Restablecer búsqueda
The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

The 2022 Motorcycle Adventure

No whining! The purpose of this trip is to enjoy motorcycling the US while seeing old friends, making new old friends, and accomplishing a whole bunch of mostly crazy goals. Leer más
SeguirResumenResumenCalendarioCalendarioFotosFotosCompartirCompartirLista de deseos
Más recientes primero
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    End of day 4
    SunriseWe may be back in an hour

    Hoka Hey Day 4

    29 de junio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 79 °F

    A lightning bug hit my helmet visor last night. I couldn't figure out where the light was coming from until part of it blew off. I'm tired 🤣.

    I rode NM-380 today, one of the many roads Lumpy and I rode together last year.

    Guys do not read street signs. Every guy I have followed has missed turns. 4 days it has taken me to figure out not to trust anyone's directions but my own. I haven't followed any gals because other than a few minutes with my friend Tammy on Day 2, I haven't seen any. But Tammy got herself lost, too. 🤣    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    I missed the New Mexico sign. It was too dark to photograph.Storm 1 that didn't get meCacti bloomingStorm 2 that DID get meWhat I call "pipecleaner" cactusStorm 3 that really got meStorm 4 that didn't get me

    Hoka Hey Day 5

    30 de junio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 84 °F

    Rough day with a start of hundreds of miles of twisties on wet, yucky roads. Great roads through, including Devil's Highway in Arizona, formerly AZ-666 now AZ-191.

    Things in/on/by the road:
    - Cows
    - Whitetail deer
    - Horse 💩
    - Horses
    - Chipmunks
    - Squirrels
    - Coyotes
    - Reservation dog
    - Lizard, including a juvenile Gila Monster that I really hope I didn't hit
    - Birds, from sparrows to vultures and one quail that just stood there as I rode by
    - Rocks, from gravel to volleyball-sized boulders
    - And of course lots of tire treads from semi blowouts

    Got soaked by two storms. Feet boiled to death in boots. Storms were crazy. Each mountain had its own cloud that looked like a faucet was left running. I could see several at once.

    I'm so tired that I had to stop for the second storm that got me because the wind was blowing me across lanes. I put the bike on the kickstand to stay upright, then leaned forward on my tank bag and considered taking a nap. 🤣    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Entering California. The sign is as blurry as I felt.

    Hoka Hey Day 7

    2 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 52 °F

    Long, hot, and cold day. Nevada tried to blow me off the road in over 100°F heat while ripping off my helmet despite it still being attached to my head. My neck is sore and stiff, and my wrists, elbows, and shoulders are killing me from battling the bike for hundreds of miles.

    Finally made it into California and hit over 7,700 feet, which dropped the temperature in the low 60s, which felt much, much colder.

    Just ate a sandwich. Up at 0400 again in the a.m. for our continuing run north. Oregon tomorrow!    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Hoka Hey Day 8

    3 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    500 miles of slow twisties to start the day. Chased the sunset from I-5 to Coos Bay. It won.

    I heard today that there have been 3 crashes so far, not including 2 or 3 deer strikes. All 3 were single-bike wrecks. The first was the same guy that hit a deer the first day. He's fine. The second was a retired Navy Master Chief Petty Officer I met last year at a rally. He's in hospital, but stable and doing fine. The third guy hit some gravel and went over the side of the cliff (no guardrail). He's dead.

    I'm tired. Should hit the third and final checkpoint tomorrow in Boise. Have lots of miles to get there though.    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    My friend's recorded route

    Hoka Hey Day 13 FINISHED

    8 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    I'M FINISHED!!! #47 to check in.

    This was quite an experience. I remember laughing, screaming, and crying; talking to myself, talking to the bike, and talking to my friends; and freezing, baking, and drowning. And I believe there was one day when all of these things happened 🤣.

    I did this to prove I could. I did it faster than I wanted, had mostly great weather, had no physical issues, and had no mechanical problems (except the flat rear tire--routine for me and this bike).

    I also did this for Lumpy. I hope I made you proud, brother.

    I don't know that I'll do it again, although it only happens every two years, so I may forget how I feel right now. What I do know is that this is most definitely a race, regardless of how it is publicly presented. There may no longer be a $500,000 first place award, but there is a trophy and the first 20 finishers get a rodeo belt buckle (made for guys of course).

    Beginning mileage: 105,632
    Ending mileage: 116,184
    TOTAL MILES: 10,552

    Beginning time: 26 June 0700
    Ending time: 8 July 0734
    TOTAL TIME: 12 Days, 34 Minutes

    Daily Mileages:
    Start 26 June 105632
    End of Day 1 26 June 106542 (910)
    End of Day 2 27 June 107603 (1,061)
    Check In #1 28 June 108201
    End of Day 3 28 June 108468 (865)
    End of Day 4 29 June 109511 (1,043)
    End of Day 5 30 June 110464 (953)
    Check In #2 1 July 110911
    End of Day 6 1 July 111145 (681)
    End of Day 7 2 July 112102 (957)
    End of Day 8 3 July 112919 (817)
    End of Day 9 4 July 113735 (816)
    Check In #3 5 July 113866
    End of Day 10 5 July 114371 (636)
    End of Day 11 6 July 115210 (839)
    Day 12 Flat Tire 7 July 115628 (418) [no end of day]
    Finish Day 13 8 July 116184 (556)

    What I spent most of my non-riding time messing with (areas for improvement):
    - Sleeping gear (I need a cot already put together and a one-piece bedroll/mattress)
    - Clothing (I need a Klim suit or similar to avoid switching in and out of rain gear and heated gear)
    - Fuel management (A larger tank means fewer stops)
    - Hydration (I need to be able to drink while riding)
    - Food (I need high energy food that I can eat while riding)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Resting

    12 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    The past few days have been very relaxing.

    Tammy and I spent one entire day at Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa soaking in the hot and cool waters and getting facials and massages.

    Yesterday, we rode to Rapid City and Sturgis to do some adulting (mailing stuff home, ordering parts for our helmets, etc.). On the way north through Custer State Park, we were delayed by three different herds of buffalo. With so many calves, we were very careful to keep our distance lest the cows have a go at us. They are truly magnificent animals, but pretty obliviously to cars and road noise.

    Last night we were sitting outside of the hotel and welcomed in three other Hoka Hey riders. Hugs all around despite never having met them before. They were very grateful to be finished, as Tammy and I well understood.

    Tammy rolled to California this morning, and I'm packing to roll out tomorrow. I'm heading to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the next HOG Touring Rally.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 123 mileage: 222.8 (total 222.8 + 24568.7) [odometer 116407]
    - I needed both of my tripmeters for the Hoka Hey, so I'm starting over on my mileage plus 24568.7 miles off the previous tripmeter.

    HD Dealerships: 1 (total 213)
    - I picked up a couple of dealerships during the Hoka Hey and Sturgis yesterday.

    National Parks: 0 (total 42 in 22 states)
    - I got North Dakota during the Hoka Hey 😁.

    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 6 of 10)

    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Pipestone, MN
    Pipestone, MNMissouri RiverMissouri RiverMy nap site buddyDignity StatueDignity Statue

    Pipestone, Minnesota

    13 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Today was a nice day, but I had to remind myself I wasn't on the Hoka Hey, didn't need to go 900 miles, and could stop as many times as I wanted 🤣.

    I left the hotel around 08:30. My first stop was Wall Drug, a must-stop for anyone traveling I-90 through South Dakota. I needed a travel toothbrush--I lost mine somewhere--and a camping chair. I also grabbed a photo at Badlands HD.

    My second stop was at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. I thought I would spend some time in the Visitor Center looking around, reading about the missile ops. Instead, I felt my stomach turn remembering the intense stress I was under when I was part of the Air Force Nuclear Command and Control structure. I grabbed my passport stamp and hightailed it out of there.

    I-90 is just another boring interstate, but with a speed limit of 80 mph, at least you get somewhere fast. I kept it around 75 most of the day, but even so, I found myself drooping around 14:00, which was actually 15:00 since I had changed into Central Time without realizing it. I stopped at a rest area and took a nap on a picnic table. The parents of the little bird weren't pleased by my presence, but I was only there an hour, so I'm sure the little chick is just fine.

    The interstate took me to Mitchell, South Dakota, for my 7th stop on the 10 Rides for 2022. Then I was off to the next HD in Sioux Falls. I considered camping in their parking lot, but found a campground 50 miles away next door to the Pipestone National Monument that I'm heading to tomorrow. So, I'm now in downtown Pipestone, Minnesota, having a glass of wine with a light dinner within walking distance of camp.

    It really has been a good day.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 124 mileage: 222.8 (total 685.4 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 2 (total 215)
    National Parks: 1 (total 43 in 23 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 1 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Now I'm carrying a tire, too

    Pipestone NM & Another Flat

    14 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌧 84 °F

    I woke up this morning to another flat rear tire 🤬. Here's my timeline:
    - 0600: I realize I have another flat. 😭 Luckily, I'm still at the campground 🫡
    - 0615: I call Harley Roadside Assistance (Agero) 🤞
    - 0745: I walk to Pipestone National Monument 👍
    - 0845: I'm finished at Pipestone and call Agero back about the tow. No provider yet. 🤦 I hold while she makes calls. She finds a provider. [The system didn't find a provider, and when that's the case, it's supposed to assign the case to a human. It didn't, so no one was working on getting me towed. I HATE AGERO.] 🤬
    - 0900: I call provider. Dispatcher Jeremiah says the driver will be there in two hours. 👍
    - 0910: I walk to Post Office to mail stuff home 👍
    - 0945: I walk to diner for breakfast 👍
    - 1030: I walk back to bike in campground
    - 1040: Driver Richard calls to say he's leaving Sioux Falls and will be there in two hours. WTF?🤬
    - 1041: I call dispatch back to find out why they told me two hours when it took almost that long just to dispatch a driver. Jeremiah's not in, but other guy says they're busy 🤦🤬
    - 1107: Jeremiah calls to say how busy they are. I told him he should've just told me instead of lying to me about the time. I didn't have a choice but to use them, so he should've been truthful with me about the time. 🤬🤬🤬🤬
    - 1200: Bike is loaded and I'm in the tow truck headed to Sioux Falls 👍
    - 1630: Back on the road with a new rear tire and oil change. 😁 Only made it to Watertown because big storms further north moving east (where I'm also headed). ☹️

    Now I have a tire strapped to my bike. Instead of speaking with me like I asked, they just changed the tire. I ran over a huge nail, but as long as the inside of the tire isn't burred, I can still run on a punctured tire (my tires are tubed). Since the tire only has less than 1,000 miles on it, and they cost $250 a pop, I'm taking it with me.

    Now I'm hunkered down at Glacial Lakes HD hoping the rain doesn't find me. I've walked over three miles in my riding boots, so my feet are killing me. I also realized that in the hullabaloo of today, I lost my good knife and my medicine wheel 😭.

    I just want to curl up and cry.

    Not a good day.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 125 mileage: 103.0 😭 (total 788.4 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 1 (total 216)
    National Parks: 1 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    World's Largest CrowSt Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Elrosa MNThat's not supposed to come off ☹️

    Finally Out Of South Dakota

    15 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 77 °F

    Well, the day wasn't horrible, but it started with me tripping over my own foot and going down hard on my knee in the parking lot where I slept 🤦. At least I didn't rip my new jeans.

    I can't tell you what the last 50 miles or so of South Dakota looked like though, because the fog was so thick I could only go about 40 mph in a 65 mph zone with my hazards on hoping not to be run down by semis hauling pigs 🤦.

    Once I got out of South Dakota (finally!) and into Minnesota, the day opened up to lovely weather. I went through several little towns on my dealership hunt, including Elrosa with a beautiful church and Belgrade with the world's largest crow (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/6167). I can't make this stuff up 🤣.

    I also swung by Cycle Gear in Edina (pronounced eh-DIE-nah, who would've guessed) to pick up a helmet face shield and pin lock insert (anti-fog liner) I had delivered there. It arrived yesterday, but when I got there around 16:30 today, the guy said his manager said it was locked in the mailroom and they couldn't get it until tomorrow. Not acceptable. I asked to speak to the manager, who was in the back. She came out and said the general manager had the only key and he wasn't in today. I said not acceptable and I asked what I had to do to get my package now . She called the general manager, told him I was traveling and had to get it, and wound up driving to his home to get the key. I hung out for about 45 minutes waiting and talking to an employee Jay about motorcycle gear and my travels. Nice guy. She finally got back and I got my stuff. Why is everything a fight 😡?!

    I kept rolling in Friday rush hour traffic, which wasn't too bad in comparison to other major cities. Once I left Dave's River Valley HD in Mankato, I was heading to Olive Garden for salad when I spotted a Motel 6 sign. I decided to check it out and found myself in a brand new hotel with brand new everything (including the smell), designated motorcycle parking by the front door, and a mini-grocery store/gas station two buildings over. AND the room was less than $100 a night! Sold!

    So now I'm hanging out in a nicely air conditioned room watching HBO and eating a nice salad (but I forgot the dressing 🤦).

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 126 mileage: 497.8 (total 1286.2 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 10 (total 226)
    National Parks: 0 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Wisconsin

    16 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Today wasn't too bad. It started rough with my new pin lock insert not fitting into the new face shield correctly and of course the company not being open. I also discovered the stitching in my one-year-old Le Pera custom seat is, well, rubbing off, I guess you would call it. The red stitch faded to pink in only a couple of months, but now it's just not there in places. Anyway, I left the hotel at 11:00 and just hit dealerships today. To make up for the cost of the hotel, I'm sleeping under the pavilion at Bull Falls HD in Rothschild, Wisconsin. Oh yeah, I'm in Wisconsin now 🤣. And I think I'm going to be eaten alive by mosquitoes ☹️.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 127 mileage: 594.2 (total 1880.4 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 7 (total 233)
    National Parks: 0 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Eagle, WI 🤣🤣
    No other pictures of Illinois 🤣Back in WILake Geneva around 19:00Riding into the sunset outside of Madison, WI

    Ilinois...No...Wait...Wisconsin

    17 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 72 °F

    I forgot to tell you something about yesterday. I rode through a town called Sparta. Everytime I saw a sign I yelled, "SPARRRTTTAAAA!!!!" just to amuse myself. I cracked my singing voice during the Hoka Hey (it took three days), so I'm trying to do other things on the bike to stave off the boredom. 🤣

    So, follow-up on last night. I didn't get eaten alive by mosquitoes, but I got pestered a lot. I bought a couple of bug-off wrist bands today. Hopefully they'll help tonight.

    Busy day today with dealerships, including HD Headquarters. I also popped by the Harley Museum, but only went in the restaurant to plug in my phone.

    Oh yeah. My alarm red light keeps coming on. Again. It started yesterday after not having done it since I replaced the right-hand control module. After one of my stops I checked my phone and realized it wasn't charging. No power to the cigarette lighter charger, nor to the installed USB port. I looked up the new error code. "ACC output shorted low." Well, that's why it's not charging. When I settled down this evening behind Madison HD, I pulled out my USB pig tail adapter. It works! Plus I have a large battery pack with me, so it's not a huge deal. But I'm not sure what else the problem might affect, so it goes on the list of stuff for my next service. The list is getting long ☹️.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 128 mileage: 507.5 (total 2387.9 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 16 (total 249)
    National Parks: 0 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    How to wear a citronella wristband 🤣
    When you have beer, ice, and baggies, but no cooler to take to the pool 👍Turbo SS Chevy Cobalt 🤣🤣🤣Ummmm...Great dat to be at the fresh water beach on Lake Michigan!

    On The Splinter

    18 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Warning: my thoughts are all over the place today. Just go with it. 🤣😳✌️

    Today was great. No flat tires. Only one driver and one semi semi that wanted to be in my lane while I was in it.

    Since I'm soooo far ahead of schedule, I decided to take a run up Wisconsin's splinter. You know, that little thing jutting off its northeast corner into Lake Michigan. It's actually Door County or the Door Peninsula. And it's pronounced just like the thing you open to go in a room. Who would've thought? I figured it would be pronounced DOH-er, but I guess with a Wisconsin accent, it kind of is 🤣.

    I woke up to daylight and the garbage truck at 06:00. [Did I ever tell you that a garbage truck emptying a dumpster with a bang sounds a lot like some of the rockets blasts I've heard? 😳] Anyway, I jumped up, packed, and headed out to a few dealerships.

    I ran up the Lake Michigan coast to Sister Bay and Al Johnson's ... yawn ... goats on the roof ... yawn

    Styx is touring again! They'll be in Wisconsin Dells in March next year. I wonder if they're all still alive?

    I almost went to the National Mustard Museum in Madison. Mark your calendars for 22 August! https://mustardmuseum.com/
    I can't make this shit up!

    I really wanted off the bike, and after driving through all these little getaway towns, I decided to spend the next 3 nights at the KOA. Now I'm at the pool. All the kids left at exactly 19:00 and it doesn't close until 20:00 (30 minutes from now). Winning!

    Just before I got here, I stopped at the Wisconsin Motorcycle Memorial. It needs some serious attention, but the pavers are really cool. And sad.

    I'm at the pool now listening to 97.7 FM Rewind radio station '70s and early '80s. I don't want to leave 🤣.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 129 mileage: 410.2 (total 2798.1 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 3 (total 252)
    National Parks: 0 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    The "paved road" I took 🤣🤣🤣

    Da Yoop (The U.P.)

    21 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    I had a nice time hanging out in the pool for 2 days, then staying by my tent while it rained a bit on the last day. It was also nice to get off the bike for two full days.

    After some debating with myself, I decided to go straight to Marquette today to try to get the bike looked at before the rally. With only a little further than 200 miles to go, I didn't leave until just before 10:00. By 12:00, I had rolled into Michigan's UP (Upper Peninsula) and stopped at the first pastie shop I came to. A little beef, potatoes, and rutabaga baked in a folded pie crust is always tasty 😋!

    I got to Bald Eagle HD in Marquette around 15:00, in plenty of time to speak to Service about Willie's needs: 120,000-mile service, shock, brakes, and accessories short fault. Another $1000 bucks estimate 😳. They ordered the shock and will call me when they want me to bring the bike in.

    I also arrived here 3 days before schedule with no hotel or campground. It took me over an hour to find a place, and I had to go more than 12 miles west to find one I could sort of afford. I would've preferred to sleep at the dealership, but it is very nice to have a real bed, fridge, microwave, desk, and semi-working air conditioning 😁.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 132 mileage: 232.1 (total 3030.2 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 1 (total 253)
    National Parks: 0 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Pablo!

    Another $1000 Spent at HD 😭

    25 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ 🌙 63 °F

    I dropped another grand at the dealership today on a new shock and the 120,000-mile service (like a 5k) 😳. Because I was at the dealership by noon, I had lots of time to chat with anyone who sat down by me 🤣. I saw several familiar faces coming in to check in for the Lake Superior HOG Touring Rally, which is always really nice.

    We had a catered pasta dinner around 17:30 (my bike still wasn't done 🤣) and a really nice evening chatting.

    I was able to get my bike afterwards, but they didn't fix the ACC fault/short that makes my USB port, cigarette lighter, and--say it ain't so!--my heated grips not work 😭. What this means is cold hands and dead phone. I have a huge battery pack that can charge everything, but it needs to recharge, too, and I don't have any electricity at this camp site. Hopefully I can get fully recharged in the hotel tomorrow.

    I'm up early to meet three guys at their hotel, so I'll cut this off.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 136 mileage: 9.5 (total 3064.5 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 0 (total 253)
    National Parks: 0 (total 44 in 24 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Lake SuperiorLake SuperiorLake SuperiorLake SuperiorLake MichiganLake MichiganOn the Mackinac BridgeMichigan's Tunnel of Trees road (state highway 119)Back on the Mackinac BridgePablo!Chad!Dale!Michigan: Mitten, Da Yoop, and the little dangly bit in Canada

    Lake Superior HOG Touring Rally Day 1

    26 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    What a great day for a rally ride!! The 4 of us--me, Pablo, Dale, and Chad--left Marquette and headed to Munising where we grabbed a dealership photo, then Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor Center for my passport stamp, and finally Grand Marais with its beautiful sandy beach along Lake Superior.

    After a cup of coffee, we headed south until we hit Lake Michigan, took the Mackinac Bridge to the Mitten*, and had lunch in Mackinaw City. [Why the bridge's name ends with a "c" instead of a "w" or vice versa, I have no clue.]

    After a nice lunch, we headed for Legs Inn and the Tunnel of Trees so the guys could get the Michigan 50 Rides 1 Nation photo. I did this loop last year, but it's so worth doing more than once. Legs Inn is so named because of the stove legs used to trim its roofline. (More info: http://www.legsinn.com/#modern-organic-thai)

    We ended the loop back in Mackinaw City at the HD, then the guys took the lead to head north on I-75. They're going into Canada with the rally over the top of Lake Superior, but I'm not, so I broke off for my hotel.

    After having gotten up at 05:30 this morning, I'm beat and already in bed. Tomorrow I head to Duluth where I'll meet up with the rally in two days. Unfortunately, tomorrow I'll probably be riding in the rain for a while ☹️.

    * Michigan has two parts called the Mitten--the largest chunk of the state that looks like a mitten, a.k.a. Lower Michigan--and the Upper Peninsula--the U.P. or Da Yoop, the part on top of Wisconsin. There's actually a third part, a little dangly bit above Lake Superior that looks like it should be part of Canada, but I haven't been there.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 137 mileage: 364.4 (total 3428.9 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 2 (total 255)
    National Parks: 1 (total 45 in 25 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Lake Superior again, I thinkWisconsin figured out a way to make tar snakes even more slipperyCrossing the bridge into MinnesotaFrom the Minnesota side

    Lake Superior HOG Touring Rally Day 2

    27 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    I'm off the rally route because I didn't go into Canada over the top of Lake Superior. Instead, I rode from Sault Ste Marie to Duluth today. It was a horrible start with the rain, but by lunch it cleared up. Except it didn't really. As soon as I hit the border of Wisconsin, a heavy rain storm hit me...and I had already take off my rain gear ☹️. I was soaked all the way through, and the temperature wasn't warm enough to dry me off (only 71°F and the wind was cooold!). I still stopped to get my Wisconsin park stamp, but didn't even look around the visitor center. 100 miles later and I still hadn't dried completely when I arrived at the Duluth campground...that I forgot to make a reservation at 🤦. So I wound up at the Radisson via HotWire. Oh well. The ground is soaked, it's way too cold to sleep at night, and there didn't appear to be a laundry room I could sleep in, so I'm better off in a hotel.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 138 mileage: 506.0 (total 3934.9 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 0 (total 255)
    National Parks: 2 (total 46 in 26 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 0 (total 7 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarThe 2022 Motorcycle AdventureNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    Number 8!!
    The skies most of the dayThe Mighty Mississippi not so mightyI raced to beat this back to the hotel...and just barely made it.

    Lake Superior HOG Touring Rally Day 3

    28 de julio de 2022, Estados Unidos ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

    Despite horrible looking skies, my ride to Bemidji and the eighth 10 Rides for 2022 photo was fairly uneventful. I say fairly because I got pulled over for speeding a couple of miles west of Deer River. I must've been daydreaming because I thought I was going about 5 mph over, but was actually 12 or 13. He ran my license and tag, and with no issues on either, said have a nice day. No citation. Cool.

    When I got back to Duluth about 13:30, I went straight to the dealership. My shifter peg started spinning and I don't have tools with me this time. Plus, my rear left tail light isn't working...then it is...then it isn't.... They tightened the peg (I thought it might be stripped, but nope), but they think the light has something to do with my ACC short/fault because the LED bulb was working for them. I have another HD lined up to troubleshoot all of that Saturday.

    The rest of the rally rolled in about 16:00-17:00 and we had another nice meal and conversation. They were in probably more rain than I was yesterday and some even hit hail, which I thankfully didn't. But everyone made it unscathed.

    I raced back to the hotel about 7 miles away to beat a nasty downpour I really didn't want to get caught in. I dodged rain all day today, hitting some but not for long and not very heavy. Just enough to get you damp, but not enough to mess with my heated gear. Yes, it was 55 when I left the hotel at 07:30 and I don't think it got over 65 all day. The wind chill was cold. Anyway, I made it back and parked under the overhang just in time.

    Now, I'm kicking back in the air conditioning because I can't open the window (12th floor). Not a terrible day after all.

    So long [for now], and thanks for all the fish! ✌️

    Day 139 mileage: 313.1 (total 4248.0 + 24568.7)
    HD Dealerships: 0 (total 255)
    National Parks: 0 (total 46 in 26 states)
    10 Rides for 2022: 1 (total 8 of 10)
    MCGTTX Stops: 0 (total 23 of 50)    Leer más

    Ver traducción