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Lake Superior trip.
- Thread starter garygnu
- Start date
2fast
Crotch Rocket
That will give you plenty of time.....you might want to expand the reach. Much of the top part in Canada is quite boring in my opinion. The slope down to WaWa gets into some better scenery. If you want a thrill over by Thunder Bay, check out http://www.eaglecanyonadventures.ca/ for the suspension bridge and zip line.
The north shore of MN is beautiful with lots of places to stay, camp, eat, etc. In Duluth, ya gotta stop at Aerostich. I would also recommend the Fitgers Brewhouse for good grub and outstanding beer http://brewhouse.net/. I could go on, but others will have more to say I am sure.
The north shore of MN is beautiful with lots of places to stay, camp, eat, etc. In Duluth, ya gotta stop at Aerostich. I would also recommend the Fitgers Brewhouse for good grub and outstanding beer http://brewhouse.net/. I could go on, but others will have more to say I am sure.
Lotsa time for that run. Camping with a tent or credit card?
Don't be bashful about hitting the tourist info places, especially in Canada. Knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful people in them. The provincial ones will be right at the border, local ones scattered along your route.
Ouimet Canyon up past Thunder Bay.
Betty's Pies in Two Harbors Mn.
Gas gets a bit spendy over by Wawa, not much you can do about it.
Bring gear for all weather, though being from northern Cheeseland, you should know that already. it can get awfully cold and raw around that lake, depending on wind.
Beer and smokes are crazy expensive in Ontario, and the provincial beer stores have a rip off exchange rate for US cash.
Breakfast is usually a cheap(and very tasty) meal to eat out in Canada, at least if you stay away from the chains. A lot of the private campgrounds have a small restaurant, most are really good. They do have some strong, kick a$$ coffee up there.
Good idea to not wise crack at customs, particularly the US side.
I was last on that road about two years ago, it was all in very good condition. Drive friendly up there, eh? In general, Canadians are very courteous drivers.
In general, at least out of town, 15 clicks over will not get you a ticket, all bets are off if more than 20 over. IIRC, exhibition driving, or 50 over is loss of bike for a week(or more?) and a $10,000 fine, yes ten large. No guns, no how. No radar detectors.
Don't be bashful about hitting the tourist info places, especially in Canada. Knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful people in them. The provincial ones will be right at the border, local ones scattered along your route.
Ouimet Canyon up past Thunder Bay.
Betty's Pies in Two Harbors Mn.
Gas gets a bit spendy over by Wawa, not much you can do about it.
Bring gear for all weather, though being from northern Cheeseland, you should know that already. it can get awfully cold and raw around that lake, depending on wind.
Beer and smokes are crazy expensive in Ontario, and the provincial beer stores have a rip off exchange rate for US cash.
Breakfast is usually a cheap(and very tasty) meal to eat out in Canada, at least if you stay away from the chains. A lot of the private campgrounds have a small restaurant, most are really good. They do have some strong, kick a$$ coffee up there.
Good idea to not wise crack at customs, particularly the US side.
I was last on that road about two years ago, it was all in very good condition. Drive friendly up there, eh? In general, Canadians are very courteous drivers.
In general, at least out of town, 15 clicks over will not get you a ticket, all bets are off if more than 20 over. IIRC, exhibition driving, or 50 over is loss of bike for a week(or more?) and a $10,000 fine, yes ten large. No guns, no how. No radar detectors.
mqqn
Training Wheels
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=214380884765244869324.00043576bb55841e34be2&msa=0
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/LBP%20Lake%20Tour%202007/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/LBPLaketour2005/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/Lake%20Trip%202011%20on%20Bikes/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/laketour2006/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/Circle%20Lake%20Tour%20October%202011/
Steve's advice above is excellent. Betty's pies - yep. Ouimet Canyon (pronounced wee-met). Yep.
I will add - in the Soo - check out the Antlers restaurant - well worth the little jaunt off the beaten path. There was construction near the soo locks, but nothing terrible and the detour signs were placed well.
In Superior Wisconsin, the Hammond Steak House - outstanding steaks.
My favorite roads on the trip are on the Keeweenaw Peninsula - Copper Harbor - Most excellent. There is a good german restaurant on the harbor, but the name escapes me. There is an awesome bed and breakfast at Copper Harbor - Dappel Gray - check that out and tell Oly hi!
Photo op in Gay - you can stop at the Gay Bar. There is a gal there that makes spectacular gourmet hot dogs - no kidding.
In Houghton/Hancock there is a good steak place on 41 - Pilgrim River. For Breakfast, the Kaleva Cafe is rustic and good food. That used to be the riders meet on the Wolf's Head Rally when they were running the tour.
I love to stop at the Yooper's Tourist Trap in Ishpeming. Have some fun there.
In Munising, there is a nice liquor store with a big walk-in cooler with a surprising selection of brews. You can also do the ride to the painted rocks if you have time there. Sydney's is the place to eat breakfast there, and the Day's Inn has indoor parking for the bikes. Cool!
From Munising to the Soo, you'll run past the Whitefish Point Maritime Museum - spend a couple hours there taking in the history - very cool!
I take the Curly Lewis memorial highway from there to the Soo - you'll pass the Port Huron Lighthouse along this road - if you are lucky you can get in and they let you climb to the top of the tower.
Watch your speed through the sovereign nation.....you'll know when you are there when you see the casino.
Antlers is a great lunch spot.
From the Soo, you have a pretty good hump to Wawa - stop in Montreal River Harbor to get gas and there is a neat little truck-stop/shop there. No pay at the pump here lol.
You'll see some of the most spectacular scenery of the upper lake on the route from the Soo to Wawa. Awesome.
In Wawa, get a Chalet at the Wawa Motor Inn - they are a two-bedroom log cabin with kitchen - and they stock the woodbox for a nice fire. Get your liquor at the duty free in the Soo - beer and whiskey is expensive in Canoodia.
From Wawa, you'll go past a large gold mine, the next stop would be White River - a truck stop for gas and the Whinnie the Poo monument.
There are towns about every 50 miles up there (that is where they used to have to water the steam locomotives I am told), so you can stop for gas or breaks as necessary. Lots of great scenery, but you will eventually get to Nipigon - the northernmost point on the lake tour. Not much in Nipigon - about all your choices for food are the Husky - but it's decent.
On west you'll see Ouimet Canyon about 25 klicks west of Nipigon, then you turn right and go about 9 klicks off the highway - but it is spectacular. I would skip the tourist-trappy "suspension bridge" and zip line - but that is just me.
From there it is a uneventful hump to Thunder Bay. There is a new Day's Inn out by the Airport, and The Keg across the street was just outstanding food - most excellent! It is a pretty new place - but there is a lot of choices in that area depending on what your group is after. The Keg is where I will go every time now....
From Thunder Bay, it is pretty much country driving to the border - once you pass into the states, Grand Portage is a beautiful area. You'll come to another "reservation" casino and gas stop - spendy and not that friendly in my experience.
You will wind your way down to Gran Marias - there are plenty of places to eat there.
From there it is smooth sailing back to Two Harbors. You'll pass the Split Rock Lighthouse - well worth the stop to check that out.
Nice trip - I have done it many times. Let me know if you have specific questions.
best
mqqn
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/LBP%20Lake%20Tour%202007/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/LBPLaketour2005/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/Lake%20Trip%202011%20on%20Bikes/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/laketour2006/
http://www.iammoon.com/albums/Circle%20Lake%20Tour%20October%202011/
Steve's advice above is excellent. Betty's pies - yep. Ouimet Canyon (pronounced wee-met). Yep.
I will add - in the Soo - check out the Antlers restaurant - well worth the little jaunt off the beaten path. There was construction near the soo locks, but nothing terrible and the detour signs were placed well.
In Superior Wisconsin, the Hammond Steak House - outstanding steaks.
My favorite roads on the trip are on the Keeweenaw Peninsula - Copper Harbor - Most excellent. There is a good german restaurant on the harbor, but the name escapes me. There is an awesome bed and breakfast at Copper Harbor - Dappel Gray - check that out and tell Oly hi!
Photo op in Gay - you can stop at the Gay Bar. There is a gal there that makes spectacular gourmet hot dogs - no kidding.
In Houghton/Hancock there is a good steak place on 41 - Pilgrim River. For Breakfast, the Kaleva Cafe is rustic and good food. That used to be the riders meet on the Wolf's Head Rally when they were running the tour.
I love to stop at the Yooper's Tourist Trap in Ishpeming. Have some fun there.
In Munising, there is a nice liquor store with a big walk-in cooler with a surprising selection of brews. You can also do the ride to the painted rocks if you have time there. Sydney's is the place to eat breakfast there, and the Day's Inn has indoor parking for the bikes. Cool!
From Munising to the Soo, you'll run past the Whitefish Point Maritime Museum - spend a couple hours there taking in the history - very cool!
I take the Curly Lewis memorial highway from there to the Soo - you'll pass the Port Huron Lighthouse along this road - if you are lucky you can get in and they let you climb to the top of the tower.
Watch your speed through the sovereign nation.....you'll know when you are there when you see the casino.
Antlers is a great lunch spot.
From the Soo, you have a pretty good hump to Wawa - stop in Montreal River Harbor to get gas and there is a neat little truck-stop/shop there. No pay at the pump here lol.
You'll see some of the most spectacular scenery of the upper lake on the route from the Soo to Wawa. Awesome.
In Wawa, get a Chalet at the Wawa Motor Inn - they are a two-bedroom log cabin with kitchen - and they stock the woodbox for a nice fire. Get your liquor at the duty free in the Soo - beer and whiskey is expensive in Canoodia.
From Wawa, you'll go past a large gold mine, the next stop would be White River - a truck stop for gas and the Whinnie the Poo monument.
There are towns about every 50 miles up there (that is where they used to have to water the steam locomotives I am told), so you can stop for gas or breaks as necessary. Lots of great scenery, but you will eventually get to Nipigon - the northernmost point on the lake tour. Not much in Nipigon - about all your choices for food are the Husky - but it's decent.
On west you'll see Ouimet Canyon about 25 klicks west of Nipigon, then you turn right and go about 9 klicks off the highway - but it is spectacular. I would skip the tourist-trappy "suspension bridge" and zip line - but that is just me.
From there it is a uneventful hump to Thunder Bay. There is a new Day's Inn out by the Airport, and The Keg across the street was just outstanding food - most excellent! It is a pretty new place - but there is a lot of choices in that area depending on what your group is after. The Keg is where I will go every time now....
From Thunder Bay, it is pretty much country driving to the border - once you pass into the states, Grand Portage is a beautiful area. You'll come to another "reservation" casino and gas stop - spendy and not that friendly in my experience.
You will wind your way down to Gran Marias - there are plenty of places to eat there.
From there it is smooth sailing back to Two Harbors. You'll pass the Split Rock Lighthouse - well worth the stop to check that out.
Nice trip - I have done it many times. Let me know if you have specific questions.
best
mqqn
Thanks everyone for the great feedback! I love getting recommendations before a trip from people that have been to these places. I will have to look these places up so we have some destinations along the way. We put together the route last night and will be picking hotels next week. I actually would be open to camping at least some of the nights but I know he has ruled that out already. We actually are from the Milwaukee area but I have a place in northern Wisconsin so will incorporate that into our route...as well as a meeting I'm going to. He is looking at getting a helmut cam. Im getting a trunk and decent rain gear before I go. Otherwise, I think we are set for the trip. We are doing Mackinac Island for a night and am not excited about the bridge part of it. Already started looking at pictures. Saving grace is that I'm sure we are not going to be the only cycles there in June so...maybe if we can follow some other bikes across...life will be good. Places we are going to stay for the night include Houghton (We are familiar with the area), Mackinac Island, Marathon, Thunder Bay, Duluth then back to the cottage. We will have one day to play with so any ideas where a 2 night stay would be best?
Great advise and info so far from others. Did this trip 2 years ago and had a great time, personally I really liked the north side of the lake. Some pretty cool towns. Only other recommendation I could make is a stop at the Finlander Center in Thunder Bay for breakfast. Hoito is downtown and blends well so keep eyes open or GPS.
The Finnish Heritage Building
314 Bay Street
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 1S1
Restaurant is in the basement, family seating but met some neat folks (another biker from Vancouver and a teacher from Winnipeg) and the BEST Finnish pancakes ever
Have a great time and enjoy our neighbors to the north.
The Finnish Heritage Building
314 Bay Street
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 1S1
Restaurant is in the basement, family seating but met some neat folks (another biker from Vancouver and a teacher from Winnipeg) and the BEST Finnish pancakes ever
Have a great time and enjoy our neighbors to the north.
Aquiring Alcohol in Canada is tough. Buy it when you see it and pack it for the night. I suggest wine.
You'll need a pass port or nexus card to cross the border. I recommend the nexus but don't wait to get that sorted. Keep your answers short at the border, smile, and take your sun glasses off.
The c10 is a friendly bike, smile and wave at the oldsters and youngsters. Expect people to chat you up.
I've found cops in Canada to be friendly.
Call your cell phone company and tell them you'll be in Canada and follow there advice.
If you've got a wifi device, bring it.
Have fun and be careful!
You'll need a pass port or nexus card to cross the border. I recommend the nexus but don't wait to get that sorted. Keep your answers short at the border, smile, and take your sun glasses off.
The c10 is a friendly bike, smile and wave at the oldsters and youngsters. Expect people to chat you up.
I've found cops in Canada to be friendly.
Call your cell phone company and tell them you'll be in Canada and follow there advice.
If you've got a wifi device, bring it.
Have fun and be careful!
c14painkiller
Training Wheels
If you need booze grab it at the duty free, otherwise be prepared to pay at least $30 for a 24. As for the $10 large, don't worry about it unless you get caught flat out on your Connie. Loss of bike and licence will ring you a tab of close to a grand (ticket, tow truck, storage impound fees and last but not least 13% taxes). But a beautiful drive worth taking. Lots of good people there including the police. Keep it under 30 mph past the posted speed limited and you run the risk of a $300 ticket, past that and your looking at a min of a grand, for believe it or not a stunt driving!!!?
Safe touring
Safe touring
Gas and booze way more pricey :-\ vs US ofA. North of Lake Superior gas is available not not as frequently as normal, not the time to test your reserve milage. With nine days you have lots of time to make stops. Get a picture of the "big things" - seems like every town has a giant goose, fish, nickle etc. Last time I was up there, my budies slowed down and I see something beside the road - thinking deer.
As I go by it was a black bear with front paws on the road and back ones in the ditch, he was waiting for some fatter people to go by I guess.)
PS if you have the time the ferry goes from Manitoulan island (linked by causeway to mainland look for Espanola sign) to Tobermory. By Passes Georgian bay, you might need reservations but with bikes maybe not.
As I go by it was a black bear with front paws on the road and back ones in the ditch, he was waiting for some fatter people to go by I guess.
) PS if you have the time the ferry goes from Manitoulan island (linked by causeway to mainland look for Espanola sign) to Tobermory. By Passes Georgian bay, you might need reservations but with bikes maybe not.
Nine Days?!? :-\ I rode around Lake Superior (1200 miles) in 36 hours in 1990 and that included staying overnight in a motel in Wawa. I can imagine slowing down that trip some but I can't imagine how I could stretch it out for nine days without parking my motor for long periods of time.Garygnu said:
I hope you have a great trip.