Oyster Run - Anacortes, Washington - September 28, 2008
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We joined NW Cascades Chapter 154 of the Star Touring and Riding organization on the "Oyster Run". This ride ends in Anacortes, Washington and is the largest get together of bikes and bikers, that I'm aware of, in the Pacific Northwest. This was its 27th year and it just keeps getting bigger each year. You can read more about "Limp Lee" and the Oyster Run HERE |
| This is a "pick your own route" ride so the Chapter met at the "Hometown Cafe" in Sedro Woolley, Washington where we were joined by about 14 riders from the British Columbia, Canada Chapter 5103. A very nice group of people, they are... |
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Breakfast and visiting was the first order of business today. With our Canadian friends down from the "far north" there was lots of catching up to do... |
| Between the two Chapters, we had 40 bikes, or so, on this ride. We took a very nice set of back roads from the sleepy town of Sedro Woolley to the usually sleepy town of Anacortes, Washington. Today would be anything but sleepy for Anacortes as what I later read was close to 40,000 motorcycles rolled into and out of town. We had beautiful weather and our two Star Chapters are getting ready to mount up in this image...... |
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We rode into Anacortes and into a sea of bikes and people (as you'll see shortly). Event organizers and staff did a simply super job of directing traffic down a main street blocked to car traffic and managed to keep pedestrians and motorcycles from colliding. All in a very professional manner. We were directed to an available parking area near the waterfront and off a side street which quickly began filling up. |
| As we walked up towards the main street in Anacortes we began to get an idea of just how full of bikes the town really was (as if we hadn't figured it out while riding down the main drag). About 10 blocks of Commercial Avenue were blocked off for this event. Bikes were parked in all available lots and side streets. They had bikes parked all the way down Commercial Avenue as well as a double row of bikes parked down the center of the street... |
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There were bikes and trikes and dirt bikes and cruisers and you name it, it was probably there... |
| Some of the paint jobs were incredible and must have cost a small fortune and there were simply too many of them to show them all here... |
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There were tons of bikes for sale by private parties parked alongside the road... |
| This is looking east up Commercial Avenue (the main street in Anacortes). Notice the "Sea of Humanity", as one person we collided with put it, on the sidewalks on either side of the street. Also note the lady in the green vest in the foreground left side of the image directing the flow of bikes and pedestrians. I don't think one can praise too highly the great job these volunteers did at this event... |
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We arrived in time to watch the work of the Seattle Cossacks, a not for profit, motorcycle stunt team. The Seattle Cossacks have been performing for the public since 1938 and the oldest member riding with them is 74 years old. This fellow is doing a nice balancing act... |
| And, of course, they can ride on the other end of the bike just as easily... |
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Here's six of them on two bikes. They were riding bikes from the forties with very few modifications. Knuckleheads, I think they called some of them (the bikes - not the riders!). The throttles had no return springs so where they were set was where they stayed. |
| Three on a bike? No problem... |
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Five on a bike? They made it look easy! The crowd was appreciative and there was a lot of applause for their efforts... |
| If they drop this fellow there will be two headaches! |
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Note the fellow riding horizontally between the bikes with another rider doing a handstand on his back! |
| Seven riders on two bikes... |
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The Seattle Cossacks imitate a flower as only they can do... |
| And ten riders on three bikes... |
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Jackie and I really enjoyed watching the Seattle Cossacks. It's very clear that they enjoy what they do and, if you get a chance to see them, I highly recommend that you do so... |
| After their performance we went back to brave the crowds and check out a few more bikes. This rider has spent a large sum of money on paint... |
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We watched some of the performance of the Northwest Wings, a motorcycle drill team riding, of course, Honda Goldwings. Two of the riders were female and they all rode those big Wings extremely well... |
| Jackie and I finally gave up on the crowds and headed back to the bike to try and sneak out of town. On our way, a friend pointed out this new Victory. Very Star Trek. Made us look closely to try and find the phasars and proton torpedoes! |
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We managed to find our own VStar 1300 which still looked mighty good to us. We had a great time meeting some of the Canadian Chapter #5103 folk and riding with them and our Chapter #154 as well as our ride to the 2008 Oyster Run. If you decide to attend this function be prepared for large crowds and good times! I'm sure we'll be back next year... |