Author Topic: Team Michigan (Read 61846 times)

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #75 on:** March 05, 2011, 06:57:58 AM »

Quote from: Tripps on March 05, 2011, 05:54:09 AM

Liking it, I was disappointed we weren't passing through Niagara Falls.

Prolly something to discuss in the Eastern Canada team thread. The current ECan "Route In Progress" planning map is only 50 miles away from the falls. That route is going to need some rework as the overnights are too far apart and prolly too few. Guna copy this post over there. It's getting to be time to put the clear coat on this thing!!

Tripps · « **Reply #76 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:00:53 AM »

My mistake, then, the most recent one I saw looked like it now passed through the Falls.

Tripps · « **Reply #77 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:02:07 AM »

Quote from: Jerry Rxman Griffin on February 10, 2011, 05:47:06 PM

Brooze,

MY dip into upstate NY was a way to cover more of NY rather than just NYC AND pass through Niagra Falls. It's always about having enough riders to cover territory and what those riders wish to/can do while maintaining the RELAY. The ride and routing should be built around what the riders wish to cover. That's your territory, not mine. Enjoy it!

Based on this comment, and the map.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #78 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:50:22 AM »

I suspect there'll be two stages of scheduling. We'll get a heads up when it looks like it's a week away and then we'll get hardly any notice (maybe a day) at all before it's time to go.

I'm not being pessimistic, t's just the nature of the thing, weather, unforeseen delays, mechanical trouble, press conferences, crowd control, celebrity motorcades, mayors with keys to cities, product endorsements, paddock girls...the list of potential delays are endless.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #79 on:** March 05, 2011, 08:30:00 AM »

Fuzzball, I would guess this is at least half the reason more guys aren't signed on, mofo's have jobs with limited vacation time, lives, etc. I think somebody needs to crack the whip on this scheduling thing but then what's gonna happen when little Joey is waitin' for a countershaft seal in the middle of nowhere, Utah?

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #80 on:** March 05, 2011, 08:36:30 AM »

Quote from: Fuzzball on March 05, 2011, 07:50:22 AM

I suspect there'll be two stages of scheduling. We'll get a heads up when it looks like it's a week away and then we'll get hardly any notice (maybe a day) at all before it's time to go.

I'm not being pessimistic, t's just the nature of the thing, weather, unforeseen delays, mechanical trouble, press conferences, crowd control, celebrity motorcades, mayors with keys to cities, product endorsements, paddock girls...the list of potential delays are endless.

LOL!! not Fuzz, no one would accuse you of being a pessimist!! Must be that tiger/Adonis blood!

But it is time to wake this thread up again and get on with the NEXT stage of planning! We've had a few more people join the ride, so I want to get their input on overnights, routes and photo ops. This ride is all about the riders!

As a reminder, here is the planning map again:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=212639289406289974048.00049716f0cc34cd3d621&t=h&z=7

There are three overnights:
- Kalamazoo at OldSchool's & Seanbarney's places,
- Cycle-Moore campout (or hotel) at Interlochen
- Marquette. Actual Marquette location to be determined

Some photo ops and routes are also on the map. There are also some short cuts (red routes) that can be taken if time, weather or paddock girls make those shortcuts a better path. The final day looks pretty long. Maybe an extra overnight in the Iron Mountain area? The Tequaminon Falls/Paradise loop is kinda low on my list as I have come to find out that we can't get the bikes close 'nuf to the falls for photos. If, however, the roads there are irresistible, then we certainly CAN run over that way!

Anyway, now is the time to get in your suggestions for overnights, routes and photo ops! I'm thinking 300 miles per day is prolly the limit for safety and enjoyment, but that's up to you, the riders! Getting the actual roads nailed down now will help us to pass handoff dates to Team Cheese Head and the legs beyond once the handoffs before us also get nailed down!

So send in your suggestions!!

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #81 on:** March 05, 2011, 08:49:10 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on March 05, 2011, 08:30:00 AM

Fuzzball, I would guess this is at least half the reason more guys aren't signed on, mofo's have jobs with limited vacation time, lives, etc. I think somebody needs to crack the whip on this scheduling thing but then what's gonna happen when little Joey is waitin' for a countershaft seal in the middle of nowhere, Utah?

I agree Sean. The last "firm" date I see is 4/24 in Duncan AZ (AZ to CA handoff) as seen in this thread:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=83709.0

Come on Cali!, Rockies!, Central!, Mid Atlantic!, New England!, Eastern Canada! (opps! that's me!) Lets get those dates nailed down!!

RatRacer · « **Reply #82 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:11:01 PM »

Just looked over the map and it looks great. I'm really looking forward to this! Do we have a head count on how many people are riding to Marquette? Once we get a little closer to the actual ride, I'll head around town and see if I can scrounge up a hotel discount.

Oh, and no, we can't get the bikes close to Tahquamenon Falls for a photo. However, M123 is one of the best motorcycle roads in the UP.

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #83 on:** March 05, 2011, 07:39:24 PM »

Hey Rat!

Thanks for scouting hotels! I'm planning to be there with the Mrs and pooch! Yea, I won't be on my 550 or my 750 even. Wing with a sidecar if I can get it put together in time. Oh, and get myself ready to pilot that bad boy for hundreds of miles while trying to keep up with y'all!

I'm pretty sure SeanBarney41 is also planning to do the entire Michigan leg.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 06, 2011, 02:28:08 AM »

yeah...that's right...oh damn old school...a sidecar? That makes it all good. Can I ride in it for a few miles? Your wife can ride my bike...

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #85 on:** March 06, 2011, 05:58:35 AM »

Quote from: seanbarney41 on March 06, 2011, 02:28:08 AM

yeah...that's right...oh damn old school...a sidecar? That makes it all good. Can I ride in it for a few miles? Your wife can ride my bike...

LOL! If you really wana let her. She's strictly a parking lot rider. Her goal for this year is to find second gear!

mjstone · « **Reply #86 on:** March 06, 2011, 06:35:41 AM »

At this point in time my plan is to meet you guys in Detroit for the hand off. I'd love to do the whole trip. I have a bad back and haven't made any trips longer than 2 hour yet. So I'm just going to play it by ear and see how far I can make it. Has anyone made any estimates of the cost of the trip yet? The whole trip including coming back to Michigan around Lake Michigan looks like somewhere around 2000 miles to me.

MJ

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #87 on:** March 06, 2011, 07:22:44 AM »

Quote from: mjstone on March 06, 2011, 06:35:41 AM

At this point in time my plan is to meet you guys in Detroit for the hand off. I'd love to do the whole trip. I have a bad back and haven't made any trips longer than 2 hour yet. So I'm just going to play it by ear and see how far I can make it. Has anyone made any estimates of the cost of the trip yet? The whole trip including coming back to Michigan around Lake Michigan looks like somewhere around 2000 miles to me.

MJ

Hey MJ,

I did a quick add of the blue and green routes on the map (basically Detroit to Detroit around lake Mich) and came up with about 2000 miles too.

With that in mind, and assuming 40 MPG with $3.50 per gallon gas, that would be about 50 gallons of gas or $175.

The whole round trip, as it sits now, is 5 days (a 6th is possible). So a guess of $40 per day for food and beverage would be another $200 to $250.

There would be 4 (maybe 5) overnights:
- Kalamazoo FREE
- Interlochen $6 to camp, $120 for hotel ($60 if split)
- Marquette Hotel for ?? guessing $100 or $50 if split
- possible Iron Mountain ?? $12 to camp?? $100/50 for hotel
- flop at Old Scrambler's in Wis FREE
- flop again in Kalamazoo if needed FREE

Figure $200 as a mid point for lodging. This is the piece with the most variability, naturally. Rain &/or heat may drive it up, sunshine & cool temps may drive it down.

A rough guess then, to do the entire Michigan leg, mixing hotel and camp, eating and drinking pretty well, would be $600.

Your numbers may be different!

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #88 on:** March 06, 2011, 07:32:40 AM »

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on March 06, 2011, 07:22:44 AM

..assuming .. $3.50 per gallon gas..

We should be that lucky. $:-\$

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #89 on:** March 06, 2011, 07:51:47 AM »

Quote from: Bob Wessner on March 06, 2011, 07:32:40 AM

Quote from: OldSchool_IsCool on March 06, 2011, 07:22:44 AM
..assuming .. $3.50 per gallon gas..

We should be that lucky. $:-\$

I was thinking the same thing when I first wrote that up. Guess it's the optimist in me!

and that there are tools available to seek out cheap gas.

http://www.michigangasprices.com/Price_By_County.aspx?state=MI&c=usa

dave the welder · « **Reply #90 on:** March 06, 2011, 08:37:00 AM »

ok just checking will keep on eye out

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #91 on:** March 06, 2011, 08:45:46 AM »

Latest date I've seen is May 1 into Baker, NV. I think that is the handoff to the Rockie Mountain leg.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #92 on:** March 07, 2011, 05:52:54 AM »

I'd like to offer an option for one of the northern Michigan overnights, gang.

My wife and I are empty nesters with a big multi-bedroom farmhouse on 10 acres in the country just south of Sault Ste. Marie. We'd be more than happy to host an overnight and offer a couple of rooms, alot of sleeping bag floor space and plenty of tent space in the yard out back. We've got two full baths for hot showers, a workshop with tools, plenty of hot coffee and would provide a lumberjack breakfast to send everybody off with full tummies. Total cost of stay per rider: $0 This would be our willing and enthusiastic contribution to a truly historic ride.

This option would perhaps be instead of the Gaylord stay? It's two hours to my place from Gaylord and from Kalamazoo to my place along the proposed route is a lengthy run, but I think it's within the 300 mile proposed limit. From my place, you could hop on a shortcut west down M-28 and make a bee-line to Marquette or if time permits take a beautiful meandering run heading west along the shore of Whitefish Bay on Curley Lewis highway. Lots of options.

Anyway, it's something to consider and could save a bit of $$ on the Michigan leg.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #93 on:** March 07, 2011, 06:06:56 AM »

Fuzz, a very generous offer. They could also hop over and get a shot or two with the locks in the background.

Fuzzball · « **Reply #94 on:** March 07, 2011, 11:58:48 AM »

It would be nothing short of an honor and a privilege to offer our humble hospitality to participants in such a spirited, quixotic, and existential adventure!
A picture of the riders with a big Lake Freighter in the Locks approach in the background would be perfect Bob!

I'm buying tags for my bike this week and I've got a bit of a laundry list to attend to before "the Little Beast" is road worthy.
But gentlemen, I'm inspired and excited by the prospect of doing this ride.

- Let us go forth and ride "with a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound"

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #95 on:** March 07, 2011, 01:10:29 PM »

how about it guys...I'm alright with that...Are there roads available that compare with M137 north of Harbor Springs if we have to skip it?

OldSchool_IsCool · « **Reply #96 on:** March 07, 2011, 03:36:24 PM »

A most generous offer indeed! As the overnights are really the expensive part of this tour (OK, maybe gas), it sure is appealing!

What say we try this:

(4 DAY)
- Noon handoff from Team Ontario in Detroit and go straight to Hell and Lansing (which is worse??)
- SKIP Overnight in Kazoo (no photo op at Gibson guitar factory or Hastings Piston Ring factory)
- Overnight in Interlochen
- Overnight in the Sault
- Overnight in Marquette
- skip the Keweenaw this year (I know it's pretty, and we lose an opportunity to moon Canada)
- noon handoff to Team Cheese Heads at Iron Mountain
- Overnight at Old Scrambler's (South of Green Bay, hoping the offer is still good!)

--OR--

(5-DAY)
- Noon handoff from Team Ontario in Detroit
- Overnight in Kazoo
- Overnight in Interlochen
- Overnight in the Sault
- Overnight in Marquette
- skip the Keweenaw this year
- noon handoff to Team Cheese Heads at Iron Mountain
- Overnight at Old Scrambler's

--OR--

(6 DAY aka Do It All)
- Noon handoff from Team Ontario in Detroit
- Overnight in Kazoo
- Overnight in Interlochen
- Overnight in the Sault
- Overnight in Marquette
- KEEP the Keweenaw
- Overnight in West UP somewhere
- noon handoff to Team Cheese Heads at Iron Mountain
- Overnight at Old Scrambler's

(Sean & MJ, add one more day to get home from Old Scramblers)

Let me know what y'all think!

Fuzzball · « **Reply #97 on:** March 07, 2011, 07:58:05 PM »

The Interlochen-Sault-Marquette triad makes good sense. Northern Michigan/Upper Peninsula has some very nice roads and the sparse traffic means you can get from A to B as quick or slow as you want. Interlochen to the Sault is roughly four hours of hard riding and Sault to Marquette can be done in 3 hours if time is of the essence and the most direct route is used. But both of these 2 legs can best be appreciated at a leisurely pace using alternate, more scenic routes. (see seanbarney's reference to M-137 N. of Harbor Springs and my own endorsement of Curley Lewis Highway) And either of these 2 legs can easily eat up an entire long day of riding at said leisurely, scenic pace.

The lower Michigan zone has a lot of interest as well (I'm from Saginaw originally, by way of South Lansing) but it's best left to the local experts to suss that out.

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #98 on:** March 07, 2011, 09:46:10 PM »

wow, overwhelmed by choices... For me, six days is gonna tax my finances...basically, I'm just looking to do lots of riding with fellow sohc'ers...I guess I vote for 4 or 5 day plan

mjstone · « **Reply #99 on:** March 08, 2011, 08:48:41 AM »

For me, the limitations are:

1. My back - We'll see how far I can make it.

2. My finances - Summer time is my poor time, School Bus Drivers get no money when Schools out!

What's not a limitation is:

1. Time - Summer time is free time for School Bus Drivers!

So I say go for it! 6 Days! If I can make it, Great! For #1 limitation, I'm bringing my pain meds with me, and if I can lie down for an hour or two in the middle of the day, I should be good to go! As for #2 I'm starting to set some money from each paycheck aside for this momentous occasion.

MJ

News:

Author Topic: Team Michigan (Read 61846 times)