[MeredithMan]

My 20 year old daughter has a summer job waitressing at the Akwa Marina Beach Bar restaurant. She and another girl finished their shift yesterday at 4PM. She called and asked if it would be ok to walk down to The Weirs to check out the sights, since she had never seen "bike week" up close before. We said sure, just be vigilant.

She called back a little while later on her way back to Meredith and was clearly upset. As she and her friend were walking back to the Akwa parking lot, they passed a couple of "sketchy guys", (her words), that she described as having gray pony tails and beards, ("Dad, they were wicked old...older than you!), who were just sitting on the side of the road. As they walked past, the dudes said, "hey girls, show us your _____". What my daughter and her friend found really gross, was that they weren't talking about their chests, but other body parts. They hurried on their way and got into their cars.

I totally get that this was only two guys out of the thousands that attend. I also get that there are plenty of motorcycle enthusiasts that enjoy riding. Totally fine. But, it cannot be denied that "bike week" attracts many, many dregs. Is this is the type of tourist that the lakes region wants to attract? Dirty old perverts? Really? It's time for this whole event to go out with the trash.