A Michigan Weekend Run

Morning came with the sound of my alarm blaring.  It was Saturday and being in a strange place I didn't sleep well.  We were in Petoskey visiting friends of Bob and Stacey with Tom and Cindy.  We were meeting at a little cafe at 8:30 for breakfast and then for an all day run.  I got ready to go and woke my husband up as I heard the others in the house doing the same.  We were all ready to go in no time at all.  Cindy looked like she slept about as well as I did.  Good thing we were sitting in comfy passenger seats (no work required).

Breakfast was good, service was fast and the coffee was hot.  I couldn't have asked for a better start to the day.  Bob and Stacey's friends Shane, his wife Melissa, Greg and his girlfriend Jane explained that they were taking us to Castle Farms out in Charlevoix and then on to Traverse City.  We were going to Pirate's Cove Adventure Park in Traverse City.  This was going to be a great day and the weather looked perfect for our whole weekend.  Once everyone had finished eating and the bill was paid we loaded up on the bikes.  The morning air was cool but it was going the be a warm one.

The ride down to Charlevoix was along the shore of Little Traverse Bay and Lake Michigan.  There were times we were so close to the lake that we could feel the mist from the lake.  The water was blue and boats were out in the water pulling people on skis and tubes or just bobbing in the water.  Other areas there were people on bicycles, roller blades or just walking along the path next to the highway.  As we rounded Lake Charlevoix and out of Chalevoix the view became more country and even more relaxing.  

As we pulled up to Castle Farms I was in awe.  It was so beautiful with all the stone and manicured lawns.  This place was a well hid gem I never knew was in Michigan.  There was a life sized chess board in one building and flowers everywhere.  There was a wedding going on in a smaller castle.  This would be a cool place to do a medieval wedding.  There was a giant throne in one room and the gazebo's were very elaborate.  This place was worth the trip and the pictures will be some of the ones I print. We loaded up and were on the road again with our 2 Electra Glide Ultra Classics, 2 Road Kings, a Street Glide and Stacey's Sportster.

We headed back the way we came to continue down the coast towards Traverse City.  Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf has it all.  We played putt-putt golf and Stacey beat us all with her two hole in one's.  We went on the rope course, bumper boats and go-carts.  It was so much fun and such a great day for it.  I don't think we would have had more fun if we were still kids.  Once our tokens were used up and we located everyone we decided it was time to head back to Petoskey.  Shane and Melissa had dinner plans with her parents and needed to get home so they could get ready.  Greg and Jane were going to meet us at the bar around 9 tonight, after we got done with dinner at my aunt and uncle's house.  

Our ride back was calm and relaxing.  There was very little traffic but much more foot traffic on the walk path.  We got back to the guest house at 5:15pm which left us a little time to clean up before heading over to see my family.  We arrived at my uncle Don and aunt Kathy's place just before 6.  They had been busy on the BBQ and the food was almost ready.  They had burgers, brats, and hot dogs along with fruit salad, pasta salad and chips.  It was perfect and everyone visited and joked.  We invited uncle Don and aunt Kathy to join us at the bar.  They said they might come out but I knew they wouldn't.  

The rest of our evening was laughter and drinks with a little pool.  We got home late and were up by 10 for the ride home.  No one said too much since we were all tired.  We wanted to be on the road before 11 so we didn't get stuck in traffic heading home.  For me the ride home was a blur I was so grateful for the armrest and backrest.  About the time we stopped for gas I was finally coming to life.  We grabbed some gas station subs and waters to hold us over till we got home and were back on the road.  Traffic had picked up and the road was busy.  I was glad we were in a group and not just a single motorcycle.  I know that our Electra Glide Ultra Classic is not a small motorcycle but even it can hide in a blind spot.  When traffic is this heavy that is the last thing you want.

We arrived at the McDonald's we started at around 2:30 in the afternoon.  We said our goodbyes to Bob and Stacey.  They thanked us all for going and we thanked them for the invite.  It was a fun weekend and everyone had a great time.  Tom and Cindy road home with us and we stopped at Kingswood Outfield.  After burgers and some pool we headed our separate ways home taking with us the memories that will last a life time.