WHY CAN I RIDE ALONG?

It is not often that I get to ride along side of the criminal organization that has a contract out on my life. Why was I able to on this particular day - actually this day and into the next morning - I decided to stay at the Best western with them also!

I will get back to that question of why in just a minute.

I was driving east to Toronto from Calgary when I stopped for a coffee break at a truck stop in Brandon Manitoba - I did not need the coffee but could not help myself when I saw all of the patches that filled the parking lot - Although some who know me would jokingly say that I must have a death wish - I truly do just like trying out my skills to make sure I could do one more operation against them if the opportunity ever presents itself. (a bucket list kind of thing)

Anyway, I grabbed my coffee while making small talk about their bikes and then headed back to my vehicle while thinking this is going to be an awesome trip with lots of pictures - I kind of assumed we would be together for the duration based on the Ontario bottom rocker on their vests - either way I followed as they roared out of the parking lot and headed east.

As much as I wanted to keep driving so I could get into Ontario by dark, I could not help but stop for the night when they did. I settled in and watched as they hovered in the parking lot of the hotel for an hour or so - guess they needed to unwind more than I did because I went pretty much straight to my room to write.

Back to the question of why I was able to ride so freely behind this band of outlaws.

My ability came from the mere fact that they are too self absorbed to ever really take notice of who is around them. Their feathers are up and they are showing off for all to see - quite typical and a big reason I was able to get them to talk on a wire during an operation back in 2000 - they always love to show others who is boss.

The real question though is this, why are they allowed to show off any colors at all? Whether it is their imagined peacock feathers or their silly death head - better yet the ridiculous puppet club colors of the "horsemen"?

Why is it that we allow a criminal organization to exist legally and flaunt itself? Especially when we know that it feeds off the vulnerable and sucks the money and life out of everything it comes across?

Why is it that we glorify them, cater to them and walk in fear of them as if they are gods?

Unfortunately, I did not get to drive along with them any further as I had hoped - they gassed up in the morning but as we headed for the highway, they continued on into Winnipeg to strut some more I guess - I had no choice but to get back on the road - I had a speaking engagement to get to and did not want to be late - I was speaking on one of my favorite topics.......

"Taking down the Hells Angels"