Who We Are!
The Border Riders Motorcycle Club “BRMC” is a not-for-profit 501(c)(7) organization for gay men who like to ride motorcycles and who like to go camping on their motorcycles. Our membership spans the Pacific Northwest with the greatest participation in the Portland, Seattle and Vancouver B.C. areas. We are one of the largest and longest-running gay motorcycle clubs in North America. We welcome like-minded guests to our Meet & Greets, day rides, and to our monthly meetings and summer campouts with a sponsoring BRMC member.
Table of Contents
All the news you need to know about the BRMC
July Run Weekend Recap By Peter M.
July Photos By Tom C, Peter M., Ron S.
August Meet & Greets Portland and Seattle
Plus
Members’ Birthdays
The BRMC 2026 Calendar of Events
Non BRMC Motorcycle Events
Request for Pictures & Closing Comments
July Campout Recap
A New Hygiene Tip for Travelers
July Campout 2026
When planning the road trip to Coho campground Dale suggested the route might include five miles on a gravel road.
"Is that ok?", Dale asked.
I scrunched my nose and pursed my lip. Apparently, the gravel road would shorten the trip. Why shorten the trip? We all know that the destination is not the objective, the roads and the scenery are, and also taking the time to sniff the flowers along the way.
"I would prefer to avoid gravel roads", I replied.
"We don't have to. It's up to you", he said.
I felt the onus was being put on me. If we take the longer route it will be my fault when we arrive late at camp. We planned to rendezvous with Ron, I suppose he was aware of the route because he and Dale had been on that gravel road the previous weekend. In the end the route was altered enroute to stay on paved roads. The pace Dale maintained more than compensated for the longer route. Ron and I had to keep up or be left in the dust.
The PNW is new to me, the route took us over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, a highlight for me. Wynoochee Valley Road to Coho campground is fun and scenic, I had been on the southern portion last year after the campout at Shafer State Park. Dale and Ron mentioned the northern portion has a fresh chip seal treatment. Fantastic! In my opinion that surface is worse than gravel because it is more difficult to gauge what is loose and what is not, similar to flat light on a ski slope. When we reached the chip seal I was relieved because the surface had been packed down and mostly cleared of loose material. We arrived safe at camp, not particularly on time, or late. Dennis had already arrived.
An assessment of our campsite was made, it was large but half the surface was paved, leaving little space for tents. It wasn't a problem because we were only six campers, perfect for an intimate camping weekend with friends. Luckily, loud snorers were not in the group, but I travel with ear plugs. The toilets and an access path were adjacent to our campsite. We feared there would be a stream of people on their way to the facilities but most used the main path on the opposite side of the building. The hand dryer was very loud and we feared it would be bothersome in the night, but it wasn't.
The campground was very busy and a little loud, there were lots of families with kids. The kids were cute wearing decorated helmets and screeching with delight pedaling their toy scooter. I suppose family time camping is to be expected in July, but it resembled suburbia in the woods. We were all kids so we shouldn't be too scornful. Agreed?
Families with kids are fun to observe, kids are cute and unintentionally comedic. Actually, families with kids were a blessing because everyone went to bed early, the campground became quiet in the evening. Thank goodness for that!
Fortunately, the access path next to our campsite was not busy with people traffic. A woman stopped to say hello, she was charming, friendly and curious. She commented that everyone in camp were men. An interesting observation, I thought. Was she flirting, shopping for a husband or thinking she was witnessing an expanded non-fiction Broke Back Mountain scene, but with mechanical horsepower, and individual tents. I shouldn't be too cynical. Dale was kind enough to chat, he is a very friendly fellow. When he mentioned that BRMC is a gay club it must have confirmed in her mind the Broke Back Mountain scenario. I shouldn't be too cynical, she was a nice lady!
There was no fire ban, which is most important because sharing a campfire with friends is something I enjoy. Sitting around a campfire recounting the events of the day, enjoying the company, stoking the fire, star gazing, spotting satellites, roasting marshmallows, is there a better way to spend a summer evening outdoors? Ron provided mosquito protection with his ThermaCell device, but I think the range was limited to his camp chair. No one brought marshmallows.
There is something about the mesmerizing effect of a campfire that can lower inhibitions. I wanted someone to tell scary campfire stories but I got blank stares. I didn't volunteer because I don't know any scary campfire stories. I had a sheltered childhood, I wasn't a Boy Scout and my family didn't go camping. I was a Sea Cadet, there were no campfires. You say scary campfire stories aren't real? But I always thought they are part of camping. Perhaps I have seen too many Hollywood movies. The camaraderie and star gazing more than made up for no scary stories.
The weather all weekend was very favourable for star gazing. A wonderful delight during the campfire conversations. Sometimes the stars or topic of conversation could keep Jeff awake, after a snooze he was usually the first to leave the campfire circle and head to bed. One evening, a couple of hours after he went to bed, he suddenly appeared at the campfire wearing a headlamp and very skimpy briefs. Another delight! He fulfilled one of my fantasies, a naked man at a campfire, although the headlamp was not particularly sexy. The fantasy quickly dissipated when he zeroed in on the spot where earlier he snoozed in his camp chair, head flopped forward like a rag doll. He claimed he was looking for his car keys. A thin ruse for being almost naked, but certainly original, it could be an unusual plot device for a porn video. Perhaps it has already been used, but I wouldn't know, I have not seen many porn videos. I have had a sheltered adult life. I'm being truthful.
Another delight was breakfast around the campfire. Dennis brought his truck because his bike was in the shop, still. A wonderful treat because he brought everything required for cooking meals, and he did, breakfasts and Friday's dinner was courtesy of Dennis. Thank you Dennis! Everyone showed their appreciation by cleaning up and washing dishes.
Day rides were not planned because Coho campground is a little isolated. I joined Jeff and Tom on a drive to Lake Quinault Lodge. As we drove through the campground Jeff exclaimed, "Let's go find some daddies." Count me in, I thought! Sadly, we didn't find any, not the type that appeals to me.
Back at the campsite the boys who stayed behind took the opportunity to relax. They were visited by a former BRMC member, Alan S., accompanied by his son. Alan was a member twenty six years ago, he took the opportunity to visit and return his patch, catch-up and because his son is new to riding it was also an opportunity for some experience.
Meanwhile, on the road to the lodge I was thankful the mode of transportation was Jeff's car. That road is less than ideal for a bike, but we encountered some trail bikers who seemed well equipped. The road through the rainforest provided for some beautiful scenery, we spotted a couple of very large trees, it would have been wonderful to walk up to them.
The setting and architecture for Lake Quinault Lodge is reminiscent of lodges I visited in other National Parks, though this lodge is not technically in Olympic National Park. The setting is serene, the sunshine was welcoming, we strolled the grounds and took in the scenery, which includes beautiful gardens and large trees that we could get close to and touch. We had lunch on the patio with a view of the lake, a charming young woman from Latvia served us. The food was excellent!
We were at the lodge all afternoon and soon it was time for the ninety minute drive to Montesano for a rendezvous with the boys (Dennis, Dale and Ron) at the Fishin Hole Restaurant. Alan and his son were there when we arrived. Memories were recalled and exchanged and Alan gave us a short account of his domestic life with his partner, which included raising two adopted boys. Warm hugs were exchanged when it was time to say goodbye.
The Fishin Hole Restaurant is very typical of a rural restaurant, and honestly, one shouldn't expect more than that. Our server was charming and engaging, the food was not bad, nothing to rave about, but we were a little disappointed. Their policy is to include a service charge for large groups. We were six. We were not told in advance, which is annoying because that can cause an unnecessary tip to be added. There were also additional incidental charges. I don't mind service charges but not when I'm nickel and dimed. More annoyance. I have experience as a server and in my opinion a service charge is acceptable, but the customer must be informed in advance. We all agreed.
I was disappointment further by one of the dessert items, peach cobbler.
"I have not had that", I said.
Dale, Dennis and Ron fell off their chair. Jeff and Tom could not because they were seated on a bench next to me and I was blocking them.
Yes, I'm Canadian. Yes, I am familiar with peach cobbler. Yes, it is served in Canada. I'm not 100% certain. I am a dessert person but I had not yet tasted peach cobbler. It was all Dale's fault, he raved about peach cobbler, apparently it is his favourite dessert. How could I pass up an endorsement such as that? But truthfully, it wasn't totally his fault because our server raved about the restaurant's peach cobbler, made in-house. I was persuaded, I ordered it.
It did not look as expected, it did not have a half peach. Yes, I have seen peach cobbler. I took one bite and an instinctive reflex must have overtaken me, snapping my head at Dale. Our eyes met. No, not in that way!
My eyes said, "What the…".
Dale's eyes replied, "I'm sorry".
He tried to be helpful by explaining how peach cobbler is supposed to look and taste. We were served dry pie crust topped with a glassy, gelatinous yellow substance. It was tasteless, one bite was all I could endure. I pushed it aside. Tom ate it. Perhaps I was served a bad piece? But the general consensus at the table rated this peach cobbler as, different. I should have returned it but I did not want to create a situation or embarrass anyone. When the bill arrived I was shocked by the $9 cost. I will pay for food which tries, but this was rather a disappointment for me.
Tom drove back to camp, I asked him to stop at the nearest toilet. Something was not agreeing with me, could it be that bite of the peach cobbler? The Wynoochee Dam Visitor Center has restrooms, the stop allowed us to see the dam up close. Bonus!
It was a pleasant weekend, there was no rain, there were no mosquitos, or very few. Maybe Ron's ThermaCell worked well. I enjoy camping because it's an opportunity to be outdoors, breath different air, smell the forest, and see wildlife. We saw bunny rabbits and chipmunks, they're always too cute. To enjoy camping one must slow down the pace of life and lower their comfort level, such as not having WiFi, or not showering for a couple of days.
Coho campground does not have showers. I asked. I do not remember if this fact prompted an interesting campfire conversation about hygiene. Tom shared a hygiene tip he learned when traveling through Asia, for the purposes of this story I will refer to it as a, travel bidet.
The mesmerizing effect of the campfire nor the stars in the sky distracted from this topic. Tom explained that traveling with a one litre plastic bottle is very useful after a toilet visit. Simply fill the bottle with water and use your hand, left or right, to clean your butt as you squeeze out the water with your other hand. A travel bidet on the go wherever you are. I know! I know, you are probably wondering, how big is a one litre bottle? One litre, not liter, is a medium size bottle of water. Convenient, compact, useful, handy! Whoops, sorry about that!
You might also be thinking, I'm to use my hand? Think about it, when showering at home do you use a face cloth down there? But of course making use of this hygiene tip works best after using toilet paper, and of course not everyone is comfortable using their hand to cleanup, especially because your friends may become suspicious of your hands. If I can stay clean and fresh I'm willing to try. The final question is this, for this travel tip and hygiene practice should you carry two bottles? Definitely, because you should always hydrate.
It was a treat having Dennis cook for us, made possible because he brought his truck. Sometimes friends with trucks can be very generous, and Dennis was kind enough to transport our camping gear, mine and Dale's, back to the city. Thank you Dennis! I do enjoy camping, but after packing my bike with camping gear over many years it is becoming less appealing. It would be wonderful if the club organized a support vehicle for camping gear. Wouldn't it be, eh?!
For the ride back to the city Tom volunteered to lead. Dale asked if I would be comfortable taking the gravel road we avoided during the trip to the campground. I tried to not be scared at the thought, I had to man up and grow a couple.
"Alright", I said hesitantly.
"Are you sure?", Dale replied.
I was not but I was determined to be courageous, bold, positive, patient, after all, it wouldn't be the first time riding on a gravel road. I said I would stay at the back of the pack in case I slowed too much.
Wynoochee Valley Road was very enjoyable, except for the chip seal section, but the gravel road cutoff avoided it. That turned out to be a good thing. When we made the turn it was encouraging because to my delight the surface was hard with few gravel bits, until it wasn't. Damn! There were some sections with a layer of chunky gravel, perfect for catching a 17" front wheel. The tire tracks with less gravel provided a little reprieve.
When we transitioned to pavement it was glorious. When I saw the pavement the clouds parted, a beam of light came down to shine onto the road, and I think I heard angles sing too. It was a very pleasant surprise because the gravel section was much shorter than anticipated and the paved section much longer and a lot of twisty fun. Eventually Tom waved goodbye, later Ron, me and Dale headed to Southworth to catch the ferry to Fauntleroy and onto the Burien house.
That's it for the July campout, see you in August.
- Peter M.
July Photos
August 2026 Day Rides
Portland
No day ride for August.
Seattle
The August day ride was Saturday, August 1st. With the 1st being Saturday and the author participating, it already happened.
This time we took a spin around Hood Canal starting in Edmonds.
We met at 9:30 AM Saturday morning downtown Edmonds at the Rusty Pelican, 107 5th Ave. N. in Edmonds 98020.
We departed around 10:30 for the 11:05 ferry across the Sound, up over the Hood Canal bridge and down the west side of the canal.
And in case you’re wondering, yes, there was an ice cream stop in Hoodsport near the bottom of the hook of the canal before we started heading back towards Bremerton to catch the ferry back to Seattle.
Please let Dale know if you want to attend future day rides!
August Campout
The August campout is on the Pacific Ocean at Sutton Campground in Florence, OR, Aug 14-16. Bring your warm everything because the ocean is nature’s fridge.
You can register here, and we will see you there!
August Meet & Greets
Portland M&G
Portland’s June Meet & Greet is being hosted by Jason S on Wednesday August 5th. You can find us at Steeplejack Brewing - 2400 NE Broadway - Portland, OR. 97232. Arrive around 5:30 for dinner & conversation.
This is a great way to meet club members, learn about the club, & learn about our upcoming events for 2026.
Stay tuned, we’re looking to switch up locations.
We hope to see you there!
British columbia M&G
We are still looking for a member in BC to take the lead on this. Please let Dennis know if you are able do this.
seattle M&G
The Seattle area Meet and Greet is at Smarty Pants in Georgetown, Wednesday August 12th. Arrive around 6 or thereafter for dinner, official Meet and Greet starts at 7pm
Address is: 6017 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA 98108
We hope to see you there!
High Mileage Competition
Members are invited to join our annual High Mileage competition! Read the rules in the Members Area.
This mileage competition is open to any and all active Border Riders Motorcycle Club (BRMC) members who choose to compete in the most miles ridden on their motorcycle(s), including 3-wheeled vehicles that have handlebars and a saddle for the use of the rider.
Reader’s Corner
A place for you, the reader, member and/or guest, to contribute.
Tell us about your travels, adventures, mishaps, etc.
To contribute, send your story & pictures to News@BorderRiders.com
Keep in mind, you can write about a trip that happened over the summer. It’s doesn’t have to be something you did last month.
Gear Store
The Gear Store is officially closed until the 2027 banquet. If there is something you need from the Gear Store before then, let a member of the board know and we will get it to you.
From the Handlebars of the President
August is here and we are down to 2 more camping trips
August – near the coast by Florence Oregon
September – Salt Spring Island off Vancouver Island.
Get them on your calendar and try to make it to at least one of them. Our July trip was the smallest attendance I can remember – only 6. Though only 6 there was great camaraderie around the campfire and during meals.
Dennis H.
President
president@borderriders.com
Vice President Chatter
Join us at Sutton Campground this month!
Ron S.
Vice President
Road Captain Rumblings
Join us at Sutton Campground August 14-16! A fresh seabreeze is guaranteed!
Dale C.
Road Captain
Treasurer’s Ramblings
“Piggy Bank Looks Good”.
See you all at the August campout.
Stan C
Treasurer
Secretary Thoughts
A Brother’s Birthday
We have five brothers with a birthday this month:
Bill L August 10th
Buck/Justin W August 14th
James “Blue” B August 19th
Stan C August 24th
Jack O August 26th
Take a moment out of your day to send birthday wishes!
2026 Events
Aug 14-16 - Sutton Campground near Florence OR
Sep 5 - Day rides
Sep 18-20 - Ruckle Park on Salt Spring Island BC
Oct 3 - Day rides
Oct 16-18 - Monthly Meeting, Creek House, Tampico WA
Monthly Meet & Greets
BRMC members will be available for interested individuals to meet and learn more about the club and how to get involved. For locations and times, check out the following list of times & location. Watch our FB for last minute details or changes.
Portland: Meet & Greet - 1st Wednesday of the month, now a moveable feast! 5:30pm at a restaurant in the Portland area. Watch the newsletter and/or Facebook for last minute details.
Vancouver BC Meet & Greet - The club is looking for a host for this event, please contact Dennis if you are interested.
Seattle: Meet & Greet - 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6 pm at someplace new. Watch the newsletter, website or Facebook for exact location. We usually meet for dinner at 6 pm followed by the M&G at 7.
Member & Guest Non-Sanctioned Day-Rides
In addition to the club's monthly M&Gs, local rides frequently happen on the 1st Saturday of every month. Additionally, members & guests going on an impromptu day-ride, or to some other activity, will post their plans on our FB page so others can tag along. Again, watch our FB page for last minute details or changes.
To learn more about local event’s, impromptu events, or to check status on any event, check out our FB page or email the Road Captain at Captain@BorderRiders.com.
Hey, did you notice that trend? Yep, keep an eye on our FB page for last minute changes and details for all events.
Contributions of Photos & Stories
Please feel encouraged to send us your photos of our activities to News@BorderRiders.com. Please be aware that often your email client or and/or our storage system might downgrade the file size/image quality.
Club Archives - We are working hard to consolidate the digital archives. We recently added over 4,000 new photos going back to 2004, but there are still lots of gaps.
We need your help!!! Please consider scrubbing your image archives and submitting them to the club in the original size. This will help us complete the picture. (You will be given instructions on how to upload them to our Google Drive.)
Create folders if needed and include the year and month first, then your name. Event name is helpful but not required. For example:
2021 03 Seattle Day Run – Don Pics
2025 01 Don Pics
2025 02 Don Pics
Also, if you do anything interesting outside the club, we’d love to hear about it. Send us a short story with some photos and we will try get it into the next newsletter. It doesn’t have to be motorcycle related to be interesting. We are very diverse.
If you have photos and stories to share, please send to news@borderriders.com