Margaritaville Bike Bash

     August 15th, Augusta, Ga.- Harley-Davidson of Augusta takes you to the beach with American made motorcycles, Blues and Rock, Beach Babe Contest, and brightly colored tropical birds. When I came across the parking lot I saw Bailey the girl (parrot) of my dreams. I hope one day to travel to Harlem, Ga. to see her at the Parrot Paradise Park. The Paradise Park is run by the Feathered Friends Rescue/Refuge on Byrd Dr. and is a non-profit organization. This rescue Park is open every weekend and is the largest in the U.S. Since February of 2009 another two hundred Cockatiels and many other types of birds have come to live at the refuge. Now the park has a total of eight hundred tropical birds.

     At eleven under the carport The Robbie Ducey Band came on stage. Robbie Ducey grew up in Augusta, Ga. and he is the lead guitarist, singer, songwriter. What's better than a cover band that specializes in the blues rock of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix to entertain you at a bike event? Robbie Ducey Band introduces its own original brand of blues rock, while paying homage to the legends. Robbie
Ducey spent the first part of his career playing in cover bands and party bands, playing the endless grind of the live music circuit. But in 1996 something changed for Mr. Ducey. Robbie decided it was time to break out from the cover band and start his own band. Robbie has the help of Mark Jones on bass guitar and vocals and Jim Bender who plays the drums and vocals. I was expecting beach music (Jimmy Buffet) or maybe Shag music. I was surprised that the band played Blues / Rock / R&B. Maybe the music has changed since I have been to Myrtle Beach. The band still sounded great to all the bikers that was on hand that day.

     I noticed on the back of a few vests of the riders that were attending this event had the club patch "Veterans Hope Mill N.C." When I had a chance to talk to one of the riders I found that Master Sergeant Stephen & his wife Dawn Booth of Sanford, N.C. had passed away tragically on Saturday, April 25, 2009, due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. The veterans from Spring Lake N.C. was riding to Carrollton, GA. to visit the couples two sons, Rhyan and Garrett Booth. Jeff O'Brien the General Manager of the Augusta H-D let these veterans use the shop for a stop over going and coming from Fayetteville N.C. Jeff also donated gifts for bikers to give to the two boys. Master Sergeant Stephen Booth was a veteran of five combat tours taking part in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stephen Booth was a Senior Special Forces Weapons Sergeant assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group, according to a release from the Army Special Operations Command. He enlisted in May 1995 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg. He earned his Green Beret in April 2004 and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group in 2006. His awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal, twice for valor; the Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. It is sad to me that a man with such a great military background would to come home to be killed by a careless driver.

     Since I have been going to rallies across the state of Georgia I have become a connoisseur of hot dogs and hamburgers. Indigo Joe's had a booth setup and was serving some of the finest food and beer that I have found in a long time. On this hot day a cold cup of beer tasted great to the bikers. Marisa Harris was the bartender to all the bikers and she kept their cups full.

     When it came time for the Beach Babe Contest at the end of the day four young ladies had entered. The contestants were Madison, Amanda, Roxanne, and Bailey(a parrot). Donna brought Bailey onto the stage for the judging even if she was a little anxious about holding Bailey. Most of the bikers were pulling for Bailey to win the contest. After the votes were counted the judges picked Madison as the winner of the $300 and Roxanne won $100 for being the runner up. If I was one of the judges my pick would be between the Amanda in the small black bikini or Roxanne in the seashell bikini. I am still wondering where she got the shells that was the right size.

     When I called it a day at the Harley beach I was still asking the big question "Where in the world are the Margaritas"? Also there wasn't any sand to run your toes through or get in your boots or bathing suit. Needless to say since I was having such a good time I didn't miss either one until I left the Bike Bash.

Tommy "Brother Bear" Pittard