WILMINGTON -- A priest's blessing rose lyrically over the low rumble of Harley Davidson motorcycles as morning mist lifted off the summit of Whiteface Mountain.
For a second year running, riders looked to the spirit in the sky for safety on the pavement at the annual Blessing of the Bikes here last weekend.
Before the sweeping, scenic climb up Veterans' Memorial Highway to the priest, the motorcade mustered at the Whiteface ski lodge down below.
As they signed in, the angled row of parked bikes grew steadily longer until it stretched over the bridge.
Part of riders' registration fees were given to young Gabriel Crouch, a 12-year-old fighting a rare form of cancer.
At about noon, a slow moving storm of 50 motorcycles came in at once, a contingent from the Plattsburgh Harley Chapter, with Casey Spiegel riding in front.
Spiegel owns North End Harley Davidson and rides along with the nearly 160 members of the Plattsburgh club whenever he can.
"It was a nice drive over here," he said, watching the sun burn mist off the forest.
Bob and Cathy Lobdell, the director and secretary of the club, said they ride all summer for beneficial causes and the blessing is a good way to start.
"Yes, yep, it is," Bob said. "We go all over."
"Anything we can do to help," Cathy said of the fundraiser for Crouch.
Plus it's a good reason to spend a day running the roads.
The couple bought not one, but two motorcycles about six years ago when their sons graduated from school.
"I told him, here's the deal, if you're going to buy one you have to buy two."
"She has the low rider and I have a fat boy," Bob said.
But they ride together to most everything.
Rob Kenworthy came a whole lot farther, nearly seven hours and 300 miles from southern New York to arrive at the base of Whiteface Mountain by early morning.
"Americade is this week," he said, "I thought it would be a great place to start."
The Blessing of Bikes began with an entourage of growling motorcycles twisting and turning up the road to the mountain top.
At one point, they nearly stretched from top to bottom.
The Rev. Mike Jones, from St. Eustace Church in Lake Placid, sprinkled holy water as the riders passed through the castle tunnel.
Some riders crossed themselves, others bowed their heads slightly.
"Let those who ride the roads be aware of the beauty of thy creation and give thanks for it. May they be protected from potholes, gravel slides, slick roads and from other foolish drivers," Jones said. "May they be delivered from road rash and sudden death, and may they turn to you, their Lord and savior, as the giver of all the blessings in their life."
Prayers were offered to everyone, no matter what religion or faith, he said.
In all about 75 bikes slipped through the summit's stone arches and continued back down for a scenic ride to Plattsburgh.
Spirit in the Sky is an event organizer Tim Gruenberg, who owns Mel's Diner in Wilmington, and Amy Thomas, of Parties Unlimited in Lake Placid, arranged to coincide with the start of Americade a few hours south in Lake George.
Gruenberg and a handful of rally runners with hand-held radios kept the procession running smooth.
"This is very big on Long Island, where I grew up," he said. "My father ran the chapter of Blue Knights, a law enforcement bike club that started an event like this there 15 years ago. It grew every year."
For father and son Albert and Jesse Ashline, of Mooers, the blessing meant a good start to a good summer.
"Winter's over," Albert said.
kdedam@pressrepublican.com
Lifestyles
Related Photos
-
Todd Bissonette
Discussion
PLEASE NOTE: There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.
ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.
Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.
Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.
We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:
There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.
Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.
Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.
Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)
Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”
Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.
Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.
Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.
In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.
Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.
We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
ALSO NOTE: Derisive name-calling of an individual or group will result in the entire comment being deleted. This includes the terms "stupid" and "idiot" and similar references.
Welcome to our new online comments feature. Before you can join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address.
Once you do, your comments will post after they have been reviewed by a moderator.
We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean.
Not all comments are deemed printable. Some are disqualified, at the newspaper’s discretion, for a number of reasons. Here are some typical practices to avoid in trying to get your comment printed:
There is a 150 word maximum for comments. All comments greater than 150 words in length will be deleted in their entirety.
Don’t state as a fact something that is unsubstantiated or that our editors wouldn't know to be true.
Don’t presume someone’s guilt in a case when it hasn't been established by a court.
Don’t assail or impugn an identifiable individual or group. If you have that kind of criticism, sign your name and submit it as a Letter to the Editor. (There is some leeway on this in connection with public officials, but it is not unconditional.)
Don’t use profanity. This includes the term “tea bagger.”
Don’t be incendiary or tasteless. Those qualities are subjective, of course, and our editors will be the arbiters.
Do not identify yourself in the main content area of the article content form. Only by enforcing this rule can the moderators prevent unscrupulous commenters from falsely identifying themselves as someone they are not.
Don't type in all caps. It is considered the Internet equivalent of shouting.
In sports articles, do not criticize officiating.
Remember, moderators are not allowed to edit any article comments. If an article comment fails any of the above criteria, the entire comment will be deleted.
We monitor comments Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Approval of comments outside these times may be delayed.
June 8, 2007
Bikers take part in blessing
'She has the low rider and I have a fat boy"
- Recent Featured Story
-
-
Gourds' shapes create interesting canvas
Georgette Bacon's gourd art is on display through March 10 at Foothills ARTSociety in Malone.
Continued ...
-
- Monday: Home & Garden
-
-
Gourds' shapes create interesting canvas
Georgette Bacon's gourd art is on display through March 10 at Foothills ARTSociety in Malone.
Continued ... - Home and Garden Briefs: Feb. 13, 2012
-
- Home & Gardening Tips:
-
-
'Food From the Farm' event taking shape
Even in the dead of winter, plenty of local food can be found and even celebrated with upcoming event, Laurie Davis writes.
Continued ...
-
- Tuesday: Health
-
-
Nicaragua students tour North Country health-care facilities
A pair of 20-year-old medical students from Nicaragua have toured several health-care facilities. They are especially impressed with the physician-patient relationship in America, along with the advanced technology.
Continued ... -
Meeting of the minds on fake pot
Students were among those who spoke up at a session in Essex County, helping to make a plan to combat the dangers of synthetic marijuana.
Continued ... - WIC Program offering educational shopping tours for clients
-
- Health Tips:
-
-
Tackling the perfect bench press
The bench press is one of the most widely used exercises in the gym, yet many are unaware of the important safety considerations that should accompany it, Ted Santaniello writes.
Continued ...
-
- Ask Dr. K
- Wednesday: Seniors
-
-
Seniors click toward computer literacy
The Clinton County Senior Computer Club is a great way for seniors to learn computer basics at the Senior Center.
Continued ...
-
- Senior Thoughts
-
-
Yearly trip yields fun family times, enlightenment
Susan Tobias speaks about her experiences on her yearly cross-coutnry trip to visit relatives with her husband, Toby.
Continued ... -
When you leave the North Country for a winter trip, be prepared for anything
Susan Tobias and her husband, Toby, enjoyed family times in Indiana and Colorado, and a challenging blizzard on their driving trip for the holidays.
Continued ... -
Rethink your New Year's plan
This year, ask yourself, "What did they do before they had ... ?" The answer may surprise you, Susan Tobias writes.
Continued ...
-
