Shadley Bros.

The last blog talked about summer vacations, and this last weekend I took a short one of my own. From Minneapolis I flew to Boston, and from there I traveled by car to the home of Paul and Karen Shadley, part of the infamous Shadley Brothers gang. I arrived on Thursday, and that first night we didn’t do much more than catch up and enjoy a good dinner at the local pub – Venus 3.

The area south of Boston could almost be a second home, as I know someone in each little town. The best known of those characters is David Perewitz, who – hard to believe – couldn’t be found on Friday morning. I did however, spend an hour with Big Ron, Jeff, Jay and the rest of the crew, talking over the best set of wheels to put on a traditional Deuce coupe and the likelihood that the hardtail under construction in the shop would get done in time for Sturgis.

Hard to argue about my ride from Logan airport when the taxi driver and co-pilot look like this: Karen Shadley on the right and her sister Noreen.

Eventually I did hook up again with Paul Shadley and his brother Mark. By the time I arrived Mark had the twin engine 31 foot Formula and trailer attached to the back of the Suburban. And one hour later we were flying across the green waves at 60 miles per hour plus with twin big-blocks screaming just behind us and nothing but water and more water up ahead. Saturday we enjoyed more of the same, complete with a stop in Plymouth harbor, and another stop at a party where we had to anchor the boat just off shore and swim in to enjoy the festivities.

Boating always involves the occasional stop for a libation: We have “Texas” on the left, Paul in the center and Mark on the right.

Sunday found me lounging on the deck at Paul and Karen’s house, enjoying the company of an eclectic collection of customers, bikers, mechanics, relatives and the occasional refugee from Minnesota. And all too soon it was Monday and time to board the plane, back to the land of work and responsibility, or at least work.

The view over the bow of mark’s hot rod Formula.

A Reminder

Anyone within driving distance of Stillwater, Minnesota needs to remember the Tom Rad “Rumble on the Deck” Bike Show this Thursday the 8th of July. It’s the best little bike show in Minnesota, complete with free food, a great location (the Freight House in Stillwater), live blues and a lot of great people.

For one night each summer, the normally quiet deck of the Freight House Saloon in Stillwater shakes to the vibrations of V-Twins and blues.