Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/776310
39 www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS nFebruary 2017n by "Rambler" Steve Austin JAMESTOWN, CALIF., JAN. 7—Polar Bear Run. The very words strike excitement, apprehension and fear into the hearts of many. I mean, look at the Polar Bear Triathlon in Maine, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club or the Chicago Polar Bear Club. It's January, it's raining or snowing, there's ice everywhere, there's sleet and hypothermia welcomed by frigid temperatures. There's sand and salt and a myriad of other things that the imagination can dream up but hey, this is California. What snow? What ice? The only thing we have here is excuses, unless you live above 3,000 feet, then you could have some of that. Now Jamestown, California, sits at a comfortable 1,400 feet or so and the chance of that kind of weather is pretty slim. As bike riders we get to wear leathers and heated clothing and gloves too. It's not like we have to ride naked, but we all know that's been done too. Every year, the fi rst Saturday after New Year's Day, Allen Aldridge of Jamestown Harley-Davidson sponsors the annual Jamestown Harley Polar Bear Run. He has put this ride on for the last 20 years and it is always rain or shine. Most of the time it's shine and around 75 degrees… but occasion- ally it's not. Today was one of those "not" days. It had been raining for days and days around this area and the ride up was somewhat wet. As I rolled into the parking lot about 10:30 a.m. something was missing, namely bikes. I did spot four parked under a nearby carport and some of the new bikes for sale were outside, but that was it. I walked into the store to fi nd Allen behind the registration desk and he fl ashed his trademark smile. Turns out that there weren't that many riders today. Four folks had ridden in from Modesto and about 20 people had signed in but most of them left after getting their run pin, but didn't ride. You who read these words know who you are. The pin this year was a special one and was beauti- ful. It was gold and black with a large "20" emblazoned across the front and "Jamestown Harley Polar Bear Run" across that. There were a few hearty souls willing to brave the elements though. Free doughnuts and coffee were on hand too. It wasn't raining that hard so four people left for the restaurant around 11:00 .a.m. Allen was willing to wait it out for the offi cial start at noon. While they waited, riders perused the shop for some last-minute goodies and rain gear and took advantage of the 25-percent off all leathers sale. Allen said that historically the weather does affect attendance for the run but that this isn't the worst-at- tended run. One year only one person showed up but that was because it did actually snow and all the roads were iced over. He had ordered 250 run pins, though. He thought he might try another Polar Bear Run in February so he could give the rest out. As usual the money from the run ($10 a head) went to Jamestown Harley's charity fund. The money from every event that the shop holds during the year goes to local needy families and organizations. The money is saved throughout the year and as organizations come in for donations it is given out. This was the fi rst run for new Harley owners Mike and Roseann Sharp from Columbia. Due to family obliga- tions Mike had not ridden for 15 years but now has a used Softail Deluxe. Jay, Linda, Ami and Roy had ridden up from nearby Valley Springs completely uncon- cerned about the weather. At noon Allen fi red up his Dyna Glide and moved to the front of the group and shortly after that, just four more bikes rolled out of the parking lot headed for our lunch destination at the River's Edge Restaurant in Knights Ferry, still in the rain. Although Knights Ferry is only 20 miles away, the route Allen had chosen was 60 miles long. We rode east on Highway 108 and then through the little town of Sonora on Highway 49, the Gold Rush Highway that cuts right through the heart of California's historic Gold Country. After Angels Camp we went down Highway 4, past Copperopolis and onto Sonora Road into Knights Ferry. All the towns up here have a his- tory and Knights Ferry is no exception. When gold was discovered in 1849, Dr. William Knight and John Fremont established a ferry service at this loca- tion across the Stanislaus River to get the miners and supplies across the river to the gold fi elds. The ferry pros- pered and a hotel and a trading post were soon built in town. Later that year Knight was killed in a gunfi ght on the town's main street and Fremont was discovered stabbed to death in Knight's yard after Knight's death. His murder was never solved. In 1852 the ferry was replaced with a bridge and in 1862 the bridge was replaced with the current covered bridge. Once we arrived at the River's Edge we joined the other riders, which gave us a grand total of 12 riders. The food was delicious. The restaurant sits beside the river and has a beautiful deck overlooking it although we did not use it. We were inside trying to dry out and get warm. When Allen opened the front of his 15-year-old rain suit he found that he was quite wet. He said, "I guess I need new rain gear." So another Polar Bear Run is his- tory and nobody had to get naked or even swim in the Stanislaus River. See you next year. Anybody want to buy a run pin? 4 Some riders left early in case the weather got worse JAMESTOWN HARLEY DAVIDSON'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY POLAR BEAR RUN Dressing down for New Year's The hearty few who rode this year's Polar Bear Ride. Some of them, like Allen in the center, found out their rain gear wasn't waterproof anymore even after a liberal dose of Scotch Guard Let's get naked and swim in the river