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More on Squiggly RoadsAlittle bemusedly, I have been followingthe correspondence about “SquigglyRoads in the U.S.” (Story, page 48 of October2008; follow-up commentaries in “Readers’Responses” section of subsequent magazineissues). And being of a curious bent, andsomething of a Google Earth pilot myself, Ihave taken two of the rides recommended bymy brother and sister Members—Pepe & SueMaxwell’s “Tail of the Dragon” (in Tennessee)and Larry Clark’s “Ripshin Ridge” (“Readers’Responses”, November 2008 issue).Squiggly? Really? May I suggest that all theGoogle Earth pilots out there in GWRRAland load up “Motueka, New Zealand” to“Takaka, New Zealand”.If squiggly road riders want more, get on aplane, look me up and I can give you somereal twisters!John ReillyGWRRA #251151Christchurch, New ZealandMore to the Matt MaupinStory in the November IssueThough the sentiment about Matt Maupin’sfuneral (page 16, November 2008 WingWorld issue) and the honor shown him by allwas very true, the story/letter itself was not,in at least one spot, exactly accurate.The 12 Patriot Guard Riders (actually anescort in the front of the funeral procession)were selected from the hundreds of PGRmembers who wanted to be there. This wasplanned out well in advance. Some PGRmembers stood Flag Line at Great AmericanBall Park; others escorted the processionalong the route but did not enter the cemeteryas planned. (I have no idea how manyPGR members or GWRRA Members werethere in total, but I would estimate in thehundreds for both.)These named organizations also hadmembers from several states; I rememberseven. There were many other clubs and/orindividuals there, and I could not begin toremember all the names I saw displayed.Themost common estimate of motorcycles Iheard was around four thousand.I have been a GWRRA Member for threeyears and a patriot guard member for twoand-a-half.I’ve also been a motorcycle riderfor close to 50 years.I’d advise anyone interested in honoringveterans to go to the PGR website (www.patriotguard.org) and, if the mission statementapplies to them, join us.P.S. – I just wanted everyone to know thatWe reserve the right to edit or excerptReaders’ Responses. Send typed, dated andsigned letters to “Readers’ Responses,” WingWorld, P.O. Box 42450, Phoenix, AZ 85080-2450 or by email to editor@gwrra.org.there were many more people—GWRRA,PGR, and otherwise—who attended Matt’sfuneral and its procession.And, as PGR’s missionstatement reads (in part) that: We donot care what you ride or if you ride.In fact, there is a group of us aroundDayton, Ohio, who attend PGR missions alot—men and woman, riders/non-riders, andbikes that include H-D (Sportster, RoadKing), Honda (GL1200, GL1500, GL1800,VTX1300, VTX 1800, pocket rocket, Shadow),Stars, BMW, and everything else. All are welcomed.Robert L Lindsey,GWRRA #213692Patriot Guard Rider asOld Silver Honda RiderHow Can I Make Wingers Awareof These Two Organizations?Sharon, as both a GWRRA Member, a veteran,and the State Coordinator forWarriors Watch (Ohio), I very much appreciatedyour editorial in the November issue ofWing World.I have ridden with the Patriot GuardRiders and am now launching Ohio forWarriors Watch. I find that many fellowWingers have not heard of either of thesetwo leading groups in this arena. How can Iget this info out to the Districts andChapters?John W. BitemanGWRRA #289275CSA, LUTCFEd. Note: One vet to another, John,consider it done—the Warriors Watchwebsite is www.warriorswatch.org andthe Patriot Guard Riders website iswww.patriotguard.org.It is a Foreign Transaction FeeIneed to correct a “Wing World Correction”that appeared in the October 2008 issue. Iwould bet that there have been a number ofcomments about Denis Côté’s assertion that“The fee charged by the credit card companyis the currency exchange rate and not atransaction fee.”In fact—and though I can only speakfor my own credit card company—there is a3% charge for using my credit card outsidethe U.S.As an example, a $39.86 purchase inCanadian Dollars resulted in a charge to myaccount of $37.46—a direct result of theexchange rate at the time. Then, a ForeignTransaction Fee of $1.12 (3% of $37.46) wasadded to my account.I could cite many more transactions, as wejust spent a long weekend in Quebec City,Quebec, recently. I have also talked with others,including my credit card company, aboutthis fee, and it is applied to all ForeignTransactions. But paying U.S. cash can be evenmore expensive. At some restaurants, theytold us it would cost us 10% more to usecash. Go figure!Sean McCarthyGWRRA #39562Beverly, MassachusettsNot the Friendliest of ExchangesDear Sharon, it was a pleasure talking toyou about the recent phone call I hadwith one of the companies that was featuredin a recent Wing World magazine article(“Jacket Overview & Cold Weather Options”,page 45, November 2008). I am now writingin to share with other Members the conversationI had with the company named Tonker.I called Tonker on October 17, 2008, andasked the salesman about a jacket. It was alow-cost Tour Master Advanced CortechJacket (Not the 1.0 version). The salesmantold me they did not advertise in Wing Worldmagazine. I said the article was about thejackets that are available.Well, the next thingI know, the salesman says to me “Why areyou so hostile?” I said,“I’m not hostile.” Thenthe salesman said to me “You sound like oneof them [expletive] Gold Wing Riders.” I said“Does that mean you don’t want to sell me ajacket?” He then called me an [expletive] andhung up.I waited for about 10 minutes and thencalled back to talk to the owner.The salesmanwho talked to me like that said he was theowner. He then said to me “Is this the GoldWing guy?” I said “Yes, and I want to be nice.”He said “Okay. What can I do for you?” Iexplained what I wanted and then he said thatjacket was no longer available. Check thewebsite for what is available and the pricesare there. I said “Thank you”, then I apologizedand said goodbye.I just thought other Members shouldknow.Thank you.Glenn ZornesGWRRA #256987Gladys,Virginia●10 Wing World