WATCH: Harley-Davidson rally draws thousands to Badenoch and Strathspey again
Nobody was counting yesterday afternoon but it’s estimated that more than 2,000 motorbikes joined the spectacular Ride Out to Grantown from Aviemore as the Thunder in the Glens rally got serious.
As ever, crowds lined the streets through the villages and at the Strathspey capital and the atmosphere was celebratory from beginning to end - despite the damp start.
Some of the crowd laughingly counted down the rain towards noon, knowing that the clouds that had been forming would dump on them right on ‘cue’.
Sure enough, as the police escort brought the awesome snake of bikers into view, the drizzle turned to proper rain and the road went shiny.
It spoiled nobody’s fun though as the hundreds and hundreds of participants passed through, most of them waving and laughing - even if relatively few this year had gone so far as to don the fancy dress.
There was Minnie the Minx and a Muppet or too, the occasional Devil and here and there a costume which frankly defied description, but every one of the riders had a beaming grin of their own and didn’t have to rely on any fancy dress.
By the time the procession had passed through another countdown came from some in the crowd - for the sun, which duly burst through the clouds onto the crowds that were milling through Aviemore and especially on the Macdonald Highland resort which was serving as HQ and general reception for the bikers, some of whom had travelled across Europe and beyond to join in the fun.
Dozens of stands had been set up to sell everything anybody could want and the music filled the air from all corners of the campus.
There is a full programme of events for the visitors to enjoy, from different bands to comedians to feature films. Tomorrow there will be the ritual ride out to the Cairngorm Car Park and an afternoon of top local music from both junior and senior Feis Spe virtuosi.
More anon…