Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

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Pokegama
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Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#1

Post by Pokegama »

Looking for tips and suggestions on hotels and restaurants. Recommendations on things to see and things to avoid. We leave on the 7th of July for a week long cruise around the big lake! dancr
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#2

Post by gregforesi »

I'm doing the same thing after VMD. We leave July 26th.
You'll need a "Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card" from your insurance company. (Progressive provided it for free.)
A non-resident fishing license requires an "Outdoor Card". Both are available on-line.
I don't understand why, but I've been advised to make the run clockwise around the lake.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#3

Post by rainstromrider »

enhanced DL or passport required also. Need ride reports for sure. :orange

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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#4

Post by sgwilly »

Haven't yet but I'm also planning a loop of Lake Superior (counter-clockwise!). My Dad and 4 brothers will set out on August 26th and take 7 days to complete. I've done most of the planning for this trip and in doing so I've stumbled across some excellent resources that helped tremendously.

Wolf's Head Rally is an annual run around the lake (but they haven't had enough people to do it the last few years). They've published their detailed itinerary along with restaurants, hotels, campgrounds, sights, scenic roads, etc., etc. VERY helpful.

http://www.wolfsheadrally.com/

Another great source is from the Motorcycle Touring Forum. They did the Superior Loop last year and have all the planning info on their website. Even GPS navigation files. Very impressive organization there.

http://www.mctourer.com/rides/2011/Lake ... /index.htm

Here's a Circle Tour website with even more info...

http://www.great-lakes.net/tourism/circletour/superior/

I'm really looking forward to this one!
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#5

Post by Pokegama »

gregforesi wrote:I'm doing the same thing after VMD. We leave July 26th.
You'll need a "Canada Non-Resident Inter-Province Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Card" from your insurance company. (Progressive provided it for free.)
A non-resident fishing license requires an "Outdoor Card". Both are available on-line.
I don't understand why, but I've been advised to make the run clockwise around the lake.
Thanks for the heads up on the insurance card. I never heard of that before. Is it something just for motorcycles?
I've been told the counter-clockwise is the way to go. I think either way would be great. I know the south shore pretty well but have never been on the north side of the lake.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#6

Post by Pokegama »

SGWilley, thanks for the great links. Have you come across anything that suprised you while planning for your run?
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#7

Post by sgwilly »

Not really, especially after picking through those two MC tour sites. Of course, I haven't done it just yet so that answer may change this fall.

Obvious things - passport, reservations, avoid the moose.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#8

Post by Sagebrush »

Steve,

Sure would have loved to join you on this ride. One tip when you get to Hancock continue north to Copper Harbor. There is a tour there that you can take that will boat you out to a light house, takes a couple of hours total time. One of the interesting things about the tour is you can see copper ore rocks right in the water along the shore line. At least you could when I was last there. Also there is an old army fort that predates the civil war near the northern terminus of US-41. It was built to protect the copper mines in the area. Also there are many pits that Native Americans dug to extract copper ore in the immediate vicinity. Make sure you stop in a local restaurant and order a pasty. Its a local delicacy brought over with the Welsh minors that used to work the numerous copper mines in the area.

Take 26 north to Copper Harbor, it runs right along the lake shore. You'll have the lake on your left and a pretty steep rise on your right with the occasional water fall coming down. On the way south take US-41 there is a pretty long stretch where you'll be riding in a tunnel of trees.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#9

Post by egelasi »

My brother and I rode (clockwise) several years ago (more than 20). We stopped at the Sportbike Rally in Parry Sound (http://www.sportbikerally.ca/) and visited several nice people and eating establishments along the way. Saw a lot of bicycle riders doing a cross country ride (mostly teachers on their summer vacation). Only had one intense discussion about the merits of America and Americans :lol: Just a very beautiful ride and would take it again in a heartbeat.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#10

Post by sgwilly »

Thanks for the info Dean. I've got us routed up through Copper Harbor. In fact, the shortest day will be in that area because it seems from reading several accounts that riding a bike in that area is one of the highlights of the trip. Here's a link to our route. I'm sure some of the scenic slow roads will have to be bypassed to keep us from riding non-stop each day (but Copper Harbor stays!). I figured I'd keep them in there and then have the group decide in the morning (or the weather).

http://goo.gl/maps/H2L0

Other highlights that I can think of working counter-clockwise from Sault Ste. Marie.

Soo Locks
Agawa Bay pictographs
Ouimet Canyon
Kakabeka Falls
Grand Marais Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse
Gooseberry Falls
Betty’s Pie’s - Two Harbors
Two Harbors Lighthouse
Copper Country Trail
Brockway Scenic Drive and Overlook
Pictured Rocks NL
Whitefish Point (The Graveyard of Ships)
Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum

Too much for one week so we'll have to pick and choose.
Steve
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#11

Post by Sagebrush »

IF you're spending an evening in Sault St. Marie then check out a dinner cruise ship. Terrie and I took it several years ago. It'll take you out into Whitefish Bay and then you'll lock through. Dinner was good and the view from the locks while on the ship is better than you can get just by stopping there and having a look see. I don't remember the name of the cruise but I'm sure a Google search will provide it. Make sure you get some Whitefish while in the area. Several places serve it.

Pictured rocks really can only be seen from a boat tour that leaves from Munising. I've made two attempts to see them. I forget what sabotaged the first attempt but the second one we actually boarded the boat and made it past the ruins of the light house in the harbor when we had to turn around because a strong NW wind came up and made the lake to rough for the boat to proceed.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#12

Post by Pokegama »

Thanks for all the great suggestions, keep them coming!

How hard is it to get a hotel room without a reservation? The guys I'm riding with are playing it loose. We are bringing tents just in case, but I would rather stay in a room if I can.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#13

Post by sgwilly »

From what I'm reading, there's little on the north shore and you're smack-dab in the middle of tourist season. Hence, the recommendation for reservations. Combine that with there's very little recourse to actually riding around the lake (other than turning around before the halfway point) and it gets to be a pretty predictable schedule - something that sits well with reservations.

I did leave our final night open but by then we're in the Sault Ste. Marie area and there appears to be more options available.
Steve
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#14

Post by Sagebrush »

I would make reservations.
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Re: Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

#15

Post by Pokegama »

Any recomendations on what tools and spares to bring on a 1,500 mile trip up through the Canadian wilderness? I'm a newbie to long distance traveling on a bike.
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