Rolling Thunder - Seen on the parade

Remember them

Rolling Thunder - Party in the parking lot

I don't know if it's because we're at the Pentagon, but the "Get there ON TIME and then wait" seems very military. But no problem because a party has busted out.

There are awesome vehicles.

This looks like an English kit car:

And Sumd00d rode this:

He's a Marine veteran of Afghanistan and like Honey Badger, he don't care what you think.

And it's not a bike rally without pretty girls. But the wings are a little silly if you can ride, amirite?

Also seen (but not photographed): a bunch of guys in kilts. Yes, they're riding in the parade.

Rolling Thunder - The ride to the Pentagon

I thought I was being lazy, not getting to the initial rendezvous until 0645. But that put me in the first dozen or so bikes, so I had a rink side seat for our police escort.

It it was a little past 0800 when 400 of us rode out. We had multiple cruisers and a motorcycle cop leading the way with lights and sirens. The police closed down not just surface streets, but I-270 south as well.

People led were lining the roadsides, pulled over on the Interstate honking their horns, and lining the overpasses to wave. It really felt like we are a part of something big. I guess we are.

The Pentagon is the final tally point, and there are TONS of bikes here. Maybe a couple thousand (including mine) just in this one parking lot.

More later.

Rolling Thunder

Today is the annual Rolling Thunder event where hundreds of thousands of motorcycles ride to the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D C. An hour before kickstand up there are already hundreds of bikes assembling here in Frederick, MD.

This was a while ago. I got here at 0645 and so am pretty near the front, but there is a steady flow of newcomers.

There re are also a bunch of folks that are not riding to the final assembly point at the Pentagon, but rather will go to the wall by themselves. Almost as many.

Me, I want to be part of the experience. More updates later as the day progresses.

Also seen while out on the Harley

Monocacy battlefield, with flags for Union and Confederate dead. The Union got whipped pretty badly but slowed General Early's advance on An undefended Washington D. C. until reinforcements could arrive.

Seen while out on the Harley