A birthday surprise at 80

Anne Harris, 80, of Griffin takes a ride down Wimbish Road on the back of the Harley-Davidson owned by Danny Outlaw of Macon as a part of her birthday party Sunday. Harris said she had been fascinated by motorcycles for as long as she could remember.



Harris' cousin Alyce Bailey told a story about a trip to Deadwood, SD during which she and Harris were awed by the bikes on their way to Sturgis for the famous rally there. Another family friend recalled the motorcycle charm Harris sometimes wears around her neck. But despite the lifelong fascination, Harris had never had a chance to ride an iron horse. Harris' first ride on Sunday was the idea of a broad swath of friends and family but particularly of Gus and Nancy Bohler of Clearwater, FL. Harris is the caretaker of Gus Bohler's 97 year old mother in Griffin. When asked what she expected from her birthday party, Harris said she certainly hadn't thought of a motorcycle ride. "I thought I was going to a restaurant for a meal," she said, "I'm flabbergasted."