| Met up at Andy's with four other riders and headed out about 9:30 on a relatively warm - an initially drizzly - Sunday morning for a most enjoyable ride down to Penn's Landing. Took our spots - three bikes wide- just under the Ben Franklin bridge at the back of an ever increasing line of parked bikes that ended up going a mile or so down Columbus Blvd. Overcast skies combined with a chilly breeze ensured there was no risk of any of the two-wheelers overheating but likewise reducing the display of womanly flesh to the dismay of many in attendance. A couple food vendors and several leather/sticker/t-shirt tents dotted the sidewalk. A couole of scantily clad elfen-dressed ladies did manage to extract a few bucks from several of us in exchange for a Toys for Tots pin, that will likely go directly onto a board of pins I have at home.
After a two-year hiatus, I was happy to get the sidecar up and running again. And while it continues to have a slight fuel leak, the hack proved an enjoyable mode of transportation for the annual event. It being held on the day after Halloween, I seat-belted a human-sized plastic skeleton into the sidecar and strapped its arms around the bag of gifts I was delivering that day. I also brought some lunch, a small cooler and importantly, a recently purchased jump box to ensure the bike would start. After walking up to the 1%ers at the front of the parked bikes, we made our way back to the last of the most recently parking bikes and back to where we started. Passing groups often had "loud pipes save lives" members in need of ensuring people were aware of their presence. Several interesting bikes I took photos of and spoke to several Red Knights members from other chapters as well as a couple of Masonic riding groups.
Relaxing a bit, I had my lunch and a soda while sitting on my sidecar. Numerous riders approached for photos and/or to discuss the bike/sidecar. As noon approached, I packed up and knowing that the battery had been having difficulty starting the bike before, I tried to start it and failed. Thus the reason for the jump box. Within about a minute, I had the bike running and the jump box secured back in the sidecar. The ride actually started on time and the group proceeded up Spring Garden with a bit of bungee action as bikes accelerated and braked. We passed in front of Eakins Oval and back down Spring Garden, passing the bikes that had parked behind us that were traveling in the opposite direction. Down around 6th avenue, the bikes began to pile up, creeping along the pot-holed throughway, when a guy with an orange directional flag appeared and pointed us down another side road to our final destination of the Electric Factory, where we parked in the rear lot. As we were preparing to deliver our toys, I offered sodas from my cooler to our group and we discussed how the ride was relative to prior years. All in all, it was okay for a center city ride, but certainly not the main enjoyment of the day.
After dropping our toys in the boxes located outside the Electric Factory entrance, we proceeded into the place and found our way to the bar in spite of the black lighting. Got a chance to speak to other Red Knights and Masonic brethren and even had a short conversation with the father of a recently deceased Navy SEAL who was selling T-shirts to raise money for assistance to families suffering the same loss. While I didn’t need another T-shirt, I did give him a donation, shook his hand and thanked him for the sacrifice his family had made in the name of freedom. He appreciated the sentiments and I headed out.
Took a quick walk out of the back parking lot to determine the most effective means of egress for our group to get back onto Vine Street Expressway. Once I located Andy and the one remaining rider, we headed out with me in the lead. A minute or so later and we were on the Expressway. Unfortunately, traffic had gotten significantly heavier and lacking the police escort from earlier, we had to deal with some stop and go movement for several miles. Eventually, we made it back to the Gladwyne exit where Andy and his friend peeled off, leaving me to ride alone the remaining miles to the Blue Route, arriving home about 6 hours after I’d left.
All in all, it was another great experience on a decent day with some great people. Attached are some photos I took. A couple of interesting bikes, I thought.
As a side note, I later found a FaceBook video of police vehicles cordoning off the 1%ers, prohibiting them from taking their customary lead position at this year’s event. No confrontation on the video, but I don’t know if it was result in any official complaints or other actions by either side. First time I can recall that happening, so it will be interesting to see what happens next year. |
