We have known Art & Linda Mitchell for about 25 years, going back to the early 80's, before they bought Modesto Harley-Davidson. After I retired from the CHP, I was elected Director of the Modesto Harley Owners Group in 1990 & 91, and worked closely with Art & Linda on various projects and events. In 92, I went to work for Art at the shop, after he & Linda bought out their partner, and I took care of most of the motorcycle sales for the next 3-4 years. In 95, Patty & I formed a partnership with Art & Linda, to build a second Harley-Davidson Dealership
in Jamestown, CA, which we operated for the next 6 years. In June of 2001, we exited the business and Art & Linda's daughter & son-in-law, Karen and Allen, took over management of Jamestown H-D. We retired & headed for Alaska that summer of 2001, and ended up going back to Alaska in the summers of 2004, 05, 06, and 07. Most business partnerships don't work for a number of reasons but, our relationship with the Mitchell's has always been positive, and we regard them as the very best of friends. We will always be grateful for the opportunities that unfolded for us, through our friendship and business relationship with Art & Linda.
Yesterday, we drove to Sonora for the start of two days of medical appointments. We stopped to visit with Barbara Sistek, a nurse buddy of Patty's, who helped us move from Jamestown to Arizona, back in 2002. When we got back to Modesto, we had dinner with Bruce and Karen Pryor, and we caught up with all that's going on in both of our lives. After dinner, when we got back to Art & Linda's, we had a chance to see George & Alexa Mitchell and their new 6 month old baby boy, Drake, who kept a smile on his face most of the evening. Their daughter, Taylor is about to turn 5, and has grown a bunch since we last saw her. It was a busy day, but one where we saw lots of old friends, and learned what's going on with many more.