Rolling Thunder – 2009
Rolling Thunder is a motorcycle gathering/parade to publicize POW/MIA issues. "To educate the public that many American prisoners of war were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become prisoners of war-missing in action." The main portion of this event is a parade through downtown Washington, DC, from the Pentagon around the Mall, however many riders come from all over, and there's smaller groups that journey together from California every year which is just as much a part of 'Rolling Thunder'. All told, the bikes participating in the event is in the hundreds of thousands (now-a-days over a quarter million to 300 thousand), while the number of total bikers descending on the city is even greater (some like to ride in before the parade and park to see the memorials).
Ride route:
I've been attending this for the past 7 years, the first 6 as a spectator, and this year as a rider. It is an experience both ways.
As a spectator you get to enjoy DC, seeing the popular sights, and have the backdrop of hundreds of thousands of bikers rumbling past just a few feet a way. You can usually feel the parade up to a block away on some of the faster sections. In addition you can walk around, see the vendors there, listen to some good patriotic music, and witness people paying final respects to comrades from years ago. Its very powerful to see giants of men stepping off chromed out behemoth bikes and breaking down crying at the Wall.
As a rider you get to spend a lot of time waiting around, that's the route I went this year. Got down to the pentagon parking lots (staging grounds for the parade) around 10am.
I believe I was in lot 3 of 5, but no one knew for sure... all we knew was we could see a few thousand bikes in each direction.
Of course, its not *just* for bikes. There's some appropriately painted trikes, trucks, and cars.
Finally after 3 and a halfish hours, it was time to roll out! The excitement level shot way up at this point, and the noise was deafening with everyone revving their engines, good to go.
Sadly my timing got off and I thought the camera was on when it was off, and vice versa, but managed to get some footage of the parade. You'll notice my hands are bear... I always wear my gear, but for 10 miles an hour in 80ish degree weather, I was stripped down to just my helmet for protective gear. I wouldn't have had that on but I thought it was required.
I like this one as a shot at the Capital... I thought I was taking pictures, nope, video. Oh well.
You cans ee my confusion here... I "turn it off" twice (when my hand goes over the frame). I only include it to show the guy giving everyone high-fives (I obliged him) towards the end. His hand musta been HURTING.
And the last segment, ended by my pulling over on the off ramp to gear up and get gone.
It was a great experience. Met some cool people, heard some stories, saw some awesome bikes. Best of all I was able to show some support for those in the military now, and vets, something we don't do enough. I'll be back next year, you can bet on that.
