Colleen “DantesDame” First returns to the flood-ravaged Chehalis area to assist families in need.

Based on the experiences I had the previous weekend, I decided to go back down south and see if I could help out some more. I’m glad I did. While before I had seen the devastation wrought in the town of Adna, this time I saw even worse circumstances. And part of what made them “worse” was their isolation. This farm was miles from town, on a road with maybe half a dozen other farms and while I was there I saw only one other family being helped. Rebuilding your life takes a lot of work, but it goes much faster when there are more hands to share the load. I pleased to say that for another day, my hands could be counted among them.

Read the full story, with photos at DantesDame.com.

The first week of December brought with it amazing weather. Heavy snow in the mountains combined with a steady hard rain and then rising temperatures created tremendous flooding in the Pacific Northwest. The town of Chehalis (just south of Olympia and 90 miles south of Seattle) was devastated by an overflowing Chehalis River. On Friday I got a message from my friend Chis: he has family in the area (near Adna, WA) and would I be willing to come down as part of the clean-up effort? My original plans for the weekend had just been kiboshed and I had nothing else to keep me from helping out. I agreed to be there Saturday mornong with tools and a smile.

Read the rest at DantesDame.com.

Fossil, OR
Labor Day weekend, 2007

Carolyn had left San Francisco with her friend Jenny on Thursday the 30th and made her way north. Meanwhile, I would leave my house on Saturday morning and meet them “in the middle”, the “middle” being La Pine, OR. It was only a 6-hour ride to La Pine from Seattle, including a boring stretch of I-5 between here and the Oregon border. I hit the road at a leisurely hour and wiled away the hours as the pavement zipped under my wheels. I was on the KLR so as to better play in the dirt of Oregon with Carolyn but the bike ran well and I had it efficiently packed with minimal gear. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s taken me a while to get this written up. With the weather turning to yuck again, I thought back to this ride, one of the best that I had this season, and figured I had better get it done.

The morning began under skies the color of oxidized aluminum. I woke early and quietly got geared up for the day. I stopped at the Chevron around the corner to fill the tank and then headed over to Jon’s. Our timing was good for as I approached the intersection near Jon’s house I saw the headlights of a motorcycle headed toward me. It was Jon. We wheeled into a gas station so he could fill up and then we were off down I-5. Read the rest of this entry »

Wolf Haven International’s 5th Annual Run with the Wolves was a huge success thanks to the Washington State motorcycle community and generous local sponsors.

Over 400 riders participated in this classic Poker Run fundraiser for Wolf Haven International in Tenino, WA.  This is an increase of close to 400% compared to the 2006 ride.  Riders came from as far as Portland in the south and Everett in the north and one Arizona rider won the award for Longest Distance traveled to participate!

The ride began at Kamilche Trading Post south of Shelton and ended at The Junction Bar & Grill in Grand Mound. Both stops were sponsors and knew how to show the riders a good time. A hot breakfast, provided by Kamilche Trading Post got the ride started right and a HOG FEED BBQ started off the end of ride party at The Junction.

Live entertainment at the party was provided by The New Blues Brothers.  The bash included a 50/50 drawing which saw one lucky rider take home over $500.  The top poker hand took home $1,000, 2nd place taking $500 and 3rd taking $250.  Cash prizes were provided by sponsor Lucky Eagle Casino.

All profits from this event go directly to support the mission of Wolf Haven International, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wolves.  Through education, conservation and a sanctuary for displaced wolves, they work to protect their resident wolves, along with those in the wild.