“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down”
There’s a difference between passing through… and truly being there.
Being There is a collection of true motorcycle journeys written by my father — stories of open highways, small towns, long miles, unexpected detours, and the kind of moments you only find when you slow down enough to notice them.
My father passed away many years ago.
But through these writings, his voice still rides.
In each episode, I read one of his stories from the road — just as he wrote it — and then I share a personal reflection at the end. What it means to me now. What I hear differently as a son. What time and miles have taught me since he first put those words on paper.
These aren’t just ride logs.
They’re lessons in presence. In freedom. In risk. In faith. In keeping the rubber side down — on the bike and in life.
Ride safe. Be present.
And keep the rubber side down.
“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down”
Latest Episodes
The Bobber
Episode 27 – The BobberIn this episode of Being There, I read my father's story "The Bobber," a look back at the summer of 1966 when he and a friend decided to build the ultimate motorcycle.They were college...
Relativity
In this episode of Being There, I read "Relativity," one of my father's award-winning stories.Written by Gene McCalmont in 2006 for Ride Texas Magazine, "Relativity" went on to earn an award from the Houston P...
West of Sanderson
Twenty-five episodes of Being There.For this milestone episode, I read my father's story "West of Sanderson," written about the beginning of his first motorcycle trip to West Texas in 1967.Three young guys, old mot...
The Shop
In this episode of Being There, I read my father's story, "The Shop."On the surface, it's about vintage motorcycles, British iron, and the unforgettable characters who kept those old machines alive. But beneath the grease...
I'm Gonna Remember This...
What begins as one of the worst riding days imaginable—hours of rain, freezing temperatures, snow at over 10,000 feet, and complete misery—slowly transforms into something entirely different. Somewhere along the ride, my father realizes they ar...
