The 16th blessing of the motorcycles took place yesterday at the Madone d’Utelle, to celebrate Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.
The meeting was scheduled for 9 a.m. on Place de Lattre de Tassigny. As the minutes passed, more and more motorcycles arrived. There were so many. I was supposed to ride on one of them, “Great, I’m spoiled for choice.”
I walked between the rows where all these “bikes” were parked. Of course, there were Harleys, but also scooters, Dax bikes, and all sorts of motorcycles.
Since the choice was very difficult, I was paired with Emmanuel Mosser, but everyone calls him “Manu.” A two-wheeled enthusiast with 40 years of experience, he knows what he’s talking about. So much so that he modified his wife’s motorcycle from A to Z himself. Every year, he rides the American roads on a Harley.
Lucky as I am, when I show the others which motorcycle I’m going to ride, they all tell me, “You didn’t choose the worst one!”
Anyway! It’s already 9:30 a.m., and it’s time for Manu and me to ride the “old lady” (Editor’s note: the nickname for his motorcycle). He puts on the music, shifts into first gear, and off we go for a good hour of pure bliss. At the head of the pack, accompanied by the president of the association, Xavier, and two police officers ensuring safety, there were almost 300 motorcycles behind us. A symphony of exhaust noise. Impossible to go unnoticed. Tourists were filming this two-wheeled procession.
After a “checkpoint” at Carrefour Lingostiere, an opportunity to gather the missing bikers and for others to refuel, we hit the road again. After a few turns, we arrive, greeted by people lining the road.
As soon as the kickstand is down, the festive atmosphere fills the sanctuary of the Madone d’Utelle.
The event is entertained by singer Manoรฉ Spada, and the smell of food lovingly prepared by the Harleys du cลur volunteers awakens your taste buds.
Just before eating, the mayor of Utelle, Bernard Cortรฉs, explains that it is “a real pleasure to welcome the Harleys du Cลur every year at the Utelle sanctuary and that the initiative of the president, Claude Abejan, is something wonderful, full of warmth and joy.”
Father Christophe then pronounces the commandments of the motorcyclist before blessing, one after another, the motorcycles and their riders.
The festivities can begin, some head towards the Pan Bagnat, while others go for the homemade hamburgers. The view is extraordinary. “When the weather permits, you can even see Corsica in the distance,” says Claude Abejan.
Around 3:30 p.m., we begin to pack up, first dismantling the food stands, then the tables that gradually empty. Joy and good humor are always present.
Once everything is packed away, it’s time to hit the road back. Manu explains to me that “the reverse gear on a Harley is handled by the co-pilot,” and I set to work.
Once the motorcycle is facing the right direction, we hit the road again, ending this beautiful day.
Jeremy Berardi
