Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/751464
30 nDecember 2016n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS by Amy Irene White OSAGE LAKE, MO., SEPT. 15–18—If you are one of the high- ly-privileged individuals that know the lure of the Ozark Mountains, you probably already know about Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest. If you don't, sit right down there and let me tell you about a little slice of heaven right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. Lake of the Ozarks holds a treasure trove of things to do. Conveniently located in the heart of Missouri, Lake of the Ozarks is touted as the Midwest's premier lake resort destination. And the area offers up pretty much anything you can think of to do once you get there, such as boating, golfi ng, shopping, fi shing, and of course motorcycling. No mat- ter what's in your budget, there is also a wide variety of lodging, from condos with amazing lake views to rustic camping. There are also many restaurants, state parks, and other recreational activities to suit any bud- get and taste. With all this beautiful scenery, plus over 200 restaurants and bars, the lake is, of course, a welcoming and popular place for bikers throughout the year, but when they decide to pull out all the stops, Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest puts on a show that possibly rivals the biggest rallies in America— without paying the big rally prices. The weather was nasty at the onset of this year's Bikefest, but as soon as the clouds cleared, everyone was out riding again. Bikefest promoters offered maps of three scenic routes, each one a different kaleidoscope of sights and scenery, or you could just meander through Missouri's Ozark hills. You could take a ride to enjoy Bennett Spring and Ha Tonka State Parks. You can step back in time and trace parts of Route 66, or head out for a look at Devil's Elbow near the Big Piney River. It is approximately a 100-mile ride completely around the Lake of the Ozarks, takes a bit over two hours and shows riders countless beautiful views around the lake. Massive vendor villages at Lake of the Ozarks Harley-Davidson and Camden on the Lake, along with vendors at Picklehead's Roadhouse and Lake of the Ozarks Campground, gave everyone ample places to fi nd rally trinkets, and the streets were lined Sturgis-style with literally row upon row of bikes. And, it really wouldn't be a bike rally without a bunch of live music and bars and pretty girls! Some of the Bikefest activities included burnout pits, riding skills competitions, sport bike stunt riders, a bike wash, a large bike auction held at Surdyke Yamaha, a jerky-mak- ing competition called the "Jerk Off' and the "Rise N Shine" benefi t 5k and half-mara- thon race, just to name a few. Additional festivities going on at the lake during Bikefest include dinner theater pro- ductions at the Camden County Historical Society and Museum, and the Laurie Hillbilly Days carnival at the Laurie Fairgrounds. All of the bars offered live entertainment throughout the week, and the crowd pleaser seemed to be Picklehead's, as the festivities accel- erated Saturday with Full Throttle Saloon's emcee Goat hosting games, a bike show, and a wet T-shirt con- test around the main stage. The always-vibrant and badass Jasmine Cain owned the main stage Saturday night as she topped off her killer con- cert with a heart-shattering rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," set- ting the stage for the always-energetic antics of hair band Jackyl. If you are nocturnal, or maybe just like going where it's 53 degrees, try taking a ride over to Jacob's Cave, the fi rst commercialized cave in the Lake of the Ozarks area, which opened to tourists in 1932. Or take your ol' lady on a romantic sojourn to the Bridal Cave. Discovered by Native Americans centuries ago, Bridal Cave is said to have been the site of the legendary Native American wedding ceremony in the early 1800s, and you can still arrange to hold your wedding there to this day! Each year's rally sees growth, with the 2016 festivities drawing over 40,000 motorcycles and 50,000 people. Many of those attendees participated in the Passport Program. For $20, rid- ers got their booklets stamped at 24 locations and then turned in their com- pleted booklets at Lake of the Ozarks H-D for a chance to win the grand prize. This year, a very lucky Tryna Mitchell won a 2015 Street Bob! Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest and the surrounding area offers far more than I can ever put into words. Come out next year and see for yourself what all the fuss is about! 4 10TH ANNUAL LAKE OF THE OZARKS BIKEFEST The heart of Missouri Rumbling through a slice of heaven Jasmine Cain brings down the house at Picklehead's This participant in one of the rally's many biker games took the plunge and is rolling right along A welcoming beachfront town atmosphere greets riders arriving in Osage Beach