“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down”

The Bobber

Episode 27 – The Bobber In 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 bui

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, "Relativit

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 t

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 chara

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 somethin

I’m Dreaming of.....

Written in 2005, this Christmas reflection earned Gene McCalmont and Ride Texas Magazine their first Katie Awardfrom the Dallas Press Club—one of the highest honors in Te

I Once Knew A Girl

While resting on a bench in Goliad, Texas, a chance encounter with a young woman stirs memories of another young woman from long ago—Angelina, a spirited cowgirl from Cue

Hunter's Moon

In this episode of Being There, I read "Hunter's Moon," written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2005. While camping alone at Enchanted Rock in the Texas Hill Count

Highway 17

For decades, Highway 17 in West Texas was a road that gave my father equal measures of adventure and anxiety. From desert storms and mountain vistas to long rides beneath

Kebler Pass

Episode 18 – Kebler Pass In this episode of Being There, I read “Kebler Pass,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004. While riding alone through the mountains o

Reflections of You

In this episode of Being There, I read “Reflections of You,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004. While sitting outside a coffee shop in Fredericksburg, Texas,

A Fallen Soldier

In this episode of Being There, I read “A Fallen Soldier,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, on April 30, 2004. As the Iraq War dominated the headlines, Dad found hi

What Do You Think About This?

In this episode of Being There, I read “What Do You Think About This?”, written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004. Set in the old rail yard of Chama, New Mexico, the

Tres Cervezas

This week on Being There, I read “Tres Cervezas,” a story written by my father, about a motorcycle trip into Big Bend country in 1967. Three young riders. Old motorcycle

Who let the dogs out?

Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out into the midday sun, but it is here that one often finds that moment of truth when he is reminded of his own mortality and the limits

Jalapeno Jelly

In this episode of Being There, I read “Jalapeño Jelly,” a deeply reflective piece written by my father, Gene McCalmont, during a particularly difficult season in 2003.

That’s gotta hurt

A moment’s inattention is all it takes to ruin a perfectly good day. No matter how much he knows about riding, the author admits to forgetting the basics from time to tim

My Everything

My Everything was written in March of 2003 as a story to commemorate the author’s 35th wedding anniversary. It was inspired by a chance encounter with a redheaded beauty

The Letter

In the 60s, life was never certain. The Vietnam War, motorcycles, and living life fast dominated everything. The author remembers how reality appeared in his mailbox one

My First

Title: My First  Author: Gene McCalmont The first motorcycle the author ever rode, at least for more than a block, was in 1966. Back then, there were no riding lessons o