My very first post... pretty lame, I was tired and sounded boring. I fog up my helmet for the first couple minutes, but it clears up after a while.

Taking the side street halfway home, then get on the interstate only to get stuck in traffic two miles before my exit.... general rambling about nothing in particular.

I hope that car got run over by a semi a couple miles down the road.

Here are some video clips I took of the peaceful solitude that can be found at 6:30 AM at the 2008 Hollister Motorcycle Rally in California. This tranquil time of day is obviously BEFORE approximately 130,000 bikers and spectators arrive at the event! The photos of the bikes and bikers that follow the video clips are ones I took at the Hollister Motorcycle Rally in 2003. The two songs I used for the video are “Solitary Man” by Neil Diamond and “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. The Hollister Motorcycle Rally is known worldwide as “the birthplace of the American biker”, with bikers attending from as far away as France and Australia. The vendors at this event make Hollister the largest motorcycle marketplace in the west. This event got its historic birth on the 1947 Fourth of July weekend, when approximately 4,000 motorcyclists descended on the sleepy little town of Hollister, California and created havoc. This invasion was the spark that eventually led to what is arguably the quintessential outlaw biker movie of all time, entitled “The Wild One” in 1953, starring Marlon Brando as “Johnny”, and Lee Marvin as “Chino”. At one point in the movie Johnny is guzzling beer and dancing with some of the ladies in the bar, and one female dance partner questions Johnny: “Hey, Johnny, What are you rebelling AGAINST?” While tapping out a jazzy beat on the top of the jukebox, Marlon Brando raises his eyebrow and drawls his amorphous reason for rebellion: “What’ve you GOT!?” For more historical perspective on the 1947 biker riot, here is an account from the time from the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.cestcop.com/chron1.htm and a followup article from July 6, 1947: http://www.cestcop.com/chron2.htm Here is an excerpt from the articles: HOLLISTER. July, 5 1947 State Highway patrolmen tonight imposed informal martial law in downtown Hollister to curb the riotous activities of an estimated 4000. Almost 60 persons were injured, three of them seriously. Several more arrests were made and a special night court session was convened to punish those charged with reckless driving and drunkenness. The outburst of terrorism - wrecking of bars, bottle barrages into the streets from upper story windows and roofs and high speed racing of motorcycles though the streets - came as participants in the annual "Gypsy Tour" sponsored by the American Motorcycle Association converged on Hollister for a three-day meeting. Armed with tear gas guns, the officers herded the cyclists into a block on San Benito street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, parked a dance band on a truck and ordered the musicians to play. Hundreds of individuals who invaded the town yesterday for the motorcycle show, about 10 percent of them women, halted their riotous "play" to dance. Their formal ball at the American Legion Hall was canceled by police orders. The dancers scuffed their way through inches of broken glass, debris of bottle barrages thrown during the day. The officers stood almost shoulder to shoulder along the curb.” The "tour" brought the largest amount of transients in recent history to Hollister. Hundreds slept in "haystacks" according to police and in the city park and squares.

The weather is starting to cool off, so basically the riding season is over for us northerners. This is most likely the last video I'll make this season even though I may ride a few more times before winterizing and tucking the bike away for the winter.

Here you can see it being tested.

http://www.TheCarCrash.com A biker goes on the back wheel and slides off his bike. --- Craziest Car Videos at: http://www.TheCarCrash.com ---

It was overcast the past couple of days, but today was sunny as could be. A ride was assembled at the last minute. It's miraculous how people pop up and are willing to drop everything when the weather is perfect. Hawaii has too many fair weather riders. Picky picky picky.

The weather is starting to cool off, so basically the riding season is over for us northerners. This is most likely the last video I'll make this season even though I may ride a few more times before winterizing and tucking the bike away for the winter.

The weather is starting to cool off, so basically the riding season is over for us northerners. This is most likely the last video I'll make this season even though I may ride a few more times before winterizing and tucking the bike away for the winter.

I talk about how being a motorcyclist makes you a better car driver although I'm sure that cyclist I pulled out on would disagree. I also talk about the beer chug challenge.

I got a taste of what it feels like to ride a new bike. I want one!! I'm fighting the urge to buy one until next year.

The weather is starting to cool off, so basically the riding season is over for us northerners. This is most likely the last video I'll make this season even though I may ride a few more times before winterizing and tucking the bike away for the winter.

I talk about my bike a bit more and about becoming a motorcyclist.

Taking the side street halfway home, then get on the interstate only to get stuck in traffic two miles before my exit.... general rambling about nothing in particular.

I did not know the route that these scooter guys were taking, so I just followed along. Interestingly enough, I come across a familiar convenience store that I've seen several times.

Taking the side street halfway home, then get on the interstate only to get stuck in traffic two miles before my exit.... general rambling about nothing in particular.

Honda motorcyclist showing off , on a public road, performing a wheelie and crashes.

I can't believe he is wearing shorts

You heard that right. Google it and do the research yourself. Use earplugs while riding.