The words of Anacortes Police Captain John Small in describing Sunday’s 27th Annual Oyster Run. Picture perfect weather no doubt contributed to the tremendous turnout.

My own Oyster Run experience began with breakfast at the Hometown Cafe in Sedro-Woolley. There I joined members of Star Touring & Riding Chapters 154 (Burlington) and 5103 (B.C., Canada). Combined the group numbered around 50 riders and over 40 bikes. We filled the upstairs dining room.

Full credit to the staff at the Hometown as our meals were delivered promptly and correctly. The only hiccup was checkout as the the credit card machine had some intermittent trouble that delayed the proceedings.

Filled with good food, we mounted up and divided into two groups. A round-about route to Anacortes via Edison had us joining a thickening stream of bikes headed West on Highway 20. We made the turn onto Commercial Street around 11:30. The streets North of 12th were already full of parked bikes. We threaded our way through all the way down to 2nd street where we were directed to park on one of the blocked off side streets.

After securing gear we set off in smaller groups to see the sights. We arrived a couple of blocks away just in time to see the Seattle Cossack perform their first of two demonstration shows. Every time I see these guys I am impressed. There is some serious bike-handling skill in this group.

After the show we set off in search of ride pins and t-shirts for other members of our small group. The crowded sidewalks made staying together challenging and it was not long before my son and I were separated from the rest of the group and on our own.

We walked both sides of Commercial checking out bikes and vendors. We were hoping to find some gloves for my son, but being a more sport-bike leaning youngster, we did not find the carbon-fiber-knuckled gloves that he was seeking in the seas of black leather cruiser accessories.

I did notice a large number of Christian riding groups with booths in the vendor areas. I’m not sure why there were so many, but they seemed to be at every turn. Also with a larger presence than I recall seeing were members of the Bandidos. The club had a booth and one end of one of the side streets setup as their base camp for the event. There were no problems that I observed; there just seemed to be many more out in their colors than I recall seeing in prior years.

I have learned from experience to try to get out of town by 3:00 or be stuck in a stop-and-go crawl. So we headed back to the bike around 2:30 to saddle up and move out. Bikes entering town still outnumbered those exiting and there was a great deal of congestion getting out of the parking area. I accidentally grazed another rider’s leather saddlebag with my highway peg when I was pinched by another rider who wasn’t looking. The peg folded right up and there was no harm done.

Finally reaching the highway I found myself being followed closely, too closely, by a VW minivan. I waved the driver to back off. No change in following distance. I waved again. Still no change. Finally finding room in the right lane I moved over to let the van pass and gave the universal WTF signal. The passenger in the van returned the gesture along with a dirty look. As the van passed I saw a sticker in the window: Share the road, with BICYCLES! Ah, the irony.

On the whole it was a good day. There were a few accidents and one fatality on local roads. I’m sure the business owners in Anacortes had a big day. My wife had the digital camera in Florida so did not get any pictures. Fortunately one of the Star riders posted his photos and Jeff over at the Hog Blog has some great photos and video of the event.

According to some, the increased cost of food and delivery have made the cafe unprofitable causing the owner’s to decide shut it down.

On Sunday Skagit Powersports is presenting the Assfire 400 (formerly Das Bavarian Kruse). This day-long ride will follow the Cascade Loop and includes a stop in Leavenworth for lunch. Registration begins at 9 am at Skagit Powersports.

On Tuesday I contacted Cycle News‘ legal counsel and we discussed possible courses of action. In short, they have a strong case and the resources to win it. I have neither. I have submitted a proposal for a “ramp down” period during which I will rename my site and migrate all of the content to a new domain. I am waiting for a response from Cycle News.

The attorney from Cycle News was very reasonable and indicated that her client had no interest in causing me to lose readers and there were no issues with the content of my site. As a trademark holder, Cycle News is obligated to defend their mark lest it be weakened. While I did not think that I was infringing their trademark, using two common words that accurately describe what I do, trademark law doesn’t see it that way and essentially obligates Cycle News to defend their mark.

Stay tuned.

Previous guests include Craig Vetter, Genevieve Schmitt, Jay Ridley, and Dave Nichols. You can download previous shows at HogRadio.

I hope that you will check it out.

My friend Jon very graciously loaned me his Nelson-Rigg RiggPak set-up and a handful of RokStraps to tie everything down. I have made list after list of things to pack. I have added things to the list, only to take them back off after further consideration of weight, space and utility.

Finally, Saturday morning, I am ready to roll the bike out of the garage for a pre-ride check. I do this weekly and before any major ride. As I circled the bike looking for anything amiss I see that my front wheel is covered in oil. Not good. Upon closer inspection it is apparent that a fork seal has developed a leak and covered my front wheel and brake disc with fork oil.

Just like that, my plans have changed.

First, it is refreshing to see the WSP taking action to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities in our state. Certainly there is a lot that needs to be done to improve motorcycle safety in Washington. The fact that roughly half of all motorcycle fatalities involve no vehicle other than the motorcycle is telling.

It is clear that the WSP has made this program a high priority and put it on the fast track. Their very aggressive timetable of 22 YEARS is an indication of the seriousness with which they are pursuing their goal. (Yes, folks, that was sarcasm.)

Second, what kind of goal is zero fatalities anyway? I’m sorry, given the infinite number of ways for a motorcyclist to be killed on Washington roads, many of which are unforeseeable and therefore not preventable, how is this even remotely achievable? These are just “feel-good” words about unattainable goals.

I get very skeptical whenever I see government agencies and politicians use words like “zero.” (”Zero tolerance” anyone?) Usually the word “zero” is a good indicator of the amount of logic and sense applied. WSP’s Target Zero is another example of just that.

Kai established a non-profit to handle the money, recruited volunteers to help out, gathered prizes from local sponsors, planned the route, coordinated stops at other firehouses and promoted the event within the fire service community. All of Kai’s preparations came together last Saturday morning in the parking lot of Whatcom County Fire District 4, Station 12.

I arrived early to find Kai and his parents setting up registration tables. Coffee, bottled water, doughnuts, granola bars, and bananas were available for riders. I had a chance to talk to Kai briefly and he expressed some nervousness about the day’s event going well; hoping that he had planned well. He need not have worried.

When the group gathered in front of Station 12 for a photo, there were over 40 bikes lined up and the John Nourse Cancer Fund had collected $1000. Most of the riders where active or retired fire service members. Sport bikes, cruisers, dual sports and Gold Wings had all come together for a common cause.

The route took the group to firehouses in Whatcom and Skagit County. At the after party, held at the Ferndale Bob’s Burgers and Brews, I asked Kai how he think it went. He said that he had learned a lot and that there were a few things he will do differently next year. Seeing the results of Kai’s first effort, I have no doubt that next year’s event will be bigger and better.

I am glad that a group of motorcyclists has finally stood up and let everyone know that the roads and highways are our personal playgrounds and that we don’t give a whit about the safety or convenience of others on the road.

Now that the truth has been revealed, I am sure the non-riding, voting public will simply quake with fear and tell their legislators to give us whatever we ask for. For example, I am sure that it will be no problem to get higher penalties for drivers who kill bikers and make sure that insurance coverage is available for injured riders.

Yep, after your masterful display, it should be no problem at all to convince drivers to treat us with courtesy respect.

So thanks I-5 stunters.