We went down to the Ozarks this week to relax from our oh-so-stressful lives. Imagine how excited we (mostly Cute) were to discover the 18th annual Bike Fest was starting this week. Now envision our disappointment when we realized it was really starting the day we planned to leave. What to do, what to do. Stay or leave?
Now Cute is pretty much a fan. He’s owned big(ger) motorcycles and is still alive. But now he still owns a bike – but the kind you pedal with an electrical assist if necessary. My motorcycle experience is definitely more limited – but I have ridden on the back of several (against my parents’ wishes and my better sense) and can say that a slight crash into a Lawrence front yard years ago performed a medical miracle on my toe, cutting off an unsightly wart. It’s never returned.
BikeFest began in 2006 with only 2,500 to 3,000 leather-clad attendees. It was started by local businesses to attract people into the area after “the season” to stay and consume (they don’t talk so much about that part) and to explore the beauty of the area (true). Now in its 18th year, the approximate 125,000 attendees began entering the area by Tuesday. By late Thursday, most will be here to sample more than 300 bars and restaurants, over 50 live music and entertainment shows, many stores, and beautiful rides and rallies to suit every taste.
If the crowds don’t scare you, you can still get to BikeFest. It’s in full swing until this Sunday. If you miss it this year, it’s September 10th – 14th in 2025. You can’t rent a bike though, just FYI – but you can buy one here along with an extraordinary number of other things.
Maybe we’ll try to catch it next year. This year, we were on the road going home – not on a Harley, sigh, but still, seeing hundreds. And hearing.
P.S. You can live vicariously, well, take a glance, by going to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTVrUzDlxKc
P.P.S. Ducks, nudies, car-boat, our boat driver, Marty Byrd's Bar and P. Mahomes' lake house are in the above slide show just because . . .
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