Bikes.

I like bikes.  When I was a kid, I learned how to ride a bike at a pretty early age, I think.  I can vaguely remember the training wheels, and the day that I worked up the nerve to free myself from those back wheel beasts.

And oh how I flew.  The wind in my hair and the bugs in my teeth.  I think I was five.  Maybe four.

I mean, by the time the seventh kid rolls around…. and that was me…. the whole bicycle riding deal is a lot like swimming.  Oh…. just DO IT already.

I thank the heavens above that my family wasn’t a Troupe of Wing Walkers at the Air Shows.  I will tell you that much right now.

But today….   I had my feet on the ground.  I worked at an event call Bridges, Bikes and Blues.  You see, I am on the Board of the Preble County Historical Society.  I have been… over the years… a member of the board off and on since the late 1990s.    And in recent years… we host this event called the BBB.

It is a big whopping bit of fun.  There is food, and music, and prizes,  and lots and lots of people.

And of course… at the title implies…. lots of Bridges & Bikes.   But these aren’t the kind of bikes I know…. these are what they call… Motorcycles.  Big shiny gorgeous loud motorcycles.  By the thousands.

It truly IS a cool event.   Folks take a tour of the county on their bikes and go to all of the historical covered bridges.  The whole thing comes to a finish in Eaton, at the Courthouse Square.   There are lots of food vendors… from Kemos Submarines to Homemade Ice cream.  And a Beer Garden.  I saw a lot of Beer Farmers in the Beer Garden area…. growing suds.

It was a beautiful day… with a lot of beautiful people…  on beautiful bikes.

As a Board Member… I feel the desire to thank all the people who rode safely and participated…. to all the hard working folks who volunteered to make this thing work… and to all the sponsors who backed it up.

But as a schmuck who thought her metallic green banana seat bicycle… with the streamers in the handlebars… and playing cards clothes pinned to the spokes… well… I think you all are AWESOME.

“I think the thing to do is to enjoy the ride while you’re on it.”  –   Johnny Depp