A storm Thursday night knocked over a few canopies, but campers partying at Greenhouse Park hardly missed a beat.
“It’s only rain. Everyone needed a bath, right?” Midnight Graffiti singer Natalie Kurchak said before launching into the band’s next classic rock number during Thunder Welcome Bash.
Almost 100 people gathered under the Greenhouse Park shelter dancing and waiting out the storm before returning to their tents – or just moving the party.
“After the band, we saw a fire pit up there,” camper Janet Roth of Schellsburg said, pointing to another area of the park. “We went up there and sat with them.”
With hotels booked up months in advance of Thunder in the Valley, Greenhouse Park is one of a growing number of locations that open for camping during the annual rally. The camaraderie Thunder brings to all motorcyclists is even more evident among the campers.
“For me, this is Thunder in the Valley,” Jeff Shippey of Manns Choice said, leaning back in the chair by his tent.
Although he owns a motorcycle, Shippey doesn’t even bother to bring it.
“I can set up my tent, park my truck and spend the weekend,” Shippey said. “Whatever they have here is what I see. This is our vacation.”
Thunder’s growing popularity and expanded schedule added another day to the Alliance for Bikers Aimed at Education bash in Greenhouse Park.
For the first time, campers were permitted to set up on Thursday.
Not all campers are content to sit by the fire or circulate among others in the park. Dave Martin and Rick White were planning a trip into Thunder Central in downtown Johnstown – as soon as they set up their camp Friday.
This is the Rock Creek, Ohio, bikers’ first motorcycle rally and first time camping.
“We usually camp right in the hotel,” Martin said, adding he found out about Thunder in the Valley and Greenhouse Park on the Internet while planning a motorcycle trip.
“We are headed down to Virginia,” Martin said.
At Windber Stadium, one area of the parking lot is filled with large campers of some Thunder vendors. Tents of motorcycle enthusiasts dot the football field.
“People out there want to have a good time,” said Matt Grohal of the Windber Stadium Authority.
“It’s a good time camping here,” Mike Batzer of Cortland, Ohio, said outside his tent. “It’s centrally located throughout all the event.
“In the morning, you can walk right over to the end zone and there is breakfast.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Placing a tarp over their tent Friday at Greenhouse Park in Tire Hill are (from left) Gary Gelnett, his sister-in-law Jeanine and her husband, Bill, all from Berkeley Springs, W.Va. John Rucosky
Discussion
More rally visitors electing to camp
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
