Rolling Thunder 25

Rolling Thunder has been changing over the last few years. It's as it the National Parks Service is doing everything they can to fuck it up for the riders coming in to D.C.

My first year back in '02 I parked on the side of Constitution right next to Thunder Alley. A few years later we parked in the grass next to the Washington Monument. In '09 & '10 Ken & I parked over by the Memorial bridge right next to the Lincoln Memeorial. Last year that area was blocked off and this year everything was blocked off. I didn't see one area for bike parking anywhere near the parade area.

We ended up parking on 5th & Pennsylvania about 3 blocks away which made all the extra walking hell on our feet.

The other thing was in the past it was an actual constant rumbling of thousands of Harleys rolling down Constitution. THis year they were spaced apart in groups and they ended up spreading out making it seem like Kinda Thunder instead of Rolling Thunder.

And as last year we could not find a way in to the parade route so we could ride to the end lot and make it out of D.C. Instead we had to ride an extra 10 miles in 90° snarling traffic to make it out.

I'm seriously considering riding somewhere else next year.

I was the luckiest fucker in D.C. today....

On the way back to where we parked our bikes I realize I don't have my key on me. Either it's still in the ignition or it fell out of my pocket somewhere on the National Mall. Either way I could be totally fucked. I parked on the open end of our space and anyone walking by could easily see the key and my helmet hanging on the bars. My Sporty was just begging anyone to "Please jump on and take me for a ride".

But luckily for me when we get back to our bikes the Sporty is still there with the key in the ignition.

Rolling Thunder XXIV

Rolling Thunder XXIV

Ken & I headed up to Washington D. C. for Rolling Thunder XXIV. We started out in Dumfries, Virginia at East Coast HD to watch the bikes leave from there.

It was really humid today bit the overcast skies helped it from being a scorcher of a day.

Thunder Alley for a couple of hot dogs. Then a walk through the Viet Nam Wall Memorial and the WWII Memorial.

We joined in on the parade after watching the bikes roll through the city. Then the ride home. It was a great day to ride and honor our military veterans.

Rolling Thunder XXIII

Ken & I rode up to D.C. for Rolling Thunder. It was a hot day but not too bad. We didn't ride the parade route today. Our first attempt at parking on the other side of the Memorial Bridge before anyone else was there got us chased off by the cops. So we ended up on the back side of Constitution Ave. When we tried to get in to the parade route the cops made us take a side road and before you know it we are on 66 west headed out of town. So we just headed home.

But it was a great day anyway.

Battlefield XL Rolling Thunder

The original members of the Battlefield chapter of the XL Forum. Mike, myself & R.D. in Washington D.C. for Rolling Thunder 28.