I JUST WANT 2 RIDE!!

Welcome to Gettysburg Bike Rally

This past weekend Debbie and I attended the 2013 Gettysburg Bike Rally.  The rally is split into multiple venues, the All Stars Complex and Granite Hill Campground and the American Civil War Wax Museum. While not part of the official rally, Battlefield Harley Davidson also hosted a good number of vendors. We did not make all the venues passing on the Wax Museum, but maybe next year.

Debbie and Karma with Bubba Blackwell

On Saturday we met our friends Tim and Karma at the dealership and after checking out the store and vendors we then rode over to All Stars Complex to watch Bubba Blackwell, American Dare Devil.  We got there a little late but did get to watch him drift, wheelie and generally make several Harley Davidson bikes do whatever he wanted them to do.  I was impressed with this ability to bring an Ultra Classic bagger to a pipe dragging, all the way up wheelie!

But other than Bubba this venue was a bit….light on vendors and things to do.  We spent most of our time waiting to participate in the “Parade of Chrome” ride to the Granite Hill venue. I would have to guess that there were over 500 bikes lined up to ride in the parade through downtown Gettysburg.

It was apparent, as soon as we arrived, that the campground was the main base for the rally. The majority of the vendors were at the campground as well as the biker build off, bikini contest and the main stage for the headlining acts (War was the main band this year).

For diner we rode back into town looking for a nice place to eat, but it was clear that there was going to be a long wait no matter where we went.  We were referred to a local spot called “Sharpshooter Bar and Grill”.  When we arrived the outside was packed with bikers of all types, but indoors it was open and we got a seat as soon as we walked in.  The manager, Ed, was our waiter and he took great care of us.  The food was great, the service was great.  I would highly recommend Sharpshooter if you are in the Gettysburg area!

Apparently the heat and sun really took a toll on us.  Sunday morning no one moved until nearly 10AM. For breakfast we rode into town and ate at the Farnsworth House (a B&B that serves breakfast to the public). The House was there during the battle of Gettysburg and has over 100 bullet holes to prove it.

After our meal we decided to ride through part of the battlefield before heading home.  The easiest part of the battlefield for us to get to was the confederate line. We rode along the line stopping at several points to look at the monuments and history.  The view from where General Pickett started his march into the Union cannons was eerie, knowing that an entire Infantry division was destroyed.

After the riding the length of the Confederate line we said our good byes to Tim and Karma and we all headed home.  All in all it was a great weekend on the bikes and with friends.