Riders coming in form Ga. to assist Tally and other area riders in escorting Jeremy Macks body home to Thomasville Ga.Jeremy Mack was an active duty member of the the Navy who died last week in a motorcycle crash in California.
approx 14 local riders (by local I mean some from Panama City as well as tally), as well as a reporter and photographer from the Tallahassee Democrat, met at Hwy 20 and Capital Circle where rain, thunder and lightning had me thinking "good thing I hadn't yet traded my PVC flagpole for a metal one".
We proceeded to the Tally airport where we met approx 26 (+ or -) riders who came in from Ga to assist with the escort to find that the storm had knocked out power to the airport and the plane may not be able to land. But don't ya know the rain stopped, the sky's cleared, power came back, the plane landed and the ride was on. Amazing how that stuff happens isn't it?
Now the problem how to do you get a funeral procession involving about 40 bikes, a hearse and a long line of cars occupied by family members through Tallahassee when TPD won't block for funerals anymore (though I do believe I have seen them block for buses full of football players but then again I could be wrong cause I know football players aren't as important as fallen warriors. Are they?) Well with the assistance of a certain Angel who we can't mention , getting out of Tally safely got done.
Then into Ga. where right before Thomasville after dark, Blue lights in the median lit up and I (and others thought), "oh damn". The Ga. cop does a quick U-Turn, speeds up and are you ready for this? Gets to the head of the line to lead the escort. As we get to certain intersections Ga. cops were there waiting, hitting their lights and stopping traffic. Until we got safely to the funeral home. In fact one officer even waited at the funeral home to insure those of us from Florida could find our way back to 319 (which was prob a good thing considering all the turns we made).
Now you know I can't pass up this little opportunity dont' cha? But heres the thing, Ga. has a helmet law. We don't. But I have been on poker runs in Ga. where the police have escorted riders through as many as 4 counties. So the conundrum? Which is worth more? The right to ride without a "helmet" or "respect"? Were it not for the fact that the "helmet wars" actually have nothing to do with "helmets", but address larger more important issues I would have to opt for the respect shown bikers and fallen servicemen by the Ga. police.
AND (of course you knew there had to be an "and")!!! If you have a moment take the time to drop a line to the Tallahassee Democrat who did a fine job on this story and their Photographer who took some dynamite pics (and also has me looking at my camera thinking, hmmm I dropped my cell phone in the toilet, should my camera be next)? Democrat story here and some damn good pics here. Rest in Peace Jeremy Mack, your riding free. rc
