midnight ride

[jdegase]

I'd like to plan a meeting for our members that attend the midnight ride.
personally I havent compleated a full midnight ride in many years. I know things have changed.
if someone who has done this ride wants to chime in and help us plan a meet and greet, that would be EXCELLENT.
since this is basically our first year, I'd like to take the time after the breakfast to ride on up to the soo or possibly take the pictured rocks tour. go see whitefish point, and maybe taquaminon falls.
anybody interested in a little tourism trip after the ride?
as I dont have alot of money, I'm going to try to plan as well as possible to get the most bang outta our buck.

anyone intrested ?

I'd like to get an idea of all that are planning the trip.

heres a link for information.
https://www.mi-gmidnightriders.org/10midnight_ride.htm

I already have started getting work so this will most likely be the last big ride of the year for us.
lets get together and have some fun.

 

[joedrum]

sounds great but i have no ideal wether i can make it as im overloaded right now with things on my plate ....but if things change id jump on it jim as i would love to meet you and others on the forum ......

 

[jdegase]

would be great to see ya Joe.

heres what I'd like to do.

Link to Google Maps

we can change anything you want..
pictured rocks is kinda a long way off, so its off my literary for now.

I did find that breakfast at the casino is 3$ a plate, and the BBQ later is also 3$ a plate with live entertainment.

more info:
St.Ignace calender

 

[Tory]

I do the ride every year,one way or another,and usually take advantage of the weekend in the U.P.,But I am budgeting out on vacation time as well as funds,and am leaving tomorow AM for the U.P.,so if I make it this year I may just do a turn and burn.
I live just SW of grand rapids,so I may ride the ride up,then spin back after breakfast.But it will all depend on how this weekend goes,and the weather next weekend. I would hate to break a tradition even though the wife still cant ride.

The activitys in St,Ignace are not worth hanging around for.All those thousands of bikes,only a small fraction stop for the breakfast,and it really breaks apart after that.Stayed all day a couple years ago for the pig roast,light show and bike show and was really disapointed that we didnt use are time better.It seems as though the only ones left are chapter G.

The ride is worth it though.Come up with a plan,and if I make it Ill try to hook up.Hopefully I wont be hooked to somebody elses scedule like this week end.

P.S. I plan to skip the huoghton lake stop this year,thats a bad stop, if it helps.May stop up further,or less?

 

[Tory]

P.S.
If you do make the ride north,the ride up to the falls and/or whitefish point,then back down along the coast around whitefish bay to the soo is awsome,will put you in the soo around 5:00 and there are plenty of rooms for the night there.My favorite is the LONG SHIPS MOTEL right on the locks,and reasonably priced.Along the way you will ride past Point Iroquis Light.A great stop also and open to free tours.Antlers restruant is a cool place to eat,and was on food network ( the place with all the stuffed game)but Im a CLYDES BUFFALO BURGER kinda guy.It is east of the locks down by the suger island ferry and is an awsome veiw if you can time the ship traffic right.There is a park right there,and the BIG 1000 footers come very close.

 

[Wingin-it]

i never knew there were so many people from michigan on here i live 5 miles south of flint!! :salute: :music: :rocks:

 

[lew1701]

Has Michigan done anything to straighten out their helmet law yet? My wife and I took a trip a few years ago to Sandusky, we were stopped and ticketed for not having proper helmets even though there is nothing improper about the helmets we have.

 

[jdegase]

Thanks for all the info Tory,
awesome brother. will probly take the tour around whitefish bay also and stop at the soo..

wingin-it, my dad live in flushing just west of 75( on coldwater)
anyway, you thinking about the ride bro?
your welcome to ride along with us.
I might even have a passenger for someone as my daughter would love to go.

lew, not sure about the helmet law. I'v lived here all my life and was taught to NEVER ride without a brain bucket. anything even the smallest dirtbike I'v always worn a helmet..
I think as long as they are DOT approved you can where anything you want.
I have been told to NOT paint over the DOT sticker.

 

[Tory]

Has Michigan done anything to straighten out their helmet law yet? My wife and I took a trip a few years ago to Sandusky, we were stopped and ticketed for not having proper helmets even though there is nothing improper about the helmets we have.

The helmet law is pretty basic here in MI.Just needs to be a DOT helmet,and have the label on it.
With the no fualt insurance,and no liabilty for motorcycles,the only way the helmet law would get change would be to change the liabilty laws on bikes for the worse.Im not willing to make that trade.

Im not sure Ill make the ride this year.I picked up a nail this weekend,and although I managed tp plug it to get me the last 100 miles home,I want a new tire before I go to far.I will call around tomorow and see about getting it changed in time.

Not the end of the world,I got 14,000 on it (could have made 20,000)

 

[joedrum]

gee ihate hearing those milage figures ....i wouldnt be able to to look at a tire that i put even 14000 miles on ...it couldnt be a pretty sight ...just kidding

 

[jdegase]

bummer tory
lookin forward to meeting up with ya.

 

[Tory]

Ordered tires today,they should be in tomorow,so far its looking good.

 

[Tory]

I showed up for work friday,only to find out I sceduled it off a year ago,So,called up to mackinaw city,got a room(,weather report for friday night was ugly)and went up friday.Road up the lake shore,and watched all the bikes come over.But they wouldnt let us on the roof this year.
Looked up at the casino for youre bike,at least the one in your avatar,but couldnt find you.We (my son and I) road back home saterday.

 

[Tory]

Here is a pic of the bikes coming over the bridge.You can see bike lights as far as you can see.

 

[dan filipi]

That's neat, must have been a sight to watch all those bikes go by!

 

[Tory]

Dan,Its an even greater sight to see all the tailights in the dark in front of you for miles,I think the claim the rubber band stretchs 20 miles or more.
Im just getting softer in my old years and get a little more particular with the weather.

The point of the ride is to raise money for juvenul diabetes and they got my donation again this year reguardless.

 

[jdegase]

WOW!
my butts sore, hands numb, neck is sore, but I cant quit grinning.
we left saturday morning and met the pack in Alma.
rode with them to Mt.Pleasent where it started to rain...
being so close to home we threw in the towel and decided to get a couple hours sleep while the rain passed.
around 9:30 sat morning we headed out again...
made it to houghton, and met up with buddy.
rode on to Mackinaw, and had pizza at BC in Mac city.
rode out to a lighthouse.
then headed for whitefish point.... wow.
we made it to paradise late, and the museum was closed at whitefish.. also the rooms were all booked in paradise because of there blueberry festival.
SO. figuering the soo would be packed we decided to boogie back to Mackinaw.
just in time for the light parade and fireworks..
after some coffee at Java Joes we decided to head back home.
will defiantly make more reservations next year.
all the way was great. awsome trip.
the bike ran flawlessly, and infact seemed to want to keep going

Tory, we looked for you on the roads both ways, but being so out of the schedual figuered we had missed you.
sure showed off the sticker in the window, and got lots of compliments.
just around 500 miles.

seen alot of older Honda some GW's and some silverwings too.

P.S. will be posting the pictures soon!

 

[Tory]

Looking forward to the pics.
I should have warned you about the blueberry fest.Its the same weekend as the ride everyear.Got burned by that before.
Mac city and the soo however have always had room for me though.
Yes,lots of 1100s,I noticed that as I looked for you at everyone at the casino after the breakfast.LOL

We stalled a little bit around St Ignace and Mackinaw to avoid bad weather on the way home.Started south around noon.
Still got wet though.
We should hook up some time anyhow.
A quick turn and burn this weekend with 600 miles.As aposed to 1000 last weekend.

 

[jdegase]

pictures posted finally :clapping:

 

[Tory]

Great pics