Lake Superior Circle Tour..Anybody done it?

[Rat]

Check the 'Longest Trip?' thread for Whiskerfish's travelling kit.

Gord

[sgwilly]

I couldn't find Whiskerfish's post but here's what I tote in mine.



Contents:
flashlight
multimeter
air pressure gauge (stock)
gloves
tool kit (stock)
WD-40
towels
Clymer shop manual
hand air pump
large zip ties
duct tape
electrical tape
rubber tape
adjustment key for throttle lock
spare fuses
fuse puller
jumper wire for bypassing failed relays
small zip ties
two retired spark plugs
spare bulbs
tissue paper
multi-tool
tire patch kit
registration and insurance card
owner's manual (not sure why but it's always been in there)
and the most important item on a break down - BC headache power.

It all packs pretty tight and sits in the bottom of my port saddlebag.



Also along for the ride is a quart of oil. All of that for everyday riding. On long trips I usually add some things like a small spool of bailing wire, some electrical wire and wire nuts. Most of that's been added through trial and error (aka - broke down and don't have the right stuff).

[Pokegama]

Thanks SG thants just what I needed. Great info.

[Whiskerfish]

http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=42079

[Pokegama]

Thanks Wiskerfish! Great video, I can see I need to add a couple more items to my kit before I go!

[Pokegama]

I made it back from the trip and what a ride it was!


Five riders, a 76 Moto Guzzi, my 79 GL1000, a 93 Goldwing SE, a 2010 Goldwing and a 2008 Silverwing. We didn't make any reservations and brought camping gear just in case we couldn't get rooms.


We left from Grand Rapids and our first night was in Hancock, MI, around 300 miles. It took a couple of calls to find rooms but the Ramada came through for us. The weather was perfect and the road was great. Diner at Nutini's, a nce Italian place downtown, very good.

View out my room window looking towards Houghton.


The next night was in Grand Marais, MI. Don't miss H58 on your way to Grand Marais. That road is amazing. Great twists and turns, tree lined and incredible views. It did take a couple of tries to get rooms again but we landed a couple at the hotel in town. Diner at the Pub, food and service was great. Beautiful bay in front of the town.

Next morning we were off to Whitefish Point and the shipwreck museum. Very moving for someone who has sailed on Superior for many years now.


Then it was off to Canada. Not a problem getting in. Spent our first night camping at Pancake Bay Provincial Park.

The next days run was the most spectacular as far as the scenery goes. From Pancake bay to past Wawa was incredible. We drove to Rossport for the night and stayed at the Rossport Inn. Built in 1884, it was used by the railroad for lodging.

We stayed in the small cabins on the property.


If you make it to Rossport, eat at the Serindipity resturant in town. Outstanding!

Between Nipigon and Thunder Bay is the Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park. The Grand Canyon of the north. Worth a stop for sure.

The next night we were in Graind Marais, MN. No problem getting back into the states. Again we found rooms and had a great diner at Chez Jude.

Then on to home for the next night. There was so much to see, the weather was perfect for the whole trip. If you get a chance to go....do it!

[sgwilly]

That looks great. I'm really looking forward to my run next month. Sure hope we luck out on weather like you did.

How were the bugs?

[Pokegama]

Almost no bugs! There were Mosquitos at the camp site. Other than that the windshield stayed clean. You will have a great time.

[gregforesi]

I'm leaving tomorrow for Tawas and then to the UP on Friday. I hope the bugs stay in hiding.

[Whiskerfish]

Be safe Greg and have fun!!!

[gregforesi]

He's BAAACCKKK.
What a run.
The bugs did indeed stay in hiding.
We went clockwise and the night stops were Paradise, MI., Houghton, MI., Superior WI., Thunder Bay, Ont., Nipigon, Ont., Marathon, Ont., Wawa, Ont., and Cedarville, MI..
H58 (Grand Marais to Munising through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore) is: new, in great shape, and might be the best riding road in Michigan (my condolences to M22). A GL1800 will not outrun a K1200GT.
The Gay bar was a hoot. Just about the most tongue-in-cheek place I've ever been. (Although the T-shirt I picked up doesn't say "Heavily Moderated", it would certainly be "HEAVILY MODERATED").
The ride from Houghton to Gay to Copper Harbor and back down M28 was real nice but there was some traffic on Sunday as many people were heading back down from the tip of the Kewanaw Peninsula.
The ride from Calumet to Duluth is a bit boring, but traffic was low.
Then there is the north shore of Lake Superior. Waterfalls, the Ouimet Canyon, a 1/2 mile zipline over a lake (hadn't done a zipline before), the scenery everywhere is outstanding, and no traffic for long stretches. Fishing at little lakes and rivers everywhere. Very nice.
Didn't ride in the rain even once (although we did get hammered right after we parked the bikes at the motel in Marathon, Ont.)
A lot of gas stations didn't carry premium fuel - OK for the wing, but the Harley and Beemer weren't happy.

The lone bummer was that while scrambling through the woods and over rocks at a lake somewhere (trying to fool a fish) I lost my phone and so all my photos are gone. When my buddy gets back to Missouri he's going to make up a CD and send his photos to me. I'll post a couple when they show up.

It was an absolutely terrific ride.
The best fish was a 24" northern. Lots of lookers but not many takers. I suppose that's why they call it "fishing" and not "catching".

[sgwilly]

That sounds spectacular. Two reports so far with no rain. If I get rained on I'm going to VERY put out now.

What's the name/location of the zipline? Need to send my Dad across that!

[BearWing]

Pokegama, gregforesi, glad you're back safely (says the Jewish Mother of the NGW Board), and glad you had a good time. A trip like that is taking a bite out of the apple of life, sighing, and saying, "Just right!"

I've been to the Edmund Fitzgerald Museum at Whitefish Point, and you're quite correct -- it's incredibly moving. The nearby lighthouse is fascinating, too.

When my brilliant and beautiful wife and I were there, the museum sound system was playing Gordon Lightfoot's 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald' on a continuous loop. I couldn't resist asking one of the very pleasant ladies working as a docent if it ever became....annoying, like sales clerks exposed to carols from All Hallow's Eve to Boxing Day.

"No", she said, "You block it out after awhile. Except.....", she paused.

"Except?", I asked.

"Except when your kids play it a full volume at three in the morning on your birthday as a joke", she said.

"Wow, " I asked, "Where did you hide the bodies?".

"Ain't telling", she said. And smiled.

[gregforesi]

sqwilly - the zipline location is down a dirt road off the paved road that goes to Ouimet Canyon. There is a big (and only) sign so you can't miss it. The dirt road was in excellent shape (and it was dry for us). The owner is a real character.

We didn't stay at the Lakeview Motel in Wawa because we had already booked a room at another place. The Lakeview is down main street across from the lake and also houses Woodys Pub. It's an old hotel that has been nicely updated, it's reasonable (cheaper than the one we stayed at), and you get your own private garage to put the bikes in.