2012 Patriot Ride

Netnorske · 09-09-2012, 09:16 PM

Tricia and I attended this event last year and I must say, it was one of the most enjoyable rides I have ever been on. This was the second of what will be an annual event and starts and ends at Sound Harley in Smokey Point. It is extremely well planned and coordinated with the Puget Sound H.O.G. Chapter and local law enforcement, who have intersections blocked all along the route to allow non-stop safe passage of the hundreds of bikes who attend. Today's route was a loop that went up through Arlington, back down through Lake Stevens and returning to Sound Harley. This year's ride was about an hour and a half long.

This was an incredibly emotional day for us last year as many hundreds of motorists stopped , waved or honked their horns along the route. People working in their yards were awed by the flag drenched convoy of bikes honoring the 9/11 events. Fire crews of the various towns had their equipment lined up and personnel at attention as our parade rode through their towns. This is an incredible event, and while the group is usually 80% Harley riders, there are/were at least 20% other brands and never was a bad word even heard about the non-Harley riders. This is an event for ALL Americans to come together for a great cause and a great ride, to honor all of the victims and heroes from the tragic events of 9/11/01, and also the men and women who serve as Firefighters, LEO's and active or retired Veterans all across our country.

Today we rode somewhere near the middle of the pack, which included several hundred bikes spread nearly a mile long! It is a slow ride, rarely getting out of third gear, but awesome to see so many bikes parading for such a great event. The weather was not as nice as last year, but that didn't stop anyone from enjoying the ride. I can't wait for next years event and believe this will become a larger group each year as more and more riders become aware of it! The third photo shows some of the bikes lines up at Sound Harley before taking off. That line of bikes went around the building one and a half times!

**glwilson** · 09-09-2012, 09:54 PM

Sounds like one of the few great rides you can hope to be involved with. Thanks for sharing!

**crazygene49** · 09-10-2012, 03:43 PM

Awesome!

elvis · 09-11-2012, 12:17 AM

Picture #4 is very cool. Thanks for sharing!

landman · 09-13-2012, 01:40 PM

i would really like to have been on that ride.

**scion0** · 09-13-2012, 08:17 PM

Very nice.

09-09-2012, 09:16 PM	#1
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	2012 Patriot Ride Tricia and I attended this event last year and I must say, it was one of the most enjoyable rides I have ever been on. This was the second of what will be an annual event and starts and ends at Sound Harley in Smokey Point. It is extremely well planned and coordinated with the Puget Sound H.O.G. Chapter and local law enforcement, who have intersections blocked all along the route to allow non-stop safe passage of the hundreds of bikes who attend. Today's route was a loop that went up through Arlington, back down through Lake Stevens and returning to Sound Harley. This year's ride was about an hour and a half long. This was an incredibly emotional day for us last year as many hundreds of motorists stopped , waved or honked their horns along the route. People working in their yards were awed by the flag drenched convoy of bikes honoring the 9/11 events. Fire crews of the various towns had their equipment lined up and personnel at attention as our parade rode through their towns. This is an incredible event, and while the group is usually 80% Harley riders, there are/were at least 20% other brands and never was a bad word even heard about the non-Harley riders. This is an event for ALL Americans to come together for a great cause and a great ride, to honor all of the victims and heroes from the tragic events of 9/11/01, and also the men and women who serve as Firefighters, LEO's and active or retired Veterans all across our country. Today we rode somewhere near the middle of the pack, which included several hundred bikes spread nearly a mile long! It is a slow ride, rarely getting out of third gear, but awesome to see so many bikes parading for such a great event. The weather was not as nice as last year, but that didn't stop anyone from enjoying the ride. I can't wait for next years event and believe this will become a larger group each year as more and more riders become aware of it! The third photo shows some of the bikes lines up at Sound Harley before taking off. That line of bikes went around the building one and a half times! __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016 Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by Netnorske; 11-18-2013 at 09:05 PM.
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09-09-2012, 09:54 PM	#2
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	Sounds like one of the few great rides you can hope to be involved with. Thanks for sharing! __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
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09-10-2012, 03:43 PM	#3
crazygene49 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 1,856	Awesome! __________________ Gene Chestnut Dover, DE USAF 1968-1995 VBA#01761 2007 Nomad 1600 Black and Titanium
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09-13-2012, 01:40 PM	#5
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	i would really like to have been on that ride. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold Login or Register to Remove Ads
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09-13-2012, 08:17 PM	#6
scion0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Peoria, Illinois Posts: 1,507	Very nice. __________________ ___________________ Mike "Scion0" VBA#: 0097 Former VBA North Central Asst Regional Leader St Jude Rides Peoria to Memphis Rider Retired MSgt, USAF (1979 -99) "Don't sweat the small stuff, and it's all small stuff!" Current ride: 2012 H-D Ultra FLHTCU (Black) Past ride: 2007 Black Nomad
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09-11-2012, 12:17 AM	#4
elvis Sr. Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 1,785	Picture #4 is very cool. Thanks for sharing!
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