626 miles for a hamburger.. Moonshine Lunch Run

[peterbaron]

14 years ago, a member of the ST forum started a thing called the Moonshine Lunch Run. Over near Casey, Illinois, there is a little place called the Moonshine Store. This fellow on the ST board, Terry Hammond, was from the area and decided to get some ST riders together for a burger there. The first year there was reportedly 10 who showed up. The event grew every year. I think last year over 3000 showed up from every corner of the US and Canada.Not sure how many showed up this year but it had to be a record number. An older couple own the place and as I understand it the husband died, the wife no longer wants to run the business, and neither does their son. So this year would be the 14th and final Moonshine Lunch Run.

Ohiodeere and sirepair, two of my ST riding buddies asked me to go. At first I said NO Way. I'm ok with small crowds but don't do large crowds well. They convinced me I needed to go. Finally I said ok. Partly because I bow easily under pressure and partly because CB forum buddies Empty Sea and Offroad 4x4 and I, decided to meet up at the store later this year and I figured I'd at least find out where it was (not sure I can find it again though Sea lol)

Anyhow I met up with sirepair early on Friday morning and followed him and his daughter over. (his wife also followed us in her car.) It was very windy and a lot of the way we rode on an angle



we arrived at the hotel 331 miles later, where we met up with other ST riders (and Harley riders, and Beemer riders and Yamaha riders). That night we went to a place called Richards Farm for a buffet dinner with 300 or so of someone's closest motorcycle friends. Crowded, noisy, I was a little frazzled and left shortly after dinner. I thought it was crazy, little did I know lol

It rained hard all night and was still raining when we woke up, but weather radar showed it would quit a little after 9. At 9:30 we headed to the store (BTW heard bikes starting up about 5:30 am as others were leaving in the rain for the store)

Here we are getting ready to leave after the rain had stopped



I followed Ohiodeere over a crazy patchwork quilt of country roads, all arrow straight and all numbered.. 300, 400, 500, 700, 870, 1000. About 1/2 mile away from the store we started coming upon bikes parked on the side of the road.

looking north



Looking west



Good night, what had I gotten myself into? lol

People were literally everywhere! We actually found some good parking places (good if you call parking on a hill in wet grass good) right across from the store itself.



The burgers were good (although I had to have mine bunless to avoid the gluten) but here is a double Moonburger with cheese and bacon



Shortly after eating I left for home. Had to find my own way to I-70 in that crazy patchwork of numbered roads (some of the roads are gravel btw), but ended up following a guy on a Triumph sport tourer with Ohio plates, hoping he was headed for 70 as well, and he was.... thank goodness.

Rest of the ride was just slabbing it ... east on I-70 to I-465 south around Indianapolis, then east on I-74 to I-75 south around Cincinnati to I-471 north through Kentucky to I-275 north back into Ohio again and then Rt 52 east to home. Hit light rain for the last 100 miles.

626 miles total.

It was crazy, hectic, amazing, chaotic but I'm glad I went since there will be no more of that event

Sea not sure I can find the place again lol, and not sure I can do this in one day. It would be a long one for sure, but doable I suppose. Ride 4 1/2 hours, eat 1 hour, ride 4 1/2 hours lol.

Mickey,
...it looks like my favorite Double Whopper with Cheese, only Pickle & Tomato, can I have a bite, please

pb