Mystery Ride

Sunday Gary and I rode in the chapter mystery ride. It was also a chapter meeting so I had to go since I'm the secretary of our chapter. The end of the ride we get free food, so it brings out alot of people. Free food always does.

The mystery rides we don't know where we are going or how we will get there. This year the mystery ride was that we all rode as a group and it was an observation ride. We had to ride to places find puzzle pieces. Once we got the puzzle pieces we would know where our final destination place will be.

First Gary and I went to our friends the Davis's to change the oil in his bike, we were there bright and early at 8:00 am. It was a bit chilly but not too bad. That didn't take long then we went out to breakfast. Who knows when we will get a chance to eat again.

We all met at the dealership, there were 30 bikes and about 45 people who went on the ride. A very large group to be riding together, but we made it work. This year the mystery ride was an observation ride, stopping at places picking up puzzle pieces.

The route took us to Roundup, Lavina, Ryegate, Harlowtown, Two Dot, Checkerboard, White Sulphur Springs, Townsend, Three Forks and then Belgrade. However, we may not make every stop once we get enough puzzle pieces together we would be able to figure out our final destination.

Off we go, we made stops in Roundup, Lavina, Ryegate, Harlowtown, Two Dot, Checkerboard and White Sulphur Springs. We had a gas stop in Harlowton and that took half an hour to get all the bikes gassed up along with the regular traffic that flows into Harlowtown. While Gary was waiting in line for gas, I ran into the convenience store for a pop and some snacks.

It was windy all day and we had a head wind the whole way since we turned to head to Lavina from Roundup. We took Highway 12 all the way to White Sulphur Springs. I did see some scenery that I haven't seen before, I have never been to Two Dot and west to White Sulphur Springs, so was able to cross off some highways.

By the time we arrived in White Sulphur Springs it was getting late, around 3:00pm. Decided to start putting the puzzle together and try to figure out where we need to go. I was nominated to put it together as Gary said I was good at puzzles. We got the sign together and all I could make out was that we were going to someplace called Oasis Steakhouse and Lounge. One of the guys make out the rest of the name Sir Scott's and he knew exactly where that was, in Manhattan. Gary had the idea to call the place and to confirm that our group is supposed to be there. One other guy did.

Now what to do. By the time we arrive in Manhattan it would be around 4:00, have a meeting eat dinner it would be dark when we get home. Quite a few people did leave after White Sulphur Springs.

The group decided to take Bridger Canyon into Bozeman then we can take the interstate for the 20 miles into Manhattan. When we made the turn off to take Bridger Canyon that is where about 14 others decided to go on home by going into Livingston.

Gary wanted to go home because by the time you factor in the time it would be very late. I reminded him that I sort of have to be at the meeting because I'm the secretary, but he could do what he needed to do. We ended up going to the meeting, partly because of the way we were in the pack, he couldn't break off in a safe manner. The rest of our friends headed home.

We arrived in Manhattan about 4:15 pm. Got settled in, read the menu. There was no limit on what we could order just as long as we ordered off the bar & patio menu. We both ordered the chicken dinners. While were waiting for the food to cook we all went outside for the group chapter photo, then back in for a short meeting.

We left Manhattan around 6:20 pm, by the time we got back on the bike and gassed up. We made it home at 8:50 pm. Gary was not pleased because it was dark by then, we did pass up some others who had left 20 minutes before we did and there were still quite a few who were still there when we left.

Our friends who left earlier were quite concerned and left Gary messages that he returned. The friends who left later than we did got to their homes aroudn 9:30 pm. I did post on facebook that we go home, as quite a few biker friends are on there.

Gary has informed me that he will never do another mystery ride again unless he can be assured that he would be back in Billings by 4:00 pm. Don't have to tell him where the ride will end, he just wants assurance that we will get home before dark. Our friends also said that they won't go on a mystery ride either. There were three women who are new riders and it just wasn't safe to expose them to that kind of riding. In fact one woman did lay her bike down at the gas stop in Harlowtown, she was so embarassed.

I may have to go in the car if that is the case. I knew that Gary wouldn't be going on any more after this one. He is not a fan of not knowing where he is going, he wants to know all the particulars.

There was another couple from Hardin who went and broke off at White Sulphur Spring and a couple from Colstrip who went the whole distance. I had told some people that we have that extra 50 miles that Billings people don't and that the Colstrip couple have further to go than us.

I have heard complaints about this ride, not the route but the time issues and will have to bring it up at the officer's meeting in October.