Freedom Rains

Freedom Rains

By Rick Kline

The title could have been taken as a two fold message. “Freedom” is what the Harley Rendezvous Classic is all about. Freedom to act and party as you expect from the event. The “Rains” part could have meant the rainy, cold, windy weather we experienced over the weekend or it could have meant that it rains friends and good times. Did that put a so called damper on the Rendezvous? Absolutely not! This event never ceases to amaze us year after year. Although this might have been one of the coldest Rendezvous over the years, it did nothing to the spirit to make it what it really is.

The waiting part is what drives everyone to insanity. From the event closing of last year, to the time they open Main Gate this year. Once in, the tension has been released like a shook up can of beer or an orgasm waiting to explode from pent up sexual arousal.

The gates were opened early and the bikes rolled in by the hundreds. After setting up camp and sitting down to read the Rendezvous Express, all bikers found the events of the weekend to be exciting, especially the bands. Friday night’s big hit was The Edgar Winter Band or Group as I remembered them. They brought the house down with their hit single “Frankenstein”. Saturday night’s band was Blackfoot and they warmed up the night a tad also. Let us not forget the warm up bands; as they do a heck of a job too. The day stage also put out some fantastic acts year after year.

By early Friday morning, things started rolling at Rendezvous 2007. Vendor tents were in place, Beer games at the Rodeo were getting ready for a wild afternoon of skill, fun, and laughter. Our well known rodeo MC “Chuck”, kept the crowds yelling “The Other Side Sucks” until they were horse. You can spend a whole afternoon watching the skills of people like John with his old WL Flathead Harley and July Whelan from Canada just to mention a few, who participate every year to win a ribbon or a trophy. They just love the thrill of competing with the other riders for the fun of it and most of the time they come out a winner. What’s the Rendezvous without a famous mug of beer to wet your thirst? Filling that frothy mug with the nectar of the Gods is a true tribute to you and your friends that you have been waiting for. A toast to another year at the Vous and what could be more fitting?

There was a change at the Vous this year also. The Knockers tent was moved up to the top of the hill under the big tent by the “Waterin’ Hole Bar”. It couldn’t be a more fitting place to see some of the action that takes place in there. I won’t go into it because if you didn’t attend then you wouldn’t understand.

Saturday produced some really classy machines in the Custom Bike Show by the Memorial Stone area. All ages of Harley’s were shown with a good selection to choose from. The judges have a tough job picking the winners. I’m glad I’m on the other side looking in. The money and paint jobs alone that were put into these machines are a sight to witness. Across the road on top of the barn held the yearly Antique Bike Show. The antique stuff still shines with a lot of the old guard that visits them every year. So you see, there is always something for everyone.

By the way, did you get to see the fellow down in the Vendor Tents that you could catch painting abstracts to music? That was a show. Never saw anything like that before. What a talent that man has acquired.

So, if you missed anything this year and you were a rookie, next year will come again and you’ll be able to catch more of the action at next years 30^th Anniversary of the Harley Rendezvous Classic. See you then.

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