First to Last: The Tale of a Biker. Dennis Lid

      

       First to Last

       The Tale of a Biker

       Dennis W. Lid

       CCB Publishing British Columbia, Canada

      First to Last - The Tale of a Biker

      Copyright ©2008 by Dennis W. Lid

      ISBN-13 978-1-926585-08-6

      First Edition

      Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

      Lid, Dennis W., 1937-

      First to last: the tale of a biker [electronic resource] /

      written by Dennis W. Lid. – 1st ed.

      Electronic monograph in PDF format.

      ISBN 978-1-926585-08-6

      Also available in print format.

      1. Lid, Dennis W., 1937-. 2. Lid, Dennis W., 1937- --Travel.

      3. Motorcyclists--United States--Biography. 4. Soldiers--United

      States--Biography. 5. Motorcycle touring. I. Title.

      GV1060.2.L53A3 2008 629.227'5092 C2008-906534-4

      All map diagrams contained herein by Daniel Lid.

      Cover design by Digital Pulp Publishing.

      Extreme care has been taken to ensure that all information presented in this book is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Additionally, neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

      Publisher: CCB Publishing

       British Columbia, Canada

       www.ccbpublishing.com

       Dedication

      This book is dedicated to all aficionados of the two-wheeled

      conveyance known as…

      the motorcycle.

       Acknowledgments

      I thank my wife, Bi Yu, for her constant support and encouragement during the composition of this book, and for her patience in listening to the numerous verbal renditions of each revised chapter thereof. I also thank Daniel Lid, my son, for the creation of the map graphics employed, and my daughter, Amy, who along with her brother rendered useful comments for manuscript refinement. My deep appreciation is extended to friend, Lou Ginex, and working associates, Daylanne Markwardt and Ridha Mikdadi, for their critical recommendations regarding edits and revisions to the final draft. Additionally, my sincerest thanks go to Toni Plummer, Will Standley, Genene Coté, Nicky Pittman and Paul Rabinovitch for their time, effort and guidance in the revision and publishing process. Finally, I wish to thank all my many motorcyclist friends and associates who shared the adventures and memories of all those great motorcycle rides through the decades of our lives. Peace brothers and sisters. And may we all arrive and meet again in motorcycle heaven.

       Contents

1. The End

2. The Beginning

3. Interruption

       4. Resurrection and Resumption

       5. The Missouri Connection

       6. Interlude

       7. Okinawa Bound

       8. Taiwan Sojourn

       9. Years of Drought

       10. Fresh Start

       11. Return to Japan

       12. Last Hurrah

       Epilogue

Chapter One The End

       “For where thy treasure is, there also will thy heart be.” (MATT. VI. 21.)

      We spend our lives searching for answers. There are many questions to be addressed in life, but the most important one that must be answered by each of us is, “Where does my treasure lie?” The answer to this question is of the utmost importance, since it results in the culmination of our search for the Holy Grail. Do you know where your treasure is?

      This is the tale of a biker… a soldier… a man whose life’s adventures are intertwined with the motorcycles he has owned and the experiences he has had. This saga will take you on a journey through the highlights, episodes and travails of that near-lifetime sojourn and the interesting events that occurred along the way. Perhaps when we have finished with this trek, you will be able to answer the key question in your own life – “Where is your treasure?” I think I know, at long last, where mine is.

       It Happens to All of Us… The End of Riding Days

      And so the journey begins – at the end. It happens to all of us sooner or later. Your time will come as well. It’s the dreadful event or occasion that ends your riding days. For some, it’s an accident or injury; for others an illness, and for still others it’s old age or just plain loss of capability or interest that brings on the occasion. Whatever the reason, it happens, and your riding days are over. It’s time to “hang up the spurs.” For a true rider, a real biker, an aficionado of the two-wheeled conveyance called the motorcycle, that happening would seem to be an absolute tragedy… like the end of the world – except for the memories, that is. We have spent so much time collecting those memories throughout our lives, and carefully storing them in our brain-cell databanks, that we are not about to forget them. The memories sustain us after the actions and adventures have past. We recall them at will to lift our spirits and help us carry on with life, or existence, as the case may be.

      Consider a fellow like Evel Knievel, who has reached the point of no return. He has been a daredevil