Day 1: Lake Michigan Circle Ride

Mixed reviews about my poetry.  Some ask why no poem when there is none; others say, "quit with the poems!"

To the latter, I say, "chill."
If I feel the urge, I will.
And, if I don't
I won't.
So, that's all I have to say,
And that's my poem for today.


Well, we're off!  Pat and Kevin rode up to my house right on time.  They warmed up a bit in the house, while I did some final prep.  Then, at 8am, right on time, we fired 'em up and hit the highways to Chicago.

Today was all business...just trying to get to the actual route, starting in Milwaukee.  It was a long, cold ride.  Seemed like a lot of traffic around Chicago and into Milwaukee for a Sunday.  But, riding with Pat, even in traffic, is fun.  Looking at him stopped in traffic, lighting up his cigar just makes me smile!  Often, he'll pull up next to me, say something that I can't hear, and then he'll start laughing and laughing.  It cracks me up.  He sees me laugh, and concludes I must have heard whatever he said.  Cool with me.....  lol

It was a relatively tough ride today:  it was cold, it was all interstate, quite a bit of traffic around Chicago, and it was long.  I was particularly impressed with Kevin's daughter, Devon.  This is her first attempt at a long ride, and she's held up like a champ.  It's fun watching the dynamics between her and her dad.  Once she figured out how to secure her own helmet, things went very well.... :)   But, in the interim, it was kind of cute watching Kevin having to fasten it for her after every stop...

After arriving to the hotel in Milwaukee, we all went to our rooms to rest.  Then came the text message from Kevin:  "The bar is open."  Well, you can imagine the rest.  After a couple drinks, we walked about a mile to an Irish restaurant, and have now returned to the rooms.  Tomorrow, we'll see the Harley-Davidson museum when it opens at 9am, then on up to Green Bay for lunch at Curly's with an old friend from my working days at the Paper Plant there.  Hopefully, some pics tomorrow of Lambeau Field.  Then, motor north for the night at Escanaba, MI.

Mike