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"IN MEMORY OF MARY LOGSDON" - IN NOTE SECTION OF CHECK

AUGUST 22, 2006 - "COME TOGETHER RIGHT NOW…."

And we did, but I will explain this all later. Did I mention that the "Best" Western wasn't the best? Did I mention that the ice machine didn't work and that the coffee was like used motor oil and that Muskegon is more like Detroit "West"? We thought that our Best Western was really nothing more than So-So Western.

We stopped at the local Harley dealer and some purchases were made. I had time to explain what I was about and where I was and where I was going. People seemed impressed (again).  We finally got out of dirt city and proceeded north to follow more of the edge.  The weather was absolutely perfect. Driving along on the motorcycles reaffirmed my belief that there is every bit as powerful vistas available to those who visit Michigan than anywhere else in this country.

We nudged ourselves closer to the shoreline. We stopped to look at the Sand Dunes and then proceeded on toward the tip of Michigan.  We were on business route 31 and we were moving along these country roads that were just so stunning. Orchards moved by on the left and the right. Sunflower fields were moving past us. The flowers had their heads bowed as if in prayer. Soon, these would be harvested. Maybe they were praying for us.

I was moving down the road in the lead position, Ms. GPS was cajoling me to turn left or right as the need arose. I rounded a corner to see two bikers on the side of the road. I began to slow and ease the bike to the side of the road when I heard squealing of tires and then the grinding of metal on Asphalt. I had the bike shut off and was off the bike before Bob's bike stopped sliding.

We got the bike up and off the road with the assistance of the two motorcyclists that I had originally stopped for. Bob's arm was pretty rough looking and so was his knee. The bike had some problems associated with its sideways slide on the new road surface. Damage included bent passing light bracket and visor for the light, bent forward crash bar and peg, scrubbed front cowling, scrubbed and scraped side bag. Scraped seat and scraped tour trunk. My trailer sustained some pretty hefty fiberglass damage. The good news in all of this is that the equipment worked like it was supposed to work. Crash bars absorbed energy as did the trailer. Bob and bike slid on the side for 22 feet.  He is in remarkably good shape for having gone through this situation. One of the more interesting aspects of this is that Bob's knee is pretty beat up and has some road rash. What is interesting in all this is that there is no PHYSICAL evidence of his pants having gone through the accident. In other words, the pants aren't ripped or otherwise messed up where Bob's injury is. Our respective relatives were notified by telephone about the incident so that there would be no surprises. I then added a traffic accident announcement to the blog so that everyone would have the same information at the same time.

It has been a pretty exciting day, but not for the reasons we expected. Two hours after we had the situation on the country road, we were moving down 31 entering Scotville, when I was cut off by a fellow in a pickup. I indicated symbolically that I thought he was number one.  I even got his photograph. I was tempted to stop at the local police station, but thought about our earlier experience. I thought it better to move on to our final destination for the evening.

Tonight we are outside of Petoskey this evening with Connie and Harry Oster. Connie is the "wiser" sister of Karen, who is ….. *ahem* a bit younger. Their home is very nice, and its nice to have good company. Of course it saves money as well.

Tomorrow, we move on.