Atlanta Ride for Kids

June 4-5, 2011

The Ride for Kids is a program put on by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation based in Asheville, NC to raise money for research to fight childhood brain tumors. There are rides in 48 cities throughout the country to date. RFK is strictly a motorcycle program, with motorcyclists raising money for this worthy cause. Ruth and I participate in the Atlanta RFK in June, and the Asheville RFK held in August. The rides are always held on a Sunday, and travel along scenic country roads to a destination town where the very emotional Celebration of Life festivities are held.

For the Atlanta ride, which we have been doing for seven years, we make a nice weekend out of it. We left Saturday morning for Dahlonega, Ga., which also happens to be the destination point for this RFK. We ate lunch at Rider's Hill, a great destination in itself: cafe, lounge, apparel and gear, and best of all Italian motorcycles! They are a very successful Aprilia and Moto Guzzi dealer. Also on the property is a repair and tire shop. All this in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. After lunch, we head south on the arrow straight GA 400, a straight shot to Alpharetta and our hotel for the night. Our favorite restaurant in Alpharetta is Bahama Breeze, a Caribbean eatery serving up fantastic food and an outdoor Tiki bar! Be sure to wear your Magnum P.I. shirt.

The next morning, 480 motorcycles met up in the NorthPoint Mall parking lot for the police escorted ride to Dahlonega (all RFK rides are police escorted). After a very spirited run up GA 400, compliments of the GA Highway patrol, we turn off onto the scenic twisty roads of North Georgia. Arriving in Dahlonega, we are escorted to the high school where a huge tent is set up for the Celebration of Life. Survivors and parents talk about their experiences dealing with this disease and doctors get up and talk about the progress being made to treat and eventually eliminate this disease.

After the ceremony, everyone goes their own way home. Ruth and i go to downtown Dahlonega and have lunch in our favorite cafe there, the Crimson Moon

. Fantastic food and coffees. Then it's back on the motorbike and rolling back to South Carolina. A fun, yet emotional weekend, every time.

For more info:
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation: http://www.pbtfus.org/
Ride for Kids: http://www.ride4kids.org/

Please join us August 28 for the Asheville RFK and help these kids. You won't be disappointed.


Here are some pics from the trip:



Front of Riders Hill Cafe, store and dealership





Roo relaxing after lunch



Roo on her Moto Guzzi Breva - she's a Guzzisti

 These pics are from Alpharetta on Sunday morning - the beginning of the ride:



North Point Mall parking lot - Alpharetta, GA




Our Po Po escort

These pics are from the ride destination in Dahlonega and the Celebration of Life:


The Big Top in Dahlonega for the Celebration of Life



Brain tumor survivors during Celebration of Life



Two survivors telling their stories



The check: $118,800 raised! And this is just 1 of 48 rides!

These photos taken in downtown Dahlonega:



The Crimson Moon Cafe-our favorite Dahlonega eatery



Downtown Dahlonega



Roo struck it rich! Dahlonega was the first "gold rush" boom town.