We gathered at the HOG House for our ride to Memphis. There were seven bikes with eight people ready to ride. Some of our group were coming down later. The trip down was fairly uneventful until we reached our second fuel stop in Brownsville, Tennessee. I noticed that Steve’s bike was still idling high as he pulled up to the gas pumps. After fueling and talk about the issue it was decided that he and I would ride on ahead of the group so that we could get to the dealership before they closed. I had been leading the ride thus far so Rickey took over as lead.
Steve and I made our way on to Memphis post haste. We pulled right up to the service entrance and told the folks what was going on and that we were here for the Posse Ride. One of the service people came right out and took a look at things. After checking out the throttle and some further discussion it was decided that the throttle lock wasn’t all the way loose. Whew! I know Steve had a huge sigh of relief. We headed over to check into the hotel and to join back up with the rest of the group.

Now it was time for the kick off party. Right next to the Memphis dealership is a place called the Sidecar Cafe. This would be the place. The food was bar-b-
que and all the fixings. There were around 189 people registered for the ride this year so the numbers are growing. We all signed in and
received our packets with our Posse Ride maps, passports, T-shirts and pins.
The
Sheriff did the swearing in of all the deputies. We had to repeat such things as laughing at rain, shouting back at thunder, sleeping in the dirt and not bathing for the entire ride if need be. All the posses gathered and everyone filled
themselves with food and beverage.


After visiting with old friends and friends that we just met, everyone went off to get a good nights rest to start the ride in the morning. The weather didn’t look to promising for the day but we’d ride nonetheless.
Ronman