June 4, 2006.  Today was our first "Ride For Kids" the national organization that supports childhood brain tumor research.  It was started here in Atlanta and has grown to 37 cities. Today there were aproximately 1,100 people on 800 bikes.

We started at 7:30 this morning where we met up with 6 other bikes from the Gainesville Goldwing Chapter.  We rode as a group down to the staging area which was in Alpharetta at the North Point Mall.  This was one of the best organized things I have ever seen.  There must have been 100 people directing traffic.  They parked us side-by-side until they had filled up a row and then a new row was started.

Getting ready to start a new row when this one fills up.

Tents for registration.  Free water, coffee, fruit drinks, and donuts everywhere.  mmmmm... Krispy Kream donuts.

All kinds of bikes.  This guy got lots of comments.

Ready to start the ride.  Lots of honking and revving of engines.  I am saying a prayer here "Please don't let us fall over as we idle thru this narrow isle".

After a couple miles (with police blocking all intersections so we don't have to stop), it is time to get on the interstate.  You can't see very well but there is a State Police car blocking northbound traffic onto GA-400 where we got on.  Those people were probably not real happy, but I bet they have never seen so many bikes in their lives.

We are about in the middle of the group of bikes.  See how no one is allowed onto the interstate at this on-ramp?  Those are nothing but motorcycles as far as you can see - and just as many behind us.

About 90 minutes (and not one stop!) we all arrive as one big group.  800+ bikes

This is where some brain tumor cancer survivors gave their emotional speeches.  Registration included a box lunch and drinks.  Almost $200,000.00 was collected today.