August comes early Lake Superior Loops | GTAMotorcycle.com

August comes early Lake Superior Loops

MacDoc

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Spur of the moment decision....just at The Timmie's outside Parry Sound heading toward some little motel in Sault.

Head up across the top of Lake Superior tomorrow. Bit chilly and my heated grips not working but was okay getting out of the GTA early.....traffic southbound was just insane on the 400 ...not sure how people can do that every day.

Any suggestions as to what to see across the top appreciated. Will loop around the bottom through the national forests then decide whether to come home through Sarnia or go further to Ohio for a coupkle of day. US slab is good for distance and I've got my audio books.

Other option is to poke along the lake in Michigan.

32 degree days next week I'd prefer to avoid as well - some rain forecast but nothing serious

got 473 km on the last tank so nice range on the strom - not likely to get that slabbing tho.

Off on leg 2...Sudbury for lunch.
 
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If your in parry sound now you should be able to make it to Wawa or turn north on 129 at Thessalon to 556 (Ranger lake road) and by pass the sault those little motels there are pretty rough
 
If your in parry sound now you should be able to make it to Wawa or turn north on 129 at Thessalon to 556 (Ranger lake road) and by pass the sault those little motels there are pretty rough


+1

If you make it to Wawa, stay at the Mystic Isle Motel and eat across the street at Kinniwabi Pines.
 
Thanks for tips - - in Espanola will check out the Mystic

Nother 450 KM ....makes for a 900 k day ...pretty sore at the moment but that will go away .....late sunset too. Hi Ho

ah missed the deal on booking.com by 5 minutes and when I called they want $90+ tax for a double queen which I don't need....

Maybe next time.
 
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Decent time to Sault ...gotta figure where to stay

....settled for a downtown Days Inn for $80 with breakfast of some sort

Sure got hot fast 27 feels like 29 and I'm in warm gear.....was falling asleep last few boring km so happy to call it....looking forward to the park tomorrow

Haul my sorry *** up early again for some golden hour photos.
 
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Booking.com has a $40 rebate if you book a place at a threshold price...I booked two places in the Catskills yesterday with it. I think the threshold is $80US before fees.
 
So are you gonna drop down the UP of Mich or keep going over Superior?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just a little bit. Try and get more, sleep. It's not so good to ride when you're tired.
 
Pukaskwa is a National Park, so a day pass is free.
If you're into mining, the Marathon Tourist Information Centre is neat. They've got a great model of the nearby mine and it's pretty impressive to see how extensive it is.
If you're into geology, the Ouimet Canyon is really neat.
Pay your respects and see the monument to a real Canadian hero, Terry Fox just east of Thunder Bay
Food for dinner can be amazing in some of the small towns, but unfortunately lunch is usually just a short-order cook. Rossport has a great restaurant for dinner (used to anyways, I haven't been in a few years).
In general stop at the picnic stops and look around, it's incredibly beautiful (though fall is really the best time of year with the changing leaves)
 
Don't know much about the area coming from TB down through the US but, have made stops in Green Bay and Milwaukee.

The HD museum really is something to see. Even for those not fond of the brand. The history and displays from early periods are remarkable.

Bit too early for Summerfest. It's held at the end of June beginning of July.

They still have events along the waterfront all summer and free to attend. Although u haven't been in a few years it, might have changed by now.


Have fun. Looking forward to pics and ride reports if you care to share.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Not much in the way of pics across the top tho riding through the park is very photogenic at spots.

Bit chillier in this section between Wawa and Marathon missing my heat grips but not enough to hook up the heated gloves ....it'll warm up later

Stopped for brunch home made pie caught my eye.
Bit of construction...lots of trucks......glad I came now as it's pre-tourist season so easy riding with zilch around ....go at my own pace.....which tends to creep up....don't want a ticket and I'm in no great hurry with the long daylight hours.
 
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Well the nice and warm was maybe a bit jump the gun ....still an okay 16 with a mix of sun and bit of rain ....just enough to put the rain gear on. Holed up for lunch at the Blue Water Cafe in Grand Marais
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...s-Blue_Water_Cafe-Grand_Marais_Minnesota.html

Just made it in before the lunch rush ...damn it's busy place....of course it is a nice weekend - decent food for rural area - wraps and veggie chili - walleye wrap.
Thought about local herring just for an adventure but not my fav fish and walleye is ...yum..

Border was a breeze with Nexus ....they sure treat you nice ....."have a good ride" . :D

Looking forward to a lazier couple days and then a blitz home.

Oh yeah ....good thing ...Rogers roaming is only $5 a day and it uses the same plan I'm on ...no need to sign up ...works for me.

Was daydreaming along at 100 kph and a sizeable deer loped across the road close enough to startle me awake but no hard braking needed.......and paid a bit more attention in the forested areas.
A few pretty views in the highlands outside of Thunderbay and did get some pics this time. i see there is an official circle tour route.

Some twists on the menu tomorrow

[video=youtube;NiH5iqpf5go]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiH5iqpf5go[/video]
 
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Crazy winds coming around the end of the Lake...temps climbed from a slightly nippy 16 but sunny to 32, smoggy and winds from hell....luckily mostly behind me.

Holed up in Ironwood and watched a spectacular light show off an anvil head storm just to the east.

Left very early as sun was up and I wanted to dodge late afternoon severe Tstorms forecast ..so far so good. More later
 
Successful dodging by ten minutes .....despite a stop at West Bay Diner for brunch

west-bay-diner.jpg

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaur...er-Grand_Marais_Upper_Peninsula_Michigan.html

Marginal coffee, too much food on the plate but hey it's Murica .....

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that little white corner to the right of the first red beasties was my rapidly diminishing window ....could see it off to my left.
Power out at the motels.....but in dry, bike under a canopy and a ringside seat for the fireworks out the window,

$39 night ...decent place with breakfast - when I think of all the decisions during the day that could have used up that small window over 500+ km and a few stops...even deciding to leave at 5.30 am and skip free breakfast was the big time saver ....it was cold tho 13 and dipped to 12 ( finally got an external thermometer ).
But really lovely,

New to my life list - Sandhill Cranes saw a number in flight and then a pair in the field...stopped and photographed then saw a couple of young pop their heads up .....nice :D

sandhill-cranes-adult-juvenile-mia-mcpherson-2636.jpg
not my photo

58 was so so for 90 % then totally lovely the rest.- perfect pavement and tight enough to make you pay attention .....a bit of gravel towards the end
 
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Sure felt like August today ...decided to skip the tourist stuff along the western part of Lake Michigan as it was overcast and windy plus I'd left my camera battery and charger at the motel ( they are mailing it )

Kudos to
http://www.exploringthenorth.com/paradiseinn/motel.html
$39 ....very basic breakfast, under cover parking for the bike...bright clean rooms and decent internet.

Left myself a bit light on gas in the rural area on the way down to the MicMac Bridge stopped and asked a cop and he said 5 miles so that was good ....did not get down to the hollow flashing bar.
Was consistently getting mid 450 km from a tank ....one day 474 tho that was to the last hollow bar.

Not today tho ....370 and down to one bar.....130-140 indicated on I-75 with a quartering wind that was very gusty at times.....ate up the gas until the turn at Flint.

Then with the wind all the way home but it hit 35 air temp and I'd started out dressed for 16. Stripped as much as gear would allow....Airglides were great but nothing to do about the 3 season Scott jacket....opened as much up as I could.....soaked my riding shirt and balaclava ( thin for earphones ) and that worked really well after a break at Timmies in Strathroy in the hottest part of the day.

Cooled a bit and with a big tail wind the ride from there was easy...850 km day ...one deer today...3400 km total ...one bucket list check off....and even a nice stretch of twists yesterday.
Bike was a champ but I suspect the chain needs adjusting tho it is well lubed.

Does not need to be done at that pace....it was spur of the moment decision and I had a good audio book plus some reasonable weather.
Temp swings were a bt extreme for June .....damn 35 in the shade - could not even bear to be in the sun until I got trimmed down on gear and then moving.....12 C was about as low as I like without heated grips...but the long daylight hours make this my favourite time to tour.

Where next ? :D

heh...dodge number two ...

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This was the exact area I was supposed to be touring ....makes me feel better about skipping......
 
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Click the camera 100 times ...ya gotta get ONE damn lightning shot :D

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Daddy Sandhill crane on guard

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this is why ....
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he and mum had set of chicks roaming the meadow...

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normally they are a bit skittish but with the chicks they were not flying off....one time I could have used the longer lens.

This is why the temp changed so dramatically around the end of Lake Superior...jet stream loop and our high heat the last few days.

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fun on the Sable Dunes

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This was at the end of Highway 58 twists..
 
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