Just a few of the bikes that came out to ride on a Beautiful Sunny Sunday.
Randi and Heather happy to be working together.
Heather and Randi dancing on first street with Lyle
playing the banjo and Troy playing the spoons!
The Snohomish cops making asses of themselves.
Randi and Heather getting their biker on.
Al, Wade and Capt. Ron in front of the Oxford
watching all the cops freak out. For thirteen years, First street has hosted the Annual Snohomish Antique and Classic Bike Show. Last year, I walked in to work from Second street and started setting up the bar at 9 am. I didn't leave until about 8 pm. Even though I was only working the bar, I never once stopped opening beer bottles and ringing people up. It was a constant crowd of people. I kept opening beer and they kept handing me money. The faster I opened, the more money I got! I had a blast! It was an amazing event. The organizers, Rod and Michelle, are a married couple that frequent the Oxford. Last year the police security cost the event $5,000. This year, however, the chief of police and city counsel decided that they needed to jack up the price to $30,000. The event couldn't afford this kind of cost, so the bike show was canceled and moved to Sultan to take place in July. First street, along with many organisations like the boys and girls club, are devastated by the loss of business and funding that would have come from such an event. There has never been any kind of incident during a Bike Show to warrant this kind of hefty fee or security. On May 17th, about a thousand bikers rode into Snohomish. And why wouldn't they? It was beautiful out. First street is a popular stop for weekend warriors and motorcycle clubs to stop and have a bite to eat and a beer before they head on home. A Snohomish motorcycle cop cruised down First street, took one look around, and frantically called for back up. Soon we had Mill Creek cops, Lake Stevens cops, Snohimish county Sheriff and even a SWAT team to keep the menace of society bikers from raping and pillaging. All the businesses on First street are struggling right now. Shops restaurants and bars are closing down left and right. It is such sad situation for Snohomish. The bike show is like having a second Christmas season. One shop owner said that she had more trouble with people during the Easter Parade this year than she ever has during the bike show. Here is a link to the Heralds write up when the event was canceled.
The next link is the write up after last Sunday. It really makes Snohomish police look ridiculously stupid and prejudice. If you knew these people that were "standing on the side walks" you would be rolling your eyes with me. One part of the article said that the Chief of police was concerned for the safety of parents walking their children down the street. Those big bad mean scary bikers who eat children for breakfast and make grandmas faint on the street have children of their own, run huge corporations, pay taxes, bake cookies for their grandchildren and go to church. I seriously cannot believe how prejudice and ignorant people can be. The comments after the article are the best. It will be quite interesting to see what happens come re-election time. Somehow I don't think we will be seeing our Chief of police serve another term.
Haha! "Raping & pillaging"! You're funny. I enjoyed this one!
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