Of course, I can't go any further without gushing about the dogs a little bit. The Sylmar facility breeds, raises, and trains puppies to be guide dogs later in life, and the "representative" dogs that were present were decked out in their yellow training jackets. We ran across a German Shepherd, a couple of mixes, and a flock of Golden Retrievers (my personal favorite). They were friendly, well-behaved, and really looked quite at home amidst all the bikes; when riders started firing up their engines, none of the critters batted an eye (my dog, by contrast, would've run for the hills at so much as a gurgle from a V-Twin-but then, she was something of a wuss).
The money raised from the various raffles and the ride itself allows GDA to continue this sort of work, bringing independence and confidence to the blind. The GDA folks who were on the premesis were ecstatic with the turnout, and everywhere I looked, I saw smiles. They're a good bunch of people, working toward the common goal of helping the blind gain more self-sufficiency. I was more impressed by the minute.
Later on, after a great lunch and too much soda, I fought off my food coma by meandering through the parking lot, taking pictures of the various scoots parked there. If you see your bike here, by the way, give me a holler! And well-done to all you customizers; my friend wandered through the rows with his mouth hanging open half the time. The creativity and energy that can go into a motorcycle is something to behold; with these sorts of people attending, it's no wonder the Ride for Guides event turned out so well.
As for the raffle bike...well, I don't know where I'd store it or if I'd be able to keep the rest of the staff off it, but I'm entering the contest anyway. At $10 a pop, I'd be nuts not to make a try for that thing. Of course, I'll be up against all of you...but hey, it's for a good cause, so enter away!
And on that note, the next Ride for Guides will be held Sunday, May 18th, 2008, so check this space when The Time Draws Nigh for additional updates. I'll be there-I want to see you there, too!
For information on the bike's technical specs, visit www.iamawbikebuild.com; for information on Guide Dogs of America or any of their upcoming events, visit www.guidedogsofamerica.org.