Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Steve, Aunt Val, Uncle Butch, Pop, Mum and me took a 3 day motorcycle trip back to Savanna, Illinois.  We had gone there a couple of years ago and had a great time so decided to do it again.  It was NOT a good idea!!!!!!  It’s one thing to have a minor incident or two but this trip certainly took the cake.

First day out we rode all day in the rain.  I noticed that everyone had rain gear except me.  Now I will be the first to admit that a little rain can’t hurt you, BUT all day?  At the end of the day there wasn’t even a little spot of me that was dry.  Mum said I kinda smelled like a wet dog.  Well what do you expect?  My typical suit of cloths is made from wool.  I spent the first night at the motel sitting on the heater trying to dry out.  In the morning my cloths were dry but my boots still squished when I walked.

Second day out started out nice.  The temperature was warm and the sun was shining.  First stop was at a winery.  I love these places.  Do you know that you can go there and they let you taste the wine before you buy it?  We should have stayed there and kept drinking all their different wines but NO!! we had to keep moving.  Next stop at a BP station in Hanover, Illinois for gas.  Every one’s bikes were empty so filled up with gas.  Pop drove about 20 feet when his bike stopped running.  Following shortly thereafter with Steve & Marilyn’s bike and a few minutes later Butch and Val’s bike.  To make a long story short, 6 hours later we finally left the station after a local named Steve syphoned all the gas out of the bikes and another local Chris went to a neighboring town and brought us back gas from a Mobile station to put back in the bikes.  Now I know that accidents can happen and obviously BP put bad gas in the tanks at the station (Butch said it was probably E85) but the owner of that gas station was not a nice lady.  She kept getting in Pop’s face saying it was the bikes and not the gas.  I don’t like to see anyone talking to my Pop that way.  If I wasn’t so small I would have really popped that lady.  I almost forgot to tell you what happened to me.  Pop thought he had me strapped on the back of the bike really good but WRONG!!.  I almost fell off.  I was hanging by my feet held on only by one strap.  Of course I’m yelling as loud as I can but because of the noise of the bike they didn’t hear me.  Finally Mum looked back and didn’t see anything except my feet.  I lost my hat and my goggles in the process and we couldn’t find them back.  Now I’ll have to order a new hat and goggles.  That’s OK as both my hat and goggles had a lot of bugs on them.  I have never been so scared in my whole life.  It took me a long time before I could stop shaking.  I shudder to think of what would have happened if I had fell off.

After we finally left the station it was late in the afternoon and after spending all afternoon in the sun we just wanted to go back to the motel and cool down.  Of course we had to go to “Poopies” for dinner.  Just like told times.

Lois at the “L&M Motel” was just as nice as always.  Welcomed us there with a beer and Goldy and Max (dogs) were happy to see us.  This motel is definitely the most friendly we have every stayed at.  They immediately make you feel at home.  Lois has the same yellow mustang as Mum has except with a few extras.  Now Mum says she has to get the ground effects for her car.  I especially liked the Mustangs she had painted on the sides.  I think Mum should do that to hers.

Last morning we got up and going early and rode some beautiful roads in Illinois.  The sun was shining and it was warm.  We had a great time.  Most of the trip home was uneventful until we got to Byron, Minnesota when Steve and Marilyn’s bike broke down.  They had to call AAA and have their bike trailered back to Sioux Falls.

Butch and Val came back home with us and we ordered a pizza and laughed about the past 3 days.  Mum said we were making memories and that not all memories have to be good ones.  This trip was definitely one of memories.

A little peice of advice – don’t wizz in the woods – poisen ivy!

Got another e-mail with some pictures from Roulf. 

Mum, Pop, my new friends Bruce and Mary Jane and me went on a three day vacation to the UP of Michigan.  Bruce and Mary Jane have a Mustang just like Mum and Pop’s except it’s the prettiest blue you ever saw.

We had such a great time.  We got to drive most of the time with the tops down.  I love that part with the wind blowing in my hair and all the wonderful smells.

We got to drive along Lake Superior – that is the biggest lake I ever saw.  I even saw a big, big ship off in the distance.  Pop said it was probably a freighter ship.  I wonder what it would be like to live on one of those ships for a little while?  I think I’d like to do that.  There is so many things I want to do but so little summer left to do it in.

We saw this really big Indian.  Bruce and Mary Jane took our pictures in front of it but it was so big you can’t even see where I am.  I felt so little standing next to it.  It looked like a real Indian to me just really really big.

This is a picture of us eating dinner.  I’m not in this picture cause Mum let me take the picture.  I did good didn’t I?  Mum said because I did so good, I can get my own camera.

One night we got to stay at the a Bed and Breakfast called “The Listening Inn“.  If you’re in the area of Crystal Falls, MI, you have got to stop and spend the night.  Carol and Leslie Kufahl are wonderful hosts and made us all feel so welcome.  This was definitely a high point of the trip for us.  This Inn was hand crafted from logs and was beautiful, warm and welcoming.  Our rooms were great and right out the sliding glass doors of our room we watched bears come to feed on corn. You have to look close to see him.  Later we watched even a bigger bear come to eat.  I stayed far away because I’m so little .

For breakfast Carol and Leslie made us a breakfast of fruit, muffins, juice, egg bake and toast made from her homemade bread and homemade jam.   Pop said we can come back again and I’m glad because this place was really nice.

Bruce and Mary Jane, thanks for being my friend.  I had so much fun and I can hardly wait until we get to go some place together again.  In the Mustangs of course.

We finally made it back home and what a great time we had.

I’m not sure we’ll take Grace along again.  She just doesn’t get what this is all about.  She complains a lot.  At times she drove me crazy having to share the back seat with her.

I’m unpacked, but Mum told me we are going again in a few weeks.  This time we’re going to the family get-together at the lake.  I can’t wait.  I get to see all my family members, sunbath, eat and just relax.  I think I’m going to buy one of those inflatable rafts so I can lounge around in the water.  I never learned how to swim but Mum says that will help me stay afloat.  Sounds like fun.

I’ll take pictures and share the fun things I do.