Well I completed my first group ride today -- The Thunder Run hosted by Capital City Harley-Davidson (Madison) to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
What a blast! How have I been riding this long without knowing how fun these can be?
Took off at 12:00 p.m. and stopped in Lake Mills at 1:30. Ate lunch a wonderful dive bar, then back on the bike for the ride back at 2:30. got back around 3:30 and had put about 70 miles on the bike.
Great turnout as far as I could tell -- there had to be 300-400 bikes. But my poor Honda was in the minority; this was definitely a HD-dominated crowd.
Best part about it was seeing all the people that stopped what they were doing along the route and watched and waived as we went by. Virtually every one had a smile on his or her face. I felt like I was in a 50 mph parade.
I felt sorry for the few riders we came across going the opposite direction. With all the motorcycle salutes they were returning, it was hard for them to keep their left hand on the grip.
Unfortunately, I had to leave immediately after the ride was done to go to work, so I couldn't partake in any of the post-ride activities, including a barbecue at my buddy's house. Then I received a call from my friend to say I won a door prize -- $50. Even after my registration fee, lunch and gas, I still ended up ahead.
Pictures will have to wait -- I only had my cell phone and I currently can't download them to my computer.
I can't wait for the next one.
