Blessing of the Bikes is this morning.

stevej37 · 05-18-2025, 07:09 AM

About a half hour north of my place.... approx 10K bikes started arriving yesterday for the annual event...always the first Sunday am after Mothers Day. The Event started in 1972 with four bikes attending.

The route they take to the airfield in Baldwin goes within 3 miles of me. Can hear the steady roar of the mostly HD's all morning. Preacher gives a short blessing ending in all the bikes revving their engines.

The restaurants and bars on the route make a killing for the two days. The weather is perfect today for this event....52 and sunny for the high.

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Chocaholic · 05-18-2025, 07:20 AM

Never understood the parade ride events. Today is also the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. Big event here in Mobile that I’m ignoring. Dressing up in business wear and slowly riding bumper to bumper with several others in parade fashion. No thanks.

stevej37 · 05-18-2025, 07:26 AM

Wouldn't be my thing either....but they do ride the speed limit until they get to Baldwin.

Gives them an excuse for a nice ride....I can't blame them.

CurtEgerer · CurtEgerer's Garage

Will they be routing through Idlewild?

Idlewild Wiki

stevej37 · 05-18-2025, 08:29 AM

Most come from the south up M-37 to Baldwin....next biggest group from the east, coming within a mile of Idlewild.

I was at Idlewild numerous times in the late 60's/early 70's. Before that it was a happening place.
Mostly from out of Chicago.

HardDrive · 05-19-2025, 07:46 AM

Blown away to read Idlewild being discussed on this forum. My dad is from Muskegon, we would deer hunt all points north when I was young. We hunted in Baldwin about 10 years ago.

stevej37 · 05-19-2025, 08:40 AM

^^^ I hunted with my father in the 60's around Luther/Leroy (which is NE of Idlewild.) Lots of mushroom hunters around there in the spring also. A person can get lost easily up there without a compass.

A few years ago, I biked the Pere Marquette Trail which goes right through Idlewild.
When it was a bar/restaurant we would go up there for the bands playing. It's mostly campgrounds and picnic areas there now.

pmax · pmax's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

Blessing of the Bikes is this morning.

Bill Douglas · 05-19-2025, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Today is also the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride.

Our's got postponed for a week due to a weather bomb hitting Wellington. We are doing it next Sunday. Our DGR is happy mayhem, and once a year is my style. Plus DGR is huge money for the Movember Foundation.

stevej37 · 05-19-2025, 01:49 PM

^^^ I've never heard of DGR up here.
Is it motor bikes or bicycles?

Chocaholic · 05-19-2025, 04:31 PM

Motor. What I assumed when I read the thread title. Is there another kind?

Kidding, of course.

stevej37 · 05-20-2025, 08:22 AM

A look at the Baldwin area from Sunday....not very populated.

Bill Douglas · 05-21-2025, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

^^^ I've never heard of DGR up here.
Is it motor bikes or bicycles?

Steve, it's a cool ride for motorbikes. This Sunday, the posponded to date, will be my 8th ride

They also put on a Distinguished gentleman's Drive last year. A few 911s in it.

Here are the details. https://www.gentlemansride.com/

stevej37 · 05-21-2025, 12:30 PM

^^^
Thanks...cool videos on there. It's nice to see other bikes than Harleys.
Here, it would be at least 90% HD.

Bill Douglas · 05-21-2025, 12:34 PM

Around here almost everyone gets dressed up for it. Some people fancy dress. One guy was dressed as the mad hatter LOL

I'm bottom of the food chain riding a Honda trail bike, but everyone is welcome and complimentary of eachother's bikes.

Mainly Triumphs and Nortons here I guess. Plently of Harleys. The young guys ride rat bikes which are a bit of a giggle.