As the Earth begins to right itself after long months of leaning away from the sun in slumber, as it begins to gather itself upright for a moment of equinoxal equilibrium before beginning to posture itself toward the sun and longer, better days, a tribe prepares a celebration.
A panel of experts adjudicates the needlework on a Saint Patrick's Day contestants thigh.
The motorcyclists of the Northeastern part of the land of Ahs gather for the annual Capital City Motorcycle Show and Swap at the Exhibition and Agriculture Halls at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.
For three days over St. Patrick's Day weekend, Motorcyclists, custom bike builders, vendors and curiosity seekers have a chance to display and appreciate fine examples of two-wheeled artistry. Machines built to thunder down the highway, alone or in packs are for a brief time polished like jewels and set still, for the appraisal of connoisseurs.
The event is hosted by the District Four chapter of ABATE, located in Topeka Kansas.
Not all the Iron at the show was American, here a brace of restored British Triumph bikes are shown with numorus show trophies they've accumulated.
ABATE (an acronym for both "A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments" and "American Bikers Aimed Toward Education"), is a motorcycle rider advocacy group aimed at raising awareness of legislative and rider safety issues among both riders and non-riders.
This year's event included the bike show itself, featuring judged awards for may categories of bikes, and the People's Choice award in which attendees can vote for the bike of their liking.
Registration was on Friday, and that evening a fashion show was held.. The Ag Hall swap meet was on Saturday, as was the tattoo contest, and a party was held Saturday night. Trophies were awarded on Sunday.
Some low-elevation chrome catches one of the younger attendees eye.
For more information on ABATE of Kansas, visit http://www.abateks.org
In upcoming installments of this new feature in theMagonline there will be discussions of other shows and social events, Harley Owners Group, SMART rider training programs, the Harley Davidson assembly plant in Kansas City, and much more.
Watch for a schedule of regional motorcycling events and a list of links to Web sites of interest.
District One, Anderson, Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson counties
District Four, Jackson, Nemaha, Osage and Shawnee counties
District Five, Johnson, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties
District Eleven, Atchison, Brown, Doniphan and Leavenworth counties
District 1Fifteen, Pottawatomie, Wabaunsee, Riley, Geary and Marshall counties
The folks from Midwest Custom Cycles sit by their entry.
Two wheels and a Chevy V-8 make for some serious heavy metal in the form of this Boss Hoss.
Naples, Florida airbrush artist "Famous Jamus," who travels to events such as this, is shown painting a custom design on the back of a leather vest.
A variety of stickers were among the many bits of biker paraphenalia available for discerning shoppers.
Another tattoo contestant struts for the judges.
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