Rolling Thunder 2015

[DblTrbl]

Wondering if any folks from the New England area are planning to attend Rolling Thunder 2015? I'm working on my bucket list and feel this is one trip that is a must. Would be nice to ride at least part way with some locals.

Anyone who has attended in the past, got any advise on preparing for the trip or what to avoid?

 

[Steve on 3]

I am actually in SC so I can't help with the ride , but after about 12 Rolling Thunder Demonstration Rides, I will offer a few pearls. One , go ahead and make reservations now. The further outside the city you stay, the more reasonable the rooms are and better availability of shopping. We stayed at the Courtyard Fair Oaks in Fairfax VA. Inside rooms, ample parking, safe area, lots of food close by. About $95 per night. There are many hotels closer and more expensive. read the reviews on each. Avoid Oxon Hill Md. a little too high crime for me.

Friday night, go to the candlelight service at the wall. Saturday or other days, go to the National Cathedral , monuments etc. You need tickets (free) for the Washington Monument and white house. By all means go see the WW2 Memorial. Call your senator or representative. They can get you some good tickets and help. Go to Thunder Alley Saturday. patches and the usual vendor stuff but you will see old friends, meet new ones. Grab a bite to eat while there.

On the east side of town, Ft.

Washington HD has a party on Saturday,. with vendors, a band and food. Saw Paul Revere there one year. On the west side, Patriot HD does the same thing but on a slightly smaller scale.

On Sunday you can ride in with the dealership and several thousand other riders on an escorted ride to the Pentagon. We got lost several times with Ft. Washington and started riding in with Patriot. All the local dealers have a ride in. Patriot brought us in on I66 and totally blocked I66 to all traffic all the way to the parking lot. Important....get to the line up spot at Patriot early or you will be in the back of a very long line.

If not riding in with anyone, get to the Pentagon paring lot as soon as you can on Sunday. 7Am is not too early. The earlier you get there, the earlier you begin the ride. First bike out at noon , last bike probably 4 or 5 oclock. Take snacks and a sheet or something with you. There are some food vendors but the wait can be long. Same with bathrooms, you can wait for a while for a bathroom. Circulate through the parking lot, If you have people riding together, make sure they park nose to tail. The let one row at a time go, if they are beside you in line, they will be 150 bikes and several minutes ahead.

Carry flags for your bike, honk your horn, people will walk out into the street to high five you.

Take a picture of the Marine Sgt saluting all riders behind the Lincoln Memorial. The ride will be over before you know it and you will be back at a parking area.

Speaking of parking....DC cops love to give tickets to bike parked illegally. Park where lots of other bikes park near the wall. Don't be a trend setter.

Sorry for being long. Enjoy the trip. If I can answer anything , just ask

Steve

 

[Lucky]

On my list, but can't do it next year. Hope it works out for you. RIDE SAFE

 

[Rosy]

Dennisgar, we have done the trip from Dover to DC area several times. We stayed in Woodbridge, VA, where we had relatives.
It is a 12 hour saddle ride, so you better have a good seat under you. We have a stock GL 1800 saddle with gel pads from Walmart ($20 each) and 1/2 foam cut outs in case we needed to change the seating position which we never used, but we did have it.
I suggest not using the GPS route over the George Washington Bridge. We got stuck in traffic for a long time in stop and go traffic. After the first time, we made up a route over the Tappan zee Bridge and down to the NJ Pike.
If you are trailering made sure your trailer is very stable because you will hit some pot holes as big as Cadillacs. My brother-in-law was following me on his trike and said my trailer after hitting some pot holes was up about a foot off the pavement. Never felt it with my Donkey Trailer, which is very stable.
You have my email, so in case you need more info, just give me a shout.

Rosy

 

[DblTrbl]

Steve and Rosy, thanks for the info. Very helpful. I may have a place to stay in MD not to far outside of DC. I would be riding and my seat if very comfy. Road the bike from FL and did a 550 and 650 day with no problems. I know about the GWB first hand. On the way from FL I followed the GPS and ended up walking my bike 5.2 miles up to and halfway across the GWB. Only took 2 1/2hrs to make that section of the trip.

Not sure if I will make the trip this year or next. Want to get with some old Air Force buddies and meet up someplace.

Again thanks for the info....will keep it handy for future use.

 

[DTR 11TG]

I'm not from your area, but I have been wanting to/hoping to do the Run for the Wall & Rolling Thunder.

Is there any recommended camping sites for my TG & Mini Mate near DC?

How many TT members are doing or have done the Run & Rolling Thunder?

 

[cjmitch]

I suggest not using the GPS route over the George Washington Bridge. We got stuck in traffic for a long time in stop and go traffic. After the first time, we made up a route over the Tappan zee Bridge and down to the NJ Pike.

No motorcycles can use the HOV lanes including the EZ-Pass lanes. this should take some of the time off your trip

 

[Steve on 3]

I'm not from your area, but I have been wanting to/hoping to do the Run for the Wall & Rolling Thunder.

Is there any recommended camping sites for my TG & Mini Mate near DC?

How many TT members are doing or have done the Run & Rolling Thunder?

There is a campground on the north side of DC in Maryland I think. It has Cherry in it. Cherry Park, Cherry something. If you are military, they probably have camping areas at the bases around DC.

 

[SMSgt]

I'm not from your area, but I have been wanting to/hoping to do the Run for the Wall & Rolling Thunder.

Is there any recommended camping sites for my TG & Mini Mate near DC?

How many TT members are doing or have done the Run & Rolling Thunder?

I've done Run For The Wall 3 times. If you are thinking of doing RFTW they have camping sites already arranged. It is well worth the ride at least once, (LA to DC).

 

[HarleyPap57]

I am actually in SC so I can't help with the ride , but after about 12 Rolling Thunder Demonstration Rides, I will offer a few pearls. One , go ahead and make reservations now. The further outside the city you stay, the more reasonable the rooms are and better availability of shopping. We stayed at the Courtyard Fair Oaks in Fairfax VA. Inside rooms, ample parking, safe area, lots of food close by. About $95 per night. There are many hotels closer and more expensive. read the reviews on each. Avoid Oxon Hill Md. a little too high crime for me.

Friday night, go to the candlelight service at the wall. Saturday or other days, go to the National Cathedral , monuments etc. You need tickets (free) for the Washington Monument and white house. By all means go see the WW2 Memorial. Call your senator or representative. They can get you some good tickets and help. Go to Thunder Alley Saturday. patches and the usual vendor stuff but you will see old friends, meet new ones. Grab a bite to eat while there.

On the east side of town, Ft.

Washington HD has a party on Saturday,. with vendors, a band and food. Saw Paul Revere there one year. On the west side, Patriot HD does the same thing but on a slightly smaller scale.

On Sunday you can ride in with the dealership and several thousand other riders on an escorted ride to the Pentagon. We got lost several times with Ft. Washington and started riding in with Patriot. All the local dealers have a ride in. Patriot brought us in on I66 and totally blocked I66 to all traffic all the way to the parking lot. Important....get to the line up spot at Patriot early or you will be in the back of a very long line.

If not riding in with anyone, get to the Pentagon paring lot as soon as you can on Sunday. 7Am is not too early. The earlier you get there, the earlier you begin the ride. First bike out at noon , last bike probably 4 or 5 oclock. Take snacks and a sheet or something with you. There are some food vendors but the wait can be long. Same with bathrooms, you can wait for a while for a bathroom. Circulate through the parking lot, If you have people riding together, make sure they park nose to tail. The let one row at a time go, if they are beside you in line, they will be 150 bikes and several minutes ahead.

Carry flags for your bike, honk your horn, people will walk out into the street to high five you.

Take a picture of the Marine Sgt saluting all riders behind the Lincoln Memorial. The ride will be over before you know it and you will be back at a parking area.

Speaking of parking....DC cops love to give tickets to bike parked illegally. Park where lots of other bikes park near the wall. Don't be a trend setter.

Sorry for being long. Enjoy the trip. If I can answer anything , just ask

Steve

One of these years I want to do this ride. A few of us have talked about it the last three years but it's never panned out. I have family in Richmond, VA and Gettysburg, PA and thought it would make a great ride and visit the battlefields also.