The 2008 California Bike Week: Images

This should be my last post on the 2008 CBW and I would like to share some of the things that caught my interest and my final impressions of the event. (Pictures described starting from the top:)

1. Tattoos were everywhere. The top picture shows a large one inked on the back of a balding, fiftyish rider. I wondered whether the tattoo was based on a picture of him on a chopper when he was younger and wore his hair long. The next picture shows that not only were the men into body encompassing tattoos, so were the women.

2. Motorcycling on style. While riders are often cast as modern day cowboys, rough, dirty, and travelling light from town to town, there are some who apparently like to travel first class. The third picture shows clean looking gentlemen giving an Ultra Classic Electra Glide, a top-of-the-line Harley Davidson Tourer, with its own trailer, a look-over. Given the Electra Glide’s already spacious luggage, you have to ask what the trailer is for. Tux for the rider and gowns and shoes for the lady back-rider? Or camping equipment?

3. Yes, there are clear advantages of peeing standing up, especially on the road. Among other things, it’s quicker, it’s easier to hide behind the trees, you do not have to worry about itchy grass scratching your bottom, and you do not have to sit on toilet bowls of questionable cleanliness . The fourth picture shows a stall selling a device so that our lady friends can do just that. A question, though. Will vigorously shaking that piece of plastic afterwards remove all the liquid so that it will not become smelly after use?

4. The next three pictures show scenes from the flat track racing that was the highlight of Saturday’s events. Featured were loud, 750cc machines running at more than 100 mph and riders sliding through corners. Sadly after a few races, the distance from the racetrack to where I sat diminished whatever excitement the races were generating. Or maybe it was because this was the first time I saw flat track racing. Hopefully, once I will get more familiar with the sport, its excitement level would also increases (much like my experience with F1 and MotoGP).

5. The last picture is one I took on the way home and shows the parking lot full of Harley Davidson motorcycles. The picture shows only about a fourth of the motorcycles parked; a camera with wide-angle lens would have captured the sight of a sea of motorcycles a lot better.

P.S. Bud light draft large cup at $ (add a $1 tip). I had four even though the sign said beers were limited to two cups per customer. Well, I was not riding a motorcycle. Bought $20 "remembrance" shirt that was a size smaller. Well...