Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/43140
The Walt Rule by JAMES JONES I have many rules and strategies that I try to live my life by. Most of them are simple and I use them to help me get through life. Over time they have proved themselves to be good. My latest rule is called the "Walt Rule". Walter Minton was a good friend of mine. For years we met at Hooters every Friday with a few other guys. We talked about life, politics and kids. Walt loved to scuba dive and he had a boat down in South Port. Every week, for years, Walt would ask me to go scuba diving with him. For one reason or the other, I would always find a reason for put- ting it off. There is always something todo. You know how this goes? For years the conversation was the same. A few years back I got a phone call from my friend Mark who told me that Walt had been killed in a car accident. Shocked and saddened, it only took me a minute to realize that Walt and I would never go diving together. Not long after that call, I created the Walt Rule. The Walt Rule is simple. If someone asks me to do something or go somewhere, if I can I will. Even if this means pushing off some chores, honey-do's or the hundreds of other reasons that life throws at us. The philosophy is that I will do it because I may never know if or when that opportunity will present itself again. This little life-changing rule has taken me on some great visits, adven- tures and introduced me to a plethora of new people along the way. The first time I used the Walt Rule for motorcycling was when my friend Steve asked me to join him in Daytona for Biketoberfest. I would have never gone otherwise. It was a great time riding, seeing new bikes, a day trip to Kennedy Space Center and a good time getting to know someone a little better. One of my big trips from the Walt Rule has been traveling the TransAmerican Trail (TAT). It was a few years back that I ran into Rick Lee at the Miller's Adventure ride in Morganton, N.C. Rick and I used to work together, and I had not seen him in more than a decade. We had dinner that night, and Rick told me about the TAT and that he was looking for some- one to ride with him. The TAT is a 5,000-mile trail which is mapped from Tennessee to Oregon. Ninety-five percent of the route is off-road and requires a dual-sport bike. This was very intimidating to me because I had never done anything like that. However, according to the Walt Rule I should do it be- cause I could. So I did. Last year, we rode from Tennessee to Arkansas. That trip introduced us to Dale and Maria who joined us. This year, Rick and I just returned from riding the TAT in Colorado and Utah. Kevin and Dick joined us for this ride and Dale joined us again. I always enjoy meeting new people and these guys (and gal) are great people to get to know. The trail was extremely challenging, but rewarding. During this trip we rode to 13,000 feet mountain tops and experienced the desert heat of Moab, Utah. It was hard at times — but spectacular. The rule will not only take you to new adventures, but it is the people and places that surround you along the way that makes this rule very fulfilling. The Walt Rule works for any occasion. The next time someone asks you to do something, change your plans and go for it. You will never know where Walt will take you unless you go. Ride Safe! JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com 30 UCW SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 4, 2011 OCT. 2 DUCKS UNLIMITED BIKE RIDE Registration 7:30 - 10 a.m. Leaves the Crown at 10 a.m. Traveling to the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, N.C. $45 per biker, each additional rider $25. Free t-shirt, door prizes and food. Tickets available at M&M Leather, Cape Fear Harley Davidson, Prestige Automotive Services, The Shop and Bob Marlowes Motorcycles Inc. Call 624-6252 for more information. OCT. 2 • BOB MARLOW AND THE GYPSYWOMEN ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT at Legends Pub. 867-2364. The TransAmerican Trail is a 5,000-mile trail from Tennessee to Oregon with 95 percent of the route off-road requiring a dual- sport bilke. OCT. 8 • HARLEYS HERO DAY AT CAPE FEAR HARLEY DAVIDSON We will be raffling off lap blankets made from old Harley-Davidson t-shirts to raise money. There will be an auction and a ride. 864- 1200. OCT. 22 • FANTASTIC SAM'S 3RD ANNUAL SAVE THE TA TA'S POKER RUN Registration 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 3503 North Main St., Hope Mills, N.C. First rider $15, passengers $10. Proceeds benefit the Karen Chandler Foundation. Contact angelofjustice06@yahoo.com for more info. OCT. 29 • HALLOWEEN BASH at Legends Pub. 867-2364. NOV. 5 • OYSTER ROAST AND POKER RUN at Legends Pub. 867-2364. NOV. 5 • ALZHEIMERS AWARENESS RIDE Registration begins at 10 a.m., kickstands up at 10:30 a.m. Stops include Bethesda Health Care in Eastover, Cedar Creek Assisted Living in Cedar Creek and Haymount Rehab & Nursing Center in Fayetteville. Free food and music upon return to CFHD. $25/ rider & $15/ passenger includes t-shirt. ALL PROCEEDS to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. www. capefearhd.com. Bob Marlow & The Gypsywomen Annual Golf TOURNAMENT October 2nd For more information call LEGENDS at 4624 BRAGG BLVD. CALLING ALL LOCAL BANDS Fayetteville wants to know you! So here's your opportunity. • E-mail Stephanie@upandcomingweekly. com for our Q&A. • Fill it out and e-mail it back to us. • Send a recent, high-resolution photo of your band. • Look for your article in an upcoming issue. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM