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A ride to remember: Older and wiser bikers re-create trip of lifetime

I've had my 1981 Honda Trail 110 over 12 years and it still starts first kick.
My favorite thing about them is you have a spare tank that fits on the back if you ever run out of gas! All Honda Trails are awesome!

what a great idea for a theme trip. with over 700,000 miles on the street and 60,000 in the dirt now at age 54, I still remember my first "tour" at age 17 on a Honda xl 125 from San Jose, CA to Yosemite park, over Tioga pass, up 395, over Kingsbury grade to Lake Tahoe and back down to San Jose. The freshly mandated 55mph speed limit mad eme not look too slow on the freeway sections as I held it at 52 to save the engine. All I took was a roped on sleeping bag, due to space and lack of experience. Now the big BMW GSA can carry everything needed for months, but the anticipation of a desert crossing is exactly the same as it was years ago.

A RIDE TO REMEMBER

In Sigurd on the 2nd of June,
riders met in the pale moon
In preparation for the ride,
that would commemorate the guy.
Excitement and nostalgia loomed,
as Honda 90s were being tuned;
And on the 3rd it would begin,
this Ride to Remember our old friend

A Ride to Remember, it was indeed;
as Joes old boys began to leave;
The old Sigurd Church where each boy went,
to learn of God and the Son he sent.
Joe taught us about life through word and deed,
and taught us to love these metal steeds;
His example and teachings have forever been etched,
in the minds and hearts of the boys he stretched.
Truly this was a sight to see,
as thirty 90s left like banshees;
And scurried off in a cloud of dust,
everyone hoping for a rearward gust.
And though bikes broke down along the way,
we wouldnt have it any other way.
For this was a ride about each mans past,
and not how long the bikes would last!

Great story Jim

more about this trip - like what the route was and some of the traditions and things that Joe taught these young men that made it such an indelible experience.

If only all boys could have a leader like that. How it would change the lives of many young men.

Sigurd Utah finally recieved along with its wonderful people it's well deserved 15 min. of fame. Thanks Jim for putting our thoughts and feelings in words and pictures.
R.C.

Wonderful story. Good to know great men still influence our youth.

Too bad youth groups don't do activities like this more often-mostly due to liability issues. A real youth group to do activities like this is desperately needed. My family activities with my boys bringing their friends is not the same, but at least they get to taste real adventure.

I recently purchased an "OLD" 1969 HondaCT90.
In reading this story, I realized WHY I had to buy this little motor bike!

It wasn't JUST about that "little Honda!"
There was a real need to cherish those memories of my youth, if not 'only' for a little bit longer!

Dale Rigby
Ivins

Joe is my grandpa and he deserved every mile of this trip. He was an amazing man and he definitely left his mark on that community and so many others. I'm so glad they did this "Ride to Remember" and this story in the Deseret News. It's such a great way to honor him.

Thanks Jim! What a privilege it was for the 'Sigurd Boys' to be together there once again. You did a great job of capturing the essence of the ride. That alone was no small task. I hope you have an opportunity one day of telling the rest of the story.

What a great story. Would be interesting to see what has happened over the years to these "boys"

What an amazing story, I am happy Joe was honored this way, he is very deserving of this honor, R.I.P. Joe.

When I married my husband from Sigurd, this was a prenup agreement that he get to go on the "bike trip" It has been a blessing for many years to many young men. Unfortunately due to the timing of the trip he couldn't go this year. What a shame. Thanks for taking note of one of our heroes!!

Joe saw the potential in all of us, even if we couldnt see it in ourselves.
Good people, Good times, Good memories, Great town to call home.

I know the Sigurd Boys. It's good to see you guys are alive and well. Have a good time rolling tires on the fourth!

We love Joe and Bonnie for all they have done for the people in Sigurd. It was never about what they needed but what others needed that was important. We cherish Joe's memory and hope that Bonnie has many more years of health and happy memories of Joe.

Great story JT! Small towns make big memories. And when the memories can be replicated, reinacted and replenished, the ripple effect of good times and lessons learned is immeasurable.