PREMISE for the CLUB: There are a number of local riders who would like to get together with other riders once in a while. Most everyone is “busy”, so a local club is not intended to be the focal point of anyone’s social life.
The CLUB’S GOAL: To provide an occasional opportunity for area riders to get together for conversation and to ride with other BMW enthusiasts.

CLUB EVENT DATES TO REMEMBER:
BREAKFAST/MEETINGS: All Breakfast/Meetings are held on the second Sunday of the month unless otherwise notified. We meet at 9:00 AM at: NEW BEGINNINGS RESTAURANT, 4735 Lake Michigan Dr., Standale, Mi. They are ¼ mile west of Wilson Ave. Their phone number is 616-735-4902.
Upcoming dates: March 14, 2010, April 11, 2010 (2nd Sunday),

CLUB RIDES: Another successful riding season completed. Stay tuned for the 2010 schedule.

MICHIGAN DESTINATIONS 2010: Something exciting and maybe not as challenging as last year.

CLUB NEWSLETTER: Mailed or emailed on a monthly basis. If you have any concerns or contributions you may contact me, William Dirkmaat at: 11801 Hoskins NE, Cedar Springs, MI. 49319. Phone: 616-263-9110, cell-616-340-4440 or wmbmwriders@charter.net

OTHER EVENTS OF INTEREST: Please note that you may obtain more information in the BMW MOA ON and BMW RA OTL magazines for some of these events. More local events can be found posted on the bulletin board at the shop.

April 30, May 1-2, 2010; Battle Creek BMW Club Mini Rally, Sturgis, Mi.
July 15–18, 2010; 38th BMW MOA National Rally, Redmond, Oregon. www.bmwmoa.org
July 29-August 1, 2010; BMW RA National Rally, Pownal, Vermont. www.bmwra.org

CLUB T-SHIRTS and SWEATSHIRTS:

The available shirts and sweatshirts are as follows:

T-Shirts:

ASH
blue & red print / no pocket; 3 – Lg @ $8.50 ea, 9 – XL @ $8.50 ea
blue & red print / with pocket; 3 – XL @ $9.50 ea

BLACK
white print / no pocket; 3 – XL @$8.50 ea
white print / with pocket; 2 – XL @ $9.50 ea

WHITE
blue & red print / no pocket; 1 – Sm @ $8.50 ea

Sweatshirts:

ASH
blue & red print; 4 – Lg @ $16.00 ea, 7– XL @ $16.00 ea

BLACK
white print; 3 – XL @ $16.00 ea

Call Bill D. at 616-263-9110, or 616-340-4440 if you would like to have one of these.

More Random Musings…February 2010………………………………………..…….by Bill Hankinson
Not much to report as far as BMW sightings here in Mexico so far. One R1200GS is it. As I had indicated before, most of the bikes here are small, 125cc to 250cc and are used for personal transport or goods transportation. There are not a lot of scooters here like you would find in Europe. We are enjoying ourselves, the sunshine, the surf and sea. We have spotted whales and dolphins in the bay. Glad to hear that you got a January thaw but didn’t hear of any January rides completed. We missed the intro of the S1000RR last month but the article in the MOA ON didn’t really describe a bike that would have much interest for me. However, that said, I do intend to renew my membership before the end of April so I will be in the drawing for one. On a trip to the local Wal-Mart, I did see a 150cc scooter that would be available for about $1200.00 US. Seemed like a pretty good price for such a machine, not sure of the brand.

Historical Note: Gas in Mexico, Feb. 2010, 38 pesos/liter = $2.99US/gal

Thought for the Month: Do not argue with an idiot. He will bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Breakfast/Meeting, February 14, 2010…………………………………………………………by Bill Dirkmaat
Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s still winter weather and as such there are no motorcycles ridden to breakfast today. We find our usual tables setup for us with chocolate hearts on the placemats. In attendance we have; Jim Weber, Homer and Kathy Teitsma, Larry Schwallier, Steve Cooper, Phil Nellis, Bob Swanson, Mike Hankinson, Dale and Judy Monson, and Allan and Colleen Dewey. The table talk varies as to where you are seated. I can only gather that we all must be feeling some cabin fever. The time will soon be upon us and we will be back in the saddle again. But until then it is good to get together like this and share with each other how we have been and what we will be planning for the upcoming riding season. I’m sure next month will be the one that will kick it off.
Let’s find out by meeting for breakfast on Sunday, March 14th at 9:00am.

Larry and Homer’s Bear Tooth Rally Adventure………………………………..By Homer Teitsma
Murphy’s Law says if you plan a motorcycle trip, it will be rainy when you leave, and so it was on this trip. It rained lightly from my house to Larry’s, about 40 miles. We got into our serious rain gear at that point and it poured from Zeeland to Saugatuck. Traffic was down to 30 mph on I-196, lots of wind, thunder and lightening. We made it through and back to light rain till we stopped in New Buffalo for breakfast.
After breakfast we go to Michigan City and the end of freeways till Montana. Heading south on US-421 from Michigan City to US-24, then west until state hwy. 54 and now angling SW to US-136, which we take west all the way to Colorado.
By now it was heating up to around 90 with high humidity. Quite a change in the weather on the first day. Larry had worked all night before we left, so we kept the day fairly short and stopped for the night in Memphis, Missouri.
The next morning (Sunday) we were on the road about 8 o’clock and continuing west on US-136 towards Nebraska. We traveled on lots of nice roads with small hills and curves. It was a pleasant day of rural roads and small towns. Into Nebraska and watching the country change to dry country.
I found out the hard way that fuel stops can be a long way apart. I was at 220 miles from the last fill-up and it was still 50 miles to the next town. Luckily we found a local farmer filling up his tractor at a local co-op filling pump (not available to the public), but he let me fill up on his account and then pay him in cash. Without him it would have been a real problem. This all happened on Hwy. 89 in Nebraska, a back road, that didn’t go much out of the way but was labeled scenic on the map. We ended the day in Wray, Colorado, had a beer and crashed for the night.
Up and at it the next morning, going west on US-34 in Colorado, and we rode for about 3 hours until we found a place for breakfast in Greely. From here we continue west on US-34 which takes us through Rocky Mountain National Park and towards my brother’s house in Granby. As usual, the RMNP was beautiful, lots of elk just outside of Estes Park. We arrived in Grand Lake, just outside of RMNP at my niece’s marina on Lake Granby. Had a nice visit and then another 20 miles south on US-34 to Granby and my brother’s house. We went to Tabernash for Mexican food and spent the night at Jerry’s home in Solvista ski and golf Resort.
After a leisurely breakfast at Jerry’s, we headed north on 125, a beautiful motorcycle road with 50 MPH swooping curves. On up through Waldon and into Wyoming. Took more scenic routes up to Walcott and then Medicine Bow, past Independence Rock and Devil’s Gap to Muddy Gap. Very interesting country, worth another visit at a more leisurely pace. Headed north on 135, a very rural back country road, to Riverton and a motel for the night.
Back on the road, heading north up to Worland and then east out to Ten Sleep, where my daughter Jean lives. We spent the night out at a ranch, 17 miles out in the boondocks. A steak dinner on the grill, lying out on the ground watching a meteor shower (neither of us had seen so many falling stars), and had a beer or two to celebrate Larry’s birthday. Just a fantastic night. The only negative was that the “road” out to the ranch was very dusty.
After breakfast at the ranch, we said our good byes and headed towards Red Lodge and the rally. We made a stop in Cody, Wyoming to do some shopping at the Sierra Designs outlet store. From here its north to Belfry and then west towards Red Lodge with a stop in Washoe at what was billed as the world’s best homemade cream pie. Larry had a sandwich I had a piece of banana cream pie. Very good, but not the best in the world. Now on to the rally and get checked in. Larry had been having a problem with his rear tire losing air, so we thought we would check that out. Couldn’t find the problem, so we set up our tents for the night. It rained off and on and got quite cold. Not a very pleasant condition.
The next morning, Friday, we went to the local cycle repair shop and had the tire fixed. From here we went over Bear Tooth Pass and east on Chief Joseph Highway and circled back to the rally for dinner and a couple beers. More wet and cold weather with rain is in the forecast for Saturday.
On Saturday morning it was cold and damp with rain forecasted, so we talked it over and decided to leave a day early. Packed it up and headed out back to Belfry, turned south to Lovell, east on 14 to the base of the Bighorn Mountains. Rain was coming so we stopped and got the rain gear on, good thing, because pretty soon it was raining. Then fog so thick you couldn’t see 30 feet ahead and thicker at times where you could barely make out the shoulder of the road. All of this was happening on torn up road that was now dirt for 20 miles. It cleared some what, only to become snow, which thankfully didn’t stick to the road. The shoulders were snow covered. Quite an adventure! When we cleared the east side of the mountains, out came the sun and became nice again. From here we jumped onto I-90 and went for 100 miles to 16. South to Newcastle for the night. Went 5 miles up the road for prime rib, one of the best I’ve ever had.
After a restful night we go south out of Newcastle and east on 16 to Custer, SD, south to Hot Springs, east on 18 to Martin then catch 73 South into Nebraska to US-20 and east all the way into Iowa. From here it’s just a stay on the road and keep running for home. US-20 to I-35 S. to state road 30 E. to I-380 S to I-80 and boogie on home. Dinner at New Buffalo for the last time together. I wave good-bye to Larry as he peels off at the Zeeland exit. I arrive home about 9pm, tired but happy to have made another trip safely. It was 4,000 miles in 10 days, including a couple of visiting days, so we spent some serious saddle time.

FOR SALE: Gerbing Jacket Liner Enjoy late season and winter rides with warmth! Like new, size 48 x 34. It completely works. I liked it so much I purchased the 30-year anniversary model, so you can get this one at a substantial discount. Jacket Liner--$65. Also available; single controller--$40, controller case--$5. All for--$100. Contact Rick at 616-566-2201 or w_mi_biker@live.com

The last of the page;
* I would like to welcome aboard a some new members: Roger and Marie Bonga of Grand Rapids, and Darryl Herbertz of Mooresville, In. WELCOME !!

* Good news…I am working again. I was getting ready to go south to visit my sister and do some job hunting when the phone rang that morning. My friend Joe called and asked where I was. I told him I was getting ready to leave for Tennessee. He told me Art, his plant manager would like to talk to me. I stopped by on my way out of town, before noon and talked to Art and he made me a job offer. I still was going to take the trip and I’d get back with him on Monday. I played the scenario thru my mind as I drove south. I visited with my sister and family and called him Monday to accept the offer. I also did check out another place in Cookeville, Tn. I could have started there on Feb. 1, and tried it out for 6-8 weeks. It seems that when you try and have no luck, and the chips are down so to speak, it all of a sudden pours. I am glad that this turn of events has occurred. I will still take caution as there is nothing carved in stone yet. So far so good and the feeling is great. The next step would be for some more sunshine and warmer temperatures to melt the snow away. I did start up the bikes on Feb. 9th, and rode up and down the street a little ways, just to work through the gears. It felt good!

* I do wish our members that are vacationing in the southern climates have a safe and enjoyable time. Remember us as you will be coming back and joining us in the next few months. Have a safe journey. We look forward to your return.

Bill Dirkmaat, 11801 Hoskins NE, Cedar Springs, MI. 49319.
Phone: 616-263-9110, cell-616-340-4440 or wmbmwriders@charter.net