Lou, Ky To Sault Saint Marie Trip Report

[Stratcat]

Well it was with great anticipation that we finally began our first bike trip together that was more than 500 miles.

 

This time Deb on her upgraded RoadStar instead of her Vstar and me on the Venture instead of my trusty ol RoadStar.

 

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Last minute a good friend John decided to join us for a leg of the trip to go see family in Lansing and then break off.

 

Day one destination was St. Joe MI to spend the night with Deb's sister. Half way up the rain began and it came down in sheets. We stopped once under an overpass to wait out the worst part and lo and behold deb reached down in the raging drainage ditch and fished out a BASS (a rubber one that is) as it was floating by, so we took it home and mounted it!

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After that John left us and we spent the night in St Joe. Had great hospitality and a great warm meal awaiting us!

 

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Off early the next day up through Grand Rapids up 131 over 55 to 127 then straight up 75. Great weather for the most part. Hit Mackinac City where we were going to stay the night and it was starting to rain and some hard stroms were blowing in, so we just hammered down the last 70-80 miles just under the big storm and arrived a day early in the soo.

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Deb lived a block from the locks and left in 1987 and has not been back or seen her family there since, so everyone was looking forward to the reunion.

 

Next day more rain, went to he brothers caught up for awhile and he lent us his minivan to do some sightseeing to see how things have changed.

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Next day we road to along superior (beautiful) up to Tahquamenon falls state park, simply beautiful country and a beautiful 78 degrees and no humidity!! The old southern boy was loving these cool climates.

 

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Then a day of sightseeing in the Soo, Deb' could not believe she was a fudgie (local term for tourist)

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Next day meet up with brother number two, he had a Virago so we road out to his and Debbies mother's grave. Was a very touching reunion!!

 

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Then we meet up with Deb's ol party buddy from Younger days Gus, he was character and also a guitar picker so we sat around his house and jammed and had a great time.

 

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Then the highlight, looked up fellow Venture rider Gentlemen Greorge and found he was performing a concert in the park by the locks. So hurried on down before he began introduced ourselves, and enjoyed a great show (more pictures and video to follow). What a nice guy wish we would have had more time to catch up.

 

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Took a ride towards Brimley to Mission Hill and Monocle lake for an evening ride with her brother.

 

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Had full on family dinner and get together nieces, newphews, grandbabies, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. It was awesome!!

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Last day was Deb's 30th high school reunion and it was fun watching her catch up with all her old freinds. One had a grandson who band was playing at the Casion so we went down and listened to Nixxson Dixxson and for a bunch of 16 year olds they rocked!!

 

Pulled out the next morning, first stop was Mackinac bridge since it was raining and nasty we we came across the last time. Took a few pics then on to the Indiana line for the nite. Woke up back in heat and humidity land, and rode on back home safe and uneventful.

 

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Deb did great and was ready for more, Carson sat on the back of black beauty and ipod'ed and text the whole trip and no complaining!!

 

So that is what I call a great family vacation .

 

Thanks for listening!!

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For full photo Slide Show check out click,

 

http://s243.photobucket.com/albums/ff242/stratocurtster/Rebel%20XTI/Trip%20To%20The%20Soo/?albumview=slideshow

 

Then click the fast option at the bottom The First 10 are old pic from Deb's childhood included for her family to see, the rest are the trip pics.

 

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Edited August 3, 2008 by Stratcat

[cecdoo]

Sounds like a pretty cool trip, thanks for sharing and the pics were great. Craig

[Gentleman George]

Thanks for sharing the pics Curt, tell Deb and Carson hello for me... George

[IH Truck Guy]

What a cooool trip........I like the way you laid out the pics with the text....Even I could follow along.......Almost felt like I was there............Thanks for sharing.....

[Bummer]

Looks like a great trip full of fun, family, and friends.

 

Thanks for sharing.

[Carbon_One]

That was a wondfull trip you & Debbie had Curt. Thanks for sharing it with us all.

Larry

[Squidley]

Right on!

That is a very cool ride y'all had, we have been that way many times. I like the story telling of your adventure, made me feel like we did the trip with you all in a short way. George is a trip, so is Mary K, we have been fortunate enough to have spent time with them on a couple occasions, very cool folks to say the least.

Looking forward to a time in the future where we can finally meet up with you folks

[Gary Klop]

Wish I could have met you--seeing how you were in our backyard. Sometimes I forget just how beautiful it is around here--been to all the places you described and you gave a great description of our area--thanks for sharing.

[Yama Mama]

Great photos, looks like you had a great trip.

Ride safe.

 

Mama:Venture:

[Mariner Fan]

Nice pictures. Looks like you had a great time!

[Jethroish]

Strat,

Hope you all had a great time. It has been a few years since we have been up there, but I want to go back. The 25 years I lived in Mich, I was only up there twice.