SPANK2010   ~Gerlach Bonus~

George asked me to help with a bonus he set up in Gerlach.    Uhhh, nothing like an excuse to go to Gerlach, just down the road from my house and one of the most special places on planet earth.

The bonus had a time-window:  Must be there at 6pm sharp on Saturday ..and get picture taken eating the famous raviolis.  But that's not all, also must get picture of rally apron at the IBA memorial.

I arrived a bit before 5p, and already a few riders there!  Dennis P, Mark P and Donald J.  ...and Ernie A arrived just after me.


The early arrival bikes
 


...Including Donald's totally fun and unique GL1000


If you don't have handcuffs as part of your farkle scheme, then you should go back to farkle school.
 


This shows you the great disposition of this bike's owner.  Good fun.
 


Bonus was not official until 6p, -And Dennis and Mark were eager to get back on the road ....and they knew exactly where they were going next.
Many riders were not sure where they would go next  -and many used the time in Gerlach to plot their course.
Dennis was smiling as he always is -and good fun as always.   Dennis knows a lot about swine, and not just from LEO encounters.


These guyz were organized!  Had their rally pack all bindered up with other important things.
 


Hey!!, it's my buddy Ernie A  ......I met Ernie at the CA24, we did a pre-rally ride with Jerry W, ..then we crossed paths again at the Bend RTE.   Ernie always makes me smile, such a wonderful and great attitude.
 


No guessing who this rider is:   Heidi S
 


A bit of routine final drive maintenance, in this case a chain   IMO the ultimate final drive.

More riders kept comng in ...and the first order of business was placing an order for raviolis as they take a bit of time to prepare.   Some great rally camaraderie and fun stories were shared.  This was a fantastic group of folks.
 
 


Bruno wanted to be part of the fun and joined in....


At 18:00:00.000001  Mark and Dennis were eager to get their ravioli picture ...and an assembly-line of sorts was started as riders took each each others' pictures, some real team-work.

Just a couple of minutes after 18:00, most riders were ready to go to the memorial to fullfill the remaining bonus requirement -so away we went....


Riders arriving at the memorial.


 
 


 


Mark takes the meaning of custom saddle up a notch.
 


Ernie's first time to Gerlach
---Ernie: Life as you knew it is now in the reaview mirror.
 


Not sure if this is Peter P, or Dave B  ....all those BMW guyz and their bikes look the same.
 


But no mistaking this bike.   Hard not to keep your eyes off of it.


A few riders put their time in Gerlach to good use ...going over the rally pack.  Here Dave B


Ditto for Chris O


Mark Collin's LD modified Harley, complete with umbrella.   Those eastern guyz know how to farkle  ..Umbrella =  Good fun!
 


David M --> yes there is a story behind the chicken, and a fun one.   You'll have to ask Dave about it!
 


Jayd L from Minnessota.   Great guy, my first time meeting him and he seemed to have a good handle on the rally.  Nicely set up FJR as well.  A real treat meeting Jayd and hope next time we have more time to visit  -This time he had a rally to run!
 


And away he goes ........
 


Mark and Dave ....these two took the time to enjoy this very special spot, -and were the last two to leave the memorial.  Good guys these two.


 


Dave B had used some time in Gerlach to work on his rally plan ...and was now ready to go. He was the last rider to leave.  I worked hard to convince Dave to stay and drink a few beerz with me, and I think I had him half tempted.   But Dave had a rally to run and chose to get back on the road.   Rally riders are a dedicated group, --->as it ain't easy leaving Gerlach fun on a Saturday evening.

This was really a nice bonus and a real treat for me to get to witness some great riders and fantastic people enjoying  ---->at a very special place here on planet earth.   
Trust me, this is the planet to ride, the other ones ain't nearly as fun.

While I was unsuccessful on my attempts to get Dave to stay ......

A Saturday night in Gerlach is too good to pass up so I decided to spend a bit of time enjoying one of my favorite towns.

Back inside Bruno's, a mix of folks enjoying the bar...

And with Burning Man just a few weeks away, -There were a few hundred or so staff members preparing for the event.    Here they're putting on a Saturday evening BBQ in theh park.


Burners in Gerlach, -staff doing a BBQ and preparing for the event.


Black Rock Saloon.   Now owned by the Burners.   A private club but they're pretty cool about others coming in ....well sometimes.
Kinda like any other fun bar, Uhhh, except drinks are free.
 


Folks enjoying the evening in front of the Burning Man office.
 


BBQ fun


Bev's Miners club.   A must stop to see Bev when in Gerlach ..but she's been closed or out on most of my recent stops.


But not tonight, Bev was here.  At 84years old, she's had a few health issues and that's why I've missed her on recent trips, but we caught up on many stories and even made some up.   This is the place to come to get a feel for real Gerlach.

Made my way back down to Bruno's and now much quieter, Bruno and I spent some good time sharing stories, many of which, he'd  told me before.  He even bought me a beer!  Golly, thanks!


Self portrait of Bruno and me ....
After sharing some good stories,  Eventually Bruno got up and said:
"I'm going to count my money and go home."  LOL

So, I wandered back up the road .......I kinda bounced between the Black Rock Saloon (mostly all burners) and the Gerlach club which was a mix of locals and burners.    I captured a few "faces of Gerlach".  Anyone who's been to Gerlach knows there are some real characters in this town:


 


Faces of Gerlach #1


J and I hadn't seen each other in quite a while.  So we traded a few stories and,  uhhh, and partnered in mischief.


nobody does mischief better than J


Faces of Gerlach #2 and #3


J and I, self portrait.


Faces of Gerlach #4  ....bartender Dave


Night shot of the Burning Man Office


And a picture of the inside of the Black Rock Saloon  ...private club for Burning Man staff (and me as a guest this night).   Trust me, some good fun happens in this place.  And free drinks!   Man-0-Man, ain't that something.


 

---->Best of fun and safety to all SPANK riders, thanks for letting me loiter in some of your fun.   A real treat for me.<----


 
 
I've posted up the above and many more pics here:

Click on Image for many more pics