Perfect Timing

We left Lava Beds National Monument after a two night stay-over. When we arrived on Wednesday, only a few campers were there and we selected a campsite way off by itself. As it turned out this happened to be the primo camp spot of the campground. Someone even moved in while were were away, pulling our tag from the clip. He was evicted by the ranger. The morning we left we were approached by a man interested in the spot. I told him we were leaving in a hour but he better hurry as the claim jumper up the road had his eye on it. Meanwhile, two really old ladies came by and got into a discussion with the newcomer. By this time the newcomer had already paid for "our" spot and had begun moving in tent, chair, cooler while we sat there eating our breakfast. The two old women didn't let him come by it very easily but eventually sauntered off for easier prey. I later thought I should have auctioned off the site.

North we traveled through Bend, Oregon then veered northeast. It appeared we would be in the vast high desert lands of Oregon with no place to stay so I elected to do an early stop at the last town which would provide a place for us to clean up, charge up and wire up. That town was Prineville in Crook County that is, this weekend, hosting the Run to the Cascades motorcycle rally. Yippee! The one and only place to stay is the Crook County RV Park which is right smack dab next to the Crook County Fairgrounds where the event is taking place. I mean, we are like 200 yards away from the sound stage where rock bands play non-stop, 24 hours long, for the entire three day weekend. The good thing is the 9 foot tall stacked sound systems are pointed away from us and bikers do not go for Rap. Also, as the guard at the gate mentioned to me "This is Friday and the bands may take a break for a few hours tonight for there is a 'Brawl in the Barn' Ultimate Cage Fight being held in the Event Center tonight." Now there is a date-night opportunity to take the wife out on this evening.

So we are surrounded by bikers of only one sort - 99.9% of these people are on Harley Davidsons. Young, old, working, unemployed, retired, clean-cut, grungy, born-agains, you name it, all on Harley Davidson motorcycles. I like motorcycles. I've have had them most all my life. Still do. But I have never had a Harley. Not because I don't like them, but because EVERYONE has one! Where are these people's sense of individuality? "Ooh wow, my gas tank and fenders are red while yours are black." "Yeah, but I have more rivets and brads on my saddle bags and mud flaps than you do." I just don't get it.

Here is one of the .1%'ers who has some sense of individuality. He is two spaces down from us. Although I admire his creativity I wouldn't want it unless I could sell it.

I'm looking forward to him firing it up at 0'dark thirty tonight while I try to sleep.

Okay, so I am poking fun at these guys and gals, but this is their thing and good for them. They're having fun and enjoying each other's company. All seem to be nice folk. We're not talking outlaw biker gangs like the Hells Angles or Devil's Disciples here. This year's event is dedicated to all the brave men and women of our country who give of themselves and their families to serve in the military, police, fire and first responders on this the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Sunday will have several Memorial Rides to chose from, a tribute to our veterans of foreign wars and those who lost their lives on 9/11.

Ride on!