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The welcome home signs kind of say it all.
Just look at that crowd of bikes, and of spectators. The streets, sidewalks,
roofs, skywalks, and parking structures of downtown Milwaukee are full.
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Definite Packer fans, but a look at their
plates shows them to be from Minnesota.
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An abundant sea of "Ride Loud Ride Proud"
signs reminds riders of the virtues of opening up the stock Harley exhaust
a bit.
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A look straight down Wisconsin Avenue to the
river shows it jammed with people and bikes.
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With things nearly at a standstill, people
have plenty of opportunity to say hello.
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Yet another visitor from down under, this
time a a single bike, rather than a whole group.
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Milwaukee police, auxiliary police (volunteer
officers with no arrest powers), and visiting police from other cities try
to keep the crowds back, but there is just too much energy and enthusiasm.
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One of the new V-Rod motorcycles. This is
Harley's newest, and most powerful bike.
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A couple of columns of reunion riders come
out of the bright open streets of the boulevard around the library and the
Marquette campus, and enter the shady and somewhat more congested area of
downtown proper.
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A couple of girls break ranks and wander out
towards the bikes. Though motorcycles are traditionally considered to be
a man's machine, they do stir something in the female heart.
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Slowing down a bit as the route narrows. The
streets here are wide, but they are full of people pressing in on the riders
and their bikes. Everyone wants to see, talk to, and even touch the motorcyclists
and their mounts.
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The crowd closes in down Wisconsin Avenue,
funneling the riders closer together, and eventually into a single lane by
the time they reach the bottom of the hill.
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Cameras, and extended arms at the ready, we
wait for the stream of motorcycles to continue. the people on the rooftops
and in the skywalks may have a better view, but they are missing most of
the action, and much of the fun of being down at street level.
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Packed in like sardines, riders and fans alike
wait for traffic to move. At least we are waiting in the shade.
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An overhead shot gives a faint idea of just
how many people are gathered here, and at how many levels they are sitting,
standing, climbing, and clinging to see the procession.
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Riders come by with their hands out, wanting
to touch the city, as much as the people of the city want to touch the riders.
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This must be what the rush hour is like in
hell. From time to time the parade stopped completely until traffic officers
ordered the crowds back to let the bikers through.
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Like deer on the first day of hunting season,
the riders are surrounded by Wisconsin residents aiming things at them and
firing away. Of course in this case it's cameras and camcorders. Unlike deer
season, here everyone gets a trophy.
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The bikers have just about been squeezed into
one single file. This has backed the parade up for blocks.
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This shot shows just how far out into the
street the parade goers have wandered. Every once and a while, an officer
comes to shoo us all back.
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Motorcycles crowd the sidewalk along with
people. These bikes are from visitors who did not ride in the parade but
wanted to be down here to see it.
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Quite the wedding party the town threw for
these two. I wish them luck trying to find a vacant hall for the reception.
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A bit farther down the street things get even
more tightly packed.
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