Messengers Of The Cross

Messengers Of The Cross.... [aka, MOTC

For those of you that like to ride your motorcycle, but are uncomfortable with and woulld like to avoid the trappings of the "bad biker scene"... we provide an alternative of Christian fellowship while doing what we do best: Riding around the countryside enjoying the scenery and savoring the sights and sounds of our beautiful Northwest.... and feasting on local cuisine.

Our rides always arrive at a "food destination" somewhere... but most importantly, we desire to promote the Gospel message of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ..... via the medium of motorcycling; sharing His message wherever and whenever we have the opportunity. We would encourage everyone to join us on our almost weekly excursions around Oregon and Washington.

We would be delighted have all your friends, neighbors and shirt-tail relatives join in the fun of riding together.... this is the opportunity for you to invite the un-churched acquaintances and have them experience the Christian lifestyle from the unique Christian biker viewpoint.

Hopefully, the ride reports and pictures of the good looking bikers will be posted here following each ride. Return to this location often and check out the ride results.

The contact person is Gaylord Janzen messengers.janzen@gmail.com ... if you would like to be added to our ride announcement email list, merely send a note to Gaylord and you will receive ride information in a timely manner.

Good morning y'all... that was a fantastic ride yesterday... even if it was a tad loooong..290 miles ... all the way to Astoria... and back. better leave that to mid-summer when we have longer days to get home before dark.

Anyway, all of those faithful working bikers that didn't have a chance to ride.. now, you have a second chance to break wind while riding.

Saturday morning. that's tomorrow 2-20-2010... we are having a men's breakfast at the church 0800. The bad bikers of Boring should have a "show of force" at the food fest.. with a short spiritual uplifting message from the self-proclaimed Boring pastor .. to boot. And it all free.

If you can't make it for the breakfast, show up at 0915 and join in a short ride to somewhere.

gaylord a real boring biker...

oh yeah, bro John in Penn: check out the sky colors and Mt St Helens in far distance. Enjoy the snow back there.

March 01-2010 Monday

The Messengers of The Cross rode the Klickitat today.... well, actually, some rode the Klickitat and some got lost.. more of that later....

The big V-twin drivers, following Bro John on his Harley, rolled out of Estacada's world famous Taco Time at 0835 and immediately started breathing smoke.. the entire Clackamas River Valley was filled with that stinky nasty smokey air. At first, I thought it was bro John's Harley just belching out a trail of smoke like all the Harleys did in the old days.... but he is straddling a newer no-oil-leakin'-Harley and they don't belch.. Now, I can't say the same for the driver. Can you tone it down a tad, bro John?

I glanced over to the Old Estacada Highway and there was a humongous column of smoke from a house fire. Mystery solved. On, we rode toward the church.

Shortly after pulling into the church parking lot, bro Chuck on his stretched out black Dyna rode up. It was there that I noticed bro Mel's new patch on his vest.... Hold the phone, Mable!!! This "patch envy" is getting out of hand... and now the Blaptists are jumping on the band wagon. I'll bet Pastor Brent put him up to it!! Fess up, bro Mel, where did you get that patch???? OK. OK. Alright. I guess Baptist bikers can go to Heaven toooo. I'll have to admit, it does look fantastic.

Here is a bit advice: never ask the gas attendant for directions. They don't know. And... never ask an off-duty Sheriff's deputy from Skamania County to lead the gaggle of unkempt bikers to Glenwood. He don't know either. "Follow me" he said. We fired up.... and like a bunch mice, followed.

We picked him up at the Shell Station in BZ Corner, Washington... on the way to Trout Lake. Yep, he took us directly to a dead end road. OK. Turn around. Go back and try again. Make a turn onto the Glenwood road without being certain that all have seen the turn. Oh my....

Now, the gaggle is starting to unravel at the seams... bikers are scattering and going in every direction. "Where, oh where, did dear Kristie go, where, oh where, can she be????" Who knows?? Everybody stopped and waited. No Kristie. No Gene and Debbie. No Lyle. OK.. let's run onto Glenwood and wait for the lost bikers.

Shortly after arriving at Glenwood.... Lyle and Gene/Debbie pulled in.. having gone back to BZ Corner and then taking the other road to Glenwood. But, where is Kristie??? No body has seen her. Rats!!! She is really lost. Now, the whining, wailing and gnashing of teeth started......

About that time, ex-Navy guy, Chuck had a Vietnam flashback and started screaming.. " LEAVE NO BIKER BEHIND!!! LEAVE NO BIKER-KRISTIE BEHIND!!!!".. At the same time, bro Lyle started tearing thru his saddle bags and yelling.. "I NEED MY BENNIES AND NERVE PILLS!!!!" " ANYBODY SEEN MY PILLS???"... Fortunately, bro Mel stood up and took control of the situation. He said, " I'm from the Blaptist Church and I'm here to help you!!!!" " let's ride on!!!!" We did.

Oh yeah, just a mile out of Trout Lake, on the way to Glenwood, we came upon a wreck and 3 cop cars in the road... that sport-biker must have really been flying low when he slipped over into the ditch. Trashed the bike, he did. His beenie helmet and a bunch of bandages were scattered over by the fence... I hope he wasn't seriously injured.... but the ambulance wasn't in any hurry..... going slowly back downhill to Lyle: either he wasn't hurt or he was beyond hurting. Hopefully, the former.

I'm certain you want to know what happened to Kristie. Me tooo. The last time checked she was soaking in the hot tub at home... while we were worrying ourselves sick running the Klickitat River Canyon. With all the embarrassment of losing Kristie, I guess she'll not be paying for her lunch on the next 1000 rides... doing penetance for the sin of letting her get separated is gonna be expensive. Real expensive.

Anyway, I guess all the riders made it home.... Kristie first.... and then the rest of the weary travelers. If you didn't make it all the way home and are still lost in the woods.... good luck. You be on your own. I'm heading for the hot tub

Until next week, stay dry.

gaylord, the original road rascal