The Timbr and Chili 8th Annual Q in De Woods - Ride Report........

[Strider]

I had been wanting to make this Q in Da Woods for years now.  I was always in Africa or over in Tucemcari during Memorial Day weekend, but this year, I decided enough was enough and I was going to spend Memorial Day with family up in Michigan.  It was my first Q in the woods and let me just say that Timbr and Chili are the best!  It was truly the "best of times".  A laid back weekend with friends and family - just don't get any better.  It was my first, but I sure hope not my last.  I think that my bike will be pointed north on Memorial Day if they will continue to pass on the invitation.  Like I said, it was a very laid back, "best of times".  Well, now for the ride report.

I was so pumped to finally get to know Timbr and Chili - well, I knew them but just had not gotten to really meet them except briefly at IZ in Colorado, I couldn't sleep the night before.  Got up at 4 and had coffee, spent some time with Red and the critters, the bike was packed, so it was AOS at O-Dark-Thirty and northbound and down.



I got to see the sun rise above the Atchafalaya Basin and the traffic was not bad at that time of the morning as I rode through Baton Rouge and crossed the Mississippi River for the first time that day.  Traffic was light across I-10/I-12 and up onto I-55 north into Mississippi.



Shadows started getting shorter and it started warming up as I traveled north through Jackson, Mississippi.  Since I had not eaten anything, I figured I would get north of Jackson and stop for some grits.  If you are traveling north, stop in Jackson, because there is not a grit place between there and Memphis and I didn't feel like an egg McMuffin on a road trip.

Stopped at a rest area south of Memphis for a smoke and grabbed a couple of soft granola bars that I had packed along.  That should keep me going for awhile!  I got turned onto soft granola bars with the 200 mile bar that Hotglue stuffed into my pocket one morning in Minnesota.  I tried eating it while riding and it flew out my hand and over my helmet and landed on Laserpat's knee on the bike behind me.  He was reaching for it and it blew off and stuck to his saddlebag where we found it 200 miles later - and I finally got to eat it!



It was really starting to warm up as I rolled into Tennessee in Memphis and crossed the Mississippi River for the second time into West Memphis, Arkansas.  This is where the wind started beating me up all the way north until I got into the tree line in Illinois.  Nice cross winds coming from the sides.  The ones where you put the bike into a steady lean and then a gust catches you and drifts you into the next lane - you know the kind.  The handlebar muscle tighteners....

This continued into Missouri....



In Missouri I decided it was time to get something to eat, so when I stopped for gas, I drove through town and found this cool BBQ joint - Chubby's BBQ.



Very cool place.  Waitress was a hoot and very friendly.  I opted for one of the most expensive things they had - a cut pork BBQ plate for a whopping $7.00 and included sweet tea.  Very good!



I don't know if the place was owned by Chubby Checkers, but they had an autographed shirt on the wall.  This place had been visited by both Jimmy Carter (who should know good BBQ) and Ronald Reagan.



Got AOS again and continued north to Cairo, Illinois where I crossed the Mississippi River for the third time that day.  Gotta burn my boots now - they done touched yankee soil.

Bugs Bunny in Dixie	powered by Aeva

Continued northbound through Illinois.  Very nice country around Mt Vernon but the speed limit (strictly enforced) is 65 mph.  Saw a couple of bikes having to contribute to the Illinois LAW Christmas funds.



I finally got to Champaign, Illinois and a trucker told me of twisties and nasties coming in from the west.  Checked out the iPhone and there was red line to my west.  I figured it was almost 9 and here was as good a place to stop as any.  I had already put in about 874 miles on the clock.



So, I got a room at the Super 8 in town.  The clerk was cool and a biker as well.  It was what you would expect of a Super 8 - a little threadworn but fairly clean.  I ordered a pizza and spent the evening cooling off and watching the weather channel and catching up on the Wolfpack and uploading pictures for the day.  I got to rehydrate with a 2 liter Cherry Coke with the pizza.



Got up early the next morning and packed the bike back up and AOS to the meeting place in the woods!



Headed north and after a couple of hours got on I-80 and joined into the monster of 18 wheelers and cages across Illinois and Indiana.  I am going to see if I can pay a toll online since I think I went through an IPass lane...OOPS!  Got into Michigan Friday morning.




Got off the superslab to see the great lake since I could see all the blue to my left on the GPS.  Stopped at Warren Dunes State Park (what a great name).  



Kid at the gate was cool since they wanted to charge me like $20 to go in.  I told him I just wanted to see the lake and he gave me directions to a free place and said I could even walk back to here if I wanted.  So, went through town, down some nice twisties to the beach and got to see Lake Michigan.






And the dunes.



Even got to see Rambo Road.



Traveled for awhile and didn't want to eat too heavy for lunch since Timbr had said they were taking us all to an "all you could eat" fish place for dinner.  I stopped at a rest area and punched in PIE into the GPS and it showed a place not far.  A few miles off the beaten path - oh yeah baby!  PIE!!!!  Got off south of Holland and found this VERY COOL pie place!  Crane's Pie Pantry Orchard and Restaurant.





With a very neat orchard outside.........



Waitress was very, very cool and I highly recommend it if you are in the area.  Man, I could decide if I wanted to try (for my first time ever) a Rhubarb/Raspberry pie or the Cherry Strudel....so I got BOTH with a bowl of ice cream on the side!! BOY HOWDY!!!!!!!!



And I DO MEAN BOY HOWDY!



It sure went well with a cup of Michigan coffee and a glass of water!  WOW!  Nothing like coffee and homemade pie!  Then it was back off for the last leg into Grayling, Michigan.  Arrived late in the afternoon at the hotel everyone was staying at.  A very nice mom and pop hotel - the River Country Motor Lodge - run my Ms Audry and Jim the Maintenance Man - more about Jim later.



1338 miles from my garage to the Hotel.  Felt good to finally get off the bike.  The Vstrom ran like a sewing machine, but the seat was....well, like Blackdog said, I had ridden a 400 pound suppository all the way to Michigan.



TP and Nancy were about 10 minutes behind me and arrived just as I was finishing unpacking the bike.  We hugged and they got checked in and we piled into the Jeep and went over to Timbr and Chili's place.  Blackdog was already there. We sat around and told a lie or two and then off to Roscommon to eat dinner at Fred's - a restaurant with a bowling alley inside.  How many places have on the outside "Food, Spirits, Bowl"?



After a short wait which gave us time to check out the dude's Victory out front, it was time to EAT!



And eat we did!  The waitress (Nancy) was WAY COOL and kept right up with the banter of the bikers and gave as well as she got.  TP and I downed 12 pieces of fish......EACH!  It was all you could eat and I don't think that Fred will be sending his kids to college on the profit he made from feeding TP and I.



And Timbr's Prime Rib was like 2 inches thick and cooked to perfection.



What a motley crew.............



Then back to Timbr and Chili's place for an evening of lie telling some more.  Then back to the hotel late that evening to get ready for the Q in Da Woods.



Well, that was the ride report for Thursday and Friday - getting up to Michigan and our first night with the host and hostess with the mostess....Timbr and Chili - what a great pair!

Coming up - THE Q!!!!!!!!!

Don't turn that dial..........

[Strider]

Got up Saturday morning and wiped the bike down.  Made a pot of coffee in the room and had my coffee outside with a couple of smokes and checked out the Wolfpack to see what was happening.  It was still early and all of a sudden the door next to my room opened and I got to meet JIM.  I don't think he gets many people to talk to and was a nice guy, but for the next two hours I got to hear the history of Jim and of Grayling and well.....the history of many things.a  Finally TP came out and I got to introduce them with..."TP - Jim.  Jim - TP.  Excuse me one minute."  And off I ran....  Sorry TP.

It was still early so when Mrs TP came down, we got to ride around and check out Grayling and went to a doughnut place that Jim told us about.  It was neat.  Waitress was a hoot.  I was able to pick up a couple of things to bring to the Q since Red and I couldn't think of a dish that would take two days on the road in this heat.  TP, Mrs TP and I got to dig on some coffee and fresh pastries.





We made it over to Chili and Timbr's for more fresh coffee and watch them work at getting things ready for the Q.  Blackdog was busy with the onions and the bacon for the BAD AZZ BURGERS to come



Chili and Timbr were running around getting things ready.....Looks like the frenzy was driving Chili nuts.....



But what couple in a kitchen..........



Timbr was busy playing with his meat......




Man, what a passle of burgers!!!!



Look at the size of those shrooms!!!!!  Guess they couldn't find any large ones so they had to opt for the baby ones! LOL!



TP, Nancy and I went out to help in the back yard.  Well, I supervised, but every job needs a good supervisor.  TP thought it might rain, so he brought his umbrella.



Nancy got the covers on the tables and Timbr got the pit primed and ready.



Well, after I figured that supervision was no longer necessary, I wandered around and checked out all the neat stuff at the house and on the porch.  Lot's of neat things.......and the house, yard and porch were awesome.








Satellite FM was playing out the speakers and was awesome music all day!




Well, things looked ready.



People started arriving and the Q was on!  Timbr got the fire blazing and burgers cookin'.






The makings were out...and people were diggin.........






Well, how do you like yours?  BABZ are made to order and were PERFECT!





And when the grill master had to take a break, the assistant grill master took over - Blackdog.



Friends and family sat down to an awesome meal!!!!!!!



And the BABZ were perfect says you?  PERFECT says I.........And what a BABZ!!!!






Good to the last bite........



And the perfect Host and Hostess....and Brother and Sister to everyone who came.....




Did someone say desert????



Awesome food with great people - yes, life is good.




You know, the cool thing about the Q in De Woods was that yes, it was a ride in - folks from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Louisiana - but it was the perfect size for folks just hangin' out - laid back - and telling a yarn or two.  It was perfect!







Then Kit and Fudgie showed up from Indiana.  Her longest ride yet - what a trooper.  I knew Fudgie but this was my first time to meet Kit - and what a great sister.....



50/50 was done.  Folks mingled and ate.  Some folks had to leave, but in the afternoon, it was time for a laid back mingle-time!  It was the best of times....Fire pit was lit and the fire pit party began.





Laid back I tell ya!  Lets just say that a lie or two was told around the pit that afternoon and evening.







Then it was Smores time!!! Boy howdy!  I had never had a real one in my life and they were AWESOME!!!!!  Like everything else this day - just a laid back time.....














Then later in the evening, it was time for more fire pit folly with hot dogs. 






Now it was time for just some old timey laid back lie telling - a family reunion.












It was the best of times!  Like I said, just a laid back family reunion.  As the fires burned down into the night...alas, it was time for a final farewell for the evening.





We went back to the hotel and Jim came straight out.  Fudgie bent over in laughter.  Went up to TP and Nancy's room for some final lie telling and it was time to go back to our rooms - thus ended Saturday of the Q in de woods.

WHAT A PERFECT DAY!!!!

It was truly the BEST OF TIMES.

Thanks again Timbr and Chili for a most awesome day!  I know we all passed a very large time!

WHOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

You live life as your sign says..........

[Strider]

After spending an awesome, awesome time at the Q, alas all things must come to an end....Sunday was time to turn south again.  Got up that morning and got the bike packed while the coffee was making in the room.  Weather was warm and clear but dark to the west.




Well, while I waited for the others to get up (we were going for coffee at Timbr and Chili's) things changed.  These clouds rolled in with different colored bands in it and the temperature dropped like 15 degrees.  Within minutes, the wind started to blow and this cold rain hit - the bottom just dropped out.




So TP and Nancy took us in the cage over to Timbr and Chili's and we had coffee there.  Then we piled into cages and I got to see the diner that Timbr has posted so much about.  What a great morning!




Spending time with family wasn't over yet.





Had a tiny breakfast to hold me over.....



We went back to the hotel since the first rain band had passed and it looked like we had a break until the second came in.  Got a shot with my buddy Jim.  The lights are not always on, but they are always home....



And after final hugs to our outstanding hosts, we shot off.  I got to Lake City and got hit with the wind and rain.  Sounded like Blackdog got it all the way to the Mac bridge and sounds like Fudgie and Kit got hit on the way back to Indiana.  I only got it for about 40 miles or so.  When I finally got in front of the line it was clear and HOT.  It was hot going back across 80.



Hot enough that when I got into Illinois, I stopped for a malt.



Got on the highway south in Illinois, south of Chicago, and started the flatland ride home.





Got to Effingham, Illinois - about 550 miles or so and the sun was setting below the horizon.  There were lots of BIG fresh roadkill, so I stopped for the evening at the Super 8 in Effingham.



There was a Friday's next door, so I went over to treat myself to one last road dinner...ribs and cajun shrimp.  Not bad...not bad at all.





Then back to the room to relax, watch a little weather channel and kick back.Oh, the Super 8 was really clean.  For $50, I recommend it.

Got up the next morning for the last 788 miles home.  Had my coffee, packed the bike and talked to a fellow biker for a while outside.



Stopped at a rest area by some bird name lake.  Great water there and filled up the camel back.



Rolled back into Missouri and Arkansas after crossing the River in Cairo.




Had breakfast - well, brunch, in Missouri at a Dennys.  Worst meal and service (especially service) I have ever had.  Left part of my food and paid the bill (without a tip) just to get out of there.  Then got through Memphis and the hot ride down through Mississippi.  Had one whoops getting through Miss.  I guess with the heat, I caught myself falling asleep on the bike until I could get to a rest area and realized that I didn't remember the last 5 miles or so.  Stayed there until I was fully awake.  Adjusted the windshield for about 50 miles or so that the wind blew directly into my face.



Rolled into Louisiana about 6:00 or so and got home about 8:00 pm.



All in all - a 2654 mile trip garage to garage and worth every mile.



Timbr and Chili - I can never thank you enough for the hospitality and friendship.  Fellowship second to none.  It was the best of times.  You two were MORE than I expected and proud to be able to call you friends - and the family I got to see again as well.

It was the BEST of times.

Thanks - well, that is the ride report.

[fudgie]

Thats a great report!  Glad you made it up and good seeing you again.

[..]

Ride on Wee-Strom!

[dreamaker]

That was Awesome !!!!!!

[scoot]

Strider, Thanks for taking the time to share. It was very nice. At Crane's Pie pantry, when you walk on the porch there is a stuffed dog sitting in a rocking chair. He was originally born on the farm when it was first settled there in the early 1900's. When he passed the had him stuffed and that's where he's been since. Great pie!

[Misfit]

 

[wiggydotcom]

Thanks, Strider.
Through your grrrreat pics and commentary, it was almost like we were all there with you-cept for
tasting that great food. Going to a Q in Da woods will definitely have to be on my bucket list.

Timbr and Chili are both awesome people. No doubt about that!