Portage Ponit Inn.Onekama, Michigan.

[magicalbill]

Fun stuff a-comin'.
Todd...Are you planning to stay over and go back to Motor City the next day? I hope so..A nite with our band and trailering the 200+ back to Detroit after partying seems a bit severe. There are some Mom-and-Pop Motels around there if you don't want to stay at the Inn..(They may be sold out at this point..)

Tony/Randy..Have a plan "B" if the Lake is roaring and you can't get down from Frankfort. Trailer down to Onekama or something and launch there...

Jay..Pictures??? Throw logic away and drive over to join in the fun!! (Well, I guess it's easy for me to say, but it would be great to have you and your 16 there too.)

I want you all to meet Dick Forwood, my boating mentor and the guy who gave me my 1st Donzi ride in 1973. He had a '67 Ski Sporter,(Same year as mine and Jay's.) Had the Eaton drive and all.. I never forgot it and now I'm able to give him rides and let him drive mine 37 years later. THAT'S a big deal. I'll bet Jay's, Mr. Forwoods and mine were all on the assembly line together in 1967. He still summers up there after all these years.Incredible guy..

This will be fun..Can't wait to get and give Donzi rides, perform for you all and FINALLY meet some of you. Todd and Jill bought my 18 Scorpion as some of you remember, so I know them...

[magicalbill]

I keep forgetting..

I want to thank Mad Poodle, or whoever the administrator is that put this in the "Sticky" catagory.. Much appreciated.

[roadtripse]

Fun stuff a-comin'.
Todd...Are you planning to stay over and go back to Motor City the next day? I hope so..A nite with our band and trailering the 200+ back to Detroit after partying seems a bit severe. There are some Mom-and-Pop Motels around there if you don't want to stay at the Inn..(They may be sold out at this point..)
...

Yes, we'll work out some logistics. Not a big fan of towing too far at night. May stay in the area or we might go back to Lake Station, where Carl and Patti have their place. All good.

[Just Say N2O]

Weather permitting, I'm still planning on towing my 1967 Ski-Sporter up for the day, and then listening to some "Toasters."

I'm anxious to see Bill's and Jason's boats again, only this time with a whole new appreciation having spent 27 months redoing mine.

We have to have a performance conversation too. I'm perplexed about mine. Or lack there of.

[roadtripse]

Bill or Bill, when does the music start Saturday night? Not sure where we are boating yet this weekend, but we my do a drive-by to see the band perform.

[Tony]

Great time yesterday in Onekama!

Thanks Bill for the invite, and also for the entertainment.
I put a complete account over on .net, linked here:
http://www.donzi.net/forums/showthre...d=1#post608736

Just Say H2O Bill, you will have a fun time meeting Magical Bill, comparing restorations, and grooving to The Flying Toasters.

[Tony]

The Flying Toasters, MagicalBill and his son Jason's band, is all that and a bag of chips! They are very entertaining, with loads of talent on all instruments. They take turns fronting, with Jason mostly in charge, many of them sing well lead or backup, and several of them are very versatile...especially Jason, Bill, and the (highly recognized & accomplished) keyboardist. His C-Lo covers were way cool, by the way!

I also found it a neat touch when Jason introduced songs and states exactly what year they came out and who first did them. He is a true music historian and aficionado, no doubt a by-product of growing up with his Dad!

The band plays a wide variety of songs, and had total audience participation. The dance floor was packed from about the third song on. We had to leave after two straight hours of music. We kept waiting for them to take a "set break", but Bill kept telling the crowd that, "We're just getting started!"...and this was after two hours of playing with no break. Who knows what time they played to, but they sure are an energetic bunch!

Bill was busy setting up, but we got Jason into my 22 for a short cruise. He's owned an 18, and now a Ski Sporter, but had never been in a 22 so that was cool for him.

Thanks for the great entertainment, Bill and Jason, it was very cool to say at the gate, "We're with the band!"

Pics below show;

1. My wife Cherrie, Sheila, and Randy
2. Sheila and Randy with Onekama harbor entrance in background
3. Entering Portage Lake from Lake Michigan
4. My '96 22'
5. Portage Point Inn
6. Portage Point Inn, with band tent on left
7. MagicalBill's beautifully restored '67 Ski Sporter

[magicalbill]

Hi Tony;
Thanks for the kind words. We owe you a commission check for the advertising!
I am truly sorry about the late reply. I was gone for 2 weeks to Portage and my computer was and still is down being repaired.
Glad you had fun, and I feel rotten I didn't get you a spin in my 16 and a ride in your 22. My drum tech who sets up my kit and accompanying electronics couldn't make Portage so it fell to me. Between that and getting ready for the show there was just no time. I wish you could've stayed over; We would've had time for boating Sat.

Anyway, I want to thank you again for saying all the nice stuff about the band and my 16. It was great meeting you and I certainly hope to cross paths again.

Jason got his red 16 back the next week and his upgrades worked well. He raved about your 22 and now we're thinking about one ourselves just from the short ride you gave him!
Enjoy the rest of the summer..