The Left Seat
by Jim Slade


If I didn't have an airplane..





...I'd probably have a Harley.

It'd be one of the big ones, the King of the Road-type traveling bikes with a deep throaty rumble to its voice, wide tires and a comfortable saddle. Really comfortable.

I'd polish it up, take it out and show it to my friends.

It would be great.

It's one of life's great temptations..even for a guy with a bad back.

Every summer..usually in July..my hometown, Morgantown, West Virginia, hosts "Mountainfest," a three day bike weekend that brings riders from all over the country. This year, the estimate is that more than 50,000 bikes of all sizes and classifications were in Morgantown; their owners came to parade, attend a big show at a mountaintop park, see their old friends, eat a lot, drink a bit and watch the fireworks. The event gets bigger every year and Morgantown loves it.

As usual, I wandered around, drooled a lot and took a big batch of pictures. Have a look:

Morgantown's a picturesque old "River Town," settled along the Monongahela in the 1700s as a trading and shipping center; Pittsburgh is just upstream. The High Street, two blocks up from the waterfront, clears traffic for the bikes during Mountainfest.





You can't have a festival without a parade. It took more than an hour to get them through this year. And that wasn't all of them by a long shot!



Now, that's comfort!




Every festival needs sponsors. There's a good one.

Out at the showgrounds..this was just one of the parking places. Bikes only, please.

You get parked and no sooner than you get through the gates it's Show Time!!




Some guys will do anything to get above it all..

..the concept is 'way over my head..




..but as they say: "What goes up.."

And he did.

Further inside..

Settle back. Relax. Go very fast..




You could get just about anything at the show; accessories, modifications, pinstriping and other decorations. Just roll 'er up to the booth.





Nice work.




Or, maybe you'd like a "whole body job." That's bling, Baby.

Yep, if I didn't have an airplane, I'd probably have a Harley. Joe Manchin, the Governor of West Virginia, has both, but he's the Governor and I'm not..and if that's what it takes, I'd just as soon stick to what I have. Nevertheless, it IS one of life's great temptations.






All in all, Mountainfest was great. Everybody said they had a real good time and were going home happy.

Till next year, then..keep the faith, y'all..we enjoyed having you..

..but it sure got quiet around here all of a sudden!


--Jim Slade
7/28/2008




Did you enjoy this article? Have a comment or a question? Write to Jim Slade at: jsairlines1@aol.com





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