Kylan was working in a Georgia Power bucket truck and jumped out to avoid an explosion when co-workers accidentally drilled into a gas line one month ago. He was only 25 and died yesterday morning before the ride began. He had only been married for three months. My heart breaks for his wife. Coworkers and fellow bikers from Georgia Power organized this ride. In the planning process, coworker Michael Hyde was in a motorcycle accident and his wife died. Here are a few pics of close to 60 bikes waiting in a nearby town, ready to join the big procession that started in downtown Atlanta and rode up to Ellijay (a North Georgia town).
This was the fun part...photographing all the bikes and seeing what made each one unique. I overheard a few conversations contemplating whether or not I would be riding a bike with them, or if I was not really the biker type. I think the general consensus was I was not the biker type. I just smiled.
Hmmmm, this would safely hold a camera....
Can you tell they are passionate about their bikes?
Seriously, if you can't trust a biker, who can you trust?
I spy.....Kelley?
Before they roared up their bikes, Tabitha and I took off and drove up the highway a mile or so. We took some test shots and scoped out the area to see where the best vantage point might be.
This was emotionally overwhelming watching 300+ bikers drive by and so many of them waving thanks for coming out. Their sense of community for each other was amazing. Well over a dozen police escorted this ride from the start to the back end. This Frito Lay truck pulled over at the start and stayed put until the last police car drove by. How respectful?!
I was lying on my stomach on the shoulder of the highway to take pics. I used my elbows for a tripod to steady my camera and now have some nice scrapes. They functioned ok for a tripod, but it was hard to keep myself together. With every wave and passing biker, I cried harder and struggled to see through my viewfinder. What an incredible celebration of Kylan's life with hundreds of men and women participating in a ride, doing something that Kylan loved.
I bet in real life, this lady is a hoot to be around. Can you see her long braids coming out of the helmet?
I didn't realize there were any children on the ride until I uploaded this picture. I found even more people waving in the pics than I had seen at the time.
I felt privileged to be there to capture these moments. Since I have posted pics on facebook, I have received thank you notes and friend requests from folks who were there on the ride. I was so touched. Apparently they were, too.
