Editor: Gregg Mitchell
Saturday, August 18, 2007, we will be meeting at Karl's Cabin restaurant in Plymouth, MI. Karl's is located on Gotfredson Road, just north of M-14. From I-275 / I-96 take M14 West towards Ann Arbor. Gotfredson Road is exit # 15. The meeting begins at 8:30 AM However late arrivers are always welcome!
HOI Ride Report
By Keith Danielson
Most years since 1997, the Michigan Squadron has been honored to be able to visit former Michigan member Hal Kramer (aka Cisco) at his home in Vienna, WV, for a weekend that came to be known as “Halacioius”, since all involved in the first event agreed they were having a halaciously good time. This year’s Halacious unfortunately had to be cancelled due to Cisco’s wife Donna (aka Donita) being called away to attend to family matters, as well as our fearless State Director Gregg Mitchell’s (aka Pancho) wife Patricia – both of whom have been pivotal in ensuring the weekend comes off with rave reviews – not being able to attend. With Halacious 9.1 out, and with a tankbag full of great rides to be ridden and a weekend beckoning for someplace to ride, Cisco and Pancho decided to go ahead and do something anyway, for the Hal of it. Hence, this year’s HOI was born.
The weekend began on Friday with about a dozen riders meeting at the Bob Evans restaurant in Woodville, just off of I-280, and two more riders meeting at another Bob Evans somewhere close by (but not quite close enough). After breakfast, we split up into two groups to follow a pre-determined route that Pancho had put together that would bring us down to Marietta, OH, by a good sampling of the roads that southeast Ohio has to offer (after navigating the slightly less inspiring roads in northwest Ohio that must be traversed before arriving in southeast Ohio). A group led by Pancho left the restaurant first, followed about 15 minutes later by a group led by Keith Danielson (aka Gimpy, aka Crash, aka Long Wind [did I ever tell you the story about – oh wait, there probably isn’t enough time], and probably a host of other less-than-complimentary aliases). Gimpy’s electric, er, eclectic group consisted of Ray Melosh, Randy Shelton, Mike & Megan Barry, and Jan Pennington, and about 20 miles hence were joined by Martin Snuverink and Jerry Wagner.
After departing the Bob Evans, we quickly navigated down SR-51 and Portage River Rd S to SR-19, where a few miles down the pike we passed Martin and Jerry, who tagged on to the end of our group. Missing the designated gas stop at the Sunoco (I’ve been accused of having tunnel vision), we stopped instead at a BP station on SR-95 just south of I-71, where we got to meet Martin and Jerry, and found out the details of why they were with us instead of with Gregg and company. Having filled up the bikes with gas and ourselves with some water and snacks, we continued on the route. Arriving in Malta at the designated “Gas/Meet Hal” stop, we found no sign of Cisco or Pancho, or anyone else. I guess we’d just been enjoying the ride too much, so they all left without us. No worries, armed with Gregg’s superb directions, Gimpy expertly led the group the rest of the way on into the Super8 Motel in Marietta, much to the relief of Don Pennington, who had nothing but bad thoughts of why Jan wouldn’t be there yet with Crash leading.
Marietta was named in honor of Marie Antoinette, the queen of France (as in “let them eat cake”) for France’s support of the colonies during the American Revolution. It was the first permanent settlement in the Northwest Territories. As Marietta grew, industry became a big part of Marietta, with boat building, railroads, and the Marietta Chair Company. In 1860, oil was first drilled in the Marietta area. The results of Marietta’s industrial prowess can still be seen today in the many large homes that were built by the men who made their fortunes there.
After our arrival in Marietta, Long Wind and a number of others headed over to one of Marietta’s current industrial giants, the Marietta Brewing Company, where we were able to sample some of Marietta’s finest brews, while enjoying a great, highly deserved supper. After supper a brief rider’s meeting was held back at the Super8, where we completed all of the legalities, and established our groups for the Saturday ride.
On Saturday morning, Crash’s group departed at about 8:45, the last of about 5 groups to head out. A number of new riders in my group joined with a few who you would think would have known better, with Eric Kuhn, Jerry Wills, and Ohio HSTA member Barry Mullen joining Randy Shelton, and Mike and Megan Barry,. We followed the route at a fun easy pace that allowed the slower riders to enjoy the ride, while the slightly faster riders got their kicks in the twisties. The leaders never really got much over 65 mph, which allowed those in the rear to stay in contact without having to go really fast. The route laid out by Gregg took us to most every ‘ville in West Virginia, including Harrisville and Grantsville, then on to Burnsville before circling down and around to the Holly River State Park for the lunch stop.
Lunch was enjoyed at tables lined with benches in a small restaurant at the State Park Headquarters building. Five groups of 5 to 7 people each was quite a stretch for the staff, but they somehow managed, though some orders did get slightly mixed up. As far as I know, everyone enjoyed their lunch though, or maybe someone elses. After lunch, we took a group photo along side the creek that ran next to the restaurant before continuing the ride. The route back took us to Rock Cave (aren’t they all?), past the state hospital in Weston (I dodged ‘em), up to West Union, and back to Harrisville, where we gave the bums a little respite in North Bend State Park. Back on the road and getting a little late in the afternoon, we decided to cut the last 18 miles or so of twisties and instead high-tailed it back on US-50 to I-77 and up to Marietta to get cleaned up and ready in time for dinner.
For dinner on Saturday, Cisco had made reservations for the group at the Levee House Café in Marietta. The Levee House, as the name implies, is located on the Levee, right next to the Ohio River. Back in the day the riverfront was a rather seedy part of town, and the establishment was known as the La Belle Hotel. As a stop on the Underground Railroad it provided refuge to escaped slaves on their journey north to freedom. Today, besides being a restaurant, it is reportedly haunted by a distinguished gentleman in search of his head, which he lost to an axe-wielding son who had followed him to his liaison with a mistress. You can read more about that sordid event at http://www.hauntedmarietta.com/stories/leveehouse.php. We didn’t see any slaves, ghosts, or axe murderers, but we did have a tasty, if somewhat slow, dinner followed by ice cream next door before heading back to the Super8 to plan our groups and departure times for the Sunday ride home.
Long Wind’s group decided to depart at about 8:35 on Sunday morning. Once again we followed another interesting route planned by our route master extraordinaire, Pancho. The Sunday route started us out by heading up SR-26, along the Little Muskingum River. Ohio ranks second in the nation in the number of covered bridges still standing. Today, nine still remain in Washington County, and three of them span the Little Muskingum River along SR-26. The bridges are actually part of a covered bridge tour that can be followed in the area, with interpretive displays to inform people of the different types and the histories of the bridges. The Rinard Bridge is right next to the road, so I just had to stop to see it. During its lifetime, the Rinard Bridge has been washed away 3 times in floods.
The most recent was in 2004, when it was washed off its piers, and came to rest a little ways downstream still intact. A few weeks later, the river flooded again and the bridge was washed further downstream and was destroyed. However, funds were raised, and the bridge was again resurrected. The original trusses were saved and reused so the bridge would maintain its historic designation. Though it is closed to vehicular traffic (since 1991) it once again stands in its full glory providing a glimpse of the past. Your can read more about the covered bridges in Washington county at http://www.mariettaohio.org/lib/images/PDF/Covered_Bridge_Brochure.pdf .
The Sunday Slow group: Eric, Randy, Megan, Mike, Ray, and Keith (behind camera) with Eric’s $10 motorcycle (#2) at the Rinard Bridge.
The ride on Sunday for my group was also notable for the detours. The first detour was along SR-260. It was a small one, and we rejoined the designated route just a few miles later after merely riding on some different good roads. The second detour occurred as a result of a small navigational error on my part, when I turned right onto SR-78 instead of turning left. I should have known something was amiss when the next road didn’t appear when it was supposed to. Had I recognized the error of my ways then, we would have soon been back on the correct route, again after having only ridden a few miles of other good roads. However, I didn’t recognize my error, so we continued east several more miles, so that we were able to enjoy about 20 miles more than everyone else before we got back onto the published route on SR-313 at Derwent. Back on track again, we continued to New Concord, where we got fuel and Randy came to his senses, and took his leave to make it home more quickly.
The next detour came at a bridge on US-62 just south of Kilbuck. One lane of the bridge was actually open, but it was being controlled by a traffic light right at the intersection, making it very awkward to get the group through. Therefore, I instead opted to go straight through Kilbuck and continue up SR-60 to rejoin the route at Nashville. The last detour occurred as we were getting kind of hungry, just before the published lunch stop in Jeromesville. After all of the detours to that point, and the fact that it was getting past 1 pm, we decided to stop instead in Loudonville for lunch. Refreshed and ready to get back home, we got onto SR-60 again, and promptly ran into traffic as we approached Ashland. We had to cool our jets by following a bunch of Harleys and other traffic out for a Sunday cruise until we were past Ashland and back onto the published route at Savannah. From there it was a beautiful ride the rest of the way back up to Toledo, followed by a quick zip up I-75 and back home.
When Gregg asked for volunteers to lead, I was a little reluctant to do so, as I’m usually accustomed to riding at a brisk pace following someone else. As a group leader, I would have to slow down (probably a good thing anyway), and be responsible to make sure that I didn’t lose anyone along the way. Consequently, I ended up riding over 1000 miles with a bunch of people who I probably never would have ridden with had I just followed along in my usual group. We rode on some of the nicest roads in southeast Ohio and West Virginia, with some of the best riding weather one could ask for, with some of my new best friends who followed me everywhere I went. All in all, it was a fantastic weekend.
Thanks again to Hal and to Gregg for organizing the weekend.
Pacific Eight
by Dave Botsford
I started off knowing that this year’s trip out to Laguna Seca for the US MotoGp was going to be real complicated. My heart was in Atrial Fibrillation and the side effects from the drugs I was taking not only thinned my blood but slowed down my reaction time and endurance. There are fairly long distances to go with no one around if you have a get off. “It is too dangerous you could bleed to death” my mom pointed out. I also pointed out to her that I could be in the back yard bending over cleaning up dog poop and have a heart attack. Man’s got to know his limitations. I feel that last years excess heat had something to do with my current medical condition. So I was concerned about that. Well that’s enough of that nonsense so I arrived in San Diego late Wednesday night and Glenn, my old friend, picked me up. Thursday was spent just adjusting to California. A great breakfast was followed by a stop at the North County House of Motorcycles were I bought a new helmet. A Scorpion which so far I have been very pleased with. The one I wanted was not in stock but they said they would have it by noon the next day. So I would have to forgo one day of not riding the bike which I have been waiting for a whole year.
So we took a drive down the 101 along the coast and there was that big beautiful blue Pacific Ocean. That evening we met Leo another friend who I met some seven years ago on the VFR list for some brews at the local brew pub. Leo put on a new rear tire, changed the oil and fluids, cleaned the air filters and washed and waxed the RC. Friday, I got my helmet and then rode over to Leo’s house in hills on the east side of Vista. He then took me out for a local ride. This is the amazing part about California. In about the same amount of miles to go to Stockbridge, Dansville or Jackson all within 35 miles of Ann Arbor, Mi. we were on top of Palomar Mt or about 5500ft and we had three sets of elevation changes of 2k+ft before we got there.
A North San Diego County or Southern California DeLorme map will show we were on Buena Creek Rd., Deer Springs Rd, I-15 north, Old Castle (near Lawrence Welks Supper Club), West Lilac Rd, Couser Canyon, Route 76, S6 and S7. Once there we were able to observe the sunset beyond the ocean with a crescent Moon and Venus following suit. Also pay our respects to a fallen rider who didn’t make that turn back in April. The ride back was a rough one in the dark. It gets dark in the mountains with little help from the twilight and only the centerline reflectors with worthless headlights giving only a clue to that two dimension world. We met Glenn and his family at Anita’s in Oceanside. One of the best real Mexican Restaurant’s I’ve ever been to and without the Tex. They have this salsa which is mole based that is soooo good that you start to fill up on the chips and salsa. I learned a new Spanish word, El Rotundo that means more or less ‘button popper’.
Saturday was a non ride day due to the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club 54th Annual Over The Line Tournament World Championships at Fiesta Island. The only way to describe this is it is kind of like a softball game played like in a volleyball game fashion in the sand. The Indy 500 is no longer the greatest spectacle in sports, maybe never was. Over 300 teams, civil nudity and drinking going on all day long until there is a winner! Actually it continues through Sunday and the following weekend. We cut out before the sun brought us down. I’m thinking about entering a team for next year. Sunday was kind of a wasted day helping Glenn with some odds and end but still I was in California.
Monday though I was able to continue to shake off the cobwebs and went for another ride out to Palomar and the surrounding area. There are so many roads alone in the eastern part of San Diego County one of them Mesa Grande Rd. I then rode back to were Glenn worked at Upper Deck in Carlsbad. In their lobby they have two Team Jordan Racing bikes in the Main lobby in which they are a sponsor. Tuesday we leave for Monterey and the third least favorite part of the trip doing the slab up to the San Gabriel Mountains. Very warm and boring in the sense there is not much to look at except the idiots in their cars looking at their mirrors on their sun visors. Boring but you better also pay attention to your speed because the CHP on their BMW’s will come out of nowhere. We take I-15 to I-215 through this area they have been working on for the last eight years where all these freeways come together. Thank God for lane splitting.
Your choice, be safe and sit behind a car until your clutch hand falls off and you lose your mind or lane split with do care and caution saving maybe hours. Then back on the 15 again until we get off at Route 138 just southwest in the foothills of the San Gabriel’s where highway 2 is and take a rest and talk about everyone who didn’t make the trip because it is just me and Leo. But wait did I tell you? For the third year in a row now the 2 is closed, this time in two places and just ahead the 138 is also closed. But we know the sneaky way Lone Pine Canyon road which sneaks you right up to the open part of 2 and Wrightwood. Lone Pine is this long 11 mile upgrade straight with some kinks in it. We don’t hit triple digits just because it’s the perfect place to get popped. We get off the 2 onto Big Pine Rd which turns into Fort Tejon Rd. And nearby is the Devils Punchbowl. From there we ease into Palmdale and continue West on N2 for the moment called Elizabeth Lake Rd. a road with a lot of everything but nothing real tight.
But then it turns into Pine Canyon Rd. which is a true canyon road and after Three Points gets tighter then a long downhill back to the 138 then North on Gorman Post rd. a brief spat on I-5 to the first exit which is Frazier Park where we hole up for the night at The Best Rest Inn. Oh yeah we did go down to Rocky’s Tavern for dinner which was grease spoon at best but the bar part they fixed up pretty good with plenty of TV’s and a can of paint. Jackie one of the bartenders we see every year now runs the pool tournament they have every Tuesday night and she pressed us to participate. We said ‘no thanks up to now we haven’t done anything foolish.
On Wednesday we start one of the favorite parts of the trip. First up is Cerro Noroeste Road. Mil Potrero Hwy - Cuddy Valley Road the link there pretty much says it all. After that the warmest riding on the trip is 166 and then 33 through Taft. One of my three concerns about this trip was the heat. Last year it was a little above normal, hitting 118 degrees at Taft. This year it was 79 but we were here about two hours earlier then last year. Finally on one of the best all around roads in America is Highway 58. The best link to this is through Pashnit.com but you may have to be a member to access all the fine articles and photos. After that we stop in Paso Robles for usual lunch at Senior Sanchez restaurant. Then through to another great road G-14 also known as Nacimiento Lake Drive - Interlake Road - Jolon Road.
I included a link but once again only Pashnit does this road justice in the description department. We stopped for a beverage at Lockwood and this guy pulled up on a black ZX14 and asked where the closest gas station was. I told him I really didn’t know except up near King City we sent him to ask inside. When we got up to King City he was right with us. We fueled up there because there is no gas for 40 some miles on Carmel Valley Rd. that was the second thing that concerned me was the price of gas. The funny thing was it was actually cheaper in California the whole time I was there then it was in Michigan. Normally it is thirty cents a gallon more. The Kawi rider decides to hang with us up Carmel Valley Rd.
He does really well on that big bike because it is a handful. We stop in Carmel Valley which is not far from the racetrack and about 12 miles from Monterey. We end up talking with Ivan for awhile he is from L.A. and is going to continue on up to San Francisco. He also looks like he is about 6’8” tall so he fits the ZX pretty good. Next stop for us is the Borg’s Motel in Pacific Grove where we will stay tonight which is right next door to the motel we stay at for the rest of the time there. That’s it, I have run out of time for now, tell you more later. Check the few of 130 some pictures I took at LagunaSeca07
A special thanks to Keith Danielson and Dave Botsford for the articles featured this month!
REMEMBER........
It doesn't pay a reward, but your articles will be appreciated by all your fellow members and your local editor AND you will earn points toward the 2007 SMOTY Award!
If nothing else - you'll get to see your name in print, somewhere other than on the Post Office bulletin board!
MICHIGAN SQUADRON RIDING EVENTS 2007
One of the traditions of the Michigan Squadron of the HSTA is to organize a few events each year specifically for our State Squadron. These events are not sanctioned or official events of the HSTA, but are limited to those who are current members of the HSTA. Our remaining 2007 schedule is listed below in order of occurrence:
M.O.B. - 2007
Michigan's Ohio Blitz – 2007
Sept. 7 - 9, 2007, SE Ohio
Event Organizer – Gregg Mitchell
Friday, Sept. 7
RIDE - from Michigan to Coshocton, OH
We'll be staying at the following Hotel -
Country Squire Inn and Suites (formerly the Travel Lodge), 275 S Whitewoman St, Phone - 740-622-9823
There will be a Mandatory "Rider's Meeting" held at the hotel at 9:00 PM, where we'll set up the riding groups, reveal the routes and prepare for the next days ride.
Saturday, Sept. 8
Several routes will be mapped out, 270 - 320 miles of twisty pavement ending in New Philadelphia, OH
Here, we'll be staying at:
Super 8 Motel, 131 1/2 Bluebell Dr SW
Phone - 330-339-6500
A group dinner -- tire kicking, telling lies about the days ride follows our arrival
Sunday, Sept. 9
RIDE back home to Michigan
If you want to participate - here's what you do -
1. Make your hotel reservations at both Hotels- without delay
There is a block of rooms being "Held" at BOTH hotels until August 7 under the name of Gregg Mitchell. Call them and take one of those rooms for your own. There may be rooms still available following that date – but don’t delay as there are not a lot of other rooms in the immediate areas that we are staying.
2. Let me know that you're planning on being there - I need an accurate head count for maps and dinner reservations.
You can contact me at the following:
E-Mail - MI_HSTA@Voyager.net
Phone - 248-375-5469 (Home)
248-377-8170 (Work)
HAZARDOUS TOUR
Hazard, KY, Oct. 4 - 7, 2007
Event Organizer – Gregg Mitchell
Your LAST CHANCE to join in on the Michigan Mostly Events for 2007
Join us in Hazard, KY for two or three days of exploring new roads in Kentucky. For those who want to arrive on Thursday evening, October 5, we'll have a choice of two routes to ride on Friday the 6th. If you'd like to arrive on Friday -- we'll be doing another on Saturday the 7th.
I expect everyone will be homeward bound on Sunday.
We'll be staying at the following Motel -
Days Inn, 359 Morton Blvd
Phone 606-436-4777 for reservations.
Should they fill up, there are other motels within a block or two -
Daniel Boone Motor Inn, Boone Ridge Rd.
606-439-5896
Super 8, 125 Village Lane
606-436-8888
There will be a Mandatory "Rider's Meeting" held at the hotel at 9:00 PM, where we'll set up the riding groups, reveal the routes and prepare for the next days ride.
If you want to participate - here's what you do -
1. Make your hotel reservations at the Hotel- without delay
There is NOT a block of rooms being "Held".
VERY IMPORTANT!
2. Let me know that you're planning on being there - I need an accurate head count for maps.
You can contact me at the following:
E-Mail - MI_HSTA@Voyager.net
Phone - 248-375-5469 (Home)
248-377-8170 (Work)
August 18, 2007 – Saturday
Michigan HSTA Monthly Meeting
Karl’s Cabin Restaurant
Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth, MI
8:30 AM
Following the Meeting:
There will be a Tech Session held at 1000 N. Opdyke Road in Auburn Hills. Dave Sallberg, our resident suspension guru will be on hand to help provide basic suspension setups. There will be a demonstration of the tire changing machine and balancer. Soft drinks and coffee will be provided.
DIRECTIONS:
North of the Silverdome, Featherstone Road and the Burger King, on the east side of the street, in a complex called Quadrum Place. Take the NORTH drive straight back along the North side of the building -- Be aware that this Tech Session coincides with "The Dream Cruise" on Woodward Avenue, which will result in some additional traffic in and around the Woodward corridor. Try to plan your route in to the session accordingly.
I hope to see many of you there!
August 21 – 25, 2007
“Fuel Your Adventure” Open House at Triumph Detroit – 28000 Groesbeck Hwy., Roseville, MI
August 24 – 26, 2007
Mail Pouch Fly-By – Marietta, Ohio
Typically the Michigan Squadron has a very large turn out of riders to this event, with many riding down to Marietta on Friday. To date there is NOT an organized ride down – everyone going is on their own.
We need a VOLUNTEER to organize a group ride down if possible. Please contact me ASAP if you are willing to take on this responsibility. I will assist you with your effort, however, I am trailering to the event, so I won’t be partaking in the ride down.
September 16, 2007
Stockbridge, MI Motorcycle Rally
ALL CLUBS DAY
Noon to 5 PM
The Michigan Squadron of the HSTA will be participating at this rally. Bob Primeau is looking for volunteers to help out and to display their bikes at this rally.
PLEASE – CONTACT BOB and find out how you can assist him at this event:
eMail: bobkawzx@yahoo.com
Phone: 517.546.6785
Sept. 22, 2007 – Saturday
Michigan HSTA Monthly Meeting
Karl’s Cabin Restaurant
Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth, MI
8:30 AM
Welcome to the HSTA
Please join me in welcoming the following new member(s) to the Michigan HSTA Squadron:
Jerry Wagner - Ypsilanti
For the individual(s) listed below - this will be your last Michigan Newsletter if you don't renew within the next 30 days AND advise me with a call. If you feel this information is in error - call me. If you wish to renew and need a form, let me know and I'll send you one or you can print out the copy at the HSTA Website -------- www.ridehsta.com
We’re going to miss you if you don’t renew!
Dan Pritts – Ann Arbor
Current Squadron Membership – 100
