OK, I'm thinking Sunday, June 20th. This is a week after the Chrysler meet and shouldn't interfere with those going on to Mackinac.

I need to know approx how many are interested so I can firm things up. I'm thinking a meet at Big Boy in Tecumseh (off MI-50) for breakfast (they have a BIG parking lot and then hit Pentamere, Cherry Creek, possibly Flavor Fruit, and then if time allows Chateau Aeronatique. This will put us near I-94 outside of Jackson.
Let me know.

 

OFFDUTYAGAIN,
it sounds good i'm in.this is an area that i would never have known about...especially the winery and cider mills.put me on the list as attending. gryfan
SOCO

 

im in .. count me in

 

OK everyone, just when I thought it would be easy, I was checking on hotel accomodations for Gryfan and found that MIS (Michigan International Speedway) is hosting its first annual Great Lakes Wine Festival the following weekend (June 26-27) I have included the link to their website so you can take a look. If people think this would be better, I'll call MIS and see if we can have a area set aside for us for parking/socializing, etc. The event runs both days from Noon to 5pm and they do have camping facilities available. Since I've never set anything up like this before, let me know what you think. Here's the link: Great Lakes Wine Fest - Michigan International Speedway

 

**bump**bump

 

im cool with the first dates you have chosin

 

A Michigan GTG would be on a Sunday afternoon. A wild guess would put Ann Arbor (or somewhere west of there?) as a central location. I may have the info mixed up ????
These is what I have so far-

Members who expressed interest in GTG:
Rapps/Gary & Ann-Huntington Woods
Crossfirefrank/Frank-Jackson
rvd4now/ -Detroit
Harbor/Jim & Karen-Rochester Hills
MI1XFIRE/Joe-Brighton
CrossfireTom/Tom
Big Al/ -Fennville
offdutyagain/Michael-Jackson

Members who often attend but haven't posted:

Needswings/Rob & Liz-Detroit
Apkano/Steve-Troy
MsXFire/Lisa-Macomb
MsGump/Judi-Ann Arbor
romulus/ -
herbie53/Herb & Maryann-Detroit
Jerry J-HollandMI
Az4R1/Az-Michigan
slcooper-Roseville
Jiyankarlo-Auburn Hills
Teck-9 -Michigan
DeepSurge/Orilo & Esther-Michigan
aeroxfire/Jeff-Clinton Twp.
MiMac-Trenton
Goldwing/Jerrod-Holland

There are a few more but I need to send emails to get their public info to post- on the west side of the state who ever sent me the list with the emails- can you contact me again? Jerrod was that you?

 

For those who may not be familiar with the Irish Hills area. We are locaed near Michigan International Speedway off US-12. I picked Tecumseh, MI as a starting point since it is near US-23, M-52 and Tecumseh is situated on M-50.

If you are coming from the west, you can take I-94 to Chelsea, MI (Exit 159 and head south to US-12, then east to Tecumseh.

If you are coming from the Detroit area you can take I-94 to US-23, head south and exit at the M-50 Dundee (Cabella's) exit.

If you come in early, (Saturday) you can visit the "World's Foremost Outfitter" Cabellas and there are some interesting shops and restaurants in the Dundee area.

There are also 4 or 5 hotels ranging from a Holiday Inn to a Country Suites. NOTE: The Holiday Inn has a waterpark operation on weekends so plan accordingly.

Also, there are 2 good Mexican restaurants, a Bob Evans, Lone Star and the newly re-located St Julian Winery and tasting room just off US-23 at the Dundee exit.

If chocolate is more to your liking, there is a Russell Stover factory outlet store there as well and two beef jerkey places.

For a small town, Dundee is pretty neat.

If you are into eclectic shopping, there is the Swan Creek Candle Company and also a Christmas Ornament shop on the main drag.

All of the wineries open at noon. Pentemere is right in the heart of downtown Tecumseh and they have their vats/bottling/tasting operation in one building. This is an up and coming business with the owners being very hands-on.

From there it's west on M-50 to US-12, then west on 12 past MIS to Cherry Creek Wines. They are an established winery with 2 locations and a new operation this year operating under the name of Sleeping Bear Wines. Their second operation is off 94 near Albion, MI.

From Cherry Creek, we stay on US-12 to Flavor Fruit Farms. Steve, the owner, is starting his wine operation this year and he may or may not be in full-swing this early in the season, But, he will have Traverse City cherries, home-made baked goods (apple fritters are awesome) he also has a nice deck for his cafe and of course, cider from last falls crop. Steve freezes his extra cider at the end of the growing season, doesn't use preservatives and it is cold and sweet.

Our last stop will be Chateau Aeronatique. To be honest, I don't know much about this operation as he started last year. The winery is in a hangar situated on a grass strip in a fly-in community. I've heard it's a pretty decent facility and it is a short run up US-127 towards Leslie, MI. (Just north of Jackson)

All of the wineries have websites and you can check them out for yourself. There is no timetable, if we land someplace and it suits our needs and we end up staying, so be it. I am looking for a relaxing Sunday that most of SE and SW Michigan owners can attend.

Judging by the response....I am going to plan on the original date. Please PM me for specific information.

Looking forward to seeing everyone this summer.....cheers!

Southeast Michigan Pioneer Wine Trail - Pure Michigan Travel

 

OK...Hit me with a stick....If you are coming from the WEST on I-94, exit at the Chelsea exit, head south on M-52 and proceed to M-50, then turn east. M-52 crosses both US-12 AND M-50. By the way, if you are a Harley enthusiast, we will go by two H-D shops. One, Town and Country H-D is supposed to be one of the largest in Michigan.

 

offdutyagain,
so it is june 20th?sounds good.we will be there.looking forward to it.
gryfan

 

i cant wait, when are we all susposed to me. do we have a time in mind...

 

OK here is a TENTATIVE schedule. In order to make the drive in reasonable for those on the west side of the state, I suggest we meet at 10am at Big Boy on M-50 in Tecumseh. It is on the west side of town and I will check and see if they will block the back area of the restaurant for our use

The Big Boy is next to a shopping center so there will be plenty of parking for those that want to attend. Plus they have the ability to order off the menu or if you are running a little late, the breakfast buffet is an option.

We have 2 hours to arrive, socialize and eat. The wineries open at noon. While there are some very nice shops downtown, I will check and see which are open on Sundays. Again, there is off street parking in the municipal lot on the north side of 50 downtown.

From there we can hit Pentamere (downtown) and some light shopping as the group decides. Then it's on to Cherry Creek, our next stop.

What would be VERY helpful would be a head-count of those planning to attend. It will allow me the opportunity to make up maps, POI's and if you plan on coming in on Saturday, some type of hospitality Saturday night.

FWIW, Gryfan has asked me to assist in hotel accomodations for Saturday and Sunday. He prefers a Holiday or a Crowne. Since we are mostly a rural area with a boat-load of lakes, the hotels are nice but not 5-star. I am thinking of using Dundee, MI as a rally point for those who want to make a weekend of it. There are some nice, new units. It is close to US-23 and with Cabellas, St Julien wine tasting room and a multitude of close restaurants this is probably the best location. Plus it is only a 25 minute drive from Dundee to the restaurant.

Please let me know what everyone thinks.

 

Please note this is a thread for Michigan folks to connect for GTGs. The info I posted was not for any specific date, drive or place at this time. It was an effort to get everyone interested and then I'd find a drive, time and place to meet up. I intend to get a Sunday afternoon meet up together for us.

Plan and post trips you're working on with wild abandon! If you want to attend one let the person heading it up who you are and to add you to their list.
Actually I have to get my Crossfire out of storage! Haven't drove it yet this year

 

Rapp,

I'm sorry if I "hijacked" your thread. It was not my intent. I am new to the Forum and the car. I will start another thread ASAP.

 

June 20th Irish Hills Wine Tour

 

Good God don't worry at all in the least in any way---really
I just didn't know if we were all on the same page. We'd attend if we didn't have so many other things going on it sounds like a good time.
On a good note I couldn't take it any longer and put full coverage on my car
Went out for a long drive late afternoon. It is so clean and perfect it's like the day it was made. Gary and I would race down WW a little but never speed (well maybe a little).

 

I know the feeling, We've had the car a month and I've driven it twice in that time (with wife's permission) Our weather hasn't been nice enough to get it out of the garage.

 

Last minute info:

This Saturday May 22 it looks like a good day for meeting in Ann Arbor at the "German Joint" just off of I94. Large parking lot for the cars, patio to sit outside as well.
Time 4:00pm - dinner and booze.
Metzger's German Restaurant
http://www.metzgers.net/directions.html

We'll still do the Sunday meeting for the regular plan, but Frank suggested this after all the rain we've had and the weather is predicted to be nice.

Would someone volunteer to PM the members on the list? I can't way too much work has arrived on my door step

Post your screen name if you can attend-
In attendance so far:
Crossfirefrank
Rapps (the snake isn't likely-wheels getting redone (changed our minds on color) and new tires arriving (again) won a set from Michelin).

 

Great weekend for a GTG guys.
Have a great time !!!

 

bump bump