Coming from England, Simon and Monika Newbound included the Blue Goose as one of their stops on their World Tour Challenge. After 24 years in the Royal Navy Submarine Service, Simon retired with a dream to travel the world. Opting for two wheels rather than a leisurely stroll in a big, fancy motor home, he didn’t leave his wife at home. Of course, she would have to learn to ride first. Monika took the test and a month later they were off to see 106 countries on seven continents and break two Guinness World Records. They have already traveled through the U.K., Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Asia, coast-to-coast America and Cuba – a distance of over 30,450 miles. They are now over half way towards the endurance world record and a third of the way for the countries world record. By 2006, they should have the journey accomplished. BG Rider Lee Nolan has run into them in his cross-country treks before the couple arrived in Dallas this time around. All a soul really needs is a continuous expanse of land and a hint of a wandering spirit to put a dream in motion. Seven continents in one journey is indeed the world’s greatest adventure. Sponsored in part by BMW, next they head to Squaw Valley for the 80th anniversary party with demo rides of all BMW Motorrad models; The Mobile Tradition and Vintage Motorcycle Exhibition with 25 unique models of special historical and racing significance and a Bavarian beer garden, complete with dancers, music and of course, German beer. To reserve your ticket e-mail info@80thanniversary.com cost is only $50. Is Edward Walker their unseen riding partner? A great big Thank You to Marc Marcom for introducing Simon and Monika to us!

World travels not fitting into your plans? Head towards the Gulf and stop over at East Beach on Galveston Island to view the Sandcastle Competition. Held as a fund-raiser, the American Institute of Architects trophy the most elaborate and inventive sand castles you’ve ever seen. This 17th annual event is expected to draw upwards of 20,000 people for the 16 award category event.

If you plan to travel across the state or coast to coast, you can avoid many health-related problems while traveling by being prepared. The American College of Emergency Physicians suggests taking a first aid class and learning CPR. Ask your doctor for a list of your medial problems, allergies and operations you’ve had. Write this down and slip it into your tank bag along with your emergency card. They also advise carrying an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses and bringing a prescription with you. It might also be helpful to have a list of all medications you are taking and pack a few more than you’ll think you’ll need. If you are going over the border, double check what immunizations are required or recommended for your destination. Once you’ve arrived, steer clear of tap and fresh water, including ice cubes; food from street vendors; shellfish; uncooked vegetables and raw seafood or meat.

Along with the flat fixer and assorted tools, you might also consider a miniature first aid kit including: antiseptic wipes, Imodium, Pepto-Bismol, antacids, cold meds, aspirin, sunscreen, lip balm, Dramamine, bandages, vinyl gloves, antibiotic ointment and a multi-purpose pocket knife.

It is rumored that beginning September 1st, state troopers will require you have a sticker affixed to your helmet identifying you, and your medical information. I have not been able to verify this information and as soon as I learn the specifics, we’ll have the stickers available to you at the Goose on Tuesdays.

Just back from the annual Colorado road trip, Bob White, Ron Wood and Blue Goose friends from Florida and Kansas took a different route this year and rented bikes for their trek once they arrived in Colorado. "We were a little hesitant at first as we hadn’t planned a trip without our own bikes, " Bob commented, "We found everything we needed through Blue Sky Motorcycle Rentals in Denver and if work would give us the time off, we’d do it all again next month!"

Collin Simons and Dave Edinger are leading a trip to the Arctic Circle. Leaving June 28th, they’ll tour through the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada and into Alaska, then make a bee-line to Fairbanks. Turning it north 200 miles will bring them to Coldfoot, Alaska, where the Artic Circle is. The last part of the trip is on gravel, which would challenge anyone riding a Busa. On the way back, they’ll load the Busas on a ferry for a 3-day cruise through Alaska’s inside passage from Skagway to Seattle, Washington. Then they are home bound by way of Idaho, Utah, Colorado and 9,800 miles and 22 days later, Texas. Keep it safe guys and bring back lots of pictures.

So you can’t get the time off for long excursions? At least you can ride to work, in fact on the third Wednesday in July it is encouraged that you do. This year’s 12th annual Ride to Work Day is July 16th. Dozens of countries from Turkey to England to the Philippines have formally recognized this event – its now worldwide! Ride to Work Day is a unique, positive demonstration of motorcycling’s potential. Commuting on your bike helps relieve urban congestion, creates additional parking spaces, saves energy and benefits participants and society. Of the 90 million US commuters, only 135,000 are on two wheels. Not many when you consider there are 7 million motorcycles across America. If only one in 7 are ridden on Ride to Work Day, everyone in traffic will see about 10 times as many bikes as on any other day. This could change public awareness about riding and demonstrate the positive values of motorcycling.

Locally, Tim Reynolds and his Monday Denton bike nights are gaining momentum. So much momentum that they are now known as "Denton Biker Boys." For more information about the bike night, incredible Texadelphia cheese steaks or scheduled rides, contact him at dentonbikerboys@cs.com

With one group started, he’s quickly gaining membership in another…For all sportbike riders that also Christians, there’s the Denton Christian Sportbike group. No formal name or website, just serious riding. They’ll probably be a chapter of the larger national group which you can get more info on at www.christiansportbike.com Don’t be fooled by the name, they may be Christian, but, this isn’t a milk toast riding group; they are riders looking for exhilarating performance rides.

Our hats-off-award goes to GNCC Racing. Producers of the AMA Grand National Cross Country Series, the GNCC GI Program shows support to racers who are unable to race due to military commitments. GNCC Racing will send memorabilia to racers who follow the series that are currently deployed or called to active duty in any branch of the military service.

Buell Motorcycle Company shares the hats-off-award acknowledging military personnel deployed in support of operation in Afghanistan and Iraq by extending the warranty on their Buell bikes. The program applies to Buell owners who are coalition military personnel and provides an extension of the 12-month factory warranty for the number of days they were deployed.

Mike Hailwood, nine-time World Champion, rode a Ducati 900SS to win the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy twenty-five years ago, this month. To celebrate this important anniversary, the Ducati Museum is pulling that original bike out for Mike’s son, David Hailwood to ride a lap of honor on the TT circuit. Isle of Man is located in the Irish Sea about halfway between England and Ireland.

The Class of 2003 will be inducted during October ceremonies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington, Ohio. Each year, the MHF recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racings, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. This year’s inductees includes three of today's most widely recognized racing stars, two of yesterday's legendary racing champions, four passionate ambassadors for the sport of motorcycling, two women who defined adventure riding, one tireless race track official and one unforgettable team of winners.

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Have a need for speed? Want to make your SuperBike better and faster? Make yourself a better rider. Don’t try your luck on the street – head for Texas World Speedway in College Station. BG Rider/Racer Greg Fowler is the lead instructor for the Ride Smart System, a motorcycle street riding and road racing school. Learn greater control and gain confidence with personal instruction. "First Timer" classes, too! Coming up the weekend of July 12-13, you get both days for $175 if you sign up by June 30th. Just want to try it out?? One day is only $125. Don’t have leathers and boots? rent them there. It’s your chance to do what you do, better – it’s your call 512/469-9491 or go online at www.ridesmart.info

Did anyone see the 60 Minutes show on motorcycle racing and injuries aired earlier this month? Expectedly, because bad news, the shocking headlines and horror sells, the report focused more on the potential risks of motocross and supercross racing than on the athletic achievements of competitors. As riders, we recognize injuries are a part of any sport, at every level. Unfortunately, the mainstream press has a long history of portraying those involved in motorsports as daredevils, rather than the skilled athletes they are. I’ll raise my glass to the publications that dares to speak above the establishment to discuss the training, conditioning and mental toughness that go into making a champion.

For some positive media, do lay out the green for the August issue of Sport Rider Magazine. I think they saved all the articles for hot summer reading. I wish I could just transfer all the pages to this update…Prep School is a guide to getting your bike (and yourself) prepared for trackdays; Oil is Oil, Right? compares the gooey stuff you pour into your ride; and in between, a head-to-head rematch of the GSXR1000 against the R1 and all the naked bikes you asked for. This issue has it going on.

SportRider had to throw it all in, as CycleWorld took the summer magazine market with their SI equivalent to the swimsuit issue with the "Ten Best Bikes of 2003" issue. And the winners are…Best Superbike: Suzuki GSX-R1000, Best Standard Suzuki SV650, Best Middleweight: Yamaha YZF-R6, Best Sport –Tourer: BMW K1200GT, Best Dual-Purpose: KTM 950 Adventure, Best Enduro: KTM 450 E/XC, Best Motocrosser: Honda CRF450R and for our cruiser crowd, Best Cruiser: Victory Vegas.

My favorite best comes in the description of a bike review from Motorcyclist Magazine, "Suzuki’s latest 988cc monster is the perfect fusion of Godzilla and Lassie: apocalyptic muscle that retrieves the morning paper without teeth marks…" need I say more?

Kudos to Mike, Cathy, Tommy and the guys at TSBA for dealing with the pouring rains to make sure the Rite Ride went into the books. If you missed the drawings, you were the loser. As you had to be present to win and most chose the remote in a dry living room over the drizzly Sunday conditions, the few brave riders were rewarded handsomely as all the prizes were still distributed.

More on the good deed page…seems the guys up at CycleSmart in Frisco put a freeze on a stolen bike brought in for repairs. That bill will be heftier than expected when he comes back to pay the charges.

Checked back with BG Rider Michelle in Carrollton about her missing bike. She did see it around town right after it was stolen, but, nothing since. In case anybody has any leads on her 1997 black, red and white CBR600 F3 you can reach her at 469-222-4653. Identifying marks include: a hole around the turn signal in right upper fairing, minor scrapes on the right upper fairing, silver front wheel and white rear wheel, white tail fairing is zip-tied together. She offers a reward for the return, no questions asked.

Seems the Metroplex has seen more than our fair share of bike thefts lately. To help track your dirt bike, consider registering at www.dirtbikedatabase.com The no-charge service catalogs engine and frame numbers to ensure fret-free second-hand buying. Hopefully, the street bike service is around the corner.

Ever stop at a red light and wait, and wait and finally realize the light isn’t going to change because the sensors that control the lights don’t recognize your bike? It is most likely because the sensors are designed to recognize metal, not aluminum and fiberglass. Beginning July 1, Tennessee motorcyclists can legally run red lights – if they stop first and "exercise due care." Minnesota has passed a similar law. Some Tennessee senators, concerned the measure would give motorcyclists license to run red lights, added an amendment to tighten the law. It says bikers cannot use the law as a defense to run any red light they want by saying they believed the light was controlled by sensors that did not recognize their bikes.

Who says you can’t ride with the police? That Point of Balance Stunt Team is taking it up a level again this time providing the entertainment for the North Texas Police Training Competition in the West End. David Martin, Brandon Patton, Lee Houston and Bethany Star made some new friends and had a much greater appreciation for the skills those guys exhibited in their contests on the big bikes. Look for some of the officers to compete in the Texas National Championships Stunt Competition during the LoneStar Biker Bash at Texas Motor Speedway in September. And yes, that was David Martin on the Fox TV Friday morning show, riding with the police! New Blue Gooser, Eric Hoenshell has moved from Oklahoma City to ride with the POB team. Wish him luck as he competes in the StarBoyz Stunt Contest in Ohio this weekend. You can catch the team this Saturday at the Make-A-Wish Midway Balloon Festival.

Now that your cell phone is back on and friends can reach you again, it’s time to ride. Do you always feel your shelling out a folded wad for new tires? Cyber onto www.cycletire.com for the latest in accessory needs – colored tires. Tomahawk Sport Tires and Desser, the world’s largest airline-tire retreading company bring you blue, green, red and yes, yellow tires for your ride. These colored retread rubbers are FAA certified up to 225 mph and come in a variety of compounds. All are scrutinized with Shearography technology to ensure structural integrity of the carcass and they’re DOT approved for high-speed applications. Best of all, they’ll save you 50-60%.

On the local dealer page, America’s PowerSports acquired BMW of Fort Worth and plans to relocate the dealership to Hurst. The new location will be next door to another APS-owned retailer, Yamaha and Suzuki of Texas, and will expand the dealership’s parts, accessories and apparel offerings as part of the changeover.

We’re just three months out from the Texas’s biggest all-bike party. All local dealerships will be receiving registration flyers for the LoneStar Biker Bash in the next few weeks. You can pre-register at www.lonestarbikerbash.com Don’t forget to use the pull down and choose "Blue Goose Riders" on the club line, so we get credit for the homebase. If you have any questions, e-mail, call or catch up with me at the Goose.

I have over 70 bad e-mail addresses on the list currently and could use your help. If you are reading this story and have not received an e-mail from me within the last month, please let me know. I’ll update the list and keep you current. THANKS!

We are always looking for information, stories, events and anything you think would be of interest to your fellow Blue Goose Riders. Forward information to me and send all the really good pictures to Scott (as my computer is too antiquated to handle the downloads).

Hugs for Health, CARLA