20th Annual High Country Toy Run

Bikers riding two up in a procession stretching as far as you can see in both directions is an amazing site, especially when they have toys strapped to their bikes for children from El Paso and Teller Counties. The United States Marine Corp sponsored the 20th Annual High Country Toy Run on October 7, 2007. The weather chilled down from a high of around 80 degrees on Saturday to a chilly fifty or so the day of the ride, but the chrome on the bikes and the biker spirit of giving brought the temp up so many could ride without jackets.

Hundreds and possibly more than a thousand riders gathered at the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum on north Nevada. Santa was there on his beautiful bike, and along with all of his biker helpers were Marines from Denver, soldiers from Fort Carson, and Boy Scouts selling raffle tickets.

After a short ceremony at the museum complete with the pledge of allegiance and a blessing by the Christian Motorcycle Association, the v-e-r-y long procession left headed for Cowboys on Academy Boulevard. We were escorted by motorcycle cops from the Colorado Springs Police Department on their speedy Honda 1100 sport bikes.

I was actually glad that I was about two-thirds of the way back in the procession. I got to see all of the people who had come out from their homes to wave and cheer us on and the riders in front and behind me. Watching the motorcycle cops riding around 70 MPH in the left lane was a lot of fun too. When we reached Cowboys there was a nice $5.00 meal and great stuff for the raffle and auction.

We left early hoping to get out of town before the rain storm that was moving in. We got a little wet, and it was chilly, but we had a great time and will attend the ride again next year.