Bike Week in Laconia 2011

I am writing this at midnight on Thursday of Laconia's 2011 Bike Week. I have just returned from a long day admiring bikes and spending money on things I don't need. It was awesome. If you have never been to Laconia for bike week or plan on hitting up 2011's bike week in the next few days, let me give you an idea of what it is like.

If you are not on a motorcycle, you will not be able to get to the strip at Weir's Beach from the bridge. You will have to park your car up the street and cross the bridge on foot. Parking is typically between 10 and 20 dollars for cars. As you pass over the bridge, countless bikes will roar past you. Stay on the sidewalk so that you don't interfere with the bikers trying to ride down the strip.

Once you get across the Weirs Bridge, you will walk briefly before reaching a barrage of vendors. Read this next bit very carefully. If you have money to burn, bring it. They sell everything from sexy clothes to bike detailing at Bike Week. If you do not have money to burn, bring only the cash that you can afford to spend and do yourself a favor -- leave your credit card at home.

There are hundreds of bikes along each side of the strip. Laconia itself is full of bikers riding to and from the event. If you must walk between the bikes, keep your balance and tuck any bags you have against your body. You don't want to ding any of these motorcycles. This is a biker event. Pedestrians are responsible for their own behavior. In other words, if you have been drinking -- of course, not in public because that is not allowed -- do not weave between the motorcycles. Use the sidewalks and crosswalks. You would not want to fall into a bike and start a domino effect. I know it sounds ludicrous, but it is best to be cautious.

The rest of this year's bike week at Laconia is supposed to be rainy. However, if it is sunny, bring money for water. They are between one and two dollars all along the strip and you will need a few, at least. Today, it reached 90 and I drank so much water, I thought I was going to float away, but I still felt dehydrated.