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BY SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer 06/29/2009

enlarge Staff photo by Andy Molloy

BIKE BLESSING: Melissa Boynton prays over her motorcycle Sunday during the annual Blessing of the Motorcycles in Gardiner. More than 70 bikes were blessed during the event.

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Coming out on a rainy day is another.

More than 70 bikers came to Christ Church on Sunday despite the rain to take part in the second annual Blessing of the Bikes.

"Motorcycling is not really a safe occupation," said Gayle Gifford, director of the American Legion Riders of Damariscotta. "It's more dangerous in the rain."

Gifford, her husband Gerry, and five others rode up together from the coast for the blessing.

"I was brought up in the church," Gayle Gifford said. "I just feel it's a wonderful thing to be blessed."

The Rev. Jacob Fles, wearing a clerical collar, jeans and motorcycle chaps, led a short ceremony of prayer and remembrance before he and Deacon Gary Drinkwater officially blessed the bikes. The blessing started last year as a way to remember the life of Pamela Morrill, who enjoyed motorcycle rides with her partner, Ike McLaughlin.

"This all got started because I lost my queen Pamela," McLaughlin said. "I can see the spirit is here for everyone."

Fles read the names of many "biker loved ones" who had died.

Drinkwater read the blessing, which includes these lines:

"You guided humankind to invent the motorcycle, and allow all to ride through the beauty of your creation. O Lord, we humbly ask you to bless our drivers and our machines. Protect all from danger."

Fles asked all the bikers to start their engines.

The bikers then individually received the blessing, with Drinkwater and Fles using palm fronds to splash the bikers with a healthy does of holy water as they rode by. The group was headed to Richmond for a barbecue.

Becky Fles, who is married to the Episcopal priest, said she plans to get her motorcycle license someday soon.

"Bikers are great people," she said. "I see a group of bikers and I want to be with them. It's a culture. They give to people. When have you ever seen 100 cars gathering toys for children?"

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@centralmaine.com

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