Miracle Ride 2000

By: Bob Vincent

Something like a miracle occurred on Sunday, April 30, 2000.

How else to explain a harmonic convergence of motorcycle enthusiasts,
united in thought and action, toward a single goal: to help those less
fortunate by donating time and money to the Connecticut Children's
Medical Center.

What had started months ago as an idea by the "planning" gods and
supported by the "flyer" angels, was materializing in different
locations across the state, at the same time.

In order to participate, our first objective that chilly spring morning
was to find our way to Brothers Harley-Davidson in Branford, CT. to
register for this event.

Ingrid and I left Middletown, CT. on our Ultra at about 9:00 AM and
headed out onto Routes 66, 157, 17, 22, 80 and US 1, the scenic routes.

I named my 2000 Ultra TIMBA, after Tarzan's elephant. He and Jane would
jump on it, yell 'ON-GOW-WA TIMBA' and rumble into the julgle. Today,
Ingrid and I jumped on a Harley and rumbled onto the asphalt jungle.

What a sight of leather and chrome when we arrived at Brothers. It was
great to see fellow chapter members, as well as several new faces, of
all ages, on all makes of bikes.

Bobby, the New Haven HOG Chapter sponsor, supplied coffee and doughnuts
for over a hundred people on 60 bikes. Thank you, Bobby!

After receiving our $15 wristbands, we broke into 2 large groups.
The first group was led by Roger and Val, on their Electra Glide Sport.
The second group was led by Al, on his Wide Glide.

What a sound as we started our engines in unison at 10 AM and roared
down US 1 for a scenic ride to Hartford, CT. on Routes 95, 77, 17,
9 and 91.

We rode in the sweep position of the first group, beside Moe and Linda
on their Ultra, which provided a great view of the columns of bikes.

We all knew that this same scene was being repeated elsewhere, along
all the arteries that flow into Hartford.

Another sight of leather and chrome greeted us when we arrived at
Bushnell Park, only on a grander scale. Bikes everywhere. What fantastic
machines we ride and accessorize, paint and polish, chop and chrome.

We recognized a couple of Hartford HOG Chapter members directing parking
as well as a local FM radio station broadcasting a live report and a
local TV station video taping.

After walking around for a few minutes, we left Bushnell Park and with
the police blocking all intersections, we rode to the Connecticut
Children's Medical Center on Washington Street.

As we paraded past the medical center, some of the children and other
supporters were outside waving at us. There were the kids, leaning on
crutches, sitting in wheelchairs or laying in wagons, wide eyed and
grinning from ear to ear.

That was enough. The day could have ended right there, at that moment,
and we would have been satisfied. Anything else that happened that day
would not compare.

From the medical center we rode to the East Hartford, CT. Elk's Club
the site of the CT. State HOG Rally, September 30 - October 1, 2000.

We parked, locked and had our wristbands removed in exchange for Subway
sandwiches, iced tea, soda and cookies. We recognized a couple of
Bridgeport HOG Chapter members helping in the kitchen.

We congregated outside in the cloudless sunshine, listening to a live
rock'n'roll band. We were among 960 fellow bikers that had just raised
over $28,000 for charity. Something like a miracle had occurred.

We picked up a map at the CMRA booth and wandered around until
Brian and Andrea, from the Hartford HOG Chapter, invited us to ride
with them. So around 1:00 PM we formed a little posse and headed
northwest to Kent Falls, CT. Joining us were Ernie and Karen, Paul and
Jamie, Robin and Arlene. All from the Hartford HOG Chapter and all on
Electra Glides. We spent the next 5 hours riding, eating and getting
sunburned. Just another motorcycling weekend. ON-GOW-WA.