My brother and I ages 66 and 63 are planning on joining the run for the wall ride in Ms. next month and need info. and advise on what to expect. Any advise form those that have made the ride?

 

You talking about riding to the VietNam Memorial in Washington DC?

 

Yes the Run for the wall to Arlington, Va. and it ties with the Rolling Thunder ride on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

 

Hey, I talked with Charlie yesterday and he told me y'all were going to do the ride. I did it last year as I am working in VA and staying in Richmond. I rode up to Quantico HD, just south of DC. They gather there, provide coffee and donuts, have a small service, and then an escorted ride to the pentagon. I got there about 0630 and we left at 0830 or so for the 15-20 minute ride. The year before they had 4000 at the dealership. Not sure about last year but a lot of bikes. Lots of people everywhere along the roads and overpasses.


I am pretty sure a lot of the dealerships sponsor these escorted rides. A lot of people just ride in the Pentagon.


They use a couple of parking lots at the pentagon to stage the riders. There are bathrooms (porta johns) and food and drink vendors there. I carried some stuff to eat and drink. Find some shade when you get there. It is a long hot wait and not a lot of shade. Lots of people.


They start out riding two at a time as fast as they can ride out at 1200. We pulled out at quarter till two. Lots of people. You make the big loop around the mall area and then at the very end there is an area to pull off on the left for parking. I kept going last year but wish I had parked for a little while.


Great ride. I don't know if I will do the ride this year on not. Marty

 

I've done it 3 times, it's awesome, we got our hotel outside of DC near one of the out lying subway stops and rode the subway in to do our sight seeing,(visit the memorials at night it's crazy cool), buy a day pass and you can go all over DC. the Harley dealers do escorted rides to the pentagon on parade day, or you can venture there on your own, when you get to the Pentagon parking lot STAY NOSE TO TAIL with who you are riding with or you will get separated when the parade starts, check out thunder alley that's where you'll find the vendors. Most importantly if you are a Veteran THANK YOU! and thank those Veterans you see while your there. Enjoy the ride! God Bless!

 

Thanks for the info., did you guys do the run for the wall or just the rolling thunder? In the run for the wall itinerary it doesn't mention how big the groups are. We'll be joining the southern route and have 4 days of riding and events along the way. It looks like most of the meals are donated and motels are discounted to a group rate. We're really looking fwd. to the event, and yes I am a vet. of the air force.

 

we had a small group that just went down for the parade and to tour DC, the memorials, Arlington Cemetery, and Changing of the Guard and such.

 

When you get up this way, let me know and we can ride. DC is an awful place to drive a car, let alone ride a bike though.

 

One thing to keep in mind regarding the actual Ride to the Wall from the Pentagon. The earlier you get to the Pentagon, the better the chance you stand of getting out of the lot in a timely manner. I've done it 8 years in a row. The 1st year we rode in with a small group from a local dealership, arriving at the Pentagon parking lot at 9:40. Positioning in the Pentagon parking lot that year got us "kickstands" up at 1:45pm. The next year we rode in with a much larger group from another local dealership, arrived at the parking lot around 1000 and went kickstands up at 1:30.

For the past 6 years, we have been riding to the Pentagon direct and arriving there around 6:30 in the morning, even though the website advertises parking lot doesn't open until 8, they open long before that. Each of those remaining 6 years we were kickstands up by 1:00pm.

Unless you are riding in the larger "sponsor" groups, who get front of line access, like the DVA etc...the sooner you get there the better


Just some food for thought once you get here

 

As a Vietnam Era Veteran, it still moves me to be a part of the weekend.
So many things going on.
One thing I have yet to do and will this year...
Candlelight Vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (the Wall).
That is always Friday evening at 9:00 PM of the Memorial Day Weekend.

Myron