Northeast Bike Expo - SOA Cast Stole the Show

Recently spent a fun night in Boston attending KevMarv's Northeast Motorcycle show. Held each year in January at the Seaport World Trade Center, the Boston expo seems to be the biggest and the best.

This year's draw was two members from the cast of Sons of Anarchy.  Originally, 'Juice' was scheduled to show but a scheduling conflict must have occurred and Juice was switched out for 'Bobby.'  In addition, Tigs was there to meet and greet.

Since Sons of Anarchy is one of my favorite shows evahhh, I had been anticipating the expo for several months.

 

We arrived fairly early hoping to beat the crowds, but apparently so did everyone else! We were quite surprised to see the lines out the door at 11am....but Tigs and Bobby were there so it was understandable.  Made our way straight to the back where the stage and the guys were set-up. Took a look at the line, thought....hmmm...an hour tops? Sure, let's do it. So we waited...and waited...and waited. Almost there....and then ten people in front of us, the guys took a lunch break and said they would be back in an hour. Ugh! At this point, we already waited for two hours...which went by quickly, drinking beers and meeting new friends. However, W.T.F? How much longer can we wait for a signature and a picture.

 We decided...well...we're in it this far, we might as well wait.  Grabbed a few more beers, made some more friends...and waited some more.  They took 90 minutes for lunch!  The five year old in line behind me had way more patience than I did.  Oh, and the funny part of all of this...I went to the bathroom and they were right next to me, without anyone around, and I didn't even notice until too late. Kinda spacey like that sometimes...but that would have saved me the four hours that it took to get up on stage to take a picture. Yes, four hours!  I am somewhat embarrassed to admit we waited that long but the guys took their time with each and every person that went up and acted like long lost friends. Signed all sorts of things, wish I had thought ahead and brought one of my DVDs. Oh well.

So, our turn is next....all the while my friends have been waiting in the bar next door...for four hours, because they don't understand the whole 'bike thing'...blowing up my text, where are you? what's up? what the hell? etc. etc. Basically, my patience is shot...been standing for hours, phone and camera are about to die and up walks a show model and sweet talks one of the stage hands into letting her cut the line.  If I wasn't a lady, I would've ripped the bitches extensions right out of her head.  And I really couldn't believe the kid let her do it, but guess he fell for the boobs sprawling out the shirt. Sure, you have a chance with her...just let her get a pic with 'Tigs'. Okay, I am getting worked up just thinking about it.  Moved the bitch along and it was our turn....

The guys made it SO worth the wait. They were funny and gracious and a lil frisky.

And even signed a few pictures for a special someone...

Bit of an inside joke but I got the Sons on my side...

Since we spent so much time in line, I really didn't get to see much of the show.

Snapped a few pics of vendors and bikes around the stage

A lot of people were buying tshirts and having the guys sign them

This was my favorite display and had my vote for best in show.

Few crotch rockets nearby...someday...I will have a pink bike. 

Had to leave right after the meet and greet..friends were impatiently waiting and it was getting late so went next door.

To the whiskey bar...this is where my friends were the entire time we were waiting to see Tigs and Bobby. Four hours in a whiskey bar...you do the math. Ouch.  Couple of shots to catch up...

And then a crazy night spent across the street at the Seaport Hotel...booze, bikers and boobs...in no particular order. First time I have been motor-boated by someone I was not married to.  Not the way to a ladies heart, gentlemen.

Next morning...the cure for the mother of all hangovers...

It was a day/night to remember.

F*CK Part II....

It apparently wasn't as good as I thought! And reminiscing about it will only make me cry...you don't want to see a grown woman cry, do you? :)

So...let's move on to the first bike show of the season. Kev-Marv Productions is in its 16th year of hosting the Northeast Motorcycle Expo. http://www.kevmarv.com/

The first show was in Rhode Island on January 7/8.  Last weekend, they held a show in Hartford; this coming weekend (January 28/29) will be in Boston. Several members of the cast of Son's of Anarchy will be appearing in Bean Town, so you know I will be there. Will get some good pics for ya.

  

Anyway,  I went to the Rhode Island show on a Saturday afternoon with a few girlfriends. Had a couple cocktails, listened to some music and met some nice people. The star of the Rhode Island show was Jody Perewitz 'The Fastest Woman on Wheels."

Jody is one bad-ass chick that recently became the first woman ever to go over 200 mph on an American V-Twin at the Bonneville Salt Flats. I just did a snow angel in the Salt Flats...not the same thing but still cool? Salty.

Her bike and set-up is pretty rad. Sucky pic...sorry. New camera and I've lost my photographer...gotta practice. 

Of course there were plenty of bikes...

 

And Vendors

And a few charitable organizations. This ride looks like it would be a good one...Mothers for Daughters is a non-profit riding to help find a cure for breast and ovarian cancer. It is a weekend event held each year in Vermont and has raised several of thousands of dollars for research.

http://www.mothers-for-daughters.com/

Old school bikes are always a fave...

Biker Mani-Pedis??

Along with the bikes and vendors was a moto-cross stunt show. It was pretty cool but I preferred the glass-eating circus freaks and the midget wrestling that they had last year.

And it's not a bike show without the beautiful Dinah Deville...is it? She is normally at all the New England Boston Biker booths and is really quite friendly. Stop by and say hello!

It's a small show, but there is plenty to see and do. Nice way to spend a winter afternoon.

I'm really looking forward to the Boston show this weekend...will keep you posted!

Looking Back - 2011

Well, this has been an interesting year, my friends. When I started to think about what to write, I thought....hmmmm, been kind of a slow year on the bike, for a number of reasons. Broken ankle, old man being relocated across the country...ya know, the usual stuff.

Then I got to thinking and realized, though I may not have been on the back of the bike as much as I'd've liked...I certainly had my share of fun.

Starting with the winter bike shows...Kev-Marv produces the NorthEast Motorcycle Expositions in CT, MA, RI and NH.


   

Began 2011 at their first show in Rhode Island.

This was my first bike show and didn't know what to expect.  Bikes, band, beers....and midget wrestling? (PSA I prefer 'little people', but this is their deal...no letters, pls ;)

And lots of cool displays...

Our next stop was the Springfield Motorcycle Show...much bigger and a bit cooler with the Dead Girls, Dinah Deville and the Boys from OCC....

And the bikes of course.

And that's about all that happened in the cold winter months, shows were over and nothing going on so we headed south to our cabin in the Georgia Mountains...and shot some guns...you can do that in Georgia...anywhere you please. Including off the deck of your house. We ain't in Massachusetts anymore, Toto!

Kind of a wimpy hold, isn't it? Learnin'...

And then this happened...and we had to hibernate for a little bit.

Our 'Special Stick' for sad occasions

  Can't win 'em all, so dried our tears and headed to Vegas.

Had some fun on the strip....

 And off...some of the best places can be found away from the crowds. Vegas truly is...

Let's keep this place quiet...not for your average tourist.
Double Down Saloon cheapest drinks in Vegas...

Dinner and drinks

Rented the last bike in Vegas to cruise to parts unknown

Found ourselves in Valley of Fire...only about a 45 minute ride from the strip, and like another planet. Refreshing change from the city crowds...

Home from Vegas and it was time to get the bike blessed...

  

Broken Chains Biker Church performed the blessing.

 Needed some girl time so took off for Gatlinburg, TN with my partner in crime. It just so happened to coincide with the Smokey Mountain BikeFest...

Apparently everyone left early because of rain, so not much going on...we were kinda bummed

But dried our sorrows on some Hillbilly Hammers at Hawggs n Honeys...

HillBilly Hammers supposed to hit you over the head...

Gatlinburg is very biker friendly...downtown Pigeon Forge Harley Dealer is minutes away

Plenty of cool bars, but this one closed at 9pm and only served beer and wine. Kind of a stretch calling it a biker bar, but still pretty sweet inside. 

Met some riders from home in this Biker Bar at the beginning of the Smokies...

 And you certainly don't see this everywhere you go...I tried a bunch...I think I saw God.

And then my last night in Gatlinburg...Cinco de Mayo Celebration.  Aye Caramba!

The beginning of the end. I will just say this...margaritas (several) + karaoke + group of gay men = broken ankle.  Yup, snapped my fibula? right in half. Ouch...still pains me to think of it.  So, was sidelined for a bit but got the cast off the day that Laconia Bike Week started.  Asked the doc if it was okay to get on/off the back of a bike. 'Well, that's a new one, not really sure...see how it goes.' So...that's a yes....

This is a secret that the old man doesn't want anyone to know about so, shhhh...please don't tell. We trailer-ed the bike from Mass to NH! SHHHHH!!! I know...his riding privileges should be revoked. But really couldn't chance it with my heeling ankle. On the way up, we passed many bikers taking cover under overpasses because the rain was so heavy. I don't know about him, but I was silently thanking my ankle for a warm ride in a pickup.

Weather was awful and I wanted to curl up in bed but tried to be a good sport. Headed to Looney Bin to meet some friends and have a few drinks....until ankle was the size of a football and had to head back...through sleet and freezing rain. Good times....

We ended up at the Wolfeboro Inn. This is what happens when you bring the old lady along to bike week...instead of cramming 5 guys into a small hotel room, you end up at an Inn.

I didn't hear any complaints though while it was raining outside and we were in a nice, cozy tavern drinking beer by a fire.

So, this is kinda even worse than trailering to Bike Week. I couldn't walk on the ankle but didn't want to miss out on the fun so I had the old man drive his pick-up truck to the Weirs. I know...awful. The things you men do for 'love'. I know it pained him but don't feel too bad...he took off again midweek with the guys and had plenty of fun...as the pictures I just found can attest.  Someone's got some 'splaining to do....

 

Anyway, spent the day at the Weirs..always a good time.

Came home to news that the old man would be temporarily moving to Utah for work? Say what????

Well, ya gotta do, what ya gotta do....so the next half of 2011 was spent exploring the Midwest. Trips to Utah, Sturgis, Jackson Hole, and Colorado. Part 2 of 'Looking Back'...stay tuned!