RNS Special Correspondent The Mom attended the South Sound Toy Run yesterday.
For those unfamiliar with it, a few thousand folks on their Harleys and Hondas get together and bring toy donations for the United States Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program which hands out toys to children who aren’t getting much at Christmas year. I don’t know for sure just how many years they’ve been putting this on, but I can remember at least six of them.
This year was at least as large as those of the past, if not larger.
This may be the only time of year and the only event where Goldwings and Choppers can be seen side by side, with the chaps and bandana crowd not even audibly poking fun at the in their puffy touring suits. And any event that can help that happen has got to be a good thing.
Btw, if you have $26500 sitting around and have all the guns and ammo you think you’ll need and don’t want to give it to me, this bike was still for sale at the end of the day, as I understand it.
While I stand firmly behind the belief that mechanical art and red should ever be mixed, that is one absolutely gorgeous motorcycle.
Was this in Lacey/Olympia?
I guess at least the mammoth traffic tie-ups were for a good cause. (It took me about 20 minutes to go from my house to the coffee place to the freeway-a total distance of about 1.5 miles.)
Yep. Sorry, I forgot include that.
This toy run is in it’s 29th year. The official count of bikes this year was 7,200 ! The price of admission to join in the event is a new toy or $15 per bike. These people come from all over the state (and beyond) to participate and while I was there, I didn’t see a scowl or hear a single compaint from any of them even though it was super cold and they had to have froze their asses off coming up/down the freeway that morning.
If you have a reason to be in the Lacey/Olympia area next year on the first Saturday in December, it’s worth stopping by and wandering around for a while. To see so many taking the time to do something for others and having a great time while their doing it, will make your heart feel good.
Good cause and a nice tradition.
Phil, I presume you make an exception for Ferraris? They too are often gorgeous, and they’re almost always red.
I give the Ferraris a minor exception. They design their art pieces for the color, so that works, but they have to give me either a black or a graphite substitute.