Bikers take part in blessing

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June 8, 2007

'She has the low rider and I have a fat boy"

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Fri Jun 08, 2007, 12:00 AM EDT

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