Bikers invade Eastport

On my way past the Eastport Market I saw a long lineup of shiny motorcycles in the parking lot snuggled up to a bright red Hummer.  Either Russ and Donna had gone into a new line of business or there was a convention of bikers in town.  I pulled in and inquired, just as the riders spilled out of the market.  Turns out they were the Blue Knights (“We’re the Good Guys”), a law enforcement motorcycle club from the Evansville Indiana/Henderson Kentucky area along the Ohio River. Pretty country down there.   

The Knights were on Day 4 of a road trip to the Upper Peninsula planned by Sgt. Todd Ringle, club President.

Jim Landrum (Boonville IN), J.T. O'Daniel (Tenneyson IN), Sam Still (Chandler, IN) and Todd Ringle (Boonville, IN)

They’d been to lunch at Todd’s mom and dad’s house.  They’d been to Sleeping Bear and Traverse City and out the Leelanau to Northport and out Old Mission to the Lighthouse.  Now they were on their way to St. Ignace, following M-119 up to Cross Village, stopping for lunch at Legs Inn, crossing the Bridge on a pretty day. 

I wanted to go too.  I thought it would be grand to travel across Big Mac on a motorcycle, the Straits sparkling far below.  And then they’re going to Mackinac Island and Tahquamenon Falls and Oswald’s Bear Ranch.  I felt quite wistful as they waved goodbye. 

We get lots of tourists. Some are more enjoyable than others. It was fun to meet Todd and Vincent Barbie Brown, who wanted to be sure that I wrote that he lives in Santa Claus, Indiana, and Steve and Judy Durbin, who were driving one of the Chase Vehicles, and Sam Still, the token firefighter in the bunch. He and his wife Brenda were driving the other Chase Vehicle, that bright red Hummer. When the Blue Knights get home they’re going to look up Torch Lake Views, so I thought I’d post a few more pictures for them. Don’t they just look like they’re having a good time? (Click on any photo for a larger image.)