Second Annual · BMWMCGR

Peninsula
Party & Five Ferries

Our second-annual, season-long ride to explore Michigan on two wheels. This year we’re focusing on ferries of all kinds — some your bike rides with you, some you ride alone, and even a pedestrian chain ferry pulled hand-over-hand across the river.

Pre-register → Read the rules
Season
May 16 – Sept 30, 2026
Ferries
Nine to choose from
Earn
Mug · Shirt · Tires
Second Annual

What’s different this year.

Last year you sent us photos. That worked great, and you can still play that way. But for 2026, we’re taking inspiration from the ADV Cannonball Rally and looping in some custom technology we built for rides just like this.

This year is transitionary. Riders can participate either by sending in photos of their bike on five different ferries to Steve or Max, or by registering with BMWMCGR to use the Rally app — available on iPhone and Android — and letting it earn points at GPS checkpoints as you ride.

We’ve got prizes for several levels of participants, and bigger plans for next year. We’d love to hear your feedback along the way.

Two ways to play

Photo method. Send photos of your bike on five different ferries to Steve or Max. No app, no fuss — same as last year.

Rally app. Register with BMWMCGR, get a 5-digit token, and let GPS checkpoints earn you points automatically as you ride.

Both methods earn the first-tier prize. Only the app stacks points toward the bigger ones.

How to play

Pick your method. Ride your ride.

01
Classic · No tech

The Photo Method

Ride five different ferries from the list. Each time, snap a photo of your bike on (or next to) the ferry. Send them to Steve or Max. Done.

  • No app, no registration required
  • Five different ferries needed
  • Earns the Peninsula Party Coffee Mug
02
New · GPS-based

The Rally App

Register with BMWMCGR, get a 5-digit token, keep the Rally app logged in and open when you arrive at a checkpoint. Points land in your account automatically.

  • iPhone & Android
  • No usernames or passwords — just a token
  • Earns mug, shirt, or the grand prize
How does registering work?

It’s just a token.

The Rally app needs you logged in before it can start watching for GPS checkpoints. The good news: there are no usernames or passwords to remember — only a 5-digit token code that we issue to you.

But that means we need to know who wants to play. Pre-register any time before May 16 at shop.bmwmcgr.com/pp26 and complete the form. You can also register any time during the event.

Pre-registered Riders get an email detailing rules and how to use the app. Registered after the start date? Expect that email within one business day. We encourage anyone with questions to call in and ask, or — better yet — stop by for a personal introduction to the app.

PRE-REGISTER BY
May 16

shop.bmwmcgr.com/pp26 — fill the form, get your token by email.

Pre-register →
Cool, I’m in. How does this work?

The app does the watching. You do the riding.

Once your Rider account is set up, it’s on you to log in, remember your token (you’ll get an email for your records), and make sure the app is active when you’re at a checkpoint. Lost your token? We can reissue it — a re-request costs 10 points.

→

Before you ride

Open the app to make it active. You can switch to your home screen or lock the phone, like you were putting it in your pocket — just don’t force-close it.

●

At the checkpoint

You’ll get a notification automatically. We recommend popping the app open to double-check your check-in.

✕

When you park

Actively close the app to stop broadcasting your location. Remember to open it again before your next ride.

What locations??

Steve teased nine ferries.

In late 2025, Steve teased nine ferries for this year. If you’d rather not participate in the GPS-rally madness, these are the routes — pick any five and ride.

01

Lake Express

Muskegon, MI → Milwaukee, WI
Big Lake
02

SS Badger

Ludington, MI → Manitowoc, WI
Big Lake
03

Ironton Ferry

South arm, Lake Charlevoix
Chain
04

Beaver Island

Out of Charlevoix, MI
Island
05

Sugar Island

Out of Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Island
06

Neebish Island

Out of Barbeau, MI
Island
07

Drummond Island

Out of De Tour Village, MI
Island
08

Bois Blanc Island

Out of Cheboygan, MI
Island
09

Algonac Ferry

Algonac, MI → Walpole Island
Canada!

Playing the app route instead? Mainland checkpoints are worth 10 points; checkpoints attainable only by actually riding the ferry are worth 21 points. The full GPS checkpoint list — below — includes several more dock and on-the-water points beyond the nine featured ferries.

Rally App

GPS Checkpoints

Below is the full manual list of GPS checkpoints. Mainland docks are 10 points; on-the-water checkpoints — the ones you can only hit by actually riding the ferry — are 21 points. Your intro email also includes a GPX file with every coordinate pre-loaded.

10
Pts / Dock
21
Pts / On Water
Start (BMWMCGR) Mainland dock — 10 pts On the water / island — 21 pts Click a marker for details · click the map to enable scroll-zoom

Start

Where the season begins. Stop by the dealership for a personal walk-through of the Rally app.

BMW Motorcycles of Grand Rapids42.8553, -85.66440

SS Badger

Ferry Dock — Ludington43.9491, -86.451110
Ferry Dock — Manitowoc, WI44.0902, -87.651210
On the Water 43.9527, -86.4694 21 Be on deck or near a window when passing through the canal exit.

Lake Express

Ferry — Muskegon43.2195, -86.291810
Ferry Dock — Milwaukee, WI43.0037, -87.885810
On the Water 43.2248, -86.3475 21 Be on deck or by a window as you pass the canal exit.

Mackinac Island

Star Line and Shepler’s are now under the same ownership, both running out of Mackinaw City. Ride into either parking lot for the checkpoint, or take the ferry across as a foot passenger — bikes don’t go over.

Star Line / Arnold Transit Dock — Mackinaw City45.7722, -84.725910
Shepler’s Mackinac Ferry Dock — Mackinaw City45.7825, -84.723410
Mackinac Island 45.8504, -84.6166 21 They have these things called bicycles, though.

Les Cheneaux Islands

Gateway to Les Cheneaux Islands 45.9952, -84.3634 10 No standing ferries remain here, but charter boats are available if you want to visit the archipelago.

Beaver Island

Ferry Dock — Charlevoix (Mainland)45.3183, -85.258110
Ferry Dock — Island45.7470, -85.519121

Drummond Island

Ferry — Mainland45.9923, -83.898810
Ferry — Island45.9887, -83.878021

Sugar Island

Ferry — Mainland46.4861, -84.302310
Ferry — Island46.4849, -84.297021

Neebish Island

Ferry — Mainland46.2846, -84.212810
Ferry — Island46.2852, -84.209121

Ironton Ferry

We encourage riding across this one. The two landings are practically next to each other, so skipping the boat is barely a detour.

West Landing45.2562, -85.185710
East Landing45.2559, -85.182210

Bois Blanc Island

Ferry — Mainland45.6455, -84.474410
Ferry — Island 45.7277, -84.4523 21 North side of the island is great for camping.

Algonac / Walpole

Algonac Ferry Dock 42.6188, -82.5300 10 Heads up — this ferry crosses into Canada.
Walpole Island Ferry — Canada! 42.6150, -82.5145 21 Yes, that’s Canada. Bring a passport.

Harsens Island

Ferry — Mainland42.6180, -82.560610
Ferry — Island42.6141, -82.561321

Saugatuck

Saugatuck Chain Ferry 42.6584, -86.2055 10 Easy points — you don’t even have to leave the road. Ride the ferry anyway, it’s neat.

Manitou Islands

Can’t bring your bike to the islands — most riders coming here are also camping. Pretty cool, though.

Manitou Island Transit Dock — Leland45.0238, -85.761910
North Manitou Island Dock45.1214, -85.975521
South Manitou Island Dock45.0122, -86.094621

Grand Island

Can’t bring your bike to the island, but it’s a cool spot worth the stop.

Ferry — Mainland46.4449, -86.664610
Ferry — Island46.4512, -86.671321

Isle Royale

Ferry Dock — Mainland47.4702, -87.890810
Visitors Center — Houghton 47.1229, -88.5637 10 Isle Royale is a National Park — stamp your Park Passport while you’re there.
Ferry Dock — Island48.1458, -88.486021
So what do I get for participating?

Two tiers of participant winners.

Both methods earn the first tier. The Rally app stacks points toward the second.

Tier One

Peninsula Party Coffee Mug

For Riders who complete the Party via the photo method, or who earn 144 or more Rally app points.

144+
Points — or 5 photos
Tier Two

Peninsula Party Rider Shirt

For Riders who go deeper into the season and earn 288 or more Rally app points.

288+
App points only
For those who relish a challenge…

Plus, one for the completionist.

You might have noticed there are significantly more points available than what’s necessary to earn rewards at the end of the season. That’s by design — we want you to have the best riding season that works for you.

However… out there exists the completionist. Plus, many of last year’s Partiers mentioned their appreciation of the competitive aspect. So here’s the deal: the first Rider to achieve all checkpoints — or, if no one does, the highest point earner on September 30 — earns a set of Dunlop RoadSmart 4 or Dunlop TrailMax Mission tires in their or the closest available size.

Grand Prize

Dunlop Tire Set

RoadSmart 4 or TrailMax Mission, your size or closest available.

All.
Or top score · Sept 30
!

Let us be clear: we discourage unsafe riding in any form — from icy riding to speeding. The reward is the ride itself.

Still reading and excited? Awesome!

Get your token.
Start the season.

We’re so excited to kick off this year’s Peninsula Party — and we’ve got bigger plans for next year, so we’d love to hear your feedback along the way. Pre-register before May 16 and we’ll email you your 5-digit token, the full rules, and a GPX file pre-loaded with every checkpoint.

shop.bmwmcgr.com/pp26

Registering after May 16? You’re still welcome — expect your email within one business day. Questions? Call the shop, or better yet, stop by for a personal walk-through of the app.

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