“Being There: Stories from the Road Where We Keep the Rubber Side Down”
There’s a difference between passing through… and truly being there.
Being There is a collection of true motorcycle journeys written by my father — stories of open highways, small towns, long miles, unexpected detours, and the kind of moments you only find when you slow down enough to notice them.
My father passed away many years ago.
But through these writings, his voice still rides.
In each episode, I read one of his stories from the road — just as he wrote it — and then I share a personal reflection at the end. What it means to me now. What I hear differently as a son. What time and miles have taught me since he first put those words on paper.
These aren’t just ride logs.
They’re lessons in presence. In freedom. In risk. In faith. In keeping the rubber side down — on the bike and in life.
Ride safe. Be present.
And keep the rubber side down.
Episodes
27 episodes
The Bobber
Episode 27 – The BobberIn this episode of Being There, I read my father's story "The Bobber," a look back at the summer of 1966 when he and a friend decided to build the ultimate motorcycle.They were college...
Relativity
In this episode of Being There, I read "Relativity," one of my father's award-winning stories.Written by Gene McCalmont in 2006 for Ride Texas Magazine, "Relativity" went on to earn an award from the Houston P...
West of Sanderson
Twenty-five episodes of Being There.For this milestone episode, I read my father's story "West of Sanderson," written about the beginning of his first motorcycle trip to West Texas in 1967.Three young guys, old mot...
The Shop
In this episode of Being There, I read my father's story, "The Shop."On the surface, it's about vintage motorcycles, British iron, and the unforgettable characters who kept those old machines alive. But beneath the grease...
I'm Gonna Remember This...
What begins as one of the worst riding days imaginable—hours of rain, freezing temperatures, snow at over 10,000 feet, and complete misery—slowly transforms into something entirely different. Somewhere along the ride, my father realizes they ar...
I’m Dreaming of.....
Written in 2005, this Christmas reflection earned Gene McCalmont and Ride Texas Magazine their first Katie Awardfrom the Dallas Press Club—one of the highest honors in Texas journalism.On the surface, it's a story about a...
I Once Knew A Girl
While resting on a bench in Goliad, Texas, a chance encounter with a young woman stirs memories of another young woman from long ago—Angelina, a spirited cowgirl from Cuero.Through humor, poetry, and reflection, My father reminds us that...
Hunter's Moon
In this episode of Being There, I read "Hunter's Moon," written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2005.While camping alone at Enchanted Rock in the Texas Hill Country, my father finds himself caught between reality and imaginatio...
Highway 17
For decades, Highway 17 in West Texas was a road that gave my father equal measures of adventure and anxiety. From desert storms and mountain vistas to long rides beneath the stars, it became a place filled with memories. But one memory stood a...
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Kebler Pass
Episode 18 – Kebler PassIn this episode of Being There, I read “Kebler Pass,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004.While riding alone through the mountains of Colorado, Dad spots a squiggly line on a map and decides to fo...
Reflections of You
In this episode of Being There, I read “Reflections of You,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004.While sitting outside a coffee shop in Fredericksburg, Texas, Dad becomes fascinated by the reflections moving across a plate-glas...
A Fallen Soldier
In this episode of Being There, I read “A Fallen Soldier,” written by my father, Gene McCalmont, on April 30, 2004.As the Iraq War dominated the headlines, Dad found himself reflecting on another generation of young Americans who answere...
What Do You Think About This?
In this episode of Being There, I read “What Do You Think About This?”, written by my father, Gene McCalmont, in 2004.Set in the old rail yard of Chama, New Mexico, the story follows a brief but unforgettable conversation betwee...
Tres Cervezas
This week on Being There, I read “Tres Cervezas,” a story written by my father, about a motorcycle trip into Big Bend country in 1967.Three young riders. Old motorcycles. No money. No real plan.What starts as a rough ride...
Who let the dogs out?
Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out into the midday sun, but it is here that one often finds that moment of truth when he is reminded of his own mortality and the limits of time. It is how one chooses to move forward that makes al...
Jalapeno Jelly
In this episode of Being There, I read “Jalapeño Jelly,” a deeply reflective piece written by my father, Gene McCalmont, during a particularly difficult season in 2003.Set against a cold motorcycle ride through East Texas, this ...
That’s gotta hurt
A moment’s inattention is all it takes to ruin a perfectly good day. No matter how much he knows about riding, the author admits to forgetting the basics from time to time.
My Everything
My Everything was written in March of 2003 as a story to commemorate the author’s 35th wedding anniversary. It was inspired by a chance encounter with a redheaded beauty at Coopers in Llano, Texas, on a ride with his long-time friend, Jerry.
The Letter
In the 60s, life was never certain. The Vietnam War, motorcycles, and living life fast dominated everything. The author remembers how reality appeared in his mailbox one summer’s day in 1968.
My First
Title: My First Author: Gene McCalmontThe first motorcycle the author ever rode, at least for more than a block, was in 1966. Back then, there were no riding lessons other than what you gave yourself. Mo...
Winter’s Morose
Title: Winter’s MoroseAuthor: Gene McCalmontIn the theater of the mind, the author relives past adventures and envisions the day when he will again ride the grandeur of the Big Bend.
Garage Time
Sometimes, the ride is just an excuse to hangout with friends. In this story, the author explores the nature of a long-standing friendship and the unspoken words between two men who have lived many shared experiences.
Familiar Places
A familiar road.A familiar Ducati.A stranger on a bench who didn’t feel like a stranger at all.“Familiar Places” is about how motorcycles open doors to connection — and how sometimes the ride reminds you exactly where you belong....
