Saturday April 18 was the 8th Annual Ride to Remember. It is a ride to support the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial Museum.
This year there were 1595 registered riders. Keith and I both love this run for two reasons, the main one is that we never want to forget what happened on April 19 1995 and second we love to sometimes ride with large groups. I love the rumble of hundreds of bikes, it's neat to see all the different people that love riding as much as you do.
Keith and I head out around 10 am it is cool and overcast.
We have to stop in Marlow so I can add a layer. It seems extra cold because it is so damp.
A couple of times on the turnpike the sun popped out of the clouds and it was amazing how quickly it would warm up and then cool off again.
We get close to PaPa's Leather Barn and there are bikes everywhere. We park at a church next door because their parking lot is full.
As I said, I love all the different people you see riding, some even bring their fur babies.
We hear the bikes start up at PaPa's so we start ours after about 5 minutes we kill our bike because the huge parking lot of bikes at PaPa's has to get on the road first.
It probably took us about 15 minutes before we got on the road. There was a police escort and traffic was stopped at all the intersections. All along the route people were stopping in their cars and in parking lots to wave at all the bikers.
When we got over to Harley World the parking lot was full of bikes. This year the bikes were amassing at two different places. As our group passed Harley World that group fell in behind.
When we were getting near 4th street I got a text from Diane "you just passed us" they were stuck in traffic trying to get to Blu's BBQ where they were meeting us for lunch.
Motorcycles ahead of us
Motorcycles behind us
This is always a neat picture, the ladder trucks in front of the memorial.
When the bikers all arrive they have a moment of silence and place a wreath near the chairs. Then they take a picture of all the participants. I found a link to a really neat picture of the entire group.
Our friends finally got out of the traffic jam and made it to the restaurant.
Blu's BBQ is across the street from the bombing memorial. When we arrive it isn't very busy but by the time we left the line was out the door.
Look at the next picture....Star came with us. She is very shy today, next time we ride I bet she will be a real Rock Star
When we were taking this picture in front of their sign there was a lady sitting near the door she took our picture as well. Then she introduced herself, Susan Walton, she is a bombing survivor. I googled her name after we left, she was one of the most badly injured. Her face was unrecognizable and she couldn't talk but she knew sign language so that is how she communicated who she was.
The sky was just beautiful, and we made it home before the rain hit.
We had another great day. Friends, Riding and Food it doesn't get any better.
1 comment:
So glad we got to meet up with you guys. It was perfect timing! Just wish I had gotten off the bike and taken your picture as you went by us.
I really enjoyed seeing Susan at the restaurant. We spent quite a bit of time with her during her rehab, as we did some decorating for her. She is such a sweet lady. Enjoyed the afternoon with you guys as usual!!!
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