Long, Slow Burn

It was a beautiful day yesterday. I didn’t know what to expect from this ride. This is my second charity ride. The first was “Ride for the Troops” in Cumming and it only had about 20 riders. Would I be the only biker on this ride? I was riding towards the Kroger grocery store in Macedonia and I spotted another biker. I thought “Oh, perhaps he’s going to the ride.” Sure enough he turned into the Kroger as I waited for the traffic light. Then I spotted another biker, and then another, and then another.

I had to fill up with gas so I stopped in at the gas station before going down the hill to the Kroger. At this point I still couldn’t see the Kroger but there were some bikers at the gas station too. Filled up and turned right to go down to the Kroger. OMG! The entire parking lot was filled with bikers. I feel sorry for anyone that was trying to pick up groceries.

I heard an estimate of over 700 bikes! 90% harley of every size, color and shape. I believe there were 4 sports bikes.

The first leg was to the Moose Lodge in Canton. We started off at a good clip but suddenly came to a hard brake. It was stop and go all along Hwy 20 for several miles. There was a fender bender that delayed things. Luckily it wasn’t bikers involved. Two cars. Sorry. “Cages”. It looked like the lady in the accident was going to cry having hundreds of bikers see her accident. Luckily the cops blocked traffic and let us get through.
We made a short jaunt on 575 to Canton and stopped at the Moose Lodge. After turning over my “Little Mermaid” toy (gotta get toys for girls too!), we were treated to sandwiches, pretzels, sweet tea and a variety of cakes.

Second leg was to Jasper and the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce. I handed over my Power Rangers Cycle to a helpful volunteer. They thanked us all for helping needy children of Pickens county. More sandwiches, Cokes and tea, cookies and other good times.

Some fellow riders pointed me in the right direction home since I don’t know my way around North Georgia too well. Hwy 5 to Ballground and 372.

It was an amazing site seeing two miles of bikers ahead of me and and another two miles of bikes behind me cruising down 575. Several times there were people stopped on overpasses with signs supporting the cause, waving wildly and thanking the bikers.

It seemed like a good time was had by all. I was really tired after the ride. 70 miles round trip, Four hours in total.