Rolling Thunder XIII
These pics are from Rolling Thunder XIII (2000).
This was the 13th year for the event.
It is held every year on Memorial Weekend Sunday in DC.
It brings several hundred thousand bikes into the city for a day.
During the parade as the bikes are going through the city you can feel the vibrations in the ground and the sound is like distant thunder.
The purpose of this event is to keep POW/MIA issues before our government.
This year the weather was fickle.
It had rained the day before and showers were forecast for Sunday.
The sky was gray and threatened rain all day.
The temps were mercifully cool barely getting over 60° F.
Cell phone calls made from the Pentagon revealed that it was raining heavily all around DC, but no rain fell on the city all day.
Police escort bikes
Police from Federal, State and County departments provided escort to the Pentagon
Crossing from Maryland into Virginia, notice the stopped traffic
A group of ~600 bikes rode from Battley Cycles/Rockville Harley
Approaching the Pentagon
After about a 30 minute ride the Pentagon looms in the distance
The Pentagon north parking lot
The threat of rain kept many away. The crowd was estimated to be about 350,000 this year.
The Pentagon is in the background
Karen F. rode back seat this year
Waiting for show time
After partying for about 3 hours the line began to move our way
A Scottish warrior order was there
You will never guess what he had on under his kilt
Scooter trash
Just the type who give riders a bad name...wink...wink...nod
Cueing up for parking
The parade ends at the Lincoln Monument near the Vietnam Memorial Wall