Ride Diary

Rolling Thunder, etc.

The event is remarkably free of tacky commercialism since the organizers want to keep the focus on vets, not bikes. A couple of tents were selling official T shirts, bandanas and patches; that was it. I did buy a "POW/MIA" do rag (Made in China!) in honor of the event and to keep the hazy sun off my head. The do rag came with a free flag, so I stuck it into one the vents of my black leather jacket ('Stich stayed home) for the proper patriotic display. CMA chapters handed out free water and coffee. The lines for the Porta-Potties were formidable.

We had plenty of time to BS with other participants about their rides. I checked out the new VTX a couple of rows over and chatted with a gal from New Jersey about her Schuberth flip-up helmet. They look really nice, and I especially like the integral flip-down tinted shield. I was surprised at the number of Canadians who attended. Bikes had plates from all over. Judging for the big seat packs, tents and serious touring rigs, etc., most of these bikes had been ridden to DC. There were very few trailer queens in evidence.

Bikes started moving out of the lot at noon. It would be 1:15 before we left, when we moved smartly up the ramp to Memorial Bridge and then down the length of the Mall. I did the high-five with many an on-looker. Watch your speed: you don't want to do that at greater than 15 mph! You could knock them over like a bowling pin. Anyway, we processed down Constitution Ave., turned at 3rd St., and came back down Independence Ave. Folks who were staying for speeches, etc., peeled off to find parking spaces. Bikes were everywhere. It's a great sight to see DC streets literally lined with motorcycles. Bikes rule one day a year. If only DC had 10% of these bikes cruising the streets on a daily basis maybe we would get some respect. Our little group headed back to Arlington for a late lunch.

And the next day....

We finally got a break from the soggy weather, so yesterday I went for a ride with Matt and his neighbor Armando, who just moved here from California by way of Chicago. Matt rode his Nighthawk 750 and Armando rode his TL1000S. They took the twisties around Clifton a little too fast for my comfort level, considering the amount of debris on the roads from recent storms and my unfamiliarity with the VFR on the back road twisties. I tend to get a little nervous around Clifton in the best of circumstances, so I hung off the back. Too much of the roads are in a tree tunnel with numerous driveways and there's not one turn with a visible exit. I prefer the open farm country farther west in Va. and western Md. In any case, it was great to finally get the month-old VFR (to me) off the slab for some sport riding and see that tach needle dance.

Part of the afternoon was spent using a "snot sucker" to change the fluid in the clutch and brake circuits. The engine heat seems to degrade the clutch fluid fairly rapidly. It was the color of strong iced tea and the action is a little better now that I've bled out the air. I finally figured out what the heck that oddball little slot is doing on the right side of the rear cowl just below the seat. It's for checking the level in the rear brake fluid reservoir. Duh. You really do learn something new every day, especially if you read your owner's manual. :)