OFF THE WIRE
Doc’s Freedom Ride
30 + bikes left the Wizard for my Fifth Freedom Ride. I expected twice that. But it was such a pretty day and it’s been such a crappy Winter and there were lots of bikes out. 20 bikes made it to the last stop which I thought was good. As I rode home I noticed lots of bikes at the bars and the Harley Shop. There should have been 100 + at least at the start of the ride. But y’all know how hard it is to get folks to actually get off their asses for Rights. How many think they don’t need to as long as the rest of us are. Or they're scared.
Some guys who have been on all of them. Some newbies. Reps from local riding clubs who come to stay in touch with what’s goin on. Folks came from a little farther than I expected too. Don’t know of any Blue Knights or LEOs who were on the ride. They have ridden with us before, in support of Freedom.
Several current and former CBA/ABATE members. But these are guys I’ve been in the chapter with since we started it. Two past chapter presidents. Guys I recruited. I know one of them wrote something on his renewal form about working with BOLT and it was blacked out. They are also residents of the counties where we went.
Recognized the 7th Anniversary of the Irag War. Two vets of that war there. One lost most of his lower left arm as a Marine in Iraq, rides a cool custom three wheeler with hand shift. Other an Army Guard Sergeant First Class (former CBA chapter pres) just returned from a year South of Bagdad.
Gave them a talk and handouts at the Wizard before we left.
Went to the Catawba County Courthouse first. Decided to ride through Newton and Conover to get to Highway 16 North to Taylorsville. Good choice since there were some girls in t-shirts and shorts on the corner holding a sign saying, “Honk if you love Spring.”
Folks wore mostly shorty, beenie helmets and do rags. Some small DOT helmets. Never encountered any State Troopers who may have been up for a “let’s check the helmets party.” Local cops just waved and smiled.
Thought we might get a police escort in Taylorsville. One of the senior officers would have been riding with us if he wasn’t on duty that weekend. He was busy, or didn’t want to see us riding while he was working. Front of the Alexander Courthouse is a great shot on the handicap ramp.
Then while those of the Northern Persuasion stood behind me, the Southerners gathered around the Confederate Soldier Monument for a photo.
The third courthouse was Caldwell County. It’s uptown Lenoir on the corner of Main Street. On street parking was vacant so we could park right in front instead of the in the main lot across the corner. To make sure we had plenty of room, I pulled up too far, all the way to the corner, into the two handicap spots. Across the corner was a city cop with someone pulled over.
Before I could gather everyone up and walk across the road to make photos another cop cruised by slowly and waved. While I was shooting pics he turned around and came back to ask what we were doing. “Just Touring courthouses.” He must have seen everyone holding helmets in the air and flippin them off. Was a sergeant with a few stripes. Then me asked how long we would be there, parked in those two handicap spots, uptown on Saturday afternoon. As if a bunch of old ladies were about to show up ready to shop somewhere. “Just a few more minutes.” He said to have a nice afternoon and ride safe and drove off.
Most of us headed over to Tommy’s Sports Bar for a couple beers.
Overall, a nice day to ride. Caught up some good friends on what’s going on this year with the helmet fight. Made some new friends and contacts to help spread info.
Next Freedom Ride is planned for April 24. Want to hit the mountain counties since that is where folks go to ride and the Troopers Wolf Pack runs. Also, have not made any contacts with other Freedom Fighters in those areas. Need to cultivate some folks up there to help. Gotta be riders getting tickets in those counties. Problem is that many of the folks who get a ticket in Wilkes, Avery, Watagua Counties likely live more than 100 miles from there.
