We got up at 6:30 and down for breakfast.  After we got packed up, we headed off to ride the last miles and get into Indiana.  Six miles later, we pulled off at Michigan City, and I called Steve, Head Dog, Moore.  He couldn't believe that I was calling him then.  He told me he was just typing an e-mail to the Ratbike Milo Website, and I called him!  I asked him where he was, and told him we want to come by and visit.  He said come on over. 

We got to Moore's Auto Repair & Towing and found Steve standing out front with a cup of coffee.  He was pretty happy that we stopped by for a visit.  He told Tami that we were coming to visit, and she was surprised that we were back in town.  I told them that I couldn't ride right by and have him read about it in my story, and not stop.  He told me that he would have to break something if we didn't stop!  He has a pretty cool set up there in town.  He has a lot of property for towed cars and inside shop space for Ray and his other guys to work.  I never did see Steve do any work while we were there.  I'm not sure if he ever does!  Especially knowing that he was doing an email to me when I called him!  He was wearing an official shirt with his name on it, so at least that part looks good.  (When I'm at Oregon Tool & Supply, I do a lot of email & stuff on my computer too).  Steve and Tami showed us around their place.  They have a real neat setup.  A couple of beautifully restored Indians are also hanging around too.  I'm just kidding, Steve probably does do some work there. 

While we were there, Ed, Silvertop, came by to drop off a vehicle to be worked on.  I was able to apologize to him in person, for the left behind credit card incident from a couple of years ago.  He forgot all about it, but chuckled when I told him about leaving my card behind too.  We took a few pictures in front of their shop and said goodbye and we headed out again. 

We rolled on down I-94 till we got to I-294 and circled around Chicago.  Another gas stop and we were into these darn tollbooths.  It was .80 cents each for four booths in a row, all within a few short miles of each other.  Then we got to the dollar ones, and then the dollar and a half ones.  This crap is getting OLD!  The roads suck, potholes everywhere, and big cracks that would swallow up a small kid!  Nobody seems to know where all the money goes, except to pay for the wages of the tollbooth operators!  At our last gas stop, Joni asked a gal, "How far up the freeway is Gurnee"?  She said that it was about another 35 minutes.  We got on the freeway and 8 miles later, I rode right passed it.  Joni said that we passed it.  We were supposed to be looking for Great America, but all I saw was Six Flags.  I didn't know they are the same thing!  Before we could get to an exit to turn around, guess what?  Yep, another tollbooth!  We paid our $1.50 and turned around a couple of miles later.  We came upon another tollbooth going south too!  After we got off at our correct exit, we rode right to Gary & Nancy's house.  We visited for a short while and Nancy told Joni that they had to go.  Nancy had an appointment made for the two of them to get their nails done.  While they were gone, Gary & I rode to Uke's Harley-Davidson in Kenosha Wisconsin. 

They were having an open house and an event that brought in quite a number of bikes.  I figure there was at least a couple hundred there.  I rode past the gate blockade and parked right in front of everything.  I went to the very crowded parts department and got to Pat.  I asked Gary to call around to try to find a couple of O-rings and gaskets for me.  Pat was very helpful and got me what I needed.  I also bought 3 gallons of oil, some to change my oil at Gary's when we get back, and the rest to add some everyday, as I'm still leaving it every where we go.  When I got back to my bike, I had a crowd assembled.  I was able to give out some of my new batch of cards with my Web site on it.  Almost everyone was very receptive to my rat bike being there.  There is almost always someone around who doesn't appreciate the rat bike as much as every one else does.  That just means that it wasn't their day to be pleased!  Not my problem! 

I talked to a motorcycle cop named Gene, who was very nice and he told me about this fund raiser being held there today.  It was for Special Olympics, I believe.  After a while, Gary & I went back to their home.  I did a few things on my bike, changed oil, tightened the primary chain, replaced an O-ring on the rear rocker box arm, and tightened the rocker box nuts.  The gals got back and we all visited some more and Gary BBQ'd a bunch of ribs and chicken.  Nancy had made potato salad and a fruit bowl and beans.  Larry's wife, Marge came over for dinner also, and we caught up with her life, as she didn't make the ride this year.  We all visited for a while and then it was time for Marge to go home.  We will see her & Larry again before we leave.  Back into the house and Joni just got done doing our laundry.  It was a very full day for only riding for a few hours.  It's time to relax tomorrow, but for now...  goodnight.