Author: Vic Socotra

Life and Island Times: Motorcycle Winter Blues

Editor’s Note: It’s time for a pause from the four corners saga. This is a piece for northern riders whose bikes are nestled snugly in their riders’ garages. – Marlow Most American riders outside the deep south and west coast have an offseason, when old man winter and polar vortexes make them put up their […]

Staff Work

Editor’s Note: So, the big deal in Your Nation’s Capital this week is avoiding what is going to start happening later this week. I plan to be safely at the farm, well away from the commotion downtown. Rumors are swirling about what may- or may not- be in store. The DC Anti-Fascist Coalition apparently intends […]

Life and Island Times: Snake Eyes

This morning Marlow had the lead until the first gas and rest stop. It was going to be a long day of riding on two lane back country roads they had never seen or ridden. As Rex had not group ridden with Marlow in the lead, a short pre-brief was required. “We all know back […]

Potsdam and Monkfish

(Planning the Post-War World. Potsdam Leaders, July, 1945) The dining room of Tracy O’Grady’s Willow restaurant is a contrast to the bar area where I normally hang out. It is much lighter and airier than the dark wood area, though it shares a certain intimacy. It is all white table-cloths and spare elegant furnishings with […]

The First Rough Draft

Mac was a little late getting to Willow- but there was a reason. He was getting suited up for a portrait. He drove over from The Madison and parked his champagne Jag in the garage under the restaurant, and arrived just about the same time as I did, shortly after five. John-with-an-H and Old Jim […]

Life and Island Times: Motel

It was getting darker by the minute. Steve pulled his bike alongside Augustus, turning and asking “Do you think we oughta stop for the night soon?” “Yeah, I do. If it gets much darker, the road surface and direction might begin to get too hard to see for us to get along safely.” As they […]

You Have No Idea

(Chief Petty Officer Graham Jackson playing “Going Home” as FDR’s body leaves the Warm Springs Institute for the train station.) The Willow bar was bustling. There were some very attractive ladies at the bar, and some very self-important young men attempting to chat them up. Sara the lovely Lebanese waitress was smiling her perfect smile […]

Heresy

Mac took a sip of his Virgin Mary and scowled. “I think there are only two olives in this one.” He peered into the dense red of the contents of the pint glass before him, rheumy blue eyes squinting behind his silver-framed glasses. The long bar was filling up nicely. Old Jim was in his […]

Life and Island Times: Hill Climb

The sun had passed overhead and the afternoon had turned pleasant. The road was fairly straight almost placid. The motorcycles were running fine with engine RPMs lowering after each upshift. The feel of the road started to take hold of the bikes and then their riders. The sound of the tires on the pavement was […]

Operation Starvation

Editor’s Note: I had a rare opportunity to see something completely new in Washington. Retired CAPT Ted Bronson took me on a tour of the Cold War Museum at the Navy Yard. He has been instrumental securing the funding and obtaining the necessary permissions to modify the history structure that houses the collection of artifacts. […]