We had a nicely attended breakfast meeting on April 5th. We passed out proposed routes and itineraries. It was good to meet some new guys who are planning to come along. We also decided that it would be very advantageous to get as early a start as possible on the Friday we leave. So, the proposed start time will be around 2:30PM on Friday, August 8. Those of us working on that day will take the afternoon off in order to make the meet time. This will help us beat the afternoon rush hour out of the city and get us into our first night motel in NoDak sooner.
Also discussed was a desire to have a spring or early summer ride. More to come on that....
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Yellowstone trip update, reservations.
As of today, March 3, we have reservations at Yellowstone for Monday and Tuesday nights, Aug 11&12. As mentioned before, half of us wanted to camp and half wanted to stay in a lodge. However, a problem developed in that there was only a lodge available for Monday night. So, it appears that if we want to spend a second day and night in Yellowstone the rest of you will need to join us in tenting it. At this time, we have camping reservations set up for that situation. That is, up to six tenters on Monday night and ten or more on Tuesday night (we have a group site reserved). Lloyd will continue to call as we get closer to the date to see if a lodge reservation opens up for the 12th.
We will want to have a meeting sometime this spring to go through all of this. Details forthcoming.
Blessings,
Wayne.
We will want to have a meeting sometime this spring to go through all of this. Details forthcoming.
Blessings,
Wayne.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Fall Ride, 2007
In September, 2007 we took a fall day ride to Red Wing, MN. It was well attended with around 20 riders in spite of the forecast threat of rain. The forecast was correct and it started to drizzle short of Red Wing and was pouring in buckets by the time we made it to Gordy's house. Fortunately, Gordy was ready for us with chairs set up in his garage and drinks and snacks in his foyer. The fellowship was great as we sat, waiting for the rain to let up. After a couple of hours we realized that the rain wasn't going to stop anytime soon so decided to forgo any more of the planned ride and find a restaurant for lunch.
After lunch we headed home and halfway back, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Half of the group wanted to go home and dry out and half of us wanted to continue our ride. So, we split up according to our desires. Those of us continuing the ride headed west over to Le Seur area and found a Dairy Queen so we could eat again! (we ate a lot that day). Then Jeff lead us onto some twisty roads around the MN River back to the cities. Turned out to be a great day in spite of the rain.
Greg wrote a great synopsis of his impressions of his ride:
Gang,
Psalm 133:1-3
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
The challenge for the day was to see the glory and the grace of God in the created things that we saw and felt and heard throughout the day. We saw His grace in the beauty of the colors and textures and motion. His creative nature displayed in the rolling hills and valleys. His peace could be felt when viewing the ponds, lakes and streams; his power in the wind. Even in the neat, even rows of crops winding their way over the wavy landscape - the beauty of the Lord was on display in all it's magnificence. While waiting out the rain at Gordy's, the sound of the wind outside and the rain falling on the pavement was like pleasant music. But it was hard to top the expression of God's love and grace more than in the time spent with this group of men - the uniqueness of each individual, the capabilities and giftedness carefully dispensed by our loving creator to each one - spoke clearly of His grace and wisdom and power and love.
I hope you all benefitted, as I did, in the time spent together - the encouragement, the laughs, the opportunities to get acquainted with some new guys, or better acquainted with some you had previously known. The gift of hospitality given by Paul and Liz, and Gordy and Nancy evidenced lives sprinkled with grace and joy and the love of the Savior. Thanks for a great ride and for what each of you brought to it! I hope you all experienced God's love and grace in all the created things... Maybe that wasn't rain after all - maybe it was precious oil poured on the head, or the dew of Hermon...
Until we ride again, God's peace,
Greg
After lunch we headed home and halfway back, the rain stopped and the sun came out. Half of the group wanted to go home and dry out and half of us wanted to continue our ride. So, we split up according to our desires. Those of us continuing the ride headed west over to Le Seur area and found a Dairy Queen so we could eat again! (we ate a lot that day). Then Jeff lead us onto some twisty roads around the MN River back to the cities. Turned out to be a great day in spite of the rain.
Greg wrote a great synopsis of his impressions of his ride:
Gang,
Psalm 133:1-3
1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
The challenge for the day was to see the glory and the grace of God in the created things that we saw and felt and heard throughout the day. We saw His grace in the beauty of the colors and textures and motion. His creative nature displayed in the rolling hills and valleys. His peace could be felt when viewing the ponds, lakes and streams; his power in the wind. Even in the neat, even rows of crops winding their way over the wavy landscape - the beauty of the Lord was on display in all it's magnificence. While waiting out the rain at Gordy's, the sound of the wind outside and the rain falling on the pavement was like pleasant music. But it was hard to top the expression of God's love and grace more than in the time spent with this group of men - the uniqueness of each individual, the capabilities and giftedness carefully dispensed by our loving creator to each one - spoke clearly of His grace and wisdom and power and love.
I hope you all benefitted, as I did, in the time spent together - the encouragement, the laughs, the opportunities to get acquainted with some new guys, or better acquainted with some you had previously known. The gift of hospitality given by Paul and Liz, and Gordy and Nancy evidenced lives sprinkled with grace and joy and the love of the Savior. Thanks for a great ride and for what each of you brought to it! I hope you all experienced God's love and grace in all the created things... Maybe that wasn't rain after all - maybe it was precious oil poured on the head, or the dew of Hermon...
Until we ride again, God's peace,
Greg
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Safety
Link to an interesting site on safety and other riding tips:
http://www.msgroup.org/articles.aspx
50 tips for safety I found on another web site:
http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/28727/ShowPost.aspx
http://www.msgroup.org/articles.aspx
50 tips for safety I found on another web site:
http://choppercharles.com/cs/forums/28727/ShowPost.aspx
Friday, February 15, 2008
Our History
The Fossil Apostles began in 2005. It was an out growth of a men's bible study group from Maple Grove Covenant Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The men had decided that a motorcycle trip would be an interesting group dynamic. Within the group the men had differing degrees of biking experience from decades of history to basic newbies buying a bike and taking the state learners course for the first time. But all were united in their enthusiasm and excitement at the possibilities of hitting the open road and spending a week with Christian friends. Wayne was not a part of that original bible study but was graciously allowed in because of his friendship with Greg. Since then, the gang has grown to include others not from the original bible study but sharing the same vision and passion for the Lord and biking.
The name:
The name:
The name was chosen because it ryhmes and it points out, humorously, that we are followers of Christ and none of us are as young as we used to be (most of us over 50). My recollection is that Lloyd first coined the phrase, but I am open to correction on that point. We call ourselves a "gang" because of the irony. We are about as far from a gang as a group of graying, balding men who like to pray and study the bible can be.
Our Trips:
Our Trips:
Trip # 1 in 2005 was a ride around Lake Superior. From Minneapolis we took the northern Wisconsin, Upper Pennisula Michigan, Ontario, northern Minnesota route. Some highlights were the first night at Wayne's hunting shack, the day and night in Paradise, Michigan and the stay at Bill's friend's cabin in Finland, MN.
Trip #2 in 2006 was to the Black Hills. We tried to stay off the superslabs by taking US 212 across South Dakota and back. Highlights were trying to keep Jim's bike going in spite of a dead charging system, (good news is he made it back home, got the bike fixed and caught up to us near Deadwood), helping Gordy "pack" his new bike, sights and roads around the Hills, breakfast at the Sylvan Lodge, and the heat at Belle Fourche.
Trip #3 in 2007 was to Northern Minnesota. We had decided to take a little shorter trip this year. It was a loop north and west to Brainerd, Thief River Falls, Roseau, International Falls, Duluth. Highlights were breakfast at The Logging Camp, the twisty road at Itasca, the picnic at Lloyd's sister's place, the twisty road to Finland, and, unfortunately, Bill breaking a throttle cable on WI state 35 south of Superior.
Trip #4, Lord willing, will be to Yellowstone in August, 2008. See another post, below, for planning details.
Trip #2 in 2006 was to the Black Hills. We tried to stay off the superslabs by taking US 212 across South Dakota and back. Highlights were trying to keep Jim's bike going in spite of a dead charging system, (good news is he made it back home, got the bike fixed and caught up to us near Deadwood), helping Gordy "pack" his new bike, sights and roads around the Hills, breakfast at the Sylvan Lodge, and the heat at Belle Fourche.
Trip #3 in 2007 was to Northern Minnesota. We had decided to take a little shorter trip this year. It was a loop north and west to Brainerd, Thief River Falls, Roseau, International Falls, Duluth. Highlights were breakfast at The Logging Camp, the twisty road at Itasca, the picnic at Lloyd's sister's place, the twisty road to Finland, and, unfortunately, Bill breaking a throttle cable on WI state 35 south of Superior.
Trip #4, Lord willing, will be to Yellowstone in August, 2008. See another post, below, for planning details.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
2008 trip: Yellowstone
Our next trip is scheduled for August 9-17, 2008. Our destination is Yellowstone National Park. We hope to hit the Big Horn Mountains as well and other stops in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota. A proposed route is above. Our plan is to make reservations in Yellowstone soon. Options will be to stay in a cabin and/or campground. Lloyd is in charge of the cabins, Wayne the campgrounds. Let us know which you prefer.
Currently Bill, Eric, Greg, Steve, Lloyd, Wayne, Jim and Keith are planning on making the trip. If you want to go as well, just let us know!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
first post test
Hi, guys, welcome to our blog site. I hope to put up pictures and write-ups of our previous rides as well as information regarding our future trips. I am new at this whole thing so any suggestions/advice is welcome.
Grace and Peace through our Lord Jesus Christ,
wayne
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