By John Hernandez
Wonder why all those motorcycles roared through town earlier this month? And just how many of them were there?
Six hundred bikers participated in the East Valley Firefighter’s Charities tenth-annual Poker Run. Firefighters from Gilbert Station 253 helped organize the event.
The route, approximately 233 miles, took the riders along some of the most scenic roads in Arizona. The Poker Run began at Superstition Harley Davidson Motorcycles in Apache Junction with a pancake breakfast. The ride then followed Highway 60 past Superior up through Top of the World, through Miami to stop two which was in the historic town of Globe.
The Drift In Saloon was where the second card was picked up. Bikers then drove down 77, past Winkelman and through Mammoth continuing along the Copper Corridor. Around lunch time riders began pouring into the third stop in the quaint little town of Oracle. Bikers enjoyed themselves at the friendly Oracle Inn where they enjoyed a lunch of roast beef, barbecued beef, ranch beans and cole slaw plus everyone’s favorite cold beverages.
Stop four was at the River Bottom Grill off Highway 79 in Florence. From there the final leg ended in Mesa at the Cactus Moon Sports Grill.
Proceeds from this year’s Poker Run are going to Boots for Our Troops Foundation and the 100 Club. Boots for our Troops helps veterans by providing emergency financial aid, employment seeking assistance and transportation, food and assistance for the homeless. The 100 Club provides statewide assistance to public safety agencies, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and their families through financial assistance, peer support training, safety enhancement equipment and scholarships for immediate family of public safety.
Everyone drew their last card, browsed the vendors, and listened to the classic rock, R&, and country sounds of OLDsKOOL, a talented band out of Gilbert.
Photos by John Hernandez. See more online at http://bit.ly/15H4wI2.