Seasonal Events - serenity run

INTERNATIONAL SERENITY RUN The International Serenity Run (ISR) was established in 1985 to further the principles, ideals and traditions of 12-step recovery amongst clean and sober motorcycle riders. The Run provides a place where all clean and sober riders can gather annually in friendship and in the spirit of fellowship to share their new lives in recovery. The first ISR was held at Vallecito Lake, near Durango, Colorado. In 1986 committee members met with the town council of Cedaredge, and found a new home at Aspen Trails Campground. For 21 years, participants strapped their bags wherever there was space on the bike, glanced at the map, and got ‘into the wind’ for the sweet ride to quaintly quiet & lovely Cedaredge. Then for the first time, 2008 was the only year that Aspen Trails was not the primary venue for the ISR. We’re looking forward to the 2009 Run returning again to Aspen Trails, with secondary accommodations at The Eagle’s Nest. From the start, the community as well as the businesses of Cedaredge has welcomed us with open arms. Connie’s Restaurant stays open for three days straight, the First Assembly of God Church has a BBQ dinner for us, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars make sure that we have breakfast on Friday and Saturday mornings. Thank You All for the hospitality, fellowship, and of course, all that fabulous food! And oh, the wonderful bike parade! When the Run began, community folk would venture out to Aspen Trails to see all the now dusty bikes and visit with the Run participants. The local nursing home residents felt a little left out; thus the parade was born. The original parade would snake in and around town, ending at the nursing home. That tradition has faded; these days the parade ends at the rodeo grounds. The parade is a magical thing; led by the town marshal, riders forming a loud, gleaming chrome line for miles as they weave through the town, all the while performing a delicate single lane balancing act as they toss candy and beads to the local kids, and quite a few adults! Many residents also come out and watch the antics of the riders during the motorcycle games, which were held at the Surface Creek Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds for the first time in 2008. Talk about fun! Imagine a barrel race, typically done with horses, done on motorcycles. WE DID IT! Additionally, there was the how-slow-can-you-go race, the front-tire-push barrel roll, as well as several games that require an adept and daring passenger. We’re very grateful for the use of the rodeo grounds. In conjunction with the bike games, we also have a kid’s track and field day. We invite any and all children under the age of 12 to participate. Both of the above events will again be held this year at the rodeo grounds on Saturday at approximately 1:00 pm. This year’s ISR will be held July 30th through August 2nd. We’ll have some sort of event planned for each day of the Run. Please stop by the Aspen Trails registration tent anytime for an itinerary and a visit. The ISR will always be open to anyone in the community, and the registration fee is waived for community members! The residents of Cedaredge have continually been very gracious and welcoming; we would love to return the gesture in some sort of way. So come on out for all three days, and join us as we rejoice in life, and trudge the road to a happy destiny. This years festivities are July 30 – August 2, 2009 Written by Valarie Graves