Fantastic Benefit Ride

In this previous post, I detailed the "Ride For Gage" scheduled for today. The forecast called for a cool start, ending up with mostly sunny skies and temps in the mid to high 70's. The meteorologists were spot on, because that is exactly what the weather was. It was a chilly 44 degrees when I left at 7:45, so I dressed like an onion, in layers. I am sitting in the shade on my front porch, enjoying a nice cool breeze in shorts and a t-shirt composing this post.

The staging spot for the ride was Old School Harley-Davidson, with registration starting at 09:30. I left early (yup... wifey bailed) so I could get breakfast and coffee at the nearby Mickey D's in Ellington. Since the rest of the crew was coming from Manchester, they would have to pass right by, so that is where we met up. I had my favorite #5 McGriddle combo and a large black coffee. I had plenty of time to eat and finish my coffee before they finally arrived. By the time they pulled in and circled around, I was ready to roll. The tunes for the day cranked out of my bike sound system from my cell phone via bluetooth was iHeart `70's on iHeart Radio. That channel is a mish-mash of Top 40, disco, and classic rock. A lot of music from my youth.

It is only a couple of miles north up RT. 83 to Old School. We got lined up near the top of the second group of bikes. This was going to put us pretty close to the front of the ride.

The line up not long after we got situated. Can you find "The Beast?" She is pretty easy to spot.

We got registered and picked up our t-shirts, pins, and black rubber bracelets. I don't wear my bracelet, I put it around the brake and clutch master cylinders. Then it was time to just hang out and enjoy the camaraderie until K.S.U. around 11:30. Remember those layers from earlier? I was down to just a t-shirt and my biker vest.

A shot from the other direction of the quickly growing crowd of riders.

If it was like the last two of these rides I went on, it would be a police escorted 45 mile non-stop jaunt, and it was! We ended up 1/4 mile back from the front, and never did see the tail end. The CT State Police not only provided 2 motorcycle cops to ride with us as road guards, but there were CT State Police 4 wheel cruisers stopping traffic for us at some of the bigger intersections. Through Vernon and Coventry, both towns provided local police at major intersections so we got through unimpeded. Members of The Combat Vets Motorcycle Association also provided road guards at smaller easily controlled intersections. There were lots of supporters along the ride watching as we went by and waving, as well as traffic that pulled over to let us by waving and honking. Except one total dickhead. In Vernon, as we turned onto RT. 31 from RT. 30, this dickhead in a black S.U.V. with out of state plates stuck at the intersection gave everyone that went by the hand motion of jerking off. Obviously a V.I.P. that had urgent places to go. That was a long line of bikes, FUCK `IM, I hope he got stuck there good and long.

The ride was uneventful and we ended up at the Rockville Elks Club for a BBQ and entertainment. Being at the front of the ride meant our group got pretty good parking. I did not stick around too long. There were four bar stations set up, but I never imbibe when riding. I got a bottle of water and my plate of food. I chatted for a few minutes after lunch, but headed home soon after. On a warm day like today, I find these events tiring and will certainly sleep good tonight.

This would be classified under Chink-Bug panic porn as another super-spreader event. The only masks I saw were on a couple of servers at The Elks Club, but most were not wearing one. I did not see one single "Mask of Oppression" on any of the ride participants. Except for very few gullible people, most of the population is so over this bullshit.