Motorcyclists convention in Akron, Ohio

I guess that I should know that I learn more about items I think I know something about by talking to others who know more.  Maybe I am just too young to be aware of that (at 77?). 

Anyway in our following of Jay and Terri's oldest daughter, Tobey's, softball adventures, we have been staying at various hotels/motels throughout Ohio.  A couple of weeks ago we checked into the Raddison Fairlawn in Akron, Ohio.  Jeanie and I were shocked to see about a dozen motorcyclists were also checking in.  We still have the stereotypical ideas of "outlaw motorcyclists" encased from past years.  I talked with a few of the cyclists Sunday morning before we were to check out and found, to my great surprise, that this is an annual Akron convention for Alcoholic Anonymous cyclists.  I asked why I had seern no mention of the convention in the local news.  This was the fiufteenth year of the convention which mixes in the 12 tennants and some patriotic items into their program at Akron University.  That Sunday they were to parade through the university and the downtown streets of Akron. 

Jim Crist, a construction contractor out of Dayton, OH, told me quite a bit.  Jim said they purposely sought no publicity.  Jim had a beard that looked to be about most of his fifty years growth.  He told me that it was less than a year old.  He lifted his hat to reveal a full growth of hair on top.  That surprised this nearly eighty year old, who has a young goatee (semi ?) but very few hairs on top. 

Jim pointed out several bikes in the parking lot from where we sat.  Twin Hondas, one gold and one auburn, were $22,000 machines.  Most bikes in the lot were Harley Davidsons.  Honda and Harley had similar quality and prices in their bikes.  Harleys are still made in America as many Hondas are now.  Jim's was a tri-wheeler Harley at $40,000.  Jim had been in AA for nine years and remained dry as probably all of these attenders are.  Another rider I failed to catch his name from Toledo, had rtetired early from a postal job as I recall.  He told me that Yamaha made a very comparable bike but at a three to four thousand dollar lesser price. 

There had been no troubles in the area that I knew of and these people pretty well congregated amonjg their own.

I asked why it is that I hardly remember ever seeing a dirty motorcycle on the road.  The fellows more or less said that most enjoyment riding occurs on weekends after a work week and the fellows are so proud of their bikes that they are dusting and polishing throughout the week days. 

The AA has done a terrific job in so many ways.  I am a teetotaler, who might have been an alcohholic because of my love for iced tea and Kool aid.   As a retired engineer and a free lance writer, mostly just a free writer, I could not aford an eitghteen to forty thousand dollar cycle.   These were interesting people to talk with.  As I have said many times, God made nothing more interesting than people.