BIKERS REV UP FOR ANNUAL AMERICADE
LAKE GEORGE >>>> Ruth Ronish took a leap of faith by saying “I do,” after meeting her husband, Roland, at the website ChristianMingle.com.
The real test came when Roland, previously of Saratoga Springs, asked her to hop on the back of his Honda Goldwing 1800 motorcycle.
At age 72, it was her first ride. In the three years since then, the couple has traveled more than 4,000 miles together, including a trip all the way around Lake Superior.
“You’ve got to trust the driver,” Roland said, smiling.
Now living in Michigan, they’re among the thousands of people in Lake George for this week’s Americade, the world’s largest touring motorcycle rally. A long line of bikers riding all kinds of machines, from Yamaha to Harley-Davidson, got up early Tuesday for a day trip to Vermont’s covered bridges, one of many activities scheduled during the gathering that runs through Saturday.
Bob Martin, of St. Albans, Vermont, has been coming to Americade for 30 years.
“My parents brought me when I was this big,” he said, holding his hand waist high. “Now my son, Simon, is that size and I’m bringing him. We’re here for the whole week. When we get ready to leave we put down reservations for next year.”
Martin was among the early birds who showed up Tuesday morning outside Fort William Henry Hotel for a chance to try out bikes from more than a dozen difffffffffffferent manufacturers. He was especially taken by a Honda Valkyrie.
“It’s really unique styling,” he said. “It’s a stripped down bike with a Goldwing engine.
I like Honda because they’re coming out with some really difffffffffffferent machines.”
Bob LaFord, of central Massachusetts, is one of the many volunteers who keeps Americade running smoothly. He and his wife, Diona, directed traffic at the Fort William Henry parking lot.
“It’s a lot of fun,” LaFord said. “You get to talk to people from all over the country, all over the world sometimes. They’re usually smiling.”
As volunteers, the La-Fords get free admission to events and activities such as Tour Expo, the huge motorcycle trade show with
more than 200 vendors onhand. “Plus, the Adirondacks is some of the best riding anywhere on the East Coast,” LaFord said.
A “7 Lake Loop” takes motorcyclists along the shores of pristine North Country lakes. A “Ride the Ramble” mini-tour goes to Great Sacandaga Lake and across the Batchellerville Bridge in northwest Saratoga County.
All told, participants have 46 rides to choose from, including a festive Light Parade at 9:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday’s large motorcycle parade through the village at 10 a.m.
Americade is one of many stops that Harley-Davidson representatives make each year.
“We go all over the country,” Christina Kutsch said. “We’re at Daytona Bike Week in Florida, Sturgis (South Dakota), Laconia (New Hampshire) and we do the International Motorcycle Show Tour. So I get to travel and meet people from all over the United States. We want to be anywhere where motorcycle people are. I love their excitement and enthusiasm.”
For information and a schedule of Americade events, log on to www.tourexpo.com.