Meet the Thomases
Steve Thomas loves two wheels. For years, Steve would ride his bicycle down Highway 58 from just north of Harrison Bay to downtown to work. He was a lot younger then and maybe just a few pounds lighter.
Today he rides his GL1800 Gold Wing just about everywhere he can, no matter what the weather conditions are. He loves his bike and he loves being a big part of Chattanooga’s own Chapter V of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. For Steve, it is an extended dysfunctional family. Steve and his wife, Pam, have enriched this chapter immensely. Steve and Pam are hardcore Gold Wingers and put a lot of miles on their bike. Also they have a beautiful 11 year old daughter, Haley, who also loves to come on rides with her “Daddy” and to all of the chapter events. Haley loves riding because in her words, “It makes me feel free.”
Now Steve loves two wheels. He loves his wife Pam. He loves his daughter Haley. But I can tell you from personal experience that law enforcement officials don’t have a sense of humor when it comes to having more than two people on a motorcycle. [I did get a ticket for having four people on a motorcycle, once. Even though they were little people and the deputy had to call in to find out what violations there were, he still wrote the ticket.]
So Steve has this dilemma, go riding and leave someone out of the fun. Or he could stay home and leave himself out of the fun. Or …well you get the picture. So what does a loving father and husband do? He buys a Pig. Not a Hog, as that would be a Harley. This is affectionately called the Pig. A purple Pig. A 2003 GL1800 Gold Wing with a sidecar. It sits next to his two wheeled Wing.
He decided that since Haley loves riding, and loves coming to most of the chapter events and has her own Choo-Choo-Wings Chapter V light blue T-shirt, that he wanted to invest in a type of Gold Wing that could accommodate his whole family. He claims “that the family that Wings together, clings together.” As you can tell by the pictures, this is a great compromise to accommodate all concerned. And it will be a temporary fix until Haley is old enough for her own bike. Then he’ll lock the door to the sidecar with her inside and throw away the key.
Gary Boyd
gboyd1800@yahoo.com
Read MoreToday he rides his GL1800 Gold Wing just about everywhere he can, no matter what the weather conditions are. He loves his bike and he loves being a big part of Chattanooga’s own Chapter V of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. For Steve, it is an extended dysfunctional family. Steve and his wife, Pam, have enriched this chapter immensely. Steve and Pam are hardcore Gold Wingers and put a lot of miles on their bike. Also they have a beautiful 11 year old daughter, Haley, who also loves to come on rides with her “Daddy” and to all of the chapter events. Haley loves riding because in her words, “It makes me feel free.”
Now Steve loves two wheels. He loves his wife Pam. He loves his daughter Haley. But I can tell you from personal experience that law enforcement officials don’t have a sense of humor when it comes to having more than two people on a motorcycle. [I did get a ticket for having four people on a motorcycle, once. Even though they were little people and the deputy had to call in to find out what violations there were, he still wrote the ticket.]
So Steve has this dilemma, go riding and leave someone out of the fun. Or he could stay home and leave himself out of the fun. Or …well you get the picture. So what does a loving father and husband do? He buys a Pig. Not a Hog, as that would be a Harley. This is affectionately called the Pig. A purple Pig. A 2003 GL1800 Gold Wing with a sidecar. It sits next to his two wheeled Wing.
He decided that since Haley loves riding, and loves coming to most of the chapter events and has her own Choo-Choo-Wings Chapter V light blue T-shirt, that he wanted to invest in a type of Gold Wing that could accommodate his whole family. He claims “that the family that Wings together, clings together.” As you can tell by the pictures, this is a great compromise to accommodate all concerned. And it will be a temporary fix until Haley is old enough for her own bike. Then he’ll lock the door to the sidecar with her inside and throw away the key.
Gary Boyd
gboyd1800@yahoo.com
