Herb and Wilma Stark
Avenger, Texas
Ages: Mid 50s
Married 24 years.
Four children
Seven grand children
Miles ridden - 150,000+
Current BMW - R1100RT
Occupations - Herb owns a bill board company, doing his own graphics design for the displays. Wilma is a marketing representative for a pharmaceutical company distributing anesthesia drugs used in surgery.

I remember the first time I met Herb and Wilma three years ago at the Georgia Mountain rally. They'd ridden to northern Georgia from their home in the north east part of Texas, two up, as they always ride. Though there had been some computer correspondence between us, we'd never met. I'd pictured Herb as this large Texan, an avid rider who spans the country two-up with his wife on their BMW, munching the miles with steady jawed ease.

The man attached to the hand I was shaking was short, round featured but trim, and had an elfin twinkle in his eye, the kind that could charm a statue. "I've been wanting to meet you" Herb was saying to me. "Wilma and I consider you one of our favorite people on the BMW list." Taken somewhat aback by this unexpected comment, I had little time to consider it before he was dragging me by the arm to their camp site and introducing me to his wife, Wilma. Within moments I knew just where the twinkle came from. She had it too. It was a reflection of a genuine happiness, both in their shared life and family, and their love of traveling together all over the country on a motorcycle.

Herb started riding motorcycles on a Harley. On a trip to Mexico years ago on a Sprint he saw a BMW and realized that was "his" bike. He got an R50/2, then an R60, moved through a Toaster, then a more modern airhead, till buying his new mount, an R1100RT. That bike already has over 35,000 miles on the odometer. Combining business with pleasure, Herb thinks nothing of riding a thousand miles or more to a business meeting or conference, or going two-up with Wilma to a weekend outing in Arizona just to camp with some other BMW enthusiasts. It's clear that they love to ride, and love to ride together.

But there's more. Wilma is quite clear that riding is a very important part of their life together. Not only is it a way for this very busy couple to spend time alone, as well as meet folks from all over the country at rallies, but it has an almost spiritual quality that goes beyond just the immediate experiences of going a thousand miles through all sorts of weather. Riding reflects their joy for living, and for what they share together.

Besides their careers, they have a 55 acre piece of land, part of which is a commercial blueberry patch, and it also includes a motorcycle camp ground. The camp facility comes complete with a bunk house, showers and an enthusiastic welcome, especially during blueberry picking season. Their hope is that it becomes a scheduled stop for BMW riders who are passing through their corner of Texas.

At a rally this spring, as Herb and Wilma left a conversing group to go riding, we dubbed them our honorary rally "aunt and uncle". Those of you from California to New York who've met this couple, you know just what we mean. If you've not met them yet, look for the twinkle. You can't miss it.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions about this feature, please contact Jeff at dunklej@bellatlantic.net.