Recently, on a rainy morning at breakfast in Willits with 12 other motorcycle bikers, “Gimpy” prophetically stated that "the best stories always come from the most unpleasant days in our lives."
Let this “Great” story of God's hand on a simple truck-driving man and his Harley on a rainy day in Northern California be told! It’s about a man named Roaddog (Jim).
Just north of Willits on Highway 101, Roaddog couldn't get his bike started while sitting on an offramp in the rain. Calmly he worked down the list of causes, including changing out his sparkplugs. Finally, while the rest of the riders headed up to see "The Avenue of The Giants," his two friends, "Beamer" and "Gimpy," stayed behind and eventually push-started Roaddog's bike.
Continuing up the road at 65 mph for about 5 miles, Jim’s bike started to backfire, on a road with nowhere to pull off, then suddenly, his engine died, just at the only wide spot on the side of the road.
Roaddog consented to riding on the back of Gimpy’s bike for 17 miles to get a new battery. Back again to his bike, new battery installed, the bike ran again, but the check engine light and batt lights were on. It’s been raining all this time. The three stopped to have the world's best BLT in Garberville. Then, ended up heading back south to go over the pass to the coast and eventually Ft Bragg.
Gimpy realized he was running out of gas, so they all continued to a gas station past the turnoff to the coast. (That was a divine intervention.)
At the gas station, Jim's new battery was dead. The problem was becoming more obvious. The charging system had failed. Gimpy went to purchase a battery charger, while Roaddog and Beamer befriended a Marine Gunny who was leaving the Corps after 20 years. They prayed for and ministered to this fine hero. (Jim is an elder in “Bikers For Christ”)
Once the battery was charged enough to run, the three headed over to the coast on what ended up being the most narrow windy-twisty road imagined. It was raining, misting, foggy. Right at the peak, with 13 miles to go, Jim's bike started to backfire, then the engine stopped again. Jim coasted a dead 800-pound Harley all the way down that windy-twisty road for 13 miles! Nowhere to charge his battery.
At the intersection with highway 1, his engine miraculously started back up. It ran for 17 miles and died again in front of the Westport PO. Given permission to plug in and recharge the battery, Roaddog, Beamer, and Gimpy walked two blocks to have a great seafood dinner.
Finally able to start his engine, Beamer, Gimpy, and Roaddog rode on into Ft Bragg at 7:30 p.m.
The key to making a great story? Your attitude. Keep the gratitude, wonder and adventure meters running on high. Don’t get grumpy or discouraged. Look for the unexpected joys in the journey.
Have you heard? Prov 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
Kelly Bullis is a Certified Public Accountant in Carson City. Contact him at 882-4459. On the web at BullisAndCo.com Also on Facebook.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment