Awards for Cavaliers

Hey folks,

I just found out that the Cavaliers were given Journalism Awards along with several other New Orleans groups. Here is brief list of awards given by TRUE TALES, a leather Journal recieved by us, The Lords, Bears, NOBLE and AMBUSH for Hurricane updates and information. The complete list can be found on the AMBUSH web site ( www.ambushmag.com ) or in the current edition. I want to send a special Thank You to David for his hard and quick work on the web site!

Ride Proud Cavaliers!

Doug Minich
CavaliersMC
2005 President



Cavaliers Motorcycle Club, Lords of Leather, Phoenix, New Orleans Bears, LA-NOBLE & Ambush Mag Win Journalism Awards

2005 Awards

Best Information on Current Events by a Leather Website Inside the Gulf Coast: Cavaliers Motorcycle Club; Lords of Leather Mardi Gras Krewe; The Phoenix Bar; A True Rose.

Best Information on Current Events by a Leather or Leather-Related E-mail List Inside the Gulf Coast: Cavaliers MC; Houston's Rainbow Cross; LA-NOBLE; Leather Nation Job Board; New Orleans Bears; NOLA Refugee.

Best Leather-Related Information on Current Events by a Non-Leather Publication: Ambush Mag.

Special Leather Communications Award (for outstanding efforts at communicating news and information to the leather community): To David Lester (Webmaster of the Cavaliers Motorcycle Club in New Orleans) and Todd Cole (president and Webmaster of the Lords of Leather Mardi Gras Krewe in New Orleans), for providing information to the rest of the world through their clubs' Websites within a short time after the hurricane crisis began, and to Tibby (lieutenant of the New Orleans Bear and Bear Trapper Social Club), for providing the most frequently updated list of survivors and missing persons.

An eerie ride

Wednesday night I decided to join my club for an evening ride to a Bike Night in Metairie. It was so wonderful to put on my leathers, mount up, and ride in the cold wind. The wind was a steady 15 mph out of the North with temps at about 48 degrees F. Six of us (Doug, Michael D., Mitch, Dave, Poncho and Me) met at Lafitte's in the French Quarter. Our ride took us through some of the deserted, dark streets in the uptown area that had flooded. It was so eerie to pass from a brightly lit, lively area through this wasteland filled with mounds of debris and abandoned cars and refrigerators. Arriving in Metairie was like finding a living oasis at the end of a dark journey.

At the Pitt Stop we met up with Diane and Julie and walked around looking at the leather displays and the bikes. This event usually contains about 250 bikes (Before Katrina). There may have been 100 last night. But despite the cold and the disaster, people were there, drinking beer, eating hot burgers, and talking about bikes. We left this venue and traveled to another spot, a bar called Southport. There we snacked on red beans and rice, talked a bit more, and then took off for home.

I had another ride through the devastation, in the dark and alone. Once again I felt this eerie sensation and just wanted to pass through the area as quickly as possible. I switched to the Interstate at Carrollton Ave. and crossed the Crescent City Connection with relief knowing I was headed back to civilization.

Doc

Cavaliers Camp It Up in Alabama!

The Cavaliers Motorcycle Club held their first road trip, post hurricane, returning to their riding schedule with a weekend camping trip to Spring Creek Campground in Geneva, AL November 4 - 6, for a weekend of riding, relaxing and friendship.

Five riders; Diane, Heath, Matt, Mitch and Dave D., rode out of New Orleans with Julie, Doug and Scott bringing the campers and their bikes. Michael D. caught up with the group a bit later and the Cavaliers good friend Paul from Mobile meet up at the campground.. Stopping for lunch in Pensacola, FL. the group split up a bit so the bikers could avoid the grated roadway along I-10 east bound to meet up in Ponce DeLeon. Arriving in Ponce DeLeon with the campers we hit our only snag of the weekend when a Cavalier, and the redhead will remain anonymous, mistakenly filled her diesel truck with gasoline. "it's those damn green handles that are usually diesel at home" she proclaimed.

All was not lost as Doug headed on to the campground to drop a camper and return for the other. A great mechanic and human being was found not far from that exit and arrangements were made to tow and get the truck up and running again. "Hell, the bikers hadn't even made it to the exit when I went on to the campground" stated Doug Minich.

After the delay the Cavaliers set up camp at Spring Creek and got ready for an evening of food and friends, plus a little exploring of the campground and meeting other sampers. Diane had prepared a great Spaghetti and meat ball dinner with garlic bread to boot. The campfire was lit and Scott even broke out all the fixings for s'mores.

An early morning was aided by a breakfast of bacon, sausage, eggs and toast prepared by Scott, Heath, Matt and others. After Breakfast the group headed out to do a little riding. Joined by new friends Sam and Jeff of Pensacola and members of the GCBLA who have a permanent camp site there and rode their bikes up for the weekend.

Eleven bikers, the hardy five that rode from New Orleans joined by Doug, Michael D, Julie, Paul, Sam and Jeff made the trip to inquire about the truck and headed for lunch. Finding a quaint little restaurant recommended by Paul in Bruce, FL. called Bruce Cafe, the group enjoyed lunch and spending a little time together before heading back to the campground. In all these eleven riders rode 150 Cavaliers miles each.

Dinner was steak and all the accompanying fixins at Sam and Jeff's little estate there at Spring Creek and a chance to meet owners Mike and Jason along with other campers. "These gentlemen have done a great job with the campground, it is really a wonderful place especially the Tool Shed" said Matt M.

A bit of rain during breakfast Sunday morning made the ride home look a little troublesome but the skies cleared up to produce great riding weather for the trip. According to Cavaliers President Doug Minich the hardy five riders, Diane, Matt, Heath, Mitch and Dave D. each earned 690 Cavaliers Miles for their round trip to Geneva. "It was a very relaxing weekend" stated Michael D. "We needed the get away from the city and a chance to ride is a great escape" he continued.