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Despite gloomy weather forecasts the 2009 Harley Davidson Thunder in the Glens enjoyed another great August Bank Holiday weekend in Aviemore.

Now the largest rally in the UK, the HOG brings Chapters and members from all over Europe. The Saturday rideout to Granton on Spey brings crowds to line the streets as over 2000 Harley Davidson motorbikes and riders ride from Aviemore.

I was shooting for the organisor George ‘Mad Dog’ McGuire (don’t know what the Mad Dog refers to). Great event and great fun to do.

Fergus Ewing MSP greets the Rally organisors just before the Rideout

Arriving in Granton on Spey

Brief spell of rain - but someone came prepared

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I have been commissioned again for Thunder in the Glens, 28 – 30 August 2009, though this time by the organisor George ‘Mad Dog’ McGuire, Director of Dunedin Chapter Scotland (Edinburgh).

On the 'Rideout' from Thunder in the Glens 2008 Aviemore

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I was asked by McDonald Hotels to cover the Harley Davidson annual rally weekend in Aviemore in late August 2008.

The ‘Chapters’ arrive from all over the UK and abroad for one of the largest Harley gatherings in the country. Wow, what a fabulous collection of bikes and trikes – not to meniton the riders too with some great leathers and helmets.

The weekend kicks off with bands and activities all over Aviemore – they really do take over the Scottish village for the weekend taking over most of the hotel accommodation but with many camping out. It was really was a great atmosphere. On Saturday some 1,500 bikes lined up in the grounds of the McDonald Aviemore Higland Resort and then paraded through Aviemore and the rideout over the Grantown. On Sunday the rally was to Kingussie – I think.

Scottish do you think?

...definately!

Thunder in the Glens 2008 - Rideout through Aviemore

Thunder in the Glens 2008 - Rideout through Aviemore

Thunder in the Glens 2008 - Rideout through Aviemore

Waiting in line for the Aviemore rideout

Bike for 3!

Ladies ride too!

Front view and...

... and side view

Grrrrrr

and the dog

Nice leathers!

No argument

Thanks for your photo.

The Aviemore rideout

Have to admit – first helicopter flight. Great, fantastic, exhilarating, scary but not to be missed.

Well I did miss it, kind of.  I only had a mere few minutes high over Aviemore for the Aviemore Highland Resort to take shots during the Harley Davidson Thunder in the Glens gathering. Taking two cameras on a first flight and I have to say until you get up there and the going and the coming down you have little idea of how to prepare.

First and foremost are the flight ’rules’ … umm can’t remember any of them. Then I was warned not to stick a lens and camera too far out of the tiny window. Yea, I thought. Soon found out why. On top of the helicopter are long things called rotor blades. These tend to go round quite fast, you know, to create downdraft so that the thing flies. So the newbie here decides to try to get a better shot with camera out of the window. Big mistake – just about lost the whole thing in the downdraft. Only did it once.

Anyway a great thrill but concentrating so much on getting the shots and looking through a lens, I pretty well missed the experience.

The helicopter

Aviemore

Aviemore Highland Resort