More Random Musings, June 2010………………………………………..…….by Bill Hankinson
They say that imitation is the finest form of flattery and if that is so, we are to be flattered. Thunder Roads, the free mag available at motorcycle dealers, is having a destinations contest similar to ours. Pick up a copy of the magazine and check it out, you may want to participate. I happened to see it in their April issue.
I hope that you are all planning on attending the national rallies, both the MOA and the RA. I will be heading out to the MOA but not the RA this year. As always, we will look for all members of the WMBMWR to congregate at the beer tent at 7:00PM on Friday night of the Rally for their official Rally pic, which we will post on our bulletin board at BMW-GR. This will hold true for both rallies. So, whoever is at the RA with a camera, be sure and get that group shot. The MOA is conducting a Rally Charity Club Challenge again this year and it is for the Sparrow Clubs of Bend, Oregon. The Sparrow Clubs support children who have either life threatening illnesses or chronic disabilities. The challenge is $100.00 from each chartered club. If you would like to join in you can mail a check to our treasurer, Bill Dirkmaat, with Charity Challenge in the memo field, I missed the opportunity to take up a collection at our breakfast. The club will match the funds collected up to $100.00 total. In regards to charities, in the past we have also taken up a collection to honor Bud and Gerri Hamilton at our annual “Bud Run” which occurs in August. We will do the same again this year at our breakfast/meeting and the club will match all donated funds up to $100.00. The American Heart Association will be the recipient again.
Regarding upcoming club rides, we need someone to step up and lead the run in July, as I will be on my way to Oregon that Sunday morning. A copy of the route sheet is included with this newsletter and I would recommend that if you intend to lead the run that you do a “proof” run prior to our breakfast/meeting to assure that the roads are all there and that there are no detours. Remember, these runs were laid out last winter and the ability to read maps, mapquest and other resources drops in proportion to the amount of sunlight available each day. If you wish to do this please notify Bill D or myself of your intent.
Thought for the Month: Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.
Historical Note: Gas price, June 2009, $2.789/gal
|
Breakfast/Meeting, June 13, 2010………………………………………..…….by Bill Dirkmaat
I got up plenty early this morning, fed the dog, read the paper and then got ready to go. I gave myself some extra time as I would need to fill up the tank for today’s ride. The Marathon station on the corner of Wilson and Lake Michigan is perfect, it is only a few doors down from the restaurant. I pulled into the parking lot plenty early. Didn’t see Mike H. as he usually is there before me. Shortly the members start pulling in and we chat before we proceed into the restaurant. Our tables are set and waiting for us. We set ourselves down and others coming in fill up the empty spots. A few late comers had to use a booth near by. In today’s group are; Todd and Soni Voss with their boys, Jake and Jeff, Gordon Hankinson and Donna Sienko, John Pyper, Rick Kraai, Bill and Joanne Hankinson, Bill and Virginia Lane, Larry Schwallier and Kristy Hollingsworth, Allan Dewey, Alan Cunningham, Tony and Colleen Wolfer, Cal Vanden Brink, Roger Vanden Brink, and Jim Savina. We have our great time together catching up with all the things that we have done in the past month while enjoying a fine breakfast. Fuel for the body and soul. The camaraderie extends outside to the parking lot afterwards until Bill H. lines us up for today’s ride.
The next breakfast meeting will be on Sunday, July 11, 2010. The ride to follow will need to be lead by a volunteer, as Bill H. will be on the road heading west towards the rally. The route sheet is included with the newsletter. A prerun is usually a good idea as it would give familiarity with the route and expose any unknown detours. As I will also be on the road, will someone kindly jot down names / notes and such for me to put in the newsletter when I get back. Thanks, Bill D.
|
June Ride Report – Vintage Motorcycle Show………………………………………..…….by Bill Hankinson
Once again we are ready to ride. It is dry and cloudy as we prepare to leave this morning, better than they were predicting early this week. The temps are moderate and it should be a nice ride today. We get everyone lined up and ready to ride, Bill & Joanne Hankinson take the lead position, followed by Rick Kraai, Bill & Virginia Lane, Todd & Jake Voss, Allan Dewey, Cal Vanden Brink, Jim Savina, Bill Dirkmaat, Gordon Hankinson & Donna Sienko, Roger Vanden Brink, and Alan Cunningham taking the tail position with that nice high viz jacket. That’s 11 bikes and 15 riders ready for a nice ride. We exit the parking lot and work our way south staying on the county roads as much as possible. As we pass through Johnson Park, the leader is aware of the local police monitoring the speed and immediately slowed to 25MPH and we pass through unmolested. We did do a first for a club ride today, we actually rode on an expressway. It was only for two miles but it did get us around Grandville very effectively. We continue on our southerly route, passing through downtown Dorr. We now start to work our way east to reach our destination, we pass Shelbyville on the west side and when we arrived in Martin we called an unscheduled rest stop and by the line up at the one hole, unisex bathroom, it was probably a good idea. From here we continue east, passing through Prairieville and skirting Pine Lake, missing a deer jumping across the road, probably only visible to those in the front of our column. Our whole route today is across nice rolling farm country, lots of corn, beans and winter wheat in evidence. It doesn’t appear that the corn will have any problems being knee high by the fourth of July. We continue on and arrive at the Gilmore. As we enter, there are three lines of ticket takers, so we got split up depending on which line could make change the quickest. Now everyone is pretty much on their own to peruse the show, the auto barns, the flea market or whatever their heart desired. I did see brother Mike Hankinson who had ridden down for the opening, Dave and Linda Wilson, working in the flea market area and Bruce Bodell, also in the flea market area. I saw lots of interesting bikes, both those on display and those parked in the lots. A good time was had by all I hope, we enjoyed the trip.
|
