First, some background. Belgium kicked off its history in the 13th century with cargo ships rolling across the English Channel to England. It rapidly became the heart of cargo shipping between Europe and England and vice versa. Between Brugge, Gent and Antwerp, all cities on the coast of Belgium, they had it made. But, between religious wars, the French Revolution and any other numerous catastrophes, they survived to have one helluva friendly country. If you open a map on any cobblestone street corner, a resident will step up and offer guidance.
The basis of the name of this city is wrapped around a biker of sorts. Seems there was a giant who stopped every ship that entered Antwerp along the Schelde River and demanded a toll before they could enter the port. If he wasn?t paid post haste, he hacked off one of the captain?s hands and threw it out to sea. OK, so one day this little Belgian tyke named Barbo comes along, lops off the giant?s hand and throws it to sea, putting an end to his carnage. Hence, Antwerp was named after hand throwing, which is called handwerpen.
So we arrived through another river leading in from the North Sea in blistering cold weather. Every day we have a cab take us to the train station where the Russian mafia runs diamond and jewelry shops behind a roll-up tin front. Antwerp is known for its diamond trade, with stones shipped in from South Africa. The section of town dedicated to the diamond trade is in no way connected with the mob?s hangout next to the train depot.
There are also a couple of other distinctions that need mentioning. One is the cathedrals, which are unbelievable. The ornate workmanship in churches dating back to the 1300s is beyond belief. I spent some time in a humble church as a kid before I joined the union of outlaws and never returned. But you can see why people escaped England and Europe to find religious freedom and deeper understanding. Religions controlled all that went on, all the jewels and wealth, and wielded tremendous power over the population. You can see it in every gold ornament in these churches. It?s almost frightening. The other aspect of Antwerp that?s wild is the shopping. This is a town full of narrow, winding streets with buildings that were built yesterday or nearly 1,000 years ago, side by side.
This is a woman?s paradise. There are shops everywhere, high-class joints, flea markets in parks, fish markets alongside the river, department stores, franchise Levi’s joints, and fashion, fashion and more fashion. There?s even a bird market on Theater Square on the weekends. So you would have thought that there would be thousands of knockout broads walking the streets in the latest slinky item. Hell, you couldn?t tell, they were all covered from their slinky ankles to their kissable chins with furry shit to keep them warm.
We better get to the news before I launch into the New Year’s party and the criminal element attacking the ship:
JESSE CROSSES THE LINE
Here?s a quote and news about the once- outlaw custom bike builder: ?HAPPY NEW YEAR, GOD DAMNIT!….I WENT BY YOUR PLACE YESTERDAY ON MY COPROADKING AND HIT THE SIREN! YOU HEAR IT?….JESSE JAMES.
As it turned out, there were three women in the headquarters that night trying to get high and have an orgy. Jesse?s siren scared them into thinking cops were about to invade the headquarters and ruined their night of play. Now here?s more news on West Coast Choppers:
While in Hamburg, Germany, I stumbled on a Harley boutique and two doors down was a West Coast Chopper with Jesse?s signature painted on the window. Could it be the real deal?
Jesse has become a regular on the Discovery Channel. Here?s the latest–Don’t make da Vanilla Gorilla put da Chrome to your dome! CHECK THEDISCOVERY CHANNEL JAN. 13 FOR “MOTORCYCLE MANIA 2″ & COMING SOON”MONSTER GARAGE!” SERIES ON DISCOVERY, SPRING 2002
DOWNED HAMSTER LIVES–There are special brothers in our lives and one in my life went down recently. He?s an attorney, but he?s a helluva hard riding sonuvabitch and a man who is full of wit and love for his brothers. He will always help others if given the chance. He?s one of my favorite Hamsters and a special man in every aspect of his life. Here?s a note from Hamster headquarters:
DOMINICK JUST CALLED ME. HE IS HOME FROM THEHOSPITAL AS OF TODAY AND GETTING ADJUSTED. HE JUSTWANTED ME TO TELL EVERYONE THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHINGAND GIVE HIM A FEW DAYS AT HOME TO FIGURE EVERYTHINGOUT AS FAR AS REHAB AND NURSES COMING IN AND OUT INCASE ANY ONE WANTS TO GIVE HIM A CALL.
THANKS EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!
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