You then take one of the tickets, then later after the party, we all ride over to the local Walmart as a group. We're supposed to go in, buy the little guy all stuff you want to buy, and then take it one of two special "Bikers only" check out stands for quick check out. And, it was. Walmart management all over the place
to be sure they made it quick and easy for us. Then after check out, we walk outside and there's a moving van to accept your gifts, give us a Salvaltion Army Tax Deduction Receipt and load the gifts. This operation worked like a machine. From arrival to loading, it took maybe 30 minutes. Inside the Walmart, was a ton of fun. Watching these leathered up big ass bikers walk down the Barbie Aisle looking for the special Barbie or Barbie clothes was a riot. They were havin' the best time. Lots of laughs, jokes and fun. Lori took out the camera and shot some pics and video. Dolls, games under one arm, bicycles, skateboards and helicopters under the other. One guy told her not to post this video on YouTube. He had a problem with that once. He asked Lori, "You ever been on Youtube?" She said," hell yes, but can't talk about it here! Tell ya later she said." They all knew what she was talkin about!
to be sure they made it quick and easy for us. Then after check out, we walk outside and there's a moving van to accept your gifts, give us a Salvaltion Army Tax Deduction Receipt and load the gifts. This operation worked like a machine. From arrival to loading, it took maybe 30 minutes. Inside the Walmart, was a ton of fun. Watching these leathered up big ass bikers walk down the Barbie Aisle looking for the special Barbie or Barbie clothes was a riot. They were havin' the best time. Lots of laughs, jokes and fun. Lori took out the camera and shot some pics and video. Dolls, games under one arm, bicycles, skateboards and helicopters under the other. One guy told her not to post this video on YouTube. He had a problem with that once. He asked Lori, "You ever been on Youtube?" She said," hell yes, but can't talk about it here! Tell ya later she said." They all knew what she was talkin about! 
Our sincere compliments to the Lost Dutchman MC Mesa! You guys really had this organized for fun first, benefits second, and simplicity all the way. Everything was thought of ahead of time. We really had a great time! Special thanks to: (but not limited to, due to my bad memory and ability to remember names) Randy, Tina, Louis, Brooklyn, and Peoria's Larry G and Rick. You're whole club rocks and made us feel welcome and appreciated. Your ability to organize, was amazing! Your hospitality was fantastic. We really enjoyed ourselves and our day! We felt glad we could help. Love and respect! Stan and Lori
1 comment:
Hey Guys!
Ain't it the truth about Runs. Toy Runs, Blood Runs, Poker Runs......sometimes they just suck, but when everything hooks together, they can be a blast. Part of me hates the idea of them...I mean a bunch of wannabes trying to act like bikers, even if it's just for one afternoon so that they don't feel like a loser driving in thier cage to work come Monday Morning. For someone who grew up on real club runs, where the goal was to get to a deserted park or forest or some poor farmers back field where we could party without the local boys in blue watchin' and waitin', these organized runs are just trying to get kids today to feel 'bad ass'....but what the hell, if that's what they grow up on,,,,who am I to shit on it? And the reality is that there is some community benefit to them. But as I said, when they are done well, they are a blast!!! Thanks for writing about yours down there in AZ. L&R in the meatime.
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