Australian Road Rider — August 2017

When I explain our gun laws he looks at me as

though I’ve just told him I’m from Mars. “That

would never happen here,” he says, in a tone

that suggests he’d make damn sure of that.

It’s a lonely ride as 50 winds its way through

the hills towards West Virginia, passing small,

busted-arse communities that once used to

thrive on the back of coal and timber but

are now populated by those either too old or

unable to fi nd work. We’re at 1000 metres or

so, the temperature has dropped and towering

oaks line the road. I’m starting to see a lot of

bikers heading in the same direction.

It’s the Friday before the Memorial Day

holiday weekend. Memorial Day is America’s

equivalent to our Anzac Day and part of

the tradition is that biker veterans from

around the country ride with their mates to

Washington DC for their annual rally, The

Patriot Ride.

Several groups of them are staying in the

same motel, on the outskirts of Washington,

where Route 50 meets the Beltway. Harley

baggers are their machine of choice but many

of the older vets, or those who can’t manage a

motorcycle for health reasons, are on Cam Am

Spyders. Almost all of them fl y the Stars and

Stripes from their machines along with the

banner of whatever unit of the armed forces

they served with.

Their colours tell their war stories, too. The

lament of vets everywhere is that they are

treated badly by the country they served and

these guys are no diff erent.

I’m tempted to spend another day in

Washington and go to their rally but in the

r A reminder of the importance of Route 50 to the Wells Fargo transport phenomenon. r If Bill can make it here, he'll make it anywhere.

r The Ultra looks completely at home on Route 50. That's probably because it is.

72 | AUSTRALIAN ROAD RIDER

ROUTE 50: THE LONELIEST ROAD IN AMERICA PART II

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