Charity motorcycle ride benefits Shop with a Cop
Published: July 3, 2006
Decked out in a blue T-shirt with pink trim, jeans and bright red boots, Haley Reid seemed at a loss for words after her first “official” motorcycle ride.
“It was fun,” the 6-year old proclaimed.
Her mother, Amanda Partlow of Remington, agreed.
“We would certainly do this again,” she said following the second annual motorcycle ride to benefit Shop with a Cop. “It turned out to be a beautiful day and this is a nice, safe ride (for Haley).”
Held on June 10, the ride began and ended at the Great Meadow Field Events Center in The Plains. Riders, who each paid $20 in order to participate, began to gather there at 1 p.m., and took off about an hour later.
First Sgt. George Jolley of the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office led the group on the 65-70 mile ride to and from Front Royal.
“This should be an easy ride,” Jolley told the riders just before they left. “We’ll ride in a staggered formation. Be alert, there’s a lot to watch for and we will be riding on some unmarked roads,” he added.
“Sam” from Front Royal had some additional advice as more than a dozen motorcycle engines roared to life.
“Have you ridden before?” he asked. “Good. Just remember to keep your shoulders square with mine. If I’m going to wreck, I’ll let you know, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
From the main parking lot at Great Meadow, the group went straight on Old Winchester Road and then made a right onto U.S. 17. From there, riders made their way through Marshall and headed west on John Marshall Highway.
Leaving Fauquier County, the group left the main road. As the ride continued, the scenery became more rural and the narrow, two-lane roads became a bit trickier to negotiate. Approaching it cautiously, the group even traversed a one-lane bridge just inches above a river.
Well into Warren County, the riders turned south onto Route 340 and headed toward Front Royal. The Front Royal police provided an escort as the procession wound its way through town.
Leaving downtown Front Royal behind, the group, which consisted of roughly 20-30 motorcycles of varying sizes and colors made its way back east towards The Plains.
Following the ride, which lasted about two hours, hungry participants were treated to a barbecue meal at Great Meadow. A raffle for goods donated by dozens of area businesses, and a 50/50 drawing were also held at the end of the day.
“It’s always good to ride in something like this since it’s for such a good cause,” said Bob Brendel, who works at the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s good to support a fellow law enforcement agency and I definitely plan on riding next year. I would ride every weekend if I could find a (charity ride) locally,” he added.
Brendel’s colleague, Steve Remick, said he has only been riding a motorcycle for a few months. He said the charity ride was the first time he’d ridden as part of a large group and that he was impressed with the event.
“This was a good day for this ride and there was a good blend of country roads and main roads,” he said. “It was very well run and (First Sgt. Jolley) did a good job of keeping everyone together. It was definitely nice to have that police escort set up in advance,” he added.
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