Our First NASCAR Race - Pure Michigan 400

Luck isn't something that follows us on a daily basis but we did manage to get a little dose of it when Heather won NASCAR tickets from Kool FM.  The tickets were for a race at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.

Without much time to plan the trip we scrambled to find a suitable solution.  We were once again lucky when VROCers Scotty and Marlene from Adrian, Michigan offered us accommodations for the night before the race. Adrian is a town less than 30 minutes from the racetrack but being one of the biggest towns in the area, a lot of visitors stay here, even some NASCAR haulers.

On the way to Adrian on Saturday evening we stopped in Dundee for a quick supper as well as a fresh pie.  We spent the evening out on the porch shooting the breeze and spent the night sleeping on an air mattress.

We were up just after 5am on Sunday and after saying goodbye to our hosts, we drove to Wal-Mart for some last minute supplies and then drove in darkness to Brooklyn.  We arrived at the track at 6am and were the last car in the first row of parking at the Highway 12 entrance.

Hwy 12 entrance to MIS

We spent the next six hours taking in the atmosphere around the racetrack, shopping for souvenirs and otherwise enjoying our first experience at a NASCAR event.  That experience included visiting the MIS rookie tent where we got a chance to meet Slugger Labbe, Paul Menard's crew chief.

Heather with Slugger Labbe

Heather in front of a racecar in the fan area

Our lucky streak continued to stay with us as we also got to be fifth or so in line to meet Michael Waltrip who  showed up in the NAPA trailer to sign copies of his book, In the Blink of an Eye.  Even before meeting him, I decided to become a fan of his team and especially his main driver Martin Truex Jr.  I can't really explain why I chose his team since I still consider myself to be a new NASCAR fan.  Maybe it's because I always enjoy their TV commercial.  Those guys know how to have fun.  I didn't get an autograph because I'm not really big on getting them but I did shake Michael's hand even though it was an awkward handshake with him holding a Sharpie in his right hand.

Michael Waltrip signing Heather's book

MIS water tower

We were inside the race track nearly two hours before the race which was scheduled to start shortly after 1:30pm.  Our seats were towards the bottom in between Turns 1 & 2.  We could have moved up since most NASCAR races don't sell out these days but the thought never crossed my mind.  For our trouble we got covered in rubber debris.  The race ended with Kyle Busch winning and Heather and I baking in the heat.

Leaving the track, we were one of the first cars to leave although I was cut off by an antsy driver which made us take a somewhat longer route towards the border.  With nothing but souvenirs to declare, we got home around 8pm.

Freedom Rally '11 - Day 4

It was once again time to go home.  With our motorcycles nearly packed the night before, we said our goodbyes and left home.

We stopped for gas in Waubaushene and made our next stop in Barrie just in time for lunch at East Side Mario's.

Heather with Wauby in Waubaushene

Then we avoided traffic all the way to Woodstock.  This was the first time we've ridden from a weekend up north, Sudbury or Combermere, where we had to continue past Waterloo.

Resting in Grand Valley

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Freedom Rally '11 - Day 3

Sunday is a slow day at the rally.  The morning is quiet, the afternoon is taken up by the bike games and the evening is when everyone sits down for catered dinner/award ceremony.

During this year's events Heather won youngest rider and also a free admission to next year's rally.  Since next year's rally falls on the same weekend as the Twins Festival, I may be the one who ends up using the free pass.

Heather and Kevin - youngest and oldest riders at Freedom Rally 2011

We spent the night in Heather's parents' motorhome after sleeping in the tent the previous two nights.

Freedom Rally '11 - Day 2

Saturday is a day of traditional rides.  I had planned a ride for Heather and I to Manitoulin Island.  We didn't get rolling until later in the morning.  We first rode west along Highway 17, portions of which were recently widened.

Before reaching the island we made a couple of stops in Espanola as well as Birch Island.  Espanola is known as the paper town as it's home to Domtar, the largest producer of freshsheet paper in North America.  The ride south towards Manitoulin Island was full of beautiful scenery and twisty, for Ontario, roads.

Veterans memorial in Birch Island

As lunchtime approached, we stopped in Little Current which is the first town on the island, just past the bridge leading to the island.  The bridge was actually up when we got there but it only took a couple of minutes before we were moving again.

The bridge to Manitoulin Island

Little Current is a very small town but also a very popular tourist destination.  The streets and beaches of Little Current were full of people enjoying today's perfect weather.

We ate at the Anchor Inn Hotel and of course we both had some type of seafood.  After lunch, I led Heather on a ride deeper into the island.  The roads on the island were no longer twisty but scenery reminded me of any farming community I've seen before.

As usual, we getting very tired riding on a hot day so we decided to turn around in Kagawong.  I took us there just for the purpose of getting a water tower photo but the destination reminded Heather of a school trip she'd done years ago.

It turns out that Kagawong is home to Bridal Veil Falls.  We stopped there on the way out of town and descended a few flights of stairs to get a closer look at the falls.

Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong, ON

On the way back to the campground, we stopped at a gas station in Espanola for some refreshments.  We arrived back at the campground well after 5pm and just before supper.  The ride may have been a little longer than planned but when an opportunity is there, it is tough to pass it up.

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