Day Three Lake Michigan Trip

Saturday, August 17.  Gould City, U.P. Michigan to Onekama, Michigan.

Woke up to a nice Upper Peninsula morning.  Breakfast was in the same restaurant as the fish fry last night.  Breakfast Buffet for all.

After filling our bellies and a scripture reading, we headed out on Hwy 2, east towards the Mackinac Bridge.  Hwy 2 is very scenic this morning running along the north shore of Lake Michigan.   At our first gas stop Lloyd reported shifting problems related to the clutch.  We discovered that his hydraulic reservoir was low.  The cover stated DOT4 fluid was required but the gas station only had DOT3.  Volunteers stepped forward to run into the next larger town to find the requested fluid but a fellow biker assured us the DOT3 would work fine.  We went ahead and purchase the fluid and poured it in.  Seems to have worked with no dire consequences. While waiting for the repairs some of us got some education from a local man on smoking fish.  They had a very large smoker going at the station.  Fish in the structure were White and Salmon.

Our next stop was the bridge viewing park in St. Ignace.  This park is on the shore of Lake Michigan and provides an excellent view of the wonder which is the Mackinac Bridge:

As we pulled into the parking lot of the park a couple in a Corvette pulled in behind us.  We began a conversation with them and they turned out to be a delightful couple who agreed to take a group picture of us.  They also waited for us to make our way out of the park and through the toll booth and took our picture while traveling over the bridge.  They then emailed those pictures to us.  You meet the nicest people on motorcycles (and in 'vettes)!

We crossed the huge bridge without incident inspite of the fact that road construction on the bridge pushed us all over to the metal grate portion of the bridge.  Grates and motorcycle tires don't mix very well.

After getting to the "mainland" of Michigan we headed to the west end and traveled along the east shore of the big lake.  While there we happened across a very nice road called State 119, a portion of which is co-named the "Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route".  Though it was a relatively busy and narrow highway it was very twisty and scenic.  Driving through the canopy of trees was very enjoyable and is the reason for it's name.

State 119 ended at a nice tourist town called Harbor Springs on the Traverse Bay.  This is where we found a restaurant for lunch.  There was a wedding later at the Methodist Church we parked in front of but the church secretary was relived that we'd be gone before the wedding started and thereby open up the parking for the guests.  She also told us which restaurant to go to.  BTW, all the conversation took place as she was hanging out of 2nd floor church window.  As mentioned, you meet the nicest people on a motorcycle.

The rest of the afternoon was spent getting around the bay, through the town of Traverse City, west and south to Onekama and to Lake Portage Bible Camp.  Traffic was heavy, the weather warm, and getting through the City was tough.  But sometimes you need to get to a destination and do what needs to be done.  We had a nice stop at a city park in Frankfort on the Lake.  Also a pleasant lookout along the highway at the Green Point Dunes.  We pulled into the town of Onekama fairly late and stopped for supper at a restaurant before heading over the Bible Camp.

(click on pics for full size)

After supper we found the Camp and Keith found our cabin.  He is good friends of the director who was very hospitable to allow us to crash in one of their dorms.  It was very nice accommodations and we were very grateful.  The bible study was continued into I Tim 6 on more points of "A Good Servant of Jesus Christ"  "Discipline yourself for Godliness".

Day Three was another long one but very nice.

Day 2 Summer Trip Lake Michigan

Friday August 16.  Couderay Wisc to Gould City, Michigan (U.P.).

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.  Breakfast was sausage and french toast.  Dishes washed, bags packed and we were ready to go @ 8:00 AM.  Plan is to take twisty county roads in northern Wisc and end up at Eagle River at the east end of the state for lunch.  My favorite brother-in-law, Charlie, will be our tour guide this morning.  He has a guitar pickin' gig this evening and will need to get back home for that.   A scripture reading then a prayer and we were on our way.

County  C, CC, B, S, FF, K were some of the "alphabet roads" we hit this morning.  All were nice and twisty.  S was very twisty but turned bumpy after awhile, it also is designated a "Rustic Road" by Wisconsin. I stopped for a picture, the state will send me a certificate once I have ten pictures of myself on Rustic Roads:

 Weather was ideal, scenery was great and traffic was light.  Perfect in every way.

We made it to Eagle River, WI for lunch as planned.  Found a family restaurant, rested and ate a pretty good meal.  I warned everyone that our best riding of the day was behind us in that we now had to make some headway on heavy traveled roads to get to our destination in the Upper Peninsula.  This meant state hwy 70 then U.S. 2 east.  70 actually wasn't too bad but US 2 was kind of miserable.  Heavy traffic, some construction, slow down for towns and heat.  We also bid adieu to Uncle Charlie.  He would be taking Hwy 70 straight west to home.

We made a quick stop to pick up some meds for Lloyd at a neat town called Manistique.  It's a tourist town on the north shore of Lake Michigan with many beaches.  Unfortunately we had no time for beaches today.  The shadows were getting long and we still needed to find our resort/campground.  Just another 30 miles or so to the Michihistrigan.

The Michistrigan was chosen because it was the only place I could find that had both beds and campsites for the two odd ducks who wanted to pitch a tent (Steve and me).  We had the largest cabin reserved for the other six guys which had three bedrooms with double bunk beds and a living room and bath.  Pretty nice accommodations for around $13 a head.  There also was a newly remodeled family restaurant offering all you can eat fish.  Cod, haddock or whitefish.  Our waitress, Jen, thought it was strange that we had all ordered cod or haddock until she explained that the whitefish is local and fresh.  It was then whitefish all around and it was delicious!  I will insert a picture of us at the restaurant if/when those other Fossils share them with me.  In the mean time here we are in front of the cabin:

After our fish dinner we had a bible study.  Back into the qualifications of a "Good Servant of Jesus"  Point two: Be nourished on the words of faith and sound doctrine (I Tim 4:6b).

Lights out and to bed (or sleeping pad) we went...

Summer Trip, Lake Michigan, Day 1

Thursday, August 15, 2013.  MSP to Couderay, WI

Our meeting place was the Fleet Farm Parking lot off of I35W in Blaine.  Meeting time was 3:30.  We are eight Fossils strong:  Steve, Rick, Lloyd, Wayne, Jim, Bill, Keith and Greg.  Weather was sunny, in the mid 80's.  This weather would remain the same all weekend.... Can't beat that!

We already were meeting other bikers and sharing our business cards.  Steve really got excited about a guy on another Honda Magna, unfortunately he wasn't a member of our group (yet).  Keith read a scripture from Isaiah: "The LORD is watching out for us".  Then a prayer and we were on our way.  Our goal today is supper at the DQ, in Turtle Lake Wisc then Wayne's huntin' shack near Couderay before dark.  In MN we were on I35, MN97 & 95.  In Wisc, US8, then WI48.  Too much of a hurry to spend much time on twisty side roads today.

Everything went according to plan we made it to the county road near my (Wayne) cabin and the shadows were getting long but still well into daylight.  We were seeing deer around the edges of the woods but they stayed off the road.

At the shack everyone unloaded and found a bed.  Then the bible study.  I Tim chapter 4 is our study this year.  The description of a "Good Servant of Jesus Christ".  Twelve points are in the chapter, chances of getting through all of them in four days are slim.  We made it through the overview and the first point:  "A good servant of  Jesus points out error" (vs6a).

The rest of the night was snacking and talking.  It is good to be a gang again.

August 2013 Trip Details

I. Itinerary:

                A. Thursday August 15.   Meet at Mill's Fleet Farm in Lexington at 3:30.

                               1.Goal is to get to my place before the deer start dancing on the road.

                               2. Stop in Turtle Lake DQ for supper.

                B. Thursday night.  Wayne's Huntin' Shack.  Couderay Wisc.  (County C and Ortwig Lane)    

                C. Friday August 16.  Ride east through northern Wisc and U.P.. 

                                 1. 320 Miles direct but we will be taking some twisty side roads and other diversions as they present themselves.

                 D. Friday night.  Michihistrigan Resort and C.G., Gould City.

                                  1. We have a large cabin reserved (four double beds) plus tent sites.  

                                   2. Restaurant on site, Lumberjack museum north, Lake Michigan south.

                  E. Saturday August 17.  Ride east to Mackinac Bridge then south and west to sand dunes, etc. 217 miles direct, but again, we will not be going direct.

                  F.  Saturday night. Portage Lake Bible Camp.  Onekama.      

                                    1. stay in a dorm or pitch a tent.  Free will offering.

                  G. Sunday August 18.  ride to Ludington  (one hour ride)  get on ferry to Manitowoc, WI, 8:00 AM  (want to get there early to purchase tickets or purchase on-line ahead of time).                                      Arrive in Manitowoc WI at noon.  Ticket will be $119.  Bring your own ratchet straps.

                   H. Sunday night.  Somewhere in central Wisconsin (no reservation yet) or just ride home 

                            (320 miles, 5hours)

                   I.    Monday. Aug 19. Ride across central Wisc to home. Less than 300 miles depending on where we lodge 

II. Who's going:  right now 8 Fossils: Rick, Jim, Greg, Lloyd, Bill, Keith, Steve, Wayne.  Let me know if you also want to come: 6 one 2  / Tree6 nine  double six ninetynine

III.  Bible Study?  I Tim 4 "A Good Servant of Jesus Christ" 

IV.  Remember ratchet straps, bible, sleeping bag, tent(or not).    

                   

Breakfast Planning Meeting

Hey Fossils.  

We will be having a breakfast meeting at the Maple Grove Old Country Buffet, 13603 Grove Dr, Saturday morning, July 27, 8:00 AM.

The primary agenda item will be discussion of the Fossil Apostles Motorcycle Gang Summer Trip which is  August 16-19.  

The trip planed is through northern Wisc, the south end of the U.P. of Mich, across the giant bridge into Lower Michigan, along the sand dunes, a ferry across the lake back to Wisc and back home.

If you'd like to come on the trip, try to make the breakfast meeting, otherwise the details will be posted here.

Feel free to come and visit even if you're not going on the trip.

Grace and peace through our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

Fossil Wayne.

6 one 2  / Tree6 nine  double six ninetynine

2013 Spring Ride Report

Our Annual Spring Ride came off without a hitch.  A good time was had by all.  We were 11 Fossils strong: Jeff, Bill, Steve, Greg, Rick, Lloyd, Keith, Matt, Wayne and new Fossils: Chao and Dave.  An eclectic bunch of bikes again as well.  The oldest was Dave's 1981 CX500 to Matt's 2011 VStrom.  Everything a Japanese brand except for my lone Kraut bike.  No token Harley's this time.  All bikes ran well though there was a concern at first with a leaky gas tank that turned out to just be a totally filled gas tank that didn't like being on it's side stand.

The northern guys meet at the Maple Grove Covenant Church at 8:00 AM and met the southern guys in Chaska at 9 (except for Jeff who's story is below).  Scripture reading was Psalm 113: "Praise the Lord... from the rising of the sun to it's setting the Name of the Lord is to be praised... Praise the Lord"!

We then headed south along the west side of the Minnesota River on Hwy 40 and 93.  The weather was perfect, not too cold, not to hot.  A bit overcast with a threat of rain but a good day for riding.  Shortly south of Chaska there was a guy on a hot bike and a high Viz green suit going the other way gesturing wildly.  I assumed he was warning us of a radar trap ahead or other problem so we slowed down a bit on increased  alert.  Turned out it was Jeff who had spent the night in Belle Plaine and was looking for us.  He turned around and caught us easily but I didn't know it.  I had been told previously that he would meet us in the town of Henderson so when we got there I pulled into a gas station and started searching up and down the street for a lone biker.  Greg walked up to me and said "are you looking for Jeff?"  "yep" "he already found us back on the highway".   So, we were now a full contingent and continued south.  Our goal was New Ulm and a meal.

South of Henderson the highway joins up with US169 just before St. Peter.  US169 is a four lane super slab, the kind of road that we normally try to avoid on motorcycle rides.  I thought I had a good plan to do that in that I found on Google Maps a nice twisty road that heads west just before the previously mentioned intersection.  Only trouble was that my chosen road was pure gravel.  Given the choice between a four lane and gravel we choose the four lane down to St. Peter.

From St. Peter we headed west into farm country on County 5.  Google Maps had shown this road as a bit twisty around a couple of lakes.  Or so I thought, turned out the "lakes" were just duck sloughs. But it was a fine ride anyway and we found our way to New Ulm.  The restaurant chosen was to be called Otto's which we found OK but Otto sold out to a guy named Torge.  But they served us anyway and we had the place to ourselves.

After a filling meal and good conversation the plan was to head down town and see "Hermann the German".  This is a huge statue along the river of an ancient German war lord.  Most of the guys hadn't been to this town before so it was a must see in my book.  I had hoped to walk around the park and get some pictures of Hermann but it was starting to sprinkle so we just drove into the park, waved and headed out of Dodge, so to speak.  Didn't even get a picture of him!  The rain was coming in from the southwest and fortunately we were heading northeast and rode out of the wet quickly.

Now we were on US 14 and MN 111 and back to St Peter.  From St Peter we continued east on MN99. 99 turned out to be a fairly boring, straight road and I wished I had taken the more interesting looking county 23 back near St. Peter.  I'm sure that would have been a much better ride.  Oh well, maybe next time.  Anyhow we found our way up MN13 to New Praque for  the mandatory DQ stop.

After our soft serve delights we continued north to Jordan and after a stop at the motorcycle junk yard "Sport Wheels" we split up for our individual rides home.

It was another great Fossil Spring Ride.  Good ride, good friends.  Thank you guys.  Praise the Lord!

Spring Ride June 8

Here are the details on our 2013 Spring Ride.  Saturday June 8:
The northern guys will meet at 8:00 AM at MGCC then head down to Chaska where the southern guys  will meet up at the Walgreens at the corner of 41 and 40.  Then head down 40 along the Minn River and other side roads to New Ulm for brunch.
After lunch it would be back to the cities east of the river.  On US169 if we're in a hurry or 99 and 21 through New Prague if not.

Here is a Google Map idea of the ride down:
http://goo.gl/maps/dYsc5   (copy/paste it)

Please let me know if you are joining us.

Fossil Wayne

six-one-2, 

three-six-9,

six- six- nine- 9

(MGCC= Maple Grove Covenant Church, 9350 Upland Lane N, Maple Grove)

Spring and Summer Plans, 2013

Fossils, 

About ten of us gathered this morning for breakfast and a planning meeting.   We had a great time joking, telling stories and reminiscing about rides of yore.  

In addition we made some decisions:

Spring Ride:  Sat June 8, details forth coming.

Summer Trip:  Around Lake Michigan.  The trip this year will be a long weekend, August 15-19.   We will be heading to my Huntin' Shack near Hayward, WI on Thursday evening, then head across Wisc to the Upper Peninsula where we will stay Friday Night.  Saturday across the U.P., then over the Mackinac Bridge and down to the Sand Dunes of the east shore of Lake Michigan.  Saturday night at the Portage Lake Bible Camp, Onekama, MI.   Sunday will find us taking the Ferry across the lake from Luddington, MI to Manitowoc, WI.  Spending the night somewhere in Eastern Wisconsin.  Then Monday back across Wisc to home.

Should be a fun time, hope you can make it.

Grace and Peace,

Fossil Wayne

Breakfast and a Show

Hi guys, Merry Christmas.

It's almost time for our annual winter breakfast meeting.  It will be Saturday morning, January 12, at 8:00 AM.  We will meet at the Perkins in Golden Valley at I394 and Louisiana Ave. 

Afterwards, those who can will head downtown and go to the Motorcycle Show at the Convention Center.

Bring your calendar so we can plan our 2013 rides.


Hope to see you there.

Feel free to invite any who you think may be interested.

Please send me a reply if you are coming so I'll know how many tables to push together.


Grace and Peace,
Fossil Wayne

2012 Fall Ride

Our fall ride came about in spite of some threatening weather thanks to some creative, impromptu ride planning by Lloyd.   The story is that the weatherman was promising cold and rain for the day which was worrying us a bit, perhaps we might even have to cancel.  But as the day got closer it became apparent that the worst of the weather would go south and east of the Twin Cities.  Our original plan was to ride south along the Minnesota River to New Ulm.  With the threatening weather I (Wayne) sent an email out suggesting we ride north and west to get out of it.  Problem was, I am not familiar with the roads in that direction so perhaps someone who lives up there could put a quick ride plan together. Lloyd was gracious enough, (or perhaps guilted enough) to throw together a plan on some local twisty roads to the west.

So, Sat morning Oct 13 began cold and overcast as promised but it still looked as though the rain would stay  south and east.  We met at MGCC and there we were eight Fossils foolish enough to attempt to ride on such a cold, damp, mid October day in Minnesota.  There were myself, Lloyd, Keith, Bill, Greg, Matt, Rick and Randy.  All dressed like we were planning a snowmobile ride rather than a motorcycle ride.

Our meeting place, huddled together for prayer, warmth and/or both.

After a scripture reading and some prayer we headed out following Lloyd along some nice twisty roads through the sub-divisions of NW Suburban Mpls working our way north and west.  At one point there was a little drizzle so those without waterproof pants stopped to add that layer.   Eventually we got out of the suburbs and through some confusion on Lloyd's GPS we went to Buffalo, MN twice.   The second time there, we stopped and talked about how hungry and cold we were, let's find a warm restaurant!   Supposedly the next town down Hwy 55 had a place to eat.  Unfortunately, the next town did not.  And we were still cold and now hungrier.   But, our GPS's all agreed that in Annandale, the next town west had a joint called the Homestyle Country Cafe.  Sounded just like our kind of place.

Bill and Keith out side the Homestyle Country Cafe.  (&Wayne's Beemer)

All of us getting warm and fed.

After a great meal and fellowship it was time to do some more exploring in the now slight drizzle.   More than a couple of people we met wondered about how we could be having any fun riding in weather like that.  But, we assured them we were having a great time and pressed on.   Now we were going to head down some county roads south and then start heading east back towards the Cities.  One nice road that my GPS showed as being appropriately twisty turned out to be closed due to construction.  This plus the fact that it was getting wetter and certainly not any warmer led us to abandon county roads and started east on US Hwy 12.  We took this to our required DQ stop in Delano, MN so the ride could be official.  (Required in that no Fossil ride can be considered complete unless there is at least one DQ stop).

Lloyd and Matt enjoying our required DQ stop.

From there it was back north on county roads to Hwy 55 then on home.   

Once again, it was a great opportunity to ride with some great friends.   We are all looking forward to getting the cold winter out of the way so we can start up again.   Thanks, guys!

Fossil Wayne.

2012 Fall Ride Plans

Hey Fossils, it's time for our annual Fall Ride. Saturday Oct 13.

Let's head down the MN River this year along beautiful Hwy 40. Probably end up in New Ulm for lunch.

Meeting place:
Maple Grove Covenant Church: 9:00 AM
Walgreens Parking Lot, corner of 41/40 in Chaska: 9:30 AM

Please let me know if you are coming so we know who to wait for.

Thanks, have a blessed fall.

Fossil Wayne
612-369-6699


www.fossilapostles.com

Arrgh, all our pictures are gone!

Something has happened and all the images posted here for the past 8 years are gone. Apparently I need to start re-loading them all, one by one. Which will take a long time.

Please bear with me.

(BTW, I blame Google who now owns this blogger site and Picassa and the rest of the internet world and their incessant desire to tie their whole universe together.)