Hells Angels Prison Run - Florence, Arizona
Update 15 Feb 2008: more photos here
The 25th edition of the Hells Angel Prison Run slowed traffic on the old Highway 89 between Tucson and U.S. 60 to a crawl yesterday. When Arizona became a state in 1912, the spoils of statehood were divvied up: Tucson got the university, Phoenix the capitol, and Florence the state prison. Incarceration is the basis of the town economy, to the point that the federal census is skewed by the numbers of inmates. The Hells Angels have organized an annual ride past the prison yard, and the town cooperates to the extent of redirecting traffic and bringing extra help into the McDonalds.
Much of Pinal County's finest were driving the highway too. I saw the K9 unit, the commercial vehicle enforcement unit, the chopper circled overhead. They ran my i.d. once. I asked how many participants would likely spend an unplanned evening in Florence's accommodations, but that officer wouldn't speculate.
The Hells Angels were expecting between 1,000 and 1,500 bikes. I didn't count them. A vast comparison shopping opportunity roared by, if one knew about motorcycles. I called Millie, the motorcycle enthusiast neighbor who dreams of a Honda Goldwing, and when a dozen bikes blew by, I held up the phone so she could hear the engines. I had a lot of time on the side of the road while I waited.
I park myself at my mom's house in Phoenix when my Arizona locations are within day trip range. This morning she saw this photo and asked what I was doing in the middle of the road. I didn't have a good answer for that question, other than that's where the bikes were. She brought me up better than to say things like that, so I said we shouldn't discuss it. I'm editing the rest of the pictures before I show her any more, because I did have to cross the road more than once.
Comments (3)
DO YOU HAVE MORE PICS FROM THE RUN..THANKS..666.
Posted by 666 | February 11, 2008 11:50 AM
Posted on February 11, 2008 11:50
I have seen AT the Photogirl in the middle of the road with traffic streaming both ways; in the middle of streams with untold $$$ of gear balanced on three wet rocks; always on the very edge of every canyon (and I mean the slippery slope folks) to get all the photons; and racing through crowds with 30 lbs of gear to get in front of the marching band.
It is obvious that she is in traffic when taking photos of traffic or that galloping herd of horses bearing down on her (geez!). But few think to ask where she was when she got that shot of the condor or the neon, or, or .... etc
I know. She is always in the flow.
Posted by Robert Marc | February 11, 2008 10:15 PM
Posted on February 11, 2008 22:15
So you stood in the middle of the road?
It was worth it for this shot. Good thing you didn't bring the scientist along.
Posted by Maria | February 13, 2008 7:08 PM
Posted on February 13, 2008 19:08