Personal & Philosophy
Front of the Pack

A Houston Prospect's Story by Jeff

2012/03/12 13:27
Chapter Pic
Raoul’s Intro - Take a ride with Houston’s 2011-2012 Prospect as he introduces himself, describes how he was introduced to the Houston chapter, his hang around period and one of the challenges he accepted to “prove” himself to the Houston members. No further introduction is required ...

 Here’s Jeff’s Story - I go to church… a lot. I am a preacher, and have been for the past twenty years. Other than skipping church on vacations—(which I have done for years without shame or reservation)—I am almost always at church every single Sunday.

Up until just recently, a Sunday off was just that. No church. No responsibilities. No nothing. Freedom. Rest. Still grateful to God, but in a very relaxed way. But now, the Sundays that I am away from my ministerial responsibilities are different.

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Midnight at the Waffle House by Wango Tango

2011/12/22 17:46
Wanton backwood beaver love look
It had been one of those days where I was out of my comfort zone. Things were stressing me out that normally never did. I was nervous and jittery like I had consumed a pot of coffee. I hadn’t of course, I had just woke up and it was 11:30 am. I was wondering if I had some strange affliction like cold Chihuahua syndrome. I carried on and rode on in to my job.

Work was slow and my co-worker didn’t show up, so I was elected to cover his area as well. I managed though, taking my ginkgo biloba pills that are supposed to enhance your memory, and washing them down with copious amounts of industrial strength coffee.
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A Slice of Life in Arizona

2011/03/12 11:58
Seems I haven’t posted anything on the Houston blog since January ... one of my New Year’s resolutions was to put something up at least every month. My Bad! Anyway, I haven’t been idle during the first part of this year. I got an invitation to contribute to Bill Hayes’ latest book project and I’m continuing to work on a Gypsy MC history document and adding bits and bobs to both the International and Houston web site. I’m also trying to stay active with the chapter and have attended a couple of Gypsy events, a wedding in January and the Pig Roast and Fallen Brother in February. My deer-damaged ’03 Road Glide continues a slow metamorphous from an ugly chunk of twisted metal to a beautiful and functional work of art. Jester and Honey B are committed to getting me back in the wind in a matter of weeks and I’m grateful to consider them my brother and sister. Interpret this entire previous paragraph an apology for not posting routinely on this blog ... I can’t promise that I’ll be more routine but I’ll certainly try. On to more entertaining topics.
By the way, the guys in the picture are: Mack, Rat Bike Willie, Raoul and Bobby ... I think the picture was taken at Roundman’s funeral, I know I stole it off of FaceBook. Read More...
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Why Bikers Do What We Do

2010/11/16 21:50
Gypsy E.T. provides his perspective on why we ride motorcycles. I think you’ll find his perspective well written and spot on.

Enjoy,

Raoul

Why Bikers Do What We Do
by Worth Cadenhead on Friday, November 12, 2010 at 10:47pm

I've been asked "Why do y'all do that? What fun could it be to ride your motorcycle a couple hundred miles in the cold and rain, set up a tent and camp and ride in cold, rainy, winter weather?" "How can that be fun?"
 
I truly couldn't answer at the time, other than using the T shirt slogan "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand". But that's too easy, and too cheesy. I tried to put it into words, saying things like "It's just what we do" or "Anybody can ride when the weather's nice - this separates the men from the boys". Read More...
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Thoughts from the Swirling Mind of Wango Tango

2010/09/16 12:06
[Editor’s Note: I welcome Wango Tango’s first contribution to the “Front of the Pack” Blog. The comments he shares with us have come to him from a nearly fifteen hundred mile ride from Houston to Dallas to NW Arkansas and Oklahoma and then back through Arkansas and home to Texas. Thank you, WT, for sharing your experiences!]

Riding ... riding hard through the Ozarks chasing my Gypsy MC brothers. They are ahead of me ... burning it hard. I'm looking down at them from the ridge I'm on; watching them ride handlebar to handlebar taking curves like Fred and Ginger danced ... doing 70 on a 45 mph turn ... blood is pumping ... what a cool sight too see!

I'm chasing them ... and catching them from time to time ... cars pile up and we have to slow down ... but they can't stand it. They burn it around a stream of cars blindly at a curve ... like adrenalinized surfers shooting the pier. I can't lose them ... I kick the throttle back and feel the rush ... my bike is roaring ... going over a bridge and just making it in behind them before a car closes in on me from the oncoming lane.

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Raoul the Writer

2010/07/15 11:23
A few years ago I began feeling the urge to do some creative writing. During my work years I wrote all manner of business letters, memos, reports, proposals and scientific papers but seldom, if ever, did I write for personal pleasure. On these rare occasions I’d sit at my keyboard and hack away at a few topics of interest but I’ve never been able to establish any serious momentum. Only two topics have really captured my attention: stories about my life on two wheels and the history of the Gypsy Motorcycle Club. I’ve successfully published a few stories on the history of the club, and have also published an internal document about how the club works. I’ve also received rejection notices from stories I’ve written in both my chosen genres. It seems that rejection is inevitable … I’d prefer to think rejection means, “it’s just not the right time for this to become public”. If an story is good, even though it’s being rejected, it still needs to be protected and nurtured and, perhaps, on down the road that idea will grow into a finished product suitable for a targeted audience. Read More...
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Gypsy Black Rocker Rene

2010/02/22 10:19
On January 31, 2010 the Gypsy Motorcycle Club lost one of its most loved and respected members. Rene Benavidez lost a two-year struggle with cancer and died peacefully in the company of his family. The following Saturday Rene was laid to rest. His family and hundreds of his friends and Gypsy brothers and sisters showed their respect by attending his visitation and funeral. The procession from Memory Gardens funeral home and cemetery to St. John Lutheran Church where services were held included over two hundred motorcycles. Black Rockers, Red Rockers and White Rockers all showed their love and respect for Rene as we both mourned his loss and celebrated his life. It’s safe to say that the positive impact and contributions that Rene made during his life was reflected in the number of members, family and friends that turned out for his services. Read More...
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Panhead Billy

2009/12/20 16:41
By October the leg I’d broken at Gypsy Mandatory had healed well enough for me to begin riding my bike again. I still wasn’t able to walk without my cane but walking and riding are two different tasks. I could hold my bike up during take-offs and landings; once in the wind all is good. I’d done a couple of short rides around Houston and had even been called to do a “rescue ride” when one of my guys dropped his bike on his ankle at Nacotoberfest. By November I was mobile enough to fly to Phoenix and visit my wife, Cassie. I’d left my ’09 Road Glide in Phoenix before Mandatory and had not seen it for nearly six months. Seeing the bike for the first time, and pulling the cover off of it, was like seeing a new friend. It only needed an overnight battery charge and it was ready to go.
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Forever Gypsy - Life in the Gypsy Motorcycle Club

2009/08/22 15:23
During the last three months I’ve done quite a bit of writing. Since I’m laid up waiting on a broken leg to mend I’ve got to do something to keep from going crazy. Even when I’m fully functional I’m prone to designing projects that result in a product; something that makes a contribution, gives me reinforcement and self-worth. I’d wanted to build a new web site for the Houston chapter for sometime so I did that first. After going public with the new site in mid-July I focused my attention on completing a document that describes the Gypsy Motorcycle Club … how we’re structured, our culture, traditions and brief descriptions of some of our annual events. Read More...
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Calallen Gypsy MC Lifer Roundman Passes

2009/07/11 12:00
The phone rang at 7:30a this morning; it was Bill the Cat on the other end of the line and his news wasn’t good. Roundman, a Calallen member had passed away in his sleep sometime Friday night or Saturday morning at River City’s G.D.I. rally.

I guess when it’s your time to go, dying in your sleep is not bad at all. Roundman was doing what he loved to do; he had ridden to a Gypsy MC rally, had spent the evening with his brothers and sisters and had transferred to our “Forever Chapter” sometime during the night. Roundman was a prime example of what a Gyspy member should be and one of the finest people I’ve had the privilege of knowing. Roundman will always be remembered for his participation, his trademark Gypsy beverage recipes that included Apple Pie and Border Blast and his uncanny ability to look inside the Gypsy Motorcycle Club. Read More...
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He Who Travels Fastest Goes Alone

2009/06/12 15:30

It’s a fact, the more people traveling in a pack the slower the average miles per hour traveled during a day on the road. Read Raoul’s thoughts on why this tried and true axiom is one of the road’s high truths.

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