Tommy Thompson served 14 years as Wisconsin’s governor, before accepting a cabinet job as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He now works in the private sector, still involved in world health issues.
As Wisconsin’s governor, he initiated the Governor’s Tour at the urging of state senator Dave Zien. It was a way to promote Wisconsin businesses and tourism while riding the most popular Wisconsin product, Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Every year a group of devoted riders, with a special place in their hearts for Tommy Thompson, tour the asphalt ribbons of Wisconsin and neighboring states. Past tours have including the circumnavigation of Lake Superior, a visit to Washington D.C. to celebrate Wisconsin’s sesquicentennial, and the induction of head road guard, Tony “Pan” Sanfelipo into the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame, followed by his wedding to ride nurse, Vicki Roberts, on top of Crazy Horse Memorial.
2006 was another very special reunion ride from June 16th to June 23rd. The group started by taking the Lake Express Ferry across Lake Michigan, to avoid construction and everything else about Chicago. The ferry was a great, cruising at around 30 knots, with sunny skies and smooth seas. From Muskegon, Michigan, it was an easy ride to Sandusky, Ohio for registration at Roeder’s H-D. They had a band playing and a bike show, but most of us ended up at Shifter’s Bar next door for good food and drinks.
Saturday morning found us on the road to Williamsport, Pennsylvania. There was a fantastic reception at the Bullfrog Brewery, complete with complimentary samples of their brew master’s skills, and excellent food. Afterwards, we rode to Susquehanna State Park and a cruise down the Susquehanna River on a paddleboat. Locals were giving us quite a show with shoreline fireworks.
Sunday was a day that almost over heated the road guards, as they zipped in and out of towns, holding back local traffic so the group could proceed as one unit. The hills were scenic and the roads challenging as we wound into Stroudsburg and Schoch’s H-D and Deli, run by an 80-year-old dynamo. Rose Schoch made her signature chili for the group (a treat in the nearly 100 degree heat) and her H.O.G. chapter provided hamburgers, brats and lemonade for everyone. It was here that the boys from New York picked us up. This whole ride was coordinated by Vicki Roberts Sanfelipo and Stormin Norman, of Staten Island, New York. They put together a mind boggling tour that left the participants breathless.
Can you imagine bringing 100 motorcycles through New Jersey, crossing over the toll bridge into Staten Island, during rush hour? What a sight. Helping Stormin achieve this goal were New York firefighters Bill Eisengrien and Timmy Duffy, and friends Mark Ravello and Bill Roesch. They had the riders in awe. Once settled into the Staten Island Hotel, there was no time for relaxation. Everyone was hustled off in charter busses to harbor cruise, hosted by Lowriders MC. Some of the riders have visited Manhattan before, but none had ever seen it from this perspective. The cruise was from 7:00 PM until 11:00 PM, and we were joined by Tommy Thompson, who met us at the boat. Navigating under the Veranzano and Brooklyn bridges at night, seeing the city lights and pausing in front of the illuminated Statue of Liberty afforded photo opportunities that were priceless. Tommy Thompson reflected on the attack on the Twin Towers and said he was one of the first cabinet members to visit the site after the attack.
Monday was a free day for people to explore the city on their own. Many took the opportunity to visit Lombardi’s H-D on Staten Island and get some much needed attention to their bikes while buying shirts and other items. I used the time to visit Indian Larry’s Legacy bike shop and see some of his metallic-art form bike creations. We lost a legend and a genius when Larry died. Somehow, almost everyone made it to La Mela’s in Little Italy (thanks to Stormin telling them it was my favorite restaurant). At least 80 of us put on an impromptu party, which caused quite a spectacle to passersby. Afterward, we visited Ferrara’s for decadent chocolate deserts, and later partied into the night at the Red Rock Saloon, one of New York’s best biker bars.
The next morning, still weary and worn from the day before, we took the Staten Island Ferry to lower Manhattan and visited Ground Zero. Arranged by Stormin Norman again, Tribute NYC and the September 11th Families Association conducted tours for our group, led by people directly touched by the attack. My group was led by Lt. Paul McFadden, Rescue 2, F.D. N.Y. retired. He lost many friends in that attack and told us some chilling and heart wrenching stories that you never read about in the press. Acts of kindness, heroism and tragedy that left everyone with tears in their eyes. Later that evening, we recounted some of those stories during a cocktail party at the hotel.
Wednesday we were back in the saddle again, headed for Montgomery and Orange County Choppers. Their shop couldn’t accommodate our large group, so only 10 people would be able to visit the actual shop, while the others shopped at their retail store and gobbled up pizza at Cascarino’s. The Teutel’s were on vacation, but Vinny was on hand to pose for pictures in between tightening a nut here and a bolt there. We continued riding through the Catskill Mountains on the way to Rome and a party at Dick’s H-D and an official welcome from Mayor Jim Brown. The next day we stopped in Geneva for lunch, served by Geneva H-D’s H.O.G. chapter, before arriving at our destination of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
We had a breathtaking view of the Falls from the observation deck of the Minolta Tower, 525 feet above the falls. Cocktails and music lent to a beautifully relaxing social evening. Friday morning photo call at 10:00 AM, for a group picture in front of the Falls, was the only time we got wet on the whole trip. The mist rolling over our shoulders was refreshingly welcomed by the now sun burned riders. We were met by K.G. Munro of the Ontario Provincial Police at Niagara on the Lake, who escorted us to the city limits of Toronto. There, we were picked up by a cordon of motor patrol officers led by Sgt. Andy Norrie, Winged Wheels Toronto Police Service. Entering Toronto on Friday afternoon during rush hour, 100 bikes snaking through traffic past sidewalks lined with people armed with cameras and video equipment, was one of the most bizarre things I’ve witnessed. A cabby later remarked to us while riding to Toronto HD dealership that he thought somebody from the Royal Family or something must have come into town with a huge motorcycle escort. We just laughed and said he was probably right.
The finale of the trip was the famous Biker Ball, hosted by Jerry and Cathy Weiner, who have a home in Toronto, and have been riding with the Tommy Thompson Reunion Ride since Tommy met them and invited them along back in 1999. Terrific music and great food greeted the riders at the Delta Chelsea Hotel for the ending party to this year’s ride. Many friends were reacquainted while new friends were made. We watched Zach Edgerton grow up on this ride, nestled behind his father on the yearly trip up from Texas. This year Zach rode his own Sportster, a long way from the little kid we first saw in 1996. Three marriages can be attributed to this ride, and memories too numerous to mention. It is truly a magnificent, magical event.
