2015 Annual "Thunder Across the Thumb"

[SpeedRacerOnline]

- Sunday, myself and the WindKült Riders joined the "Thunder Across the Thumb" ride. It's a group ride organized by a local bike shop called "Thumb Motorcycle Chrome" in honor of serving and fallen troops. I haven't heard an official final count yet, but they were expecting around 400 bikes, and I think they had all of that. The ride is about 55 miles from the Tuscola County Airport in Caro, MI to Sandusky Airport in Sandusky, MI. It's not the most interesting route; straight roads through flat farm country, but you really don't notice much. It's about the ride itself and the camaraderie of 400+ bikers riding together for a great cause. There's no charge, but they accept donations of food and supplies that can be sent to serving soldiers and needy vets.

- It was awesome! We couldn't have asked for a better day; sunny skies and around 79F. The ride is police escorted with police stationed at every stop sign and stop light along the way so there's no stopping the thunder. I rode with 5 guys from the group myself and 3 other guys started called "WindKült". My 8yo rode with me on Ruby, and he loved every minute of it. Ruby must have been feeling a bit awkward, though. I walked the ranks at the end to check out some of the sweet bikes there, and there were only 3 other sport bikes in the whole group; a newer Ninja 650, an older GSXR 600, and a new Busa. Ruby was the only sport-tourer there.

- After the ride, the WindKült crew went and had some lunch. Then, half the crew kept riding around the "Thumbnail Tour", while myself and 2 others had to head home (one had a bad oil leak from a botched late night clutch change, and I had a bunch of work to get done at my kid's soccer fields). I wish I could have kept going with them, but it was an awesome day regardless!

Here's a few pics:

Hanging out at the staging area


A few of us WindKült Riders were here together. You can see Ruby standing out like a sore thumb, lol. The bike next to her, and the 4 in front of her are guys from WindKült.


There were a LOT of bikes lined up behind us...and a lot more kept showing up after this pic. If money were no object, I think I'd enjoy adding that Goldwing to my stable to take my wife on rides (the bike, not the trike).


Lined up close to take off.


The back of the pack stretching out and staging.


Here we go!


Parked at the end of the ride.


There were a LOT of bikes!


This was a great time to walk through them all and see what everybody rode.


My favorite bike of the day was this gorgeous old Triumph.