Such a busy schedule would seem to tire most |
dealership , among other things . He also |
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people their age , but they insisted that the |
started snowmobiling in 1962 , and the |
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snowmobiling is exactly what keeps them |
whole family raced – Dick , Audrey , their |
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young . |
sons , Chuck , Allen , Steve and Mike – if there |
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30 Years Of Decker Tours Dick and Audrey Decker didn ’ t plan to get
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would have been a dog class , we ’ re guessing they would have strapped a helmet onto Fido .
Through connections at Bombardier ,
|
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into the tour business , but once they started |
Dick got involved in 1978 in Team Oasis – |
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traveling and snowmobiling , life seemed to |
a Bombardier-backed effort to showcase |
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take them down that course . |
interesting riding areas to “ get people out of |
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Dick had been in the military and then |
their backyard and go touring ” with their |
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was involved for about 15 years in many |
snowmobiles , according to Decker . Through |
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Return Trip It took three days to get from Eagle River to
Copper Harbor – now we had two days to
make it back . After a group photo , we put
the Mariner in our rear-view mirror and
ventured south , making good time and
overcoming a few mechanicals .
After re-crossing the bridge and leaving
the Keweenaw , we enjoyed more nearperfect
trails and then had lunch at a VFW
in South Range before trekking on to our
next overnight stop , this one in Baraga .
The last night of a Decker Tour is always
a highlight – the meal is festive , many
bottles and cans are opened and emptied ,
jokes and stories are told and , as a grand
finale , somebody gets the “ Hall of Shame
Award ” for something embarrassing that
happened during the week .
The problem with this particular Snow
Goer Great Escape Tour ? Everything
went far too smoothly – no adventurous
or dramatic offs or blown corners , no
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embarrassing late-night antics , not even an oversleeping incident . Oh , we still gave the award , mind you – sometimes it ’ s not what really happened but how well a story can be embellished that determines the famed toilet seat award .
Friday morning we completed the last leg , crossing back into Wisconsin and working our way back into Eagle River . We enjoyed a couple trips around the Derby track and spent a long time back in the Derby Inn hotel parking lot – loading up our sleds , then BSing with our newfound but lifelong friends . We all had a great time , yet every member of the group looked rather tired after this long adventure .
Every member except for 78-year-old Dick Decker , of course . Our fearless leader and his wife , Audrey , were due in Minnesota the next day to start the next Decker Tour of the season , and they would spend the next five weeks on the road , mostly in the mountain west , leading tours and racking up miles .
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things with motors – he worked for the
Chrysler Corporation , was involved in
Bombardier , sold motorhomes and ran a
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that effort , Dick rode in several states and provinces , even in Iceland . “ They gave a machine for each of us to use and a credit |