How Big is Too Big
Story/Photos of the show: T-Bone
This event was amazingly big. What does that mean? In my experience we left the house early to get there when it opened and by the time we got a couple of miles away there was bumper to bumper traffic of cages trying to get into the show.
After sitting there for a while, with Billy and his sidecar rig, we passed a disabled van in the bicycle lane and opted to go in that lane to pass the traffic and not over heat the bikes. When in the show there was already hundreds of bikes on the lawn and by the middle of the day there were still lines of cars rolling down the hill into the dirt lot. At the end of the blistering hot day the park was packed and I was waiting to see how many would be carried off with heat exhaustion. It appeared all kept safe although the lemonade stands only had small portions left. I made sure to bring my own water knowing it was going to be a scorcher.
There were 18 bikes that your raffle ticket could choose to win one of. By the time the raffle numbers were called I made a deal with my buddy Terry that if either won we would sell the bike and split the money. If he won he would pick the bike, and I won, I’d pick the bike. A hard choice and quite frankly if I closed my eyes and pointed to the lot I’d be happy with any of the bikes. Can’t say much else than that, so let me share a song that was in my head during the day:
Roll On by Kid Rock:
Sittin’ here alone, I’m lookin’ back on where I’ve roamed and laughin’ how I swore I’d win and not get burned. I left my family, and my home. I worked my fingers to the bone. There was not a stone, I did not leave unturned. I was having a good time.
Money and success, I don’t complain about the stress, I wanted this and now it’s here, so I don’t bitch. I swear that time’s a trick. It disappears in, oh, so quick. Man, I was just sixteen, and now I’m starin’ at thirty-six. But, I’m still having a good time.
I know it’s hard to see with the sun in your eyes. One day you’re gonna say: “I saw the light”. Now I’m headin’ for the hill, and I just cannot wait until my children grow up to have children of their own. I will tell them about the times I turned the party out, and how I stood against an army all alone. Drinkin’ wine and stayin’ high I realized it couldn’t last and how I turned myself around and went down another path. I saw the signs we must observe, when life’s changes do occur, but most of all I’ll tell them just how proud I am of them. Always have a good time. It’s all love and good times. Let’s all have a good time.
Roll on, roll on roller coaster. We’re one day older and one step closer. Roll on, there’s mountains to climb. Roll on, we’re on borrowed time. Roll on, roller coaster, roll on tonight.