Monday, July 4, 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI. The day started with a full breakfast and warm hospitality. Outside it was drizzling as we loaded up the bikes and headed up the gravel drive.

Our hostess, Christi Reynolds, seeing us off.

If you take overnight trips on your motorcycle, check out Motorcycle Travel Network, which Christi and her husband, Scott, founded. Members agree to host other members and you can stay overnight for $15 for one person and $20 for two. There’s an annual fee to be a member, but the savings in accomodations more than covers the cost.

We made our way back to the highway and soon encountered a rain shower that lasted only 25 miles or so. Once we got around Indianapolis and on the back roads, we took off the rain gear and settled into a lazy pace as we followed back roads north through the corn fields of northern Indiana.

We arrived at our hotel in late afternoon and checked in.

The lobby was full of friends greeting each other and catching up on news of the past year.

While Beth was greeting friends and registering for the conference, I washed the bikes and took a few pictures.

At the registration desk.

In the raffle room.

After the Florida group’s meeting we went to a late dinner at Quaker Steak and Lube. Fortunately the hotel’s shuttle bus took us and picked us up. We saw fireworks in the distance and saw on TV that there was a big crowd downtown enjoying the display.