Stateside shows
I was invited to give a presentation at the Timonium Motorcycle Show in Baltimore, Maryland. It was a great opportunity to not only earn the money needed to get me over to Africa, but also to meet up with fellow bikers. The best bit though, was the chance to catch up with some of the UK adventure bike gang, who were also there giving presentations. I was in the city for five nights and actually found the regular sound of the sirens whizzing by as I drifted off quite soothing after a while. Perhaps it was their regularity. Perhaps it was the whisky!
I was lucky enough to have a local ‘fixer’, as he called himself, to show me around and take me anywhere I wanted to go. “Do you want the ‘real’ Baltimore, or do you want the nice bars?” he asked as soon as he met me at the airport. I didn’t need to think about it. “Give me the rough stuff” I said, keen to find something beneath the crusty exterior. “The Dirt Church it is then,” he said with a smile and perhaps a small glimmer in his eyes.
My fixer (aka Colin), with his full-sleeve tattoos and quick wit, soon became a friend. Someone I felt at home with from the very moment we began sharing our views on life. No subject was off limits as we sat at the altar of the Dirt Church and drank what seems to be Baltimore’s traditional tipple: cheap beer and Tequila.
Baltimore is full of interesting and talented people. The artwork, music and innovative ideas that come to life here in every rough-and-ready corner are refreshing. The people themselves are works of art colourful, varied and full of life.
The show itself was an ocean of black leather and gang patches (no colours - not allowed). That said, it was most certainly a family affair with a friendly vibe. A passel of Harleys filled the surrounding car park, while bikini-clad girls draped themselves on the bling show bikes inside.
The adventure zone, where I was to present, was pretty large. Here I was joined by the lovely Lois Pryce, Austin Vince, Simon and Lisa Thomas, plus a few other presenters from around the world. It was great to catch up and share our passion for travel with these east coast bikers who, far from being hostile, welcomed us into the fold with ease and, in some cases, with great big bear hugs.
We came, we presented and, in some cases, we converted. Long live adventure biking!