Gold Wing Road Riders Association

“Livonia Area Wings”  Michigan 

4^th of July Ride

 

Traveling the 4th of July weekend with no plans or set destination other than heading north and must be home by Sunday evening.

The trip consisted of Linda and Randy Knockheart and Debra and Kevin Ridsdale and started Friday at with 8 with a breakfast at Thomas’s restaurant, then on the road for 9.  our departure took us across I-96 and up 23 and across the Saginaw bridge then Randy started mapping a route north off the freeway towards Harbor Springs, with several stops along the way for ice cream and snacks.

When we arrived in Harbor Springs we noticed everyone had been lining up for the big fireworks show as we found a place near the water for diner outside so we could see how the other half behaves after a few drinks and a day in the sun…

After a half dozen phone calls we found a place to rest for the night, a 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathroom condo unit at Boyne Highlands.  A few snacks and refreshments and we would be set for the night.  A stroll of the grounds, a round of 18 holes on the putting green, which Randy took the honors (if I had another 54 holes I might have caught up).

The next morning off again with the only main destination in mind; breakfast, which we had some really outstanding blueberry pancakes and home fries in Petoskey.  We headed toward Traverse City in search of wine country and the Mission Point lighthouse. The lighthouse was an excellent resting spot and a place to take some more pictures.

 

  

 

Now in search of the ultimate vinery, Debra whispered to me if I see one called Chateau Chantal that is the one to pull into. As we headed south along the winding shoreline I announced to everyone to take a look the huge house on top of the hill.  Debra replied, almost breaking everyone’s eardrums “THAT’S IT, PULL IN THE NEXT DRIVE.” Well it turned out the next drive was a road over, however when we arrived Debra was right from the top you could see the water on both sides, you could see the air show that was going on in Traverse City, it was the highest point on the peninsula.

    

 

Everyone jumped into a quick wine tour, and then jumped back out again, Randy went to get some awesome pictures of his bike, and Debra went and bought a bottle for later, Linda she was lucky, she got to do some wine tasting.

 

  

 

While I was roaming I saw a sign room available for tonight, which I mentioned to Debra and then spread like a wildfire.  Next thing I know we now have our next night reserved.  Now, this is what they mean as right time and right place, we had the executive suite (called the apartment).  It had a kitchen, dining room, living room with fireplace, several balconies, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. To add to this after 8 PM when the Chateau closed all guest could go to the wine tasting room and help themselves as many times as they wanted, the only catch, they could not drink the wine in the tasting room.  And finally, breakfast was included cooked by a chef all for less than what a hotel room would cost. 

After watching the sunrise, having breakfast outside, chatting with the chef, and a few more pictures, we finally got on the road just after 10.

Randy plotted a scenic drive homeward along the Lake Michigan coast with a picnic lunch in Manistee.

The day was getting late, and we traded the scenic drive for the faster freeway and headed for home.  We put on 880 miles and arrived home on Sunday just after 8, from a great weekend of riding with friends.  Like Randy said “We ride motorcycles”

 

Happy 4^th.

 

Kevin Ridsdale