Virginia Beach, VA: The Tidewater Bikers

Tidewater Bikers is a group of motorcycle riders founded a year ago this month, covering the Tidewater region of Virginia, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, et al.

When Sash and I rolled into Norfolk to spend a week, we hadn't even expected to meet these riders, let alone ever heard of them.  It was after we dropped her bike off at Precision Motorcycles in Virginia Beach, that we were contacted by them.

Steve, the owner at Precision Motorcycles, told a member of Tidewater Bikers that the Road Pickle crew had dropped of one their bikes at his shop for maintenance.  We were then contacted by Eric, one of the Tidewater members, that their group was extending an invitation to their first annual picnic in a couple of days.  We were so impressed, we were excited to attend.

What we found were a group of guys and gals, of all ages, who ride motorcycles of all kinds, American & Metric, Sport and Cruiser, who just love the camaraderie of riding, the brotherhood if you will, that goes with leaning into the corners, wrenching on your own bikes, and hanging out at fun places.  All in all, it's really about friendship and respect for one another as riders.

They do poker runs, charity rides, bike nights, rallies, and then get together for their own group rides around Eastern Virginia and parts thereof.

The folks we talked to all said that Precision Motorcycles was "the" best place to take Sash's motorcycle to for work.  It turns out that many of their members use them.  Somehow, that just made us feel that we were in good hands.

It turned out the picnic was about a 45 minute ride from our hotel, in the southern-most point of Virginia Beach, in Munden Point Park.  The park sits on the banks of the North Landing River, a major leg of the Intercoastal Waterway, which is part of the greater Albemarle Sound.

Members of Tidewater Bikers all seemed very welcoming, eager to hear our stories of traveling across the country, and intrigued at how we could support ourselves financially from the road.

"Hey, you're the Road Pickle lady!" exclaimed one of their members who pulled Sash to the side to shake her hand.

Sash stood up on one of the tables, and gave an announcement, in all of her Sash-like style and graces.  Afterwards, she entertained them with her sashy stories and euphemisms.

But the really cool thing is that a couple of out-of-towners like us could come into a city like Norfolk, VA, and then out of the blue get contacted online by members of a local motorcycle group, and then invited into their numbers as a guest for all the great hospitality the Tidewater region is known for.

I mean, it would be really cool if we get something like that in every city we pulled into, where passionate riders could recognize one another and just break the ice and hang out like buddies.

And there probably are other groups like Tidewater Bikers in other areas of the country.  It's just hard to find them.  But, if you're planning to stay in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area, get in touch with them.

Tidewater Bikers
http://www.meetup.com/Tidewater-Bikers/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TidewaterBikers/

The Tidewater Bikers

This grill was working overtime at the picnic

Sash addressing the folks at the picnic

A couple of the female members of Tidewater Bikers

More female members of Tidewater Bikers

Sash with the some of the Tidewater Biker crew

This tidewater scenery at Munden Point Park is pretty much the Tidewater Bikers' backyard

More tidewater scenery at Munden Point Park, Virginia Beach

Tidewater Bikers members signing birthday and get well cards for other members.

A pretty good turn out for Tidewater Bikers first annual picnic

Sash and Highway had a pretty good time at the picnic

Posted by Anonymous at 7:26 PM

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Labels: Virginia

Location: Norfolk, VA, USA