The 2012 Epic trip
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
The 2012 Epic trip
Tomorrow morning my buddy and I leave Tampa Bay for the Detroit area, Chicago & Milwaukee. We had to take Sturgis off our plans because my buddy doesn't have enough money.
I'm going to try to follow the format of some of the trips I've read on the forum and post updates and photos to this topic. Stay tuned for the Miss-adventures of Black Hog and friend.
I'm going to try to follow the format of some of the trips I've read on the forum and post updates and photos to this topic. Stay tuned for the Miss-adventures of Black Hog and friend.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Total of 3265 miles.
Day #1:
Left St. Petersburg, Florida at approx. 5:30am on June 8th, 2012.
After about 75 miles the rain started. We had heavy rain all the way to Valdosta, Ga.. We finally could take our rain gear off about 50 miles North of Valdosta.
We stopped at a La Quinta in Knoxville, Tn.. Ate at Famous Dave’s BBQ near the La Quinta. Only got three photos at Dave’s due to the rain. 706 miles the first day.
12:00am the alarm clock went off. 12:32am the Fire Alarm went off.
12:55am the Knoxville F.D arrived after being called by the front desk because they couldn’t turn the alarm off. No bunker gear and single engine response. Where I worked would have had the F.D respond with multiple units and in emergency response.
Day #1:
Left St. Petersburg, Florida at approx. 5:30am on June 8th, 2012.
After about 75 miles the rain started. We had heavy rain all the way to Valdosta, Ga.. We finally could take our rain gear off about 50 miles North of Valdosta.
We stopped at a La Quinta in Knoxville, Tn.. Ate at Famous Dave’s BBQ near the La Quinta. Only got three photos at Dave’s due to the rain. 706 miles the first day.
12:00am the alarm clock went off. 12:32am the Fire Alarm went off.
12:55am the Knoxville F.D arrived after being called by the front desk because they couldn’t turn the alarm off. No bunker gear and single engine response. Where I worked would have had the F.D respond with multiple units and in emergency response.
Last edited by Black_Hog; Jun 5, 2015 at 09:24 AM. Reason: Spelling & grammar corrected by Lana Dale & Dick Dale.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Day #2:
Checked out of the La Quinta and the lady at the front desk asked how our night was. We told her about the crappy night and she gave us a refund for the night. A free stay at a motel was good on by buddy’s budget.
I was taking videos and photos with my GoPro camera in Tennessee and Kentucky. On a long straight part of the road I felt something hit my leg and I instinctively grabbed for it. It was my GoPro camera. The camera mount glue didn’t fail,. I had painted the RAM mount I had the camera mounted to and the paint gave up the ghost. No more GoPro photos.
We rode to Wyandotte, Mi. and visited my buddy’s relatives.
Checked out of the La Quinta and the lady at the front desk asked how our night was. We told her about the crappy night and she gave us a refund for the night. A free stay at a motel was good on by buddy’s budget.
I was taking videos and photos with my GoPro camera in Tennessee and Kentucky. On a long straight part of the road I felt something hit my leg and I instinctively grabbed for it. It was my GoPro camera. The camera mount glue didn’t fail,. I had painted the RAM mount I had the camera mounted to and the paint gave up the ghost. No more GoPro photos.
We rode to Wyandotte, Mi. and visited my buddy’s relatives.
Last edited by Black_Hog; Jun 19, 2012 at 09:42 PM. Reason: Spelling & grammar corrected by Lana Dale & Dick Dale.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Day #3:
We left Wyandotte in the rain and rode to Grand Rapids, Mi. We met up with buddys brother. We spent most of the day with him and his wife. His wife was real cool. Her son worked for a NASCAR team and she use to race cars.
My buddy's childhood home. No answer at the door.
My buddy's first home he bought with his wife. He talked to the new owner but didn't get inside.
We left Wyandotte in the rain and rode to Grand Rapids, Mi. We met up with buddys brother. We spent most of the day with him and his wife. His wife was real cool. Her son worked for a NASCAR team and she use to race cars.
My buddy's childhood home. No answer at the door.
My buddy's first home he bought with his wife. He talked to the new owner but didn't get inside.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Day #4:
We left Grand Rapids and rode to Hill Side, Il. a suburb of Chicago. Chicago is my home town.
No photos for day #4. We just got a room and relaxed.
Day #5:
We rode to my familys grave site in Alsip, Il. and checked them out. Every time Im in Chicago I visit the grave site.
After my familys graves we rode to Al Capones grave in Hill Side, Il. and took photos.
A short story about my family and Al Capone. In the old days, my grandfather bred standard poodles. Al Capone bought one of my grandfathers poodles for his girlfriend.
The bikes loaded to the top.
The "Black Hog" at Al Capone's grave.
My buddy and I at Al Capone's grave.
We left Grand Rapids and rode to Hill Side, Il. a suburb of Chicago. Chicago is my home town.
No photos for day #4. We just got a room and relaxed.
Day #5:
We rode to my familys grave site in Alsip, Il. and checked them out. Every time Im in Chicago I visit the grave site.
After my familys graves we rode to Al Capones grave in Hill Side, Il. and took photos.
A short story about my family and Al Capone. In the old days, my grandfather bred standard poodles. Al Capone bought one of my grandfathers poodles for his girlfriend.
The bikes loaded to the top.
The "Black Hog" at Al Capone's grave.
My buddy and I at Al Capone's grave.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Day #6:
We rode to my old house in Chicago. A young girl answered the door but her parents weren’t home. I didn’t ask to see the inside of the house.
We parked at Solder Field. We spend a long time in the Field Museum (Natural History Museum). After the museum we walked over to Soldier Field (Daaaaaaaaaaaaaa Bears) and I bought my wife a Bears item.
My buddy thinks he’s 12 years old (actually 65 years old) and “Leap-forged” over a four foot pole. He made it over the pole but his shoe grabbed the side walk and he “Face planted” himself right behind me. He busted up his left hand and wrist. Lots of blood and missing some skin. Both of his knees were hurting. We still walked all the way to the Harley store in Chicago from Soldier Field. I bought two t-shirts and some small items.
On the way back to the bikes, we ate at the Tilted Kilt in down town Chicago. Every girl working there was more beautiful than the next. Our server was a very cute 25 year old blonde that had her nursing license and was moving to Florida and go to medical school to become a doctor.
We rode back to the hotel in Hill Side, Il.. My buddy was really hurting bad by the time we got back.
My old house.
My old church (St Kilian) in Chicago's Southwest side.
The Field Museum in Chicago.
Elephant's butt.
My buddy posing next to the post he "Face planted" over.
Buckingham Fountain.
Chicago River.
The Bean.
We rode to my old house in Chicago. A young girl answered the door but her parents weren’t home. I didn’t ask to see the inside of the house.
We parked at Solder Field. We spend a long time in the Field Museum (Natural History Museum). After the museum we walked over to Soldier Field (Daaaaaaaaaaaaaa Bears) and I bought my wife a Bears item.
My buddy thinks he’s 12 years old (actually 65 years old) and “Leap-forged” over a four foot pole. He made it over the pole but his shoe grabbed the side walk and he “Face planted” himself right behind me. He busted up his left hand and wrist. Lots of blood and missing some skin. Both of his knees were hurting. We still walked all the way to the Harley store in Chicago from Soldier Field. I bought two t-shirts and some small items.
On the way back to the bikes, we ate at the Tilted Kilt in down town Chicago. Every girl working there was more beautiful than the next. Our server was a very cute 25 year old blonde that had her nursing license and was moving to Florida and go to medical school to become a doctor.
We rode back to the hotel in Hill Side, Il.. My buddy was really hurting bad by the time we got back.
My old house.
My old church (St Kilian) in Chicago's Southwest side.
The Field Museum in Chicago.
Elephant's butt.
My buddy posing next to the post he "Face planted" over.
Buckingham Fountain.
Chicago River.
The Bean.
Last edited by Black_Hog; Jun 19, 2012 at 09:42 PM. Reason: Spelling & grammar corrected by Lana Dale & Dick Dale.
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Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Day #7:
Even though my buddy was hurting bad, we rode back into Chicago to the Museum of Science and Industry. After the visit to the museum, we rode back to the hotel and picked up our bags. Strapped our stuff on the bikes and headed out to Milwaukee. My buddy complained about the Chicago traffic all the way out of town.
We stopped at Oak Creek, Wi. and got a room.
The U505.
727 airliner hanging from the ceiling.
British Spitfire.
German Stuka.
Even though my buddy was hurting bad, we rode back into Chicago to the Museum of Science and Industry. After the visit to the museum, we rode back to the hotel and picked up our bags. Strapped our stuff on the bikes and headed out to Milwaukee. My buddy complained about the Chicago traffic all the way out of town.
We stopped at Oak Creek, Wi. and got a room.
The U505.
727 airliner hanging from the ceiling.
British Spitfire.
German Stuka.
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 559
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
Day #8:
We rode into Milwaukee and found the Harley Davidson Museum.
During Daytona Bike Week 2012 we met a Harley executive (will remain nameless to protect his reputation) at the Hilton. We talked and we told him we were going on a ride to Milwaukee in June. He invited us to the museum and said he would buy us a beer. I told him, I don’t drink but would take him up on a Diet Coke. He agreed.
I called him before going to the museum and he said, he looked forward to seeing us.
We did the museum and went to the security office to hook up with the executive we met. He was no where to be found.
We went to the museum store and did some shopping. While we were there my buddy told the girl working in the store about the executive. She pointed to a man on a phone just outside the store. He was the executive we met. My buddy walked outside while I was shopping and said Hi to him.
When I got done shopping I walked outside and talked to him. He was very nice but didn’t offer us a drink or anything. I thought in kind of sucked because he invited us and blew us off with a Hello and walked off.
We ate at the Harley Restaurant at the museum. The food was great and the service was top notch. After we ate we rode back to the motel after doing the museum.
I was born in 1949.
My first motorcycle was a 1954 FLE. Mine didn't look like this 1954 FLE.
Museum restaurant.
We rode into Milwaukee and found the Harley Davidson Museum.
During Daytona Bike Week 2012 we met a Harley executive (will remain nameless to protect his reputation) at the Hilton. We talked and we told him we were going on a ride to Milwaukee in June. He invited us to the museum and said he would buy us a beer. I told him, I don’t drink but would take him up on a Diet Coke. He agreed.
I called him before going to the museum and he said, he looked forward to seeing us.
We did the museum and went to the security office to hook up with the executive we met. He was no where to be found.
We went to the museum store and did some shopping. While we were there my buddy told the girl working in the store about the executive. She pointed to a man on a phone just outside the store. He was the executive we met. My buddy walked outside while I was shopping and said Hi to him.
When I got done shopping I walked outside and talked to him. He was very nice but didn’t offer us a drink or anything. I thought in kind of sucked because he invited us and blew us off with a Hello and walked off.
We ate at the Harley Restaurant at the museum. The food was great and the service was top notch. After we ate we rode back to the motel after doing the museum.
I was born in 1949.
My first motorcycle was a 1954 FLE. Mine didn't look like this 1954 FLE.
Museum restaurant.
Last edited by Black_Hog; Oct 3, 2012 at 10:43 AM.