MARICOPA, AZ - When the sun is shining, the temperatures are warm, and snow nowhere in sight, what do you do when it’s Snowarama time?
As it turns out you simply adapt a bit, as a group of motorcycle riders did in Arizona.
Larry Hilworth said that he and Rick Bilous were chatting a few days ago in Maricopa, AZ., about how they wouldn’t be in Yorkton to ride in this year’s Snowarama.
“We have each participated in Timmy’s (Snowarama), over the years,” Hilworth told Yorkton This Week.
But, they also discussed how, because of COVID, the format for the long-running snowmobile ride fundraiser had changed to allow participants to “ride anywhere.”
Given the change in the ride format, the pair joked they should just take out their motorbikes and ride in Arizona.
They contacted Deana Jesmer at the Abilities Centre to gain approval, and she said to go for it.
But, it wasn’t going to be much of ride with just Hilworth and Bilous and their wives, so they decided to invite some Saskatchewan friends wintering in the same area.
None of them have ever participated in Timmy’s before, but they were asked to contribute at least $150 to the pot to go on the ride.
Thirteen riders would take the invitation.
The group consisted of Rick Bilous, Teresa Bilous, Pearl J Flaman and Rudy Flaman, Harvey and Deb Aberhart, Dave and Henrietta Marshall, Kevin Hrushka, Giles and Carol Norek, Larry and Kathy Hilworth.
Before heading out Bilous gave some details to the group about Timmy’s Snowarama, the purpose, the cause and the history.
“The ride started out from our place in Maricopa,” wrote Hilworth on Facebook. “Typically participants in Timmy’s enjoy a complimentary breakfast. Well we did miss that part but I baked up a fresh batch of cinnamon buns in lieu.”
Hilworth said initially they weren’t sure where they would ride, but then they received an unexpected invitation.
When they announced the ride on Facebook, “a friend from back in my old Melville days Patricia Gabel reached out to me to ask where our ride was planned and if we wanted to stop at Queen Valley, AZ,” explained Gabel.
She said she would have coffee and doughnuts for the crew, added Hilworth.
So the ride headed to the Tiki Bar and Grill in Queen Valley where Gabel and her neighbor were waiting with a sign ‘Timmy Snowarama Desert Chapter.’
After lunch the riders headed over to Patti and Mark Kral’s place for after lunch refreshments and to enjoy the fantastic view from their place.
“Our journey then took us through the city of Jails – Florence, AZ. and then into Coolidge where the group took another trail break and recharged our thirsts as the temp was approximately 85F and the crew was a bit dry,” wrote Hilworth. “From there we headed to Casa Grande, for a quick fuel stop. Our journey then headed back to Maricopa.”
While it was a great day for the riders, it was a good one for Snowarama too, as the group raised $8,500.
Hilworth said there are indications already the ride will become an annual event in support of Snowarama.
“I think given the post discussion of the group, they are already planning for next year which should be bigger and better,” he wrote. “This year was just an idea that came together and we invite anyone to join us next year.”
