The first annual "Ride The Wind Rally" took place on June 23rd, 2007 with breakfast and sign up being staged at Wades Drive Inn at the junction of highways 12 & 191. The day started out to be a perfect one, cool & calm at 6am, but that didn't last and by the 10am departure time nine bikes, one trouble truck and fifteen bikers headed North into a gale of a headwind. We arrived at the wind farm in a sand storm and the turbines were definately earning their keep.
Continuing North, the wind seemed to let up some and by the time we cleared the top of the hill North of Judith Gap it didn't seem all that bad anymore.
Two bikes dropped from the ranks at Eddies Corner. One loaded into the trouble truck with clutch problems and the other went into the bar to steady his nerves.
By the time we made the gas stop at Stanford the wind had reduced to a pleasant breeze and it began to get warm inside the leathers if you spent too much time standing around. As we were pulling out of the station at Stanford the other rider from Eddies Corner went by us at a very high rate of speed. Turned out this guy believes speed limits were just made to waste ones time. By the time we turned left at Raynsford the weather was perfect and the scenery improved with each passing mile.
We arrived at the Lazy Doe Bar & Restaurant about twenty minutes early for our reservations but they were ready to serve us and had a table prepared so all of us could set together. Their service was smooth and efficient and their 'Astro Burger' was out of this world. Repairs were made to the troubled bike and we headed for White Sulphur Springs on schedule. The trip down Kings Hill was unanimously declared one of the best combinations of highway, scenery and Zen ever experienced.
The home stretch was a pleasant ride as far as Checkerboard with Lake Sutherlin and Bair Reservoir providing variety to the scenery. While the scenery was still pleasant after Checkerboard, the highway was a little rough as far as Two Dot. At Two Dot we got back on excellent pavement again but the wind began to pick up and by the time we reached Harlowton again we were back in unpleasantville.
The 'Poker Stroll' was like a scavenger hunt. Contestants were provided a map revealing the locations of seven vintage motorcycles on display. At each display was found instructions naming the local business sponsering that display. The location of each business was also included on the map provided. Contestants then proceeded to the sponsering business to collect a token that indicated that contestant had actually been inside of that business. Upon presenting their entry form and the seven tokens to the dealer at the Oasis Bar each contestant was dealt a seven-card stud poker hand. The best hand posted by 5:30pm was declared the winner. This turned out to be an awsome event. With nine bikes roaring up and down Central Avenue down town Harlowton in search of their tokens. Witnesses were heard to say that there were about a hundred bikers in town for this event. The trophy for best hand and $60.00 went to Mike Widdicombe of Harlowton with four of a kind. The trophy for second place and $20.00 went to Jim Spaans of Great Falls with a straight. The trophy for third place and $10.00 went to Misty Castle of Big Sky with a flush. The trophy for worst hand and $5.00 went to Josh Thompson of Sheridan, Wyoming.
For the entire week of the festival tickets were being sold to win a 1955 Chevy Convertible pedal car. This event ended at 5:30pm on the 23rd of June with the winning ticket being drawn that had been submitted by 5-year-old Harley Clifton of Aurora, Colorado.
The street dance was doomed by the gusty winds that kept blowing over the music stands and the microphones. After the band finally got everything anchored down they were only permitted to play three pieces before being drenched by a lonely cloud burst. After drying out and setting up the band inside the Oasis Bar things began to get better and from sundown to closing time there was standing room only with the main bar and two temporary patio bars in full swing. The "Quintana" band is the finest all around party band I've watched perform in my 66 plus years. They played every kind of music imaginable with professional expertise and enthusiasm including numerous pieces written by members of the band and no request was denied. These people provided a fitting finale to a truly fun filled adventure.