Didn't know where to post this and wanted to share, so since most of my HDF friends are in this forum, here it is. This weekend was the Third Annual Hogs4Hokies Ride. It is a ride started in 2007 by Frank, a Tech Graduate, who wanted to try to make something good come out of the senseless massacre that happened on the campus on April 16, 2007. Frank had his Ultra painted the Tech colors and rigged it with a huge chrome flag pole, and the rest, as they say, is history. My dear friend, Dave McCain, lost his daughter Lauren, a precious child in this tragedy. I was unable to ride last year, but after this year's ride, I won't miss it, unless I myself am not here. The goal is to raise enough money for an endowment in the names of each of the 32 killed for schlorships for kids that otherwise could not afford tuition. To date, over $700,000 has been raised! I left Hampton at 5am to meet up with the group leaving the Steel Horse in Chester, Va. There was another group riding from Manassas and we all met in Charlottsville. Better weather we could not have asked for! We had a FULL police escort from Chester, all the way to Va. Tech, pretty impressive. The Chesterfield Police and the Charlottsville Police and Motors are to be commended for keeping over 200 motorcycles together and rolling, non-stop, for 269 miles! When we arrived at Tech, we staged and rode 2 laps around the drill field, we then entered the field and there were so many bikes we completely filled all the pathways from one side to the other. There was a wedding going on in the field and as you can see in the pics, the bride and groom took it all in stride! This ride is open to all bikes and there was every make and model well represented. The marority rode Harleys but there were plenty of anything you wanted to see. We took scenic routes down Route 11 through every little town and people came out holding banners, waving and clapping as we passed. Kudos to the owners of Shenandoah HD for providing lunch, drinks and store discounts to us all and New River Valley HD for dinner, band, raffles and hospitality...If you are anywhere near or can get to one of the staging points, don't miss this ride next year. It will be help on the last weekend in April 2011..

Out first leg escorts


First Group out of Chester




Dave and his son, Christian who rode all the way with dad.


Dave's bike, in honor of his daughter, Lauren




We came from all over and met in Charlottsville




Our escorts from Charlottsville to Blacksburg




Lunch at Shenandoah HD in Stanton, wall to wall bikes!




Franks bike






3

This is Harley (the dog) rode on this guys shoulder ALL day!


This guy rode ALL day in a 'traditional Kilt! Nobody said anything about it either!


The Drill Field at Va Tech, I couldn't get all the bikes in 3 pics!

 

I got to ride up front for a while




Riding through Lexington


The Bride and Groom!


Dave making some remarks and his daughter Laurens memorial stone.

 

2 miles of bikes! I never ran so many red lights or rode so fast next to LEOs...We had a great ride for a great cause!


there was about 1/2 mile of bikes behind us here

 

Mike,
Great pictures! Maybe next year I will be able to go.

 

Mike,

+1

Great pictures, Great cause, looks like a GREAT ride!

Yellowbird

 

Great Pics and a great cause Mike, I know the area well. I lived in Chester, Va. and worked for Dupont almost 30 years. I retired and moved to TN. in 2006. I had friends at Dupont who Graduated from VA Tech. It was a senseless Tragedy. I would love to ride next year. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

nice avatar mike

 

great post...great cause

 

great ride for a great cause.
thanks for posting.