The Beauty Around Us

“Roar on the Shore” Motorcycle Rally

By Linda G. on July 19, 2009

We attended Erie’s third annual “Roar on the Shore” motorcycle rally. According to the “Roar on the Shore” website, this motorcycle rally was created to serve as a fund-raising event for a local charity. In August 2007 more than 10,000 people attended “Roar on the Shore”. Proceeds benefited the John Kanzius Cancer Research Fund. In July 2008 more than 25,000 people attended “Roar on the Shore”. Proceeds benefited the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Erie, PA. Proceeds from this year’s rally will benefit returning Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families. Not only the local charity benefits from “Roar on the Shore”. An estimated 30,000 people turned out for this year’s “Roar on the Shore”, infusing an estimated $18 million to $25 million into local businesses, according to the YourErie.com article entitled “Roar on the Shore an Economic Boom”. “Roar on the Shore” is a 3-day event (Thursday-Saturday) and is held in downtown Erie, at Perry Square.

We left home around 10:30AM, en route Erie. We rode to Erie via Waterford, PA. It was slow going getting through Waterford. This weekend is Waterford’s annual Heritage Festival. Traffic was backed up getting through town.

We made two stops before arriving at Perry Square in Erie. Our first stop was within 10 minutes of our departure. We stopped in Youngsville to fill the fuel tank. Our second stop was in Erie at Wegmans on Peach Street for a bathroom break. We arrived at Perry Square around 12:30PM.

The first thing that we did when we arrived at “Roar on the Shore” was get something to eat. There were several food vendors from which to choose. Bob ordered an Italian sausage sandwich. I ordered chicken tenders with french fries. We shared the french fries, as well as a lemonade. While eating lunch, we shared a picnic table with a young man and an adolescent girl. I do not know the girl’s relationship to the man. She could have been the young man’s younger sister, his daughter or another relative. The girl was very polite. I told the girl that her hair, which was beaded, was very pretty. In response to my compliment, the girl said “thank you”. I told the girl that the corn dog that she was eating looked good. She said “thank you” and told Bob and me that our lunches looked and smelled good too. The girl was quite a talker; the man was quiet. The girl reminded me of my niece and my next door neighbor’s daughter when they were younger. Both girls could talk your ear off! I didn’t take a picture of the man and girl while we were eating. I did, however, take a picture of the girl later while she was playing in water at Perry Square.

After lunch Bob and I checked out the variety of vendors who were peddling biker-related merchandise. We ran into our neighbors, Tina and Scott, while inside one of the vendor’s tents.

We also checked out some of the thousands of motorcycles that were parked on State Street.

Later in the afternoon we watched The Patriot Ride parade. The parade departed the Erie Veterans Affairs parking lot on East 38th Street at 3:00PM and headed to Perry Square. Our friends, Susan and Dave, rode in the parade.

We met up with Susan and Dave after the parade. We took each others’ photographs on State Street in front of the sea of motorcycles.

We visited with Dave and Susan, while drinking coffee and smoothies at Starbucks. When we left Starbucks, we ran into two other people whom we know — Bruce and Laurel.

Bruce and Laurel walked over to check out our new (to us) motorcycle. Bob and I left Erie soon afterward.

We rode back home via Findley Lake, NY. When we arrived in Findley Lake, Bob rode the motorcycle onto a boat ramp.

When we rode into Findley Lake, I noticed a wedding party across from the lake. As we departed Findley Lake, I snapped a picture of the wedding party.

We returned home around 7:30PM. It was a good day. We enjoyed riding the motorcycle and attending “Roar on the Shore”.

Click here for a map of today’s route.