Goodbye Bikers, Welcome Back Sleep !!!!!

Now don't get me wrong, I do like motorcycles. A number or years ago, back in New Zealand, I even used to ride one. Okay, it was just a little Kawasaki 125 and not a Harley, but nevertheless, I once was a biker!

My little bike looked a little like this. However, it was blue, a lot older and not as flash. I got it when the twins were about 18 months old and walked outside one day, to find both of them sitting on it !! They were both really fascinated by that bike.

For the last week, we, in this area, have been host to STREET VIBRATIONS , a huge rally for motorcycle enthusiasts, mainly Harley owners. There were about an estimated 30,000 bikes participating, this year.

Life becomes *interesting* during that week, for us permanent inhabitants. You can recognise us, especially those of us unfortunate enough to live next to or within earshot of the various venues or the main street, by the matchsticks that we are using to prop our eyelids open during the day.

Many of the Harley owners, that come to town, are Doctors, Lawyers, Judges and other *Pillars Of The Community*. But, for a week, in Reno, they can indulge their wildest fantasies and become 'Bad Boys' and .....



Some of them discovered the speed ramps on the new parking garage at the Peppermill Casino. You can just make out the aforementioned ramps to the left of this photo that I grabbed off the net. They thought it was fun to noisily blat up and down them AT 2 AM IN THE MORNING !! I'd also like to mention, that I live almost directly across from said parking garage !

On Saturday, I went for a walk, with the intention of getting photos of some of the bikes and the bikers. Many of the bikes are beautifully detailed and many of the bikers are weirdly outfitted. Can make for some interesting photos.

Sadly, most of the venues have been moved downtown. In recent years, both the Peppermill and Atlantis casinos, hosted venues, but for whatever reason, did not this year. I wasn't going to venture downtown as it would have been way to crowded.

The local Hell's Angels chapter, also had a booth down here and I would have been too tempted, to stand near it and loudly ask prospective buyers if they realised that they would probably be contributing to David Burgess's legal fund. I thought, that for the sake of my health, it best to not risk that particular temptation.

So I just wandered around locally to see what I could find...

First I found proof that bikes could save on parking space ....


Then I noticed this bunch heading up Virginia St. The original reason for taking this photo, was to illustrate the probably vain hope, that the City Fathers would pour some of the revenue they gain from this event, into providing footpaths. One of the quirks of Reno, is that footpaths will suddenly end for no reason and then appear again a block or so away. This is on the main drag in Reno. One would think that you'd have a continuous footpath all the way up.


I turned around and walked back the other way and as I was waiting to cross Plumb Lane, a biker pulled up beside me and offered me a ride. I peered at him over the top of my sunglasses and politely declined. I've heard stories about what happens to ladies who hop on the back of strange bikes! :-) Just kidding ... well half kidding.

He then complemented me on the way my , current, red hair, glinted in the sun and again invited me to hop on his bike. Again I declined and he rode off into the sun. I didn't get a photo of him..

I guess, at 57, I still have it (tongue firmly implanted in cheek). :-) Though he was bit of an old dude....

Then I came across these three bikes. They rather reminded me of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Poppa Bear's bike, Mama Bear's bike and Baby Bear's bike.


The littlest bike was rather cute. But I did seriously wonder about the existence of the parent's brains who must be letting their kid ride around on one of these. Though at least there was a helmet sitting on the seat.


Then there was a loud squeaking and creaking of leathers from behind me and the owners of the bikes arrived. Probably wanting to check out why I was taking photos. I was most relieved to see that the Three Bears consisted of a three adults, a man, a woman who was just a little taller than me and a little woman. The small bike belonged to her. I briefly though about asking if they would mind if I took a photo, because their leathers were quite impressive, but then I though that might not be too PC, specially since they were kind of glaring at me.

But now, until at least next year, they've gone and sleep is once again welcomed home .....