">

Just connecting here - fun (?) interesting video

We had a great couple hundred mile ride on October 16th, 10-11 bikes - great afternoon with some good friends. PLUS, this is the first time trying to upload a video to this blog, curious to see if it works, and how well. Didn't seem to want to upload, oh well - this video is on the Michigan boards.

****** Then ALSO ... our next GR Ryders Dinner Ride (or by car - we are starting now) will be Oct 28th, at 7pm, meeting at Westwood Bar and Irish Pub, 5760 West River Drive in Belmont. We've been having some great times together, and we've been wanting to continue thru the winter - so we hope to see you there !!

GR Road Ryders - 5th Annual Poker - Aug 14th

GR Road Ryders – 2010 – Poker Ride Dinner & Party

OK folks – plans and reservations are starting to heat up big time !! So here are some of the details you may want (or not) to know about, for this State of Michigan premier event.

Saturday, August 14th 1:00 pm start – ride, dinner, raffles, party to end about 9 pm. Then can just chill, swap stories & lies, have a few drinks, and enjoy each other’s company till ???

Holiday Inn Express http://www.hiegr.com/HomePage.aspx Call 800 875-6000, mention VRCC Valkyrie for the rate of $85. I do have a block of rooms at this rate until Aug 7th, so call early – several rooms are gone as we speak. *** As a huge bonus, with this rate, comes a VERY DECENT breakfast – scrambled eggs, biscuits & sausage gravy, toast & bagels, cereal, cook-your-own waffles, orange juice & coffee – so this by itself saves you about $8 per person.
--- they do have an indoor water park ($10 extra) if you should choose to use it.

I would suggest getting there by noon, check in, move your stuff to your room, then come see me in the lobby for your ride packet. *** as a suggestion, for those of you who may want to partake in stronger beverages later that night, come 15 minutes earlier, stop and purchase your desires – all rooms do have refrigerators in them, and they are fine with us bringing our own. Can stop at: The Party House – 6572 S Division – this is maybe 1 mile away from hotel.

We will start our ride at 1:00 pm, get back about 6:00 pm – will have (4) stops along the way, for cards & restroom & break & snacks.

The Poker Ride itself, will have a couple “NEW & FUN” twists to it, but you expected that from me ! This will be ‘most enjoyable’ to participate in – will go over ‘some’ of the details, just before we leave.

Our first stop will only take about 10 minutes to get there. A VERY COOL little spot called “DC Customs”. This will be our lunch stop – this place was created FOR the Biker Community !! Parking (and parking spots) designed for bikes. Tables & umbrellas set outside, covered deck if we choose, great music being pumped out, small showroom of custom bikes, some parts and accessories. Plus they will have a little “lunch Special” – just for our Valkyrie Poker Ride – they WILL BE expecting us, so don’t let me down Michigan (& surrounding states), come on and join the fun.

Getting back ‘about’ 6 pm, we have a room and dinner planned for 7 pm. With all prizes, raffles, awards & winnings to take place after dinner.

And what a dinner it is !! There is a cost of $18.00 per person, but a great menu we have ! This will be served right to us, in our own private room – with dishes and silverware, pretty cool aye ?
- Chicken Marseilles
- Red Skinned Potatoes
- Full Salad
- Vegetables
- Rolls & Butter
- Coffee, Ice Tea, Water

There will be some unique surprises during the evening dinner & banquet & awards, so be there for the fun. I have a list here of who is coming (at least of those who let me KNOW that they’re coming), I would HIGHLY appreciate a quick note if you are coming. For food of course, but also for the unique surprises of the night – some may remember !!!

A few of you have stated that unfortunately you have plans already made for earlier in the day. If that’s the case, you’ll miss the Poker Ride itself, but please feel free to join us at the hotel for dinner and fun. Please let me know if that’s the case, so I can be sure to have enough food for all.

Cost for the Poker Ride itself, will be $15 – this will cover your poker hand (and the chance to win MILLIONS !), plus a custom made, one-of-a-kind, patch – just for this occasion. I will have this on our web store shortly, for anyone to purchase – because even if you can’t make the ride, this will be one patch you will want on YOUR jacket or vest.

From the Poker Hand you play, will be a variety of wins – more details on the day of the ride.

And finally, this ride will be running thru some downright gorgeous areas. Lakes & streams will abound, curvy & tree-lined roads everywhere, hills & twists, and of course – ICE CREAM will be one of our stops !!

So, as you read thru all this – it should be apparent that the Grand Rapids Road Ryders Chapter wants YOU to be here for this day. We are trying to do all we can to provide one ‘heckofva great time’ for all our riding brothers and sisters from around the state.

Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio – you’re all invited as well – just let me know you’re coming.

This note went out to all on my email list, but I don’t have everybody – so feel free to pass this along to YOUR chapter’s group, this is going to be a FUN DAY !!!! You need to be here !

Stitch aka Gary 616 340-9497

5th Annual GR Road Ryders Poker Ride

Grand Rapids Road Ryders
5th Annual Poker Ride & Banquet

August 14th 1:00 pm till ALL Night !!

Lotsa cool riding … Lotsa great friends … Lotsa cash to win … Lotsa prizes to win … Lotsa good food to devour … Lotsa beautiful scenery to roll by … Lotsa water to view

All we need for all this to work – is you to join us !! I would highly encourage any of you thinking about this, to ask around. We had about 30 people last year show up, and I truly believe that they had a great time – after the ride itself, we had quite a party !

This year, we have booked Holiday Inn Express – South. This is located about 15 miles from where we will be doing most of our riding – which will be in the absolutely gorgeous Yankee Springs area. We will have maybe 4 stops along the way (one of which MUST be an ice cream stop), will be passing by several lakes, miles of rolling tree-covered roads – this is gonna be nice. We, as the GR Road Ryders, always aim to please – we want to make sure that you folks have a great time – over on THIS SIDE of the state, so come on over and have a great day with us.

Have your bike gassed up, but don’t eat lunch yet !!!

Here’s our plan – try to get here by noon. Get yourself checked into your room when you get here, throw your stuff in the room, lock it up and come back down to the main entrance lobby area.

There you can get your official Poker Ride materials and draw you first couple cards. We hope to take off by 1:00pm, and within minutes, will be stopping for lunch. This is always Lotsa more fun, as a group. Sure it takes a little time, but with friends – it’s always worth it !

Then we will be on our way for the Poker Tour, this may have some variations thrown in. With rides and stops and ice cream and such, we should be returning back to the hotel around 6:30 – 7:00 pm. There we will have dinner, awards, 50-50 raffles, prize raffles – and probably some surprises – remember LAST year !!

Hotel INFO www.hiegr.com/HomePage.aspx this is the web site to the hotel, if you care to look. Does show “The Big Dip” an indoor water park area, which is pretty cool – we stayed there 6 weeks ago for another occasion. We do have a special rate for our club – but this does NOT include the water park – I assumed that we wouldn’t be using that with this outing. **** They DO HAVE a pretty good breakfast, included in the room rate !

Call 1 (800) 875-6000, mention VRCC for our rate of $84.95. Hotel is located at 6569 Clay Ave, in Cutlerville. VERY close to the US-131 & M-6 interchange.

So these should be fairly close costs involved in the ride. Hotel - $85 Lunch - $10 Dinner - $15 Poker Hand & Ride - $10 Gas - $???

So make plans to join us, we have a block of rooms reserved until August 7th, so don’t wait to book, we want to see you here !!!!!

Stitch (616) 340-9497

few thoughts on InZane X

We had a ball, 'playing' host to all the VRCC - what a club !!!

Yes, the weather WAS terrific - couldn't have planned it better. Yes - Shanty Creek WAS a phenomenal 'ground zero', and the folks there couldn't have been better or more accomodating to us. Yes - many gorgeous rides, lots of trees, water, rolling hills - just beautiful. Yes - lots of activities, of all sorts. Yes - the Villiage of Bellaire treated us like royalty. Yes - we had a great & worthy cause in Camp Quality, and so proud of all our brothers & sisters in the VRCC who helped make that $7,000 a reality.

BUT - I've said this many times before - goes right back to all the fine folks within the club. Because of this club, and all our 'riding buddies', we have friends in dozens of states and Canada. That is so cool to arrive, and start seeing friends that maybe you haven't had the chance to see in awhile, and then to go out and create NEW FRIENDS again !!! Spending time together, eating a meal somewhere, sharing a drink or two, or just floating in the pool - now THIS is what a riding club is all about.

If you couldn't be there, hey - that happens - work, vacations, other commitments - sometimes get it the way. But if you just 'didn't come', you really don't know what you're missing. Start getting to your own local events, enjoy those. Then start coming to some bigger area-wide events ... enjoy the people there. You'll be surprised at the quality of the folks involved.

If it comes back to Michigan - we will do all we can to make it even better. If it goes elsewhere for a year or 2, that is just fine as well - then we can ride to THAT event. But we WILL BE THERE !!!!!

Drummond Island Ride during InZane X

Thursday ALL-DAY Adventure to Drummond Island

Just for all your information, Thursday morning (July 15th) I’ll be leaving at 8:00 am sharp (or sharp as possible), from the curved drive at the front of the main lodge. I’m posting this in case anyone would have the inkling to join me. This is going to be an all day sight-seeing ride, and ESPECIALLY for any out-of-staters who would like to see some of the most gorgeous areas and landmarks we have around this part of the state. This is my ‘planned ride’, but if we come across something spectacular – I’m open to make changes.

First part will be mainly making time (about 45 miles worth) to Petoskey, this is a quaint little town (although a very busy little town) right on Traverse Bay.

We’ll travel along the waters edge to Harbor Springs, another beautiful town on the water. From here we will pick up Highway 119 (lovingly called the Tunnel of Trees). This is a 20 mile stretch of curvy, hilly roads, ‘almost’ totally covered with trees, with a view of Lake Michigan on your left just about the whole way – an absolutely gorgeous ride. This will take us into Cross Village, here we’ll have a 15 minute stop.

Leaving Cross Village, we’ll be on mostly country roads, but will catch I-75 freeway to the Mackinaw Bridge. For anyone who has not seen (maybe not heard of) this bridge, you are in for a treat. 5 ½ miles long (up to 300’ over the water), twin support shaft shooting hundreds of feet up toward the sun – you won’t forget this. Take Note, there is a fee of $3.50 EACH way on this bridge.

As we cross this bridge, we will take a little side trip, down thru St Ignace, another cool town – home of our infamous “St Iggy Week-end” rides – ask around, see who’s been to one – then listen, this is one of Michigan Chapter VRCC finest rides.

We will catch I-75 for a little bit, then veer off to our right on M-134. This is a very beautiful and scenic ride along the top of Lake Huron, which will take us to the very little town of De Tour Village (east end of the Upper Peninsular). Here we hope to catch the Drummond Island Ferry (runs every hour), to load up our bikes and take the 10 minute boat trip to Drummond Island. Take note, there is a fee of $6.00 EACH way on this ferry. I have not been on this island yet myself, but hear this is a very nice restaurant – which we will be stopping at for lunch. I plan to make a tourist stop or 2, but this will depend on how the timing is all going up to that point.

After this, we will be starting to make our way back to Shanty Creek. Would like to get back by 5pm, for the evening’s planned activities – mainly the line up at 5:45pm, for the Ride to Bonfire at Schuss Mountain.

So, if you’d like to tag along, you’re more than welcome to join me.

Gary House #2260 – just call me STITCH, or call me at 616 340-9497 if you have questions.

This is going to be a great day of riding, but all day 8am till 5pm. If you’re new to Michigan, you WILL be seeing some sights that you won’t want to miss.

Dinner Meetings & Rides

For anyone who hasn't been to our dinner rides, these are being held on the 4th Thursday of each month. Location varies around the area, so watch your emails. If you are NOT getting regular emails from the Grand Rapids Road Ryders, and 'would like to' be getting them, please drop me a note at gihouse.54@gmail.com and I will be happy to add you on, so you too, will be informed of all that's happening.

Last night turned out to be absolutely fantastic (almost anyway - read on). Great turnout, but of course, the weather was just phenominal - which is always a BIG PLUS !!!!

We had 6 out for the 45 minute ride, which was really nice. The route was smooth and open, lots of curves, trees, lakes, ponds & rivers. Traffic was just about perfect, I actually only had to put my boots down ONCE, the entire 45 minutes - every corner we came to was open and clear !!

Then we met up at THE VENUE, in Standale. It was their "Bike Night", good thing WE showed up - or it would NOT have been bike night. 7 more joined us there, so we had 13 total all together, and we were missing a handful of our regulars - so a very good group indeed.

Scott K (his wife was shopping in Shippsie (?), picture below is Scott K (I'll try to capture pics of all, and get them posted as we go along) ...... this will help us ALL in getting to know one another.

Tim & Nicki H (they have been with us EVERYWHERE lately - so glad to have them around), Gary C (fairly new from Ada area), Dan & Kim (rode with us quite a bit a couple years ago - great to see them), Bernie G (again, from a couple years ago), Gerald & Shirley (friends of Scott - finally decided to join us, after Scott's promptings), and Dave & Cathleen (just met them - from the Grand Haven area - very nice couple), and then of couse my lovely bride, Lori was there.

I mentioned earlier, almost all was great. Food ??? It was OK, but not many were fully happy with their meals. First 2 items we tried to order, they were out of - and if you like salty, fried stuff - this is the place for you. But service was decent, atmosphere was totally fine, and was surrounded by many good friends - which is what last night was all about anyway.

Fourth of July plans - many folks have them, many folks will be on vacation, or spending time with the family. So be safe and have fun.

Another option for you, if it fits your schedule - is Bill & Renae Bunker (Slyck Willie) will be hosting yet another giant BBQ at his home. Go to the forums board for more info. This is held on the 4th (Sunday this year) at noon till whenever. They live in St Charles, a little SW of Saginaw. Everyone is invited, they usually have a turn-out of 70-80 folks, so it is a great time by all.

I believe that I am going myself, but am looking over that week-end closely, I have a few employees on vacation then, and am seeing how I can make all this work - I'll be sending out emails VERY shortly. Obviously, you are more than welcome to go, whether I can or not. If I am heading that way, we would be leaving the GR area about 9:30am, to make the trip there.

So earmark this BLOG, and check back from time to time - plan to keep this updated much more often from now on.

later all,

Stitch