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
Meeting Recap By Mark B.
Photos By Group
June Meet & Greets Portland and Seattle
Plus
Members’ Birthdays
The BRMC 2025 Calendar of Events
Non BRMC Motorcycle Events
Request for Pictures & Closing Comments
Victoria Day 2025 Recap
Spring in the new year means the start of the camping season with the Club. The weather in the PNW was mild this time, with little rain in the forecast and more sunshine. So we got our gear out and headed for this hills above Entiat, WA.
As with the other members of the Club, I looked forward to this year's campout; not only because I always enjoy seeing everyone, but because this will be my last for a long time. As most of you know, I have moved to the UK and came back to the States so I could attend this year's Victoria Day. This meant that I was "caged" (not that kind of caged, but in a car) as I sold my motorcycle before moving to England in March, but kept my camping gear in storage to use in May. Attendance was lower than we usually have (dissapointing as I was hoping to see more of the guys), but we still had a great time.
Pine Flats had some work done to it, with a lot of new plantings and old trees cut down. This did change the group site some as the path to the memorial site was blocked by a felled tree and a lot of the new plantings were in this area. This did not stop us though.
Most of us came up on Thursday (someone even the night before) and a few of us met for lunch in Wenatchee before heading to the storage locker to get out the kitchen. It did not take long to load up the trailer; since we were expecting fewer people, we did not need everything. We adjusted the meals and preparation to make the experience easier.
Once at Pine Flats, we unloaded the trailer in short time with everyone's help. Because of the water issues in the past with the well not tested and a real pain getting water from the stream for dishes, our illustrious president Dennis H. brought a huge water barrel. It was full and really heavy; about 500 pounds. The fun was watching a group of grown men wrestling this thing off the trailer, up a make shift ramp and onto the stump in the kitchen area. Ever see those cat videos with the math bubbles above their head before attempting a jump?; it was that with a lot of grunting. But as the Klingons say "qapla!" (victory). [Ed. note: Canadian member Kevin S. came up with an ingenious tug-of-war/sliding method to haul the barrel up a car ramp onto the designated stump.] It worked really well, thank you Dennis.
Everone pitched in to put up the canopies. We only needed 4 this year, so it was quick work. Setting up the kitchen was also fast with the smaller menu. It's a great way to get to know the new guests and chat with the other members.
More people showed up Thursday night and we had 12 sitting around the fire that night, since we had a pile of wood from the year before. We took all the group site spaces but only one of the larger spaces down below, and therefore had a few overnight guests over the weekend. It did get a little cold overnight, but not much rain.
Friday morning we did our usual breakfast at Jimmy's Diner; always nice to see them again and they treat us like family that shows up every now and again. Then was shopping, thank you Dennis for running around in your truck and coordinating the shopping. We did change the way we shopped, with making more frequent trips to keep the number of coolers needed down.
The rest of members and guests arrived by evening. Kevin S. from Canada rode his new motorcycle, as well as Tom C. on his new three wheeler. Andy H. also attended for the first time in 10 years, was wonderful seeing him; he was here for the memorial of Dusty. We also had two new guests as first timers to VD; Kirk G. and Jason S.
Meals were awesome as usual, with everyone helping out. One of new guests talked about how much he liked to cook, so Jason was "voluntold " he was in charge of a meal. Thank you Jason for jumping in and helping.
Saturday morning we woke up to a full breakfast, always a great way to start a full day. There was a threat of rain for Saturday afternoon/evening, but this didn't stop some of the guys going out for a day ride. Some went for a hike instead, while some of us went shopping. All in all, a great day. The afternoon saw some rain, but it stopped before the guys returned from their ride. Saturday night was steak night, but since we were fewer in attendance, we didn't need to turn the firepit into a large grill, we instead cooked out own steaks on the propane grill in the kitchen area; this worked out really well and made for a lot less cleanup. The fire gathering did not dissapoint as we had a great time talking the night away.
Sunday morning breakfast was simple as usual, but this is always OK. We then met for the memorial, winding our way around the new plantings, but the memorial tree with plaques was still standing. This year, we placed two plaques: Ron Lowe and Dusty Evers both passed away last year. Tom C. talked about Ron Lowe; giving some wonderful history and Andy H. shared about Dusty Evers. It's always heartfelt to know that we are not forgotten by the Club and its members. As we remember each of the fallen in our own way, the tears we feel are from the heart. The three cheers at the conclusion is one of the best ways to end the memorial.
I left right after the memorial, as I was catching a plane the next day to go back to England. There were a few who stayed the Sunday and left on Monday. I always try and stay the extra day, but was not possible this year. I'm going to miss the Club a lot as it pulled me up from a dark place back in 2012 after I lost my long time partner. I will always be grateful to everyone I met and hopefully will see you in the future.
Hugs from afar....Mark B.
May Photos
June 2025 Day Rides
Seattle
Seattle will not be having a June Day Ride. Instead, the club will be having a booth at Pride in the Park to promote the club. Runs Noon to 7 pm at Volunteer Park with booths, food and music. Come see us at the booth or members Contact Dale for helping out. Members: sign up for a shift at the booth
More information at: Seattle Pride in the Park 2025
Additionally, we’re riding in the Pride Parade on Sunday June 29th, details will follow mid-month.
Portland
No Portland day ride this month.
June Campout
The June Campout will be at Wyeth Campground, a Forest Service Campsite, June 20-22. Campsite is located 7 miles east of Cascade Locks, a little South of I-84.
Per the map below there are some fun day rides in the area that the club has not been to in a long time.
Register by June 18th.
June Meet & Greets
Portland M&G
On Wednesday, June 4th, Portland BRMC Members & Guests will meet for dinner at 5:30 at Kenton Station (8303 N Denver Ave, Portland, OR 97217). We will then go to the Portland Eagle (835 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97217) for a social hour starting at 7pm.
This is a great way to meet club members, learn about the club, & learn about upcoming rides, and events.
We hope to see you there!
BC 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 June Meet & Greet in Seattle is at Diesel on Capitol Hill, 6pm on Wednesday June 11th. Generally, dinner around 6, official meet and greet starts at 7PM.
Hope to see you there for our first M&G at Diesel and a return to the hill.
The address is 1413 14th Ave, Seattle WA 98122
July Special Event Information
You will find all the information you need for the mid-July classes and camping in Oregon here.
We hope to see you there! As of June 1 there is just one spot left for the PMC Classes in July. The Monday Cornering Clinic is sold out. If you have any questions, please reach out to Stan Treasurer@BorderRiders.com or text/call him if you have the number.
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 was active over the VD weekend. We had a couple hundred dollars in sales which helps keep the inventory fresh. As always, if you have any questions about the Gear Store Inventory, feel free to contact President Dennis or VP Ron. They will be happy to answer your questions.
From the Handlebars of the President
As usual our annual Victoria Day Campout was a little wet around the edges. Not a washout like some years, but participants got a little wet on the Saturday Day Ride and those still in camp had a good soaking too. At least it was dry when taking down camp so not dealing with wet canopies.
In comparison to previous years the group was fairly small, but everyone pitched in to make it a success. We did a few things to make less work given the smaller group. In spite of the small group it was a great weekend for those attending.
Those that rode also got a chance to work on their adverse weather riding skills. For those returning back to Oregon they battled high winds and those crossing the passes to the west side of the mountains had some heavy rain. I would hope that means that everyone had their share for the year and that means sunshine for the rest of the riding season.
June will be an unusually busy month for the club. We have a booth at Pride in the Park, our monthly Meet and Greets, campout at Wyeth Campground and ending the month with riding in the Seattle Pride Parade. A lot of events to choose from, check your calendars and join us for the events that work for you.
Dennis H.
President
president@borderriders.com
Vice President Chatter
‘Tis the season! So many events this month, there’s something for everyone. Join us!
Ron S.
Vice President
Road Captain Rumblings
June is a busy month for the club. We have Pride In The Park on June 7, camping run June 20 to 22 at Wyeth Campground near Hood River Oregon and Seattle Pride Parade on June 29th. Put on your Colors and have fun and support the club on these events!
For the first time BRMC will be represented at Seattle Pride In The Park on Saturday, June 7th from noon to 7PM. We have a table under a shady canopy where we will be attempting to convert "Bike-curious" gay men to become riders and potential members. We need your active participation! And the best way to support the club will be to sign up for one of the following shifts. Shifts start from 11am to 2pm, 2pm to 5pm, and 5pm to about 7:30pm to help carry our stuff out of the park. Sign up for a three-hour shift or stay all day with myself and Dmitry to support outreach for the club. If you are ready to join the fun, please shoot me an email at captain@borderriders.com and let me know the shift you'd like to attend and any questions you have, but we're too shy to ask. See you there!
Dale C.
Road Captain
Treasurer’s Ramblings
“Piggy Bank Looks Good”.
Due to a family reunion that I am hosting, I will not be able to attend the June Campout. That said, I will attempt to make the meeting.
Stan C
Treasurer
Secretary Thoughts
It was great seeing everyone at Pine Flats! Join us for a great riding and camping season!
Tom C.
Secretary
A Brother’s Birthday
We have four brothers with birthdays this month:
Iain M on June 8th
Ron V on June 20th
Mark B on June 28th
David F also on June 28th
Please take a moment out of your day to send a birthday wish.
2025 Calendar of Events
June 7th - Seattle Pride in the Park, Volunteer Park, Seattle
June 20th thru 22nd - Wyeth Campground, Cascade Locks, Oregon
June 29th - Ride in the Seattle Pride Parade
July 12th to 20th:
The much anticipated special event for 2025.
Motorcycle Classes
(Saturday, Sunday & Monday)
July 12th & 13th - Team OR Class, Precision Maneuvering Clinic Series 1 & 2 (think Police Rodeo 101) at Mt Hood Community College. Registration opens on 1/19/25 on the BRMC website. This will be sold as a set for $200.
July 14th - Team OR Cornering Clinic (your bike on a go-cart track). We will register on the Team OR website as we will not own this class. This will be a Gen Pop class.
Day Rides throughout Central OR & camping at Alan & Stan’s ranch.
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday)
July 15th thru 18th - “Central OR Day Rides” - Come join us for several Day Rides throughout Central OR. We will leave Alan & Stan’s house in West Linn Tuesday morning and ride to their home near Terrebonne, OR. There will be space to pitch a tent, we will have a porta potty, & we will have a private outdoor shower. Yes, you will be able to take a hot shower under the stars. We will do day rides on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday. We will take turns on meal prep & clean up. The registration will include breakfast & dinner. Lunch will be on the road.
The July Campout
(Friday, Saturday, & Sunday)
July 18th thru 20th - July Campout hosted by Alan & Stan at their Crooked River Ranch home in Central OR. This is a continuation of the week long event. There will be sites to pitch a tent, we will have a porta potty, & we will have a private outdoor shower. Yes, you will be able to take a hot shower under the stars. We will take turns on a meal prep & clean up. The registration fee will include breakfast(s) & dinner(s) daily. Lunch will be on the road. Meal details will be in the July Newsletter.
August 2nd - Local Day Rides. See Facebook for last minute details.
August 15th thru 18th - August Campout, Mount Seymour Park near Vancouver, BC. Note - this includes Sunday evening for those wishing to avoid I5 southbound on Sunday afternoon.
September 6th - Local Day Rides. See Facebook for last minute details.
September 19th thru 21st - September Campout, Schafer State Park near Elma, WA.
October 4th - Local Day Rides. See Facebook for last minute details.
October 18th - Monthly meeting hosted by Dennis H at his cabin near Yakima, WA.
November 1st - Local Day Rides. See Facebook for last minute details.
November 15th - Monthly meeting hosted by Stan & Alan near Portland, OR.
December 6th - Local Day Rides. See Facebook for last minute details.
December 13th - Holiday Party.
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, 7 pm at The Portland Eagle. Dinner together normally precedes the actual M&G. Dinner location moves so 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 & guest 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.
Mt. Rainier National Park, May 25th, road captain Dale C.
Chinook Pass on beautiful Highway 410 opened up on May 23rd. Guest Larry S. Member Dmitry B. and myself had an excellent day-ride over Chinook to the overlook then back to Cayuse Pass SR 123, over to Packwood and through Morton and up to Elbe. Some really fun curvy roads and lovely scenery.
Contributions of Photos & Stories
Please feel encouraged to send us your photos of our activities to News@BorderRiders.com
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