This is the twentieth annual River Run in Laughlin, Nevada. More than 50,000 bikes and 75 to 100,000 riders are expected here over the next four days, making this the third biggest bike run in the U.S., just behind Sturgis and Daytona.
The attractions? Some of the finest things in life - great riding, bike shows, concerts, beautiful women, and high livin' at the hotel casinos in Laughlin.
What's Coming Up
Showers dampen the desert tonight. Thursday will be partly cloudy, and there's a 20 or 30% chance of showers late Thursday night. After that, the forecast is "Riding Weather" for the next 7 days, with lows around 60F at night and afternoon highs in the 80s. Fine weather, big bikes, and great roads coming together.
Queen of the roads is U.S. Route 66, winding from Topock to Oatman and on over the Black Mountains to Kingman, the Hualapai Reservation, and Seligman - 154 beautiful miles of historic and world famous American two-lane highway.
The main east-west route through Laughlin isn't so lucky this year. Since 9-11, truck traffic between Phoenix and Las Vegas has been diverted from Hoover Dam, and forced to detour through Laughlin and Bullhead on NV163 and AZ68. The grades from the mountain passes down to the river are hell on big-rig brakes. In the last few months there have been several spectacular runaway truck wrecks at the bottleneck intersections adjacent to the Laughlin bridge - miraculously, with no fatalities.
Otherwise, local roads are in good condition. Construction in the area has been suspended for the duration of the event, so there's good riding in every direction - south to Lake Havasu, north to Hoover Dam, east to Oatman, Kingman, Chloride and beyond.
In the evenings, after a day riding the roads, there are concerts, jams, and parties in Laughlin, including five nights of free outdoor blues concerts at the Colorado Belle, and a benefit concert by Paul Revere and the Raiders at Harrah's, among many others. The casinos have their acts together and good shows lined up.
Thursday through Saturday, Harley, Indian, and the Victory Motorcycle Company will have demo rides available. Harley's traveling museum will be open at the Riverside Hotel and Casino. Mother Road H-D of Kingman, Arizona will will have an emergency service center set up at the Ramada Express.
Four brand-new Harleys will be raffled off Saturday evening - a Fat Boy at the Pioneer, a Night Train at the River Palms, and a V-Rod and Road King at the Ramada Express.
As usual at a biker party, charity gets a nice slice of the pie. Dal-Con, the run's promoter, has donated over $280,000 to charities in the last 10 years. $5 of every $45 River Run registration fee will go through the new River Run Foundation to help support Easter Seals, the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Fund, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Colorado River. Where there are plenty of bike people, there's plenty of heart.
Up to Date
The leaders of the pack have been here riding the roads and taking in the sights for days already. People who've been here before know the "River Run weekend" makes a great week if they can swing it. In the days leading up to the Run, the roads are wide open, without extra traffic or speed cops. As more people ride in, the excitement and party atmosphere build up, to the full-bore jammin' on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
First Oatman Wreck of the Run
Out on Route 66, 3 miles east of Oatman at around noon Wednesday, Kathleen Ann Sallander, 50, of Snowflake, AZ rode a Big Twin off the tricky lower Gold Road hairpin, a tight decreasing radius turn. She rode it down a slope of boulders and into the thorn brush - getting cut, scratched, and banged up. "Two Dogs", one of the guides at the Gold Road mine, got on scene and gave her first aid until the Oatman and Mohave Valley Fire Departments arrived. She was air-evacked to the nearest hospital, apparently in stable condition.
The bike was towed back up to the road with a 4-wheel-drive and a rope. It's rideable, but a little dinged and tweaked.
This is the first Oatman wreck of the '02 Run. With luck it'll be the only one.
In Laughlin
Run registration is open in the Starview Room at Don Laughlin's Riverside Hotel and Casino. The Colorado Belle has a free outdoor blues concert by John Earl and the Boogey Man Band and The Willie Jaye Band from 3p.m. til 10 p.m. The party moves into the Belle's Boiler Room at 11, with The Willie Jaye Band and Cold Blue Steel playing til 2.
Tomorrow, things really get cooking. For a full list of events, check out http://www.laughlinriverrun.com/event_schedule.htm
