Lake Superior circumnavigation

[fearlessbob]

Following your tour with great interest, as it is something I am contemplating doing as well. Did some experimentation in Google Maps and found that using your route thru upper MI is about 3150 km, whereas going around and west of Lake Michigan, thru Chicago and Green Bay, WI, is roughly 150 km more.

Had you considered both these routes, and if so, what made you pick the one you're taking?

Thanks and ride safe!

 

[Pete5000]

Day 3 - Wisconsin.

Well, here I am in the land of green and gold. When you cross the border, you are required to stop, be held down by 2 defensive backs, force fed cheese and Old Milwaukee, and then sent on your way with a Packers tat on your forehead. OK, it's not quite that bad, but you certainly know that you are in Packers territory.
Back in Michigan, I was once again heading down mostly straight roads, with nothing but forests on either side, a la this pic...

I was hard pressed to find a good photo op, and decided instead to hope for some interesting things in Duluth (I am actually staying in Superior, WI, just on the other side of the water). I wasn't disappointed. After crossing the Blatnik bridge, I headed to Aerostitch, where I unloaded only $36 (I just don't have the storage to get anything big) and then into Duluth and down Canal Park. This area is most certainly the nightly hotspot, with lots of bars and restaurants lining the street. Those you can get in any city, but you don't often get an awseome lift bridge like this!

View of the Blatnik Bridge from way the heck out on Park Point. Complimentary Canada Goose.

One thing I never would have guessed about Duluth is that it's built onto the side of a fairly steep hill. The north-south streets go straight up and down, a-la San Francisco. And there are stop lights on the grade! Ack! Clutch feathering don't fail me now! Seriously, the grade must be 17% and although I wanted to take a picture looking down a street, I could not find a decent parking spot. So after only a couple of minutes of going uphill, I took this shot from a church parking lot, and you can see that lift bridge way down there.

So, I'm going to settle in and watch the Packers game, because I was told I might be evicted from Wisconsin if I don't! Tomorrow - onwards to Tunder Bay, eh?

P.S. fearlessbob, to your question, I try my best to avoid big cities and their traffic. Hence no Chicago.

 

[Pete5000]

Get ready for some temp drops though .

You know it's 29+ degrees up here eh? Good thing I brought my warm gear!

Interesting find anecdote: I was in a Target buying some new earplugs, and I took a little walk around the store. Was passing by the media department, and I spied these strange looking boxes with the Beatles on them. What could it be? I walked over and found out. It was several different "Collector's Editions" of, drum roll, 7 inch vinyl singles!?!?!? I used to call them 45's (if you are under 30, you might have to ask your parents).

In this day and age of entire music libraries on something the size of a postage stamp, I could not see the point in this particular product. Other than now I had to hum Beatles songs all day.

 

[Pete5000]

Day 4 - The Great Hot North.

The weather is teasing me. 26C and nothing but sunshine, no wind to speak of. Can it get any better? Yes! The roads are now getting a little more interesting, with some nice sweepers and even big tunnels, like this one...

The North Shore in the Minnesota area shows a rocky contrast to the shoreline of the south - rock formations versus the sandy dunes

There were also a lot of things to see, like several old trains and a train museum in Two Harbors

and this highly enjoyable hiking tour at Gooseberry Falls. Several things to love here - 1) Free! 2) Really clean restrooms 3) the trail takes you right out onto the gorge rocks, which is very cool

Some of the smaller falls

Don't fall!

I missed Split Rock Lighthouse, it was right in the middle of a construction zone where I was forced offroad for a couple of miles. Nothing like guiding a fully loaded touring bike down a bunch of gravel. Oh well, next time maybe!

Tomorrow - All Ontari-ari-ari-o.

 

[Pete5000]

Day 5 - TCH Express

Started out from Thunder Bay and was getting very sad, as for about 100km east there is nothing to see. Then past Nipigon, there was a beautiful change. Rock mountains, scenic panoramas of the lake and the TCH was nice and windy with great elevation changes. One thing that was missing was some good turnouts for pictures. I won't stop at the side of the road, I just find it too dangerous.

Knew I would duplicate someone else's picture here at Aguasabon Falls!

Stopped in Marathon as the signs for Pebble Beach intrigued me. It was a little farther than I wanted to walk in my riding boots though, so I only got this overview picture. You can see in this picture how calm the lake is and as in other pics, the sky was completely cloudless and as blue as blue can be.

Tomorrow - the clerk here at the White River motel has assured me that more good roads lie ahead on the way to the Sault, so I'm hopeful

 

[Pete5000]

Day 6 - Agent of SHIELD

Started out from White River this morning under a rather gloomy sky. Looking outside, it was dry as a bone, so I loaded up the bike and headed out with no rain gear on. About 15 km on, the road suddenly became very, very wet indeed. Some cloud had burst and hammered the highway to the point of large puddles on the shoulder. Not to worry, thought I, still nothing coming down from the sky on me. And then it came - no, not the rain - a dumptruck approaching at speed and trailing a mountain of spray. Windscreen to full height! Tuck to low position! Track to starboard! (I'm touring solo, something has to go through my head!) In the end, no problem, and then - the sun comes out - it's back to shiny glory, just some nice fluffy clouds to dot the sky.

In Superior Park, I went to this little outlet for a pic, and there were some folks kayaking. I would have tried for some better pictures, but they had an unleashed dog who was very, very wet and wanted to make my crotch his new best friend. I'm just not that easy.

As I took this pic, the camera beeped complainingly at me - Low Batt you dolt! Ack. I didn't see this last night in time to charge it, so I was going to today, when I found the charger for my other camera, and not this one - crap it's at home.

I decided not to take a pic of the International Bridge at the Sault, would have on it but you just can't stop on the bridge. When I came to the US Border, the signs on the inspection stations weren't "Open" or "Cars Only", but "WTC Tower 1" and "2", "Pentagon" and "Flight 93". There were extra officers on hand as a pre-inspection too. When I did get to the booth, besides asking me where I was from, I was also asked "so, how do you like the Concours? I had a ride on a ZX-14 this one time and...." easy to get along with a fellow rider!

Then came the unexpected. Just before the Mackinac Bridge, a large sign was flashing "High Wind. Lower your Speed. Campers 20mph". Huh.

OK, I ain't no camper right? Here's a recommendation for you. If you see that sign - you are in for a white knuckler! Holy Crap I was squirreling all over the place like a 5 year old on his first bicycle. This was not a fun crossing. I was soooooo happy that I wasn't riding on the grating - northbound construction was forcing that traffic all onto the grating.

I took the first exit off the I75 after the bridge and headed into Darrow's Family Restaurant for a late lunch (thanks to my brother for the tip). The pic below is terrible, but this place rates 5 stars in my book. I would go there in a heartbeat if I was in the area again - really excellent food (food comes on a platter, 'cuz dishes aren't big enough), and amazing pie! It's probably a good thing I don't know of a place like this near London...

Tomorrow, pretty much a milk run back to London on slabs - the good parts are all done... sigh.

 

[Pete5000]

Day 7 - Conclusion

OK I see now the conditions of Upper MI and the U.P. - if you like the camping, and the hiking, boating, fishing, beach volleyball and other outdoor sports, then this is the place to be. In the winter, tons of sled trails too - but motorcycling, not so much. Too much straight, not so much fun. Starting out of Duluth and heading to the Canadian Border, that's where the scenery and nice roads start. Lots of things to see and do.

Riding along the Canadian Shield starting at Nipigon there was some wonderful scenery (if not so many places to stop and admire it) but I love riding along the rockfaces / semi rock tunnels and looking out on the lake. Great time to ride too - no traffic to speak of and any slow moving truck was only a few ticks away from a passing.

All in all it was a fine trip, with incredible sunny weather and the Concours14 just gliding along like a smooth turbine machine, and doing 4.2L/100km too. She gets a lovely new synth oil massage tomorrow.

Regretfully I can't seem to get the Garmin software to give me a trip summary from my Zumo. Nice GPS, crappy software. Hoping to get the total km's out of it. One day.

If you've had a look at my pics and comments, thanks for your time!