The annual Catskill Mountain Thunder Motorcycle Festival was held this year from September 16-18 at the Blackthorne Resort in East Durham, New York. I was only there for one day this year, on Friday, and it promised to be a fun-filled weekend for everyone involved. The bike builders were already well into working on their new builds and there seemed to be more vendors than in years past.
The New York Rider Magazine booth was between the Wall of Death and those motorcycle daredevil jumpers, which made it pretty loud where we were stationed, but also pretty exciting! The burnouts at night were awesome to watch and this year I even had the chance to watch a little of the spaghetti wrestling, which I have to say was boring to me, but that must be due to the fact that there were no male contestants…lol The new “main” building, constructed over the past year after the fire last year, looks beautiful and the new bar was really nice and much more spacious than the old one, but with the same design, so that you had doors opening up to the outside area and had easy access to the activities on the stage.
It’s always a pleasure to attend this festival for many reasons. One is the time of year is perfect, not too hot, not too cold, and the Blackthorne, nestled in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, is such a pleasant place to be in late September. It’s a “laid-back” event, which is what I believe attracts a lot of people. The atmosphere is relaxing and everyone, campers and day-trippers, seem happy to stroll through the grounds, taking their time, and just enjoying everything that this Festival has to offer. Accommodations on the property range from motel rooms to campsites and all are welcome. The Christian Motorcycle Association and the Melchizedeks MC are there every year to share their food, which by the way, is always excellent, and provide a quiet respite and great conversation for anyone who needs that.
If you have not had the opportunity to attend, consider planning for next year. Visit their website for all the information you need. It is well worth the trip!
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