Rolling Thunder

In what has become something of a Memorial Day weekend tradition here in DC, several hundred thousand motorcyclists rolled into town. And these weren't sissy bikes like Hondas or BMW's, either. We're talking 100% all-American loud as hell Harley Davidsons that reach deep into your chest with their low rumble and rearrange the air sacs in your lungs. That's why the event is called Rolling Thunder, and it's organized by Vietnam veterans to serve as a reminder that there are still over 2000 MIA's from that conflict.

While the main event, involving as many as 300,000 bikes and 500,000 riders, takes place on a route from the Pentagon parking lot, to Arlington Cemetery, and eventually into downtown along Constitution Avenue, that's not the only place to catch a glimpse of them. They actually start rolling into town several days ahead of time, and as the weekend approaches, you start hearing more and more Harleys regardless of where you are.

But the real fun starts on Sunday morning as the riders gather at various staging areas in suburban Virginia and Maryland to begin their procession towards the final gathering point at the Pentagon. Roads are shut down and ramps to the interstates blocked off as they go by. And even miles outside DC, spectators with flags line the streets and gather on highway overpasses to watch them go by.

I wanted to get really close to the action this year, so I staked out a place in the Pentagon parking lot. But as the place began to fill up, I was told to move. So there I was, trying to turn the car around, when I accidentally backed into a Harley and knocked it over. It fell against another bike, which in turn hit another one.

Do you have any idea how long it takes 300,000 motorcycles to finish falling over in a chain reaction? About nine and a half hours. Fortunately that was more than enough time for me to get the hell out of town.