Unlike like the preceeding weekend, which suffered from the rainy remnants of huricane Ivan, today provided the perfect weather for a motorcycle rally through east central Connecticut, starting and ending in Wethersfield.

Representing Wethersfield were uniformed officers Brent Bowan and Al Whaples riding WPD's two, sparkling cycles. Accompanying them in mufty was WPD Chief of Police James Cetran, Lt. Kevin Dillon, and Officer Jay Cefaratti, each on his own cycle.

Four other police departments also provided uniformed representatives to support the rally and the YMCA: Meriden 2, New Britain 1, Manchester 4, and South Windsor 1.

Bob Nenna, the senior program director of the Tri-Town YMCA, was enthusiastic about the turn-out net funds from which will go to programing. Some of the Y's services to children and youth includes teen programs, child-care, aquatic programs, dance instruction, sports and summer day camp opportunities. Executive director Anne Keith said she was enheartened by the enthusiastic group of riders and looked forward to doing this again next year too.

Registration was conducted in the south end of the Goff Brook Shopping center, a stones throw from the Tri-Town's offices above the Tru-Value Hardware store on Silas Deane Highway.

At the stroke of 11:00 AM, Chief Cetran gave the word, "Fire 'm up!" With that, everyone climbed aboard their cycles, and the tranquility of the Sunday morning gave way to the roar of the engines. Within a couple of minutes, the entire group was on its way north on Silas Deane to pick up Route 3 and the Putnam Bridge, the gateway to the hilly roads of east central Connecticut.

Before returning to Wethersfield almost two hours later, the rally riders road through Glastonbury, Portland, Marlborough, Hebron, Columbia, Coventry, Bolton, Manchester and back through Glastonbury.

The happy and hungry crowd of bikers converged in Wethersfield at Hamilton's Bunker Cafe which was all prepared to receive them. The whole pig had been roasting since 4:00 AM and cold beverages were available.

With the obliging weather of early autumn and the comradery of bikers for a worthy cause, the motorcycle rally may well become another eagerly awaited annual event in Wethersfield. As the Tri-Town YMCA benefits, so will our central Connecticut citizens.