And Just Why New Orleans?

Last night I watched the New York Philharmonic and Jazz Orchestras play the U.S. premier of Wynton Marsalis' Third Symphony: Swing! and was struck at the level of New Orleans influence in that bluesy/swing/jazz sound that is America's unique contribution to the world of music. He even had one movement obviously based on the New Orleans funeral processional. I have always been intrigued by New Orleans, but only have had one very brief visit, years ago and for just one night. I have always longed to go back and absorb a bit of that culture which is so different from the rest of the U.S. and yet has contributed so much to it.

This trip was obviously planned long before last night. It grew out of some casual on-line conversations among people involved in a common interest on-line forum The Road King Riders.com -- the common interest? Well, Harley Road Kings, naturally.

We (that is about 60 people from the forum) gathered last May in Kanab Utah and spent several days riding around the National Parks (Zion, Bryce and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon), enjoying the sights, the sounds (sixty Harleys starting up in a parking lot is impressive!) and the socializing. In post event conversations the subject came up: "Why not meet in New Orleans sometime?" Also raised was the notion: "As long as we have people from all over the country gathering in New Orleans, why not see if we can contribute something to the post -BP Oil Spill/post Katrina economic disruption?" Our youngest daughter has spent some time in N.O. in conjunction with a graduate thesis which is, in a sense, about how communities can respond to traumatic social/physical events. The idea was quickly picked up by one of our members who lives in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans, and by one of our members in Pennsylvania who had been following certain aspects of the economic and social upheaval caused by the BP Oil Spill. Over the next month the outlines of Big Daddy's Gypsy Tour all came together with a plan to raise money for the Best Friends Animal Society which had a program in place for providing economic relief to prevent animals suffering due to the economic dislocation of Katrina/BP. We Launched the NOLA Pet Relief Project and started raising money. So, we will gather in New Orleans in mid October to celebrate motorcycle Riding, New Orleans itself, and the charity and graciousness of the many to have contributed already, and those that will have by then. Anyone that wants to contribute can do so by clicking HERE.

Preparing for New Orleans

It's late September and only three weeks 'til I hit the road for New Orleans -- 2500 miles from the Mendocino Coast to the Big Easy! I will be traveling as part of a well organized fund raising effort for animal shelter relief in the Louisiana parishes most impacted by the double whammy of Katrina and the BP oil spill but with a relatively dis-organized travel plan.

On October 15 I will pack up my Harley Road King and leave to cross the Sierras and into the high desert of the eastern Sierra Nevada, and then on into Southern Nevada. There I will pick up a couple of riders coming down from Utah, and head east through Flagstaff (with a side trip up to the South Rim of the GC), Albuquerque, Abilene, Houston and into New Ordeans, arriving October 21.

So far all efforts have been on fund raising and on getting the bike in shape for the trip. On my to do list is to get myself in shape for the trip, but that keeps drifting down the priority list! Will get to it soon. Honest.