Hell's Angels behaved themselves

As many people already know, last week from Wednesday to Sunday our little town of less than 3,000 residents was the chosen reunion spot for about 500 Hell's Angels. We were fully aware of the function for a few weeks before, and I must admit I was a bit nervous about it. There were plenty of additional state police and also FBI officers here the whole time, plus the Angels had their own security and "policed" themselves very well.

Today's Hell's Angels are not the same grungy, greasy men as they are portrayed in the movies. Most are clean, well kept, leather clad men with fancy accessories such as Wiley X motorcycle sunglasses. I mean, the club members own Harley Davidson motorcycles exclusively and with their high price tags, you know these people have money.

All in all the week went well. I felt sorry for the families who came to visit our sleepy little town that were surprised when they happened upon a restaurant with 200 bikers parked out front. We were actually more disturbed by the police helicopter that circled the town every night, all night. As if they would be able to see anything from the air anyway, since we are in a very wooded and hilly area.

The highlight of their visit was when the local Red Hat Ladies group marched on over to the Angel's hotel to chat and ended up riding around on the backs of the motorcycles. What a sight to see a big burly man on his bike with a little 93 year old lady sitting in the back dressed to the nines with her big red hat, purple fancy dress, a red feather boa and high heels! That one made the local papers.