Midnight Ride to Mackinac

Midnight Ride to Mackinac (August 16-17, 2008)

The "Midnight Ride to Mackinac" is an annual event that started some 22 years ago in 1986. History has it that a group of Gold Wing Road Riders decided that it was too hot to ride during the day and it would be better and cooler if they took their ride at night. Their destination they decided would be the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan. The group started out with 17 bikes and with word-of-mouth some additional friends had joined them and totaled 57 bikes by the time they reached the bridge.

The ride begins in Rockford, Mi at midnight and follows US131 north to US127 to I-75 to the bridge. We met up with the group at the first rest stop in Alma, Mi where some 3000 + bikes had assembled at a Wal-Mart parking lot. Along the way, more bikes joined the group and the other rest stops along the way. Here are a few photos of the 2 day event.

	A few of the 3000 + bikes in Alma at 2 am.
	Our group at the stop in Gaylord as the sun is just coming up.
	Our destination was the Kewadin Casino in St Ignace, Mi. Here is a view of the vendor area and parking lot at the casino.
	Keith (A.K.A. Brewer) at our hotel.
	The view of Lake Huron from the hotel room.
	Checking out the bikes as we lined up for the light parade.
	A Few of the Gold Wings....
	with all their lights.
	Crossing the 5 mile long Mackinac Bridge on our way back home. The fog had lifted and offered a great view of the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Michigan and Lake Huron
	My riding partner and my bike in Cross Village at the Legs Inn Restaurant.
	Brad and .....
	I at the "Tunnel of Trees".

	22 miles of narrow, winding road along Lake Michigan located between Harbor Springs and Cross Village on Michigan's west coast.
	This was our route to the Bridge and time table