Author Topic: Team Michigan (Read 62293 times)

Fuzzball · « **Reply #175 on:** April 19, 2011, 10:19:57 AM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on April 19, 2011, 08:16:25 AM

Quote from: cb650 on April 19, 2011, 08:12:28 AM
I didnt read the whole thread but see a trip over the bridge is happening. Need many pics of that. Maybe next year a trip to dads is in order to ride in that leg also. Idea at the soo locks there is a museum ship with a lifeboat from the Fitz.

Great ideas 650! I'm hoping to record a video as we go over the bridge don't tell anyone in case it doesn't turn out LOL! We're planning to overnight at the locks, so a stop by the museum may be in order. What do you think Fuzzy?

That'd be the Museum Ship Valley Camp--- nice stop for Big G I'd say. It's actually a lake freighter converted to a museum. The Fitz lifeboat is pretty dramatic--crumpled like tissue paper.

Yah, ride in the left lane, point camera down but keep both hands on the bars cause that mesh grate feels a little squirrely underfoot, esp. with a typical NW blowing.

There's a rest stop just south of Mackinac City with a great view of the bridge in the distance----a perfect photo-spot for Godzilla to rise out of the Straits of Mackinac in the appropriate apparent scale and approach the bridge to terrorize the tourists with his "purposeful grimace"!!!

RatRacer · « **Reply #176 on:** April 19, 2011, 05:07:08 PM »

Grating on the middle of The Bridge = coolest optical illusion ever! I was fortunate enough to ride over a freighter once and it looked like a toy from way up there.

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #177 on:** April 20, 2011, 08:59:29 AM »

Im taking a trip up.to the great white north and crossing the straits. Crossing the bridge is the only thing that scares the bejesus outta be.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #178 on:** April 20, 2011, 09:16:07 AM »

Just stay in the right lane and observe the speed limit... And hope it's not too windy.

If your fear is strong, and this trip is by car, I believe you can make arragements to get someone to drive you across.

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #179 on:** April 20, 2011, 10:15:32 AM »

I once looked into ferry opportunities. You can take the ferry from the LP to the island and another ferry from the island to St. Ignus. Trouble is, the ferry doesn't take cars or motorcycles!

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #180 on:** April 20, 2011, 11:14:21 AM »

Even if you could take a bike on them, pretty expensive way to go. The bridge is about $3.50.

jkidd01 · « **Reply #181 on:** April 20, 2011, 11:23:49 AM »

I have to admit, I've been afraid to cross the bridge as well. But I figure, they wouldn't let people drive over it constantly every day if it were too much more dangerous than driving in general is.

But I have a question to those that have crossed the bridge recently, do they take credit cards at the tolls now? Until fairly recently I don't remember there being credit card slots at any tolls, but they were present on the toll roads when I went to Chicago last month. It'd be great if they did, because I don't like carrying a bunch of cash on me when I ride.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #182 on:** April 20, 2011, 11:32:48 AM »

As far as I know, it is cash or various forms of discounted toll cards for frequent crossers such as folks living in St. Ignace and working in the LP or the reverse. This might help.

http://www.mackinacbridge.org/fare-schedule-9/

It really is not that bad to cross tuck into the right lane and stay there. It's just a few minutes to cross. The worst part is paying attention ahead, because you will want to rubberneck a bit because of the view. Resist the urge to do so.

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #183 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:04:01 PM »

bob trips on the bike

hope i can join up with you guys a bit four your tour of michigan. love that state, just no the gas prices

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #184 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:15:15 PM »

Quote from: MasterChief750 on April 20, 2011, 12:04:01 PM

bob trips on the bike hope i can join up with you guys a bit four your tour of michigan. love that state, just no the gas prices

We'd be glad to have ya along, Chief! An no chit about the gas prices!! In fact, look for the pump price to go up tomorrow!!

http://www.michigangasprices.com
http://www.ohiogasprices.com/

jkidd01 · « **Reply #185 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:17:17 PM »

Yeah, gas prices are terrible this year. In fact, I've recently started bargain gas shopping for the first time this year. It just feels wrong to research for 10 minutes where the cheap gas prices are before going to get gas.

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #186 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:21:38 PM »

I have an iPhone app, free from GasBuddy.com (parent of the two links above). With the push of a button, I know the cheapest price amung the 20 closest stations! If you watch WOODTV, you may have seen the Gas Buddy guy on the news reports. He lives there in GRR.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #187 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:24:30 PM »

Quote from: MasterChief750 on April 20, 2011, 12:04:01 PM

bob trips on the bike hope i can join up with you guys a bit four your tour of michigan. love that state, just no the gas prices

I hear you. My daughter lives just east of Columbus, I do as much gassing up as I can in Ohio, much cheaper. With all the Mich taxes on fuel, you would think our roads would be better. Hah!

RatRacer · « **Reply #188 on:** April 20, 2011, 02:49:41 PM »

The toll booths at The Bridge are either cash or commuter token, sorry no credit cards accepted. Cash is incredibly inconvenient on a bike, especially when it involves coins. A little trick I've been using is to roll up my $3.50 really, really tight and jam it in either the gauntlet of my glove or inside my helmet right in front of my ear.

As far as fuel prices go, a friend and I are building a veggie-diesel still in his barn as soon as the weather gets warmer again. If fuel prices stay this way we figure it will pay for itself in about two to three months. If only it was as easy to make your own gasoline! Until then I'll also be shopping around for the cheapest fuel also. I have found http://www.michigangasprices.com/ to be very helpful.

mjstone · « **Reply #189 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:11:31 PM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on April 20, 2011, 10:15:32 AM

I once looked into ferry opportunities. You can take the ferry from the LP to the island and another ferry from the island to St. Ignus. Trouble is, the ferry doesn't take cars or motorcycles!

Took pianos across to the island on the ferry. Took a console piano out there and brought back a 8 foot Steinway concert grand. They had us strap them to the back rail of the ferry.

MJ

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #190 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:39:04 PM »

No way MJStone, I put a piano on a boat to take it to an island too! But it was an island in Gull Lake.

mjstone · « **Reply #191 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:45:57 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on April 20, 2011, 03:39:04 PM

No way MJStone, I put a piano on a boat to take it to an island too! But it was an island in Gull Lake.

Yeah, but remember they don't allow us to use cars or trucks on the island. We had to deliver and pick up with a horse drawn wagon. At least they had a fork lift for us at the docks.

MJ

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #192 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:50:41 PM »

Yeah, I know...I've also rolled Pianos down the street for blocks at a time!

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #193 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:58:15 PM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on April 20, 2011, 03:50:41 PM

Yeah, I know...I've also rolled Pianos down the street for blocks at a time!

Bet that'z HELL on the tuning!!

dave the welder · « **Reply #194 on:** April 20, 2011, 03:59:46 PM »

if you like riding the bridge during the day do it at night did it last year in october i survived i hate heights and water

Fuzzball · « **Reply #195 on:** April 21, 2011, 07:28:08 PM »

Quote from: MasterChief750 on April 20, 2011, 12:04:01 PM

bob trips on the bike hope i can join up with you guys a bit four your tour of michigan. love that state, just no the gas prices

Gas, yeah, but howabout motorcycle insurance? I currently license and insure 3 bikes and it costs me almost $700. I can only ride one at a time...so why is PLPD insurance charged per machine anyway? You can only drive one vehicle at at time and you still pay to have the other two sitting in the garage, harming no one.

My actual insurance rate for 3 bikes is $288--not bad really and not much more than it used to be 20 years ago. But our beloved State of Michigan gets $374 for something called "MCCA Assessment Recoupment". That, my friends is punitive and unfair taxation.

Okay, I'm done. Thanks for indulging my rant.

jkidd01 · « **Reply #196 on:** April 21, 2011, 10:03:20 PM »

Quote from: Fuzzball on April 21, 2011, 07:28:08 PM

Quote from: MasterChief750 on April 20, 2011, 12:04:01 PM
bob trips on the bike hope i can join up with you guys a bit four your tour of michigan. love that state, just no the gas prices
Gas, yeah, but howabout motorcycle insurance? I currently license and insure 3 bikes and it costs me almost $700. I can only ride one at a time...so why is PLPD insurance charged per machine anyway? You can only drive one vehicle at at time and you still pay to have the other two sitting in the garage, harming no one.

My actual insurance rate for 3 bikes is $288--not bad really and not much more than it used to be 20 years ago. But our beloved State of Michigan gets $374 for something called "MCCA Assessment Recoupment". That, my friends is punitive and unfair taxation.

Okay, I'm done. Thanks for indulging my rant.

That's weird, for just my nighthawk I'm only paying $178 per year for PL/PD.

MasterChief750 · « **Reply #197 on:** April 22, 2011, 08:00:30 AM »

my insurance in ohio for my 750 is 70 a year

Fuzzball · « **Reply #198 on:** April 22, 2011, 01:01:22 PM »

Quote from: MasterChief750 on April 22, 2011, 08:00:30 AM

my insurance in ohio for my 750 is 70 a year

aaaaah.....I was afraid I was going to hear something like that.

They should change the Michigan state motto: "Nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to pay to live here."

mjstone · « **Reply #199 on:** April 23, 2011, 12:40:18 PM »

Hey, OldSchool, I'm not listed on your rider list. I hope to join you in Detroit and, if I can handle it, run the whole Michigan Tour and ride home with you as well. I couldn't reply on the Rider List post, there was no reply button.

MJ

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Author Topic: Team Michigan (Read 62293 times)