Well, I’ve tried to start this thread on several occasions. I am sitting on a plane I nearly missed (thanks to pre-airport traffic), thinking about the experiences of the preceding three days...
In general, this thread will not call out by name all the participants; you know who you are.
I’m having a hard time coming up with words sufficient to express my gratitude for all the generosity, planning, and effort that went into the Midwest Meet & Greet, and moreover, into my ability to participate in it. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to find words which reach the depth of sincerity I need to purvey. So, I’m just going to jump in with both feet here, and give it the ol’ college try.
Let me start by saying that Firedog5800 (Kevin) is the consummate host.
There wasn’t once I wanted for anything. He kinda pi$$ed me off by not letting me pay for anything (a taker would have no problem with it…I, on the other hand…well…). By the end of the trip, I had to commandeer the food bill in order to pay for something!!! I had to arm-wrestle him several times for stuff (it’s the way things are ‘sorted’ in Wisconsin!). I think he let me win a couple of times.
After arriving in Chicago, to a waiting escort, (Kevin and his g/f, Chris), we drove the two hours north to Kenosha. It was already late when this adventure started.
Getting less sleep than we should have, (about 2.5 hours’ worth), blurry-eyed and bushed, we got up and headed out for Day 1 of the Midwest M/G. We met up for breakfast (Wildberries/Libertyville, IL) with the awesome peeps named and pictured (in the M&G Pix thread).
After a couple of hundred +/- miles riding, Saturday, we headed back to Kenosha. We had a very late lunch in Milwaukee (prime rib at “Buddah Belly’sâ€. No, that’s not the name of it…but it’s something like that), then went back to Kevin's place to check out the ‘news of the ORG’. After a little bit of catching up there, we got ready and headed out for Warehouse 54, a karaoke bar, where Kevin and Chris introduced me to some of their great friends.
None of us sang, just in case you hear some rumors to the contrary.
We stayed there ‘til around midnight, then headed back to the house for some much-needed shut-eye.
Another early morning took us country-side to breakfast at the White Fox Den 2 (Burlington, WI), where we were lucky enough to meet up with my sister, Laura.
She’s such a spectacular lady. Five children, an award-winning swing-dancer, a phenomenal photographer, a talented motorcyclist. And, in stunning shape for a woman of 50. She’s my only sister, can you tell?
Kevin had to branch off and head home for a work-related item, and Mike (luvmybusa) had college homework to complete, so we proceeded without them; as it turns out, Kevin spent 10 minutes rectifying said ‘item’, then took g/f Chris out for an enjoyable cruise on his H/D. Presumably, Mike got his homework done… We’ll see when he brings his report card home…
The weather could not have been more cooperative. Each day was sunny, bright, light breeze.
We rode all day (approx. 300mi.), (more twisties, speed-runs, gorgeous scenery, etc.) ending up in downtown Milwaukee near the Art Museum, where more pix were taken. When we pulled into the parking lot of the museum, my sister continued heading south toward home (Darien, WI). After that, we went over to Big Diesel’s place where we ‘re-hydrated’ a bit, then Kurt (Kevin's brother) escorted me back to Kenosha.
Kurt, Kevin, and I went out for Italian dinner (comments on THAT are available by PM, only), and were back by 9pm. At that point, our ability to make rational decisions all but gone, we got online and did the equivalent of drunk-posting (no alcohol required)…until around Midnight (Va Busa kept us company (thanks, sunshine)).
At that point, delirious, we racked it again for the night.
Kevin planned our breakfast with Big Diesel (and his gorgeous wife) and Leo (Andy), so we met up at Danny’s (no, not Denny’s) in Kenosha, then the four of us toured around the Lake Michigan waterfront, went to Petrified Springs park where we stood around and discussed all things ‘ORG’, smoked a stogie (Thanks again, Big D!), then we needed to get back to the house so I could pack up and we could head to Chicago and get ‘this one’ to the airport. We were running about 30 minutes behind schedule when we left Kenosha, then we stopped for lunch… Hungry Head Sub Shop! Ah, the memories…
Purposefully omitting a boatload of minute details here, folks, Kevin got me to the airport with only minutes to spare.
At this writing, I’m somewhere over Nebraska, headed West into the Sun, on my way home. …miraculously, my luggage made the flight, too. What a relief.
In sum, I met some incredible people. Intelligent, talented, friendly, giving, welcoming…family.
From the bottom of my heart, a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this event, for making it spectacularly memorable, and personally, for me, affording me a trip into my past.
Big love, :love:
Scar
PS: For those who made it this far (in this lengthy read), thanks for bearing with me. This thread is not intended to entertain or educate, but to publicly express my deepest gratitude for everything everyone who participated in this event did for me. I cannot thank you guys enough.
Kevin (Firedog5800); what's mine is yours.
In general, this thread will not call out by name all the participants; you know who you are.
I’m having a hard time coming up with words sufficient to express my gratitude for all the generosity, planning, and effort that went into the Midwest Meet & Greet, and moreover, into my ability to participate in it. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to find words which reach the depth of sincerity I need to purvey. So, I’m just going to jump in with both feet here, and give it the ol’ college try.
Let me start by saying that Firedog5800 (Kevin) is the consummate host.
There wasn’t once I wanted for anything. He kinda pi$$ed me off by not letting me pay for anything (a taker would have no problem with it…I, on the other hand…well…). By the end of the trip, I had to commandeer the food bill in order to pay for something!!! I had to arm-wrestle him several times for stuff (it’s the way things are ‘sorted’ in Wisconsin!). I think he let me win a couple of times.
After arriving in Chicago, to a waiting escort, (Kevin and his g/f, Chris), we drove the two hours north to Kenosha. It was already late when this adventure started.
Getting less sleep than we should have, (about 2.5 hours’ worth), blurry-eyed and bushed, we got up and headed out for Day 1 of the Midwest M/G. We met up for breakfast (Wildberries/Libertyville, IL) with the awesome peeps named and pictured (in the M&G Pix thread).
After a couple of hundred +/- miles riding, Saturday, we headed back to Kenosha. We had a very late lunch in Milwaukee (prime rib at “Buddah Belly’sâ€. No, that’s not the name of it…but it’s something like that), then went back to Kevin's place to check out the ‘news of the ORG’. After a little bit of catching up there, we got ready and headed out for Warehouse 54, a karaoke bar, where Kevin and Chris introduced me to some of their great friends.
None of us sang, just in case you hear some rumors to the contrary.
We stayed there ‘til around midnight, then headed back to the house for some much-needed shut-eye.
Another early morning took us country-side to breakfast at the White Fox Den 2 (Burlington, WI), where we were lucky enough to meet up with my sister, Laura.
She’s such a spectacular lady. Five children, an award-winning swing-dancer, a phenomenal photographer, a talented motorcyclist. And, in stunning shape for a woman of 50. She’s my only sister, can you tell?
Kevin had to branch off and head home for a work-related item, and Mike (luvmybusa) had college homework to complete, so we proceeded without them; as it turns out, Kevin spent 10 minutes rectifying said ‘item’, then took g/f Chris out for an enjoyable cruise on his H/D. Presumably, Mike got his homework done… We’ll see when he brings his report card home…
The weather could not have been more cooperative. Each day was sunny, bright, light breeze.
We rode all day (approx. 300mi.), (more twisties, speed-runs, gorgeous scenery, etc.) ending up in downtown Milwaukee near the Art Museum, where more pix were taken. When we pulled into the parking lot of the museum, my sister continued heading south toward home (Darien, WI). After that, we went over to Big Diesel’s place where we ‘re-hydrated’ a bit, then Kurt (Kevin's brother) escorted me back to Kenosha.
Kurt, Kevin, and I went out for Italian dinner (comments on THAT are available by PM, only), and were back by 9pm. At that point, our ability to make rational decisions all but gone, we got online and did the equivalent of drunk-posting (no alcohol required)…until around Midnight (Va Busa kept us company (thanks, sunshine)).
At that point, delirious, we racked it again for the night.
Kevin planned our breakfast with Big Diesel (and his gorgeous wife) and Leo (Andy), so we met up at Danny’s (no, not Denny’s) in Kenosha, then the four of us toured around the Lake Michigan waterfront, went to Petrified Springs park where we stood around and discussed all things ‘ORG’, smoked a stogie (Thanks again, Big D!), then we needed to get back to the house so I could pack up and we could head to Chicago and get ‘this one’ to the airport. We were running about 30 minutes behind schedule when we left Kenosha, then we stopped for lunch… Hungry Head Sub Shop! Ah, the memories…
Purposefully omitting a boatload of minute details here, folks, Kevin got me to the airport with only minutes to spare.
At this writing, I’m somewhere over Nebraska, headed West into the Sun, on my way home. …miraculously, my luggage made the flight, too. What a relief.
In sum, I met some incredible people. Intelligent, talented, friendly, giving, welcoming…family.
From the bottom of my heart, a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this event, for making it spectacularly memorable, and personally, for me, affording me a trip into my past.
Big love, :love:
Scar
PS: For those who made it this far (in this lengthy read), thanks for bearing with me. This thread is not intended to entertain or educate, but to publicly express my deepest gratitude for everything everyone who participated in this event did for me. I cannot thank you guys enough.
Kevin (Firedog5800); what's mine is yours.