November, 2017 Volume 18, Issue 11 G.W.R.R.A., REGION H, TEXAS DISTRICT, CHAPTER W Chapter TX-W Director Cindy Harris Hello Everyone, It s been a slow October for riding but so many events going on. I hope you are going to something as the weekends were pretty good for riding in October. Just remember, even when it is cold out, we still need to hydrate as we ride. Lynn and I traveled to Washington, DC and caught the beginning of the changing of the leaves. It has been many years since I have been back to New England, which is where I grew up, for the fall colors. I forgot how beautiful it really is. We were there for a Bob Ross reunion, which they hold every two years even though he has been gone 20 years, and all the certified painters from around the world come to paint. It was very interesting to hear everyone else s stories as how they got started. I was amazed as to how many people recognized Lynn from him painting on twitchtv.com live TV on Friday nights, especially people from overseas. Even our van driver for the hotel watches twitchtv.com in the Philippines. They still believe Bob Ross is alive. Anyhow, getting back to motorcycling. I heard that Steve Wilkening told all about Kathy s and his trip up the coast. They always have some wonderful stories to listen to. I m sure they will reminisce with us at our Christmas party. With the holidays fast approaching if you are out riding make sure you are visible. People do not have their minds on driving but on shopping or getting to that next sale down the road. We all get distracted one way or another so with everything else on their minds they won t see us. I sent out the agenda from the meeting so I hope you will put some of those dates listed on there on your calendar for next year. They have brought so many of the rallies, etc. into our neighborhood and it would be a shame not to attend. I did cancel the planning meeting for November since our regular meeting was the 2 nd weekend instead of the 1 st weekend in November. It gives everyone extra time to start getting ready for the holidays. This year all my kids and grandkids will be together so I am very excited to have them. Looking forward to keeping very busy with all of them for the week of Thanksgiving. If you feel or know someone that will be alone for Thanksgiving this year, please invite them to enjoy the holiday with you. Or let one of us know and someone always steps up to lend a helping hand. It would be a shame to let our friends be alone at this time of year. Well I guess I have rambled on enough. Remember to reply to the email regarding our Christmas Party. If you want to go riding anytime, please shoot us an email and I will put it out there to see if anyone wants to go. If I do not see any of you before Thanksgiving please have a safe and blessed holiday. Cindy Harris Chapter Director
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST HONDA 10102 North Freeway (I-45 @ West Road) Houston, Texas 77037 YOUR ONE STOP TOY SHOP HONDA DUCATI Tuesday thru Friday: 9am to 7 pm Saturday: 9am to 5pm Parts: Service: Sales: Fax: (281) 447-6337 (281) 447-0316 (281) 447-3476 (281) 447-9532 www.lunsfordshonda.com
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 PAGE 3 Safety in gear When talking about ways to enhance your safety on a motorcycle, most people think of helmets, knee or elbow protectors, or leather suits. True, all these things are meant to make you safer. But don't forget that there is a more direct way to enhance your own safety. Avoiding accidents You can enhance your safety by doing everything to avoid an accident (primary or active safety), or by making sure that the damage, in case of an accident, is as minimal as possible (secondary or passive safety). Car versus motorcycle In fact, the big difference between driving a car and riding a motorcycle, is that in cars, the secondary safety is enormous (the car is a sort of safety cocoon around you), while on a motorcycle, the safety is almost entirely in your own hands (which means primary safety). We will discuss both forms of safety on this page, but first we will have a look at some figures.
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 PAGE 4 December, 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Upcoming Events for December 2nd Chapter Meeting & ride 9th-Christmas Party 21st Planning Meeting 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24/31 25 26 27 28 29 30 Check our web site calendar for last minute events. www.gwrra-txw.org 30 If you re a rider in Texas, motorcycle insurance from Suzanne Sansom Insurance Services Inc. can protect both you and your bike. At Suzanne Sansom Insurance Services Inc., we believe that good insurance is no accident and our dedicated agents will take the time to find you insurance products that are reliable and affordable. We are an independent agency and we will shop for the top carriers in the country to satisfy all of your personal insurance needs. www.sansominsurance.com/personal-insurance/motorcycle-insurance/ 3522 S. Mason Rd., Suite 260 Katy, TX 77450 Phone: 832-437-4180 Fax: 832-772-4325 Email: suzanne@sansominsurance.com Motorcycle ~ Life ~ Auto ~ Home ~ Commercial www.sansominsurance.com
V O LU M E 1 8 I S S U E 1 1 PAGE 5 NO V E MB E R, 2 0 1 7 Still in Lousisana The Grind, Houston, Mississippi Natchez Trace Parkway West Virginia colors Bridge Day, New River Gorge Bridge, Fayetteville, WV
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 PAGE 6 Our Meeting Place and Time GWRRA Texas Chapter "W" holds its chapter meetings on the first Saturday and third Thursday of the month. The first is a meeting then ride and is at LAS MANANITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT, 9825 S. MA- SON RD. STE. 240, RICHMOND, TX. The second will move month to month so see our calendar. The first is our regular chapter meeting starting at 8:15am while the second meeting is an informal planning meeting/social gathering starting at 7:00pm. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. November Birthdays Joan Wyatt, 6th Anniversaries Gilbert & Janice Hill, 14th Roger & Jackie Caron, 26th Robert & Cathy Hood, 28th
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 PAGE 7 FLEXING OUR WINGS A LITTLE TEXAS HISTORY Some November Texas Events November 3rd, 1891 On this day in 1891, construction began on the Pecos High Bridge in Val Verde County. Completed in early 1892, this structure was actually the second bridge built to serve trains traveling on the Southern Pacific's Sunset Route, and the new crossing greatly shortened the route of the rail line. Located at a deep gorge of the Pecos River, the mammoth structure was an engineering marvel supported by twenty-four towers and spanning a total length of 2,180 feet. Rising 321 feet above the river, the bridge was the highest railroad bridge in North America and third highest in the world. Judge Roy Bean of nearby Langtry served as coroner for workers killed during its construction. The Pecos High Bridge towered as a landmark for many years until a new bridge, located 440 feet downstream, opened in 1944. November 7th, 1835 On this day in 1835, at San Felipe, the Consultation adopted the Declaration of November 7, 1835, a statement of causes for taking up arms against Mexico preliminary to the Texas Declaration of Independence. The document declared that the Texans had taken up arms in defense of their rights and liberties and the republican principles of the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Among other assertions, the declaration stated that Texas was no longer bound by the compact of union, that Texans would not cease to carry on war against the Centralist troops in Texas, that the Texans had the right to establish an independent government, and that Texas would reward with lands and citizenship those who volunteered their services to her in the struggle. November 10th, 1837 On this day in 1837, eighteen Texas Rangers fought 150 to 180 Kichai Indians in present-day Archer County in a conflict called the battle of Stone Houses. In mid-october 1837, a ranger company pursued the raiding Kichais up the Colorado River. Lt. A. B. Van Benthusen and seventeen men split from the main group and headed north to the Brazos. Eventually, they found the Kichais. Cherokee and Delaware Indians who were present attempted to act as peace agents, but when one ranger killed an Indian and took a plug of tobacco from the dead man s body the infuriated Kichais attacked. The rangers sought cover in a shallow ravine, but after fierce fighting, the Kichais set fire to the prairie and smoked them out. In the ensuing chaos, some rangers escaped into the woods. Eight rangers survived the battle, which was so named after three stone mounds that looked like houses to the Indians. November 23rd, 1964 On this day in 1964, Dr. Michael DeBakey and his team performed the world's first successful coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Houston. DeBakey, Denton Cooley, and many others in Houston revolutionized cardiovascular surgery by developing new techniques for the treatment of patients with congenital anomalies, aneurysms, and vascular-occlusive diseases. Cooley and his associates performed the first heart transplant in the United States in 1968. The patient lived 204 days. By 1987, 80 percent of patients lived at least one year. Some patients have survived more than ten years with new hearts. Heart transplantation is no longer experimental. More than 3000 transplants are performed each year worldwide.
VOLUME 18 ISSUE 11 NOVEMBER, 2017 PAGE 8 Katy home of the 2017 Goldwing and the Can-Am Spyder 22515 KATY FWY Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon HOURS Closed Closed KATY, TX 77450 Phone: 281-392-8850 Fax: 281-392-6162 www.wildwestmotoplex.com About Us Located in Katy, Texas since 1983. Wild West Honda is an authorized dealer for Honda, Kawasaki, BMW, YAMAHA, KTM, Sea-Doo, & Can-Am. Click, Call, or Come on by! Chapter W Officers Position Name Phone Number Chapter Director Cindy Harris (386) 846-8521 Assistant Chapter Director Vern Neal (713) 295-9150 Treasurer Janice Hill (281) 703-1308 Membership Enhancement OPEN Newsletter Editor Steve Wilkening (713) 899-6855 Chapter Educator OPEN Chapter Historian Jim Vardaman Ride Coordinator OPEN Webmaster Steve Wilkening (713) 899-6855