Reporter's notebook - May 12

Bike blessings happening today

CLOVIS — Not every discussion about bike safety includes a pastor, but the “Third Annual Motorcycle Blessing” this morning sure will.

Thomas Weingates said he has three things on his mind when he’s out on his hog: God, bike and self, and in just that order.

“If you don’t trust your bike, you don’t need to be on it,” he said. “And I put myself last because I’m the one that’s got to have the confidence, knowing the limitations of my bike and my own limitations.”

Weingates said he and his wife organized the annual bike blessing to serve the large population of local motorcyclists, 25 years after coming to town.

“There was never a motorcycle blessing here in this town. We always got our bikes blessed when we went to some kind of rally that was 200 miles away,” he said. “Finally I said, ‘You know, there’s a lot of motorcycles here in Clovis,’ and I thought it was an important thing to do.”

Weingates is hoping to draw 50 or more bikers to the 8 a.m. meeting today at Trinity United Methodist Church, starting with a breakfast, then a short message on bike safety, a group blessing from a local bike enthusiast pastor and optional individual blessings to follow.

Clergy isn’t strictly necessary for the blessing, nor do those receiving the benediction need a religious background.

“It’s not so much for the motorcycle, it’s more for the person,” he said. “You’re on the road, you don’t know what’s going to happen. You want to make sure that you’re ready, though that may sound morbid.”

The timing of the event coincides with warmer weather bringing more bikers onto the roads, along with National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month for May.

— Compiled by Staff Writer David Grieder