Guido Ebert & I decided that we would try and put some trips together that were on our bucket list. One of them being a circle tour of Lake Superior by motorcycle.
Patrick Saunders
Our plans are tentatively set to leave on the 24th of June and make the trip in one long weekend ending back in Escanaba on the 29th.
Guido will be running his trusty Suzuki SV1000s, and I will be running a Harley Davidson VRSCAW, courtesy of Harley Davidson.
I look forward to seeing how these 2 V-Twins stack up against each other on the open road. The trip around the Canadian side of Lake Superior is breath taking and will be a real dream ride aboard the VRSCAW.
Stay tuned for more trip details as we get closer to our departure date.
If you would like to ride part of the trip with us, please e-mail Guido or Me prior to the trip and we would love to have your local expertise & guidance along the way.
Proposed Bike Route Leaving eastward My Estimated Trip Miles, not counting side trips = 1547.52 miles total.
Trip starting point for me, Harley Davidson Headquarters in Milwaukee Wisconsin.
I am working on my part of the route and it looks like I will be leaving from Escanaba Michigan on Friday, following Route # 2 through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, 41 north to Marquette where we will meet up with Guido.
From Marquette we will head east on 28, until Newberry, where we will go north on 123 to Whitefish point.
From Whitefish Point we will then head east to Brimley and then hook up on 75 North to the Sault.
From the Sault we will run into Canada and follow 17 to Wawa, and through to Thunder Bay ON.
From Thunder Bay Ontario we will head south on 61, crossing the border into Minnesota USA.
We will take 61 south to Duluth, and hook up on 2 east across Wisconsin, Michigan and home to Escanaba MI.
Guido will break off at Duluth, and head home to Minneapolis.
Travel Distances & Proposed Times Between Stops
Figure in Milwaukee to Escanaba = 4 hours 6 minutes / 226.46 miles times 2 = 452.92 miles.
Escanaba MI to Sault Ste. Marie MI = 3 hours 10 minutes / 173.93 miles.
Sault Ste. Marie ON to Wawa ON = 3 hours 42 minutes / 145.52 miles.
Wawa ON to Marathon ON = 2 hours 28 minutes / 115.88 miles.
Marathon ON to Thunder Bay = 4 hours 7 minutes / 189.60 miles.
Thunder Bay ON to Duluth MN = 4 hours 15 minutes / 190.12 miles.
Duluth MN to Escanaba MI = 5 hours 24 minutes / 279.55 miles.
My Estimated Trip Miles, not counting side trips = 1547.52 miles total.
Well officially my ride starts today with Ryan & I picking up the 2010 Harley Davidson V-Rod from Harley Davidson in Milwaukee
After I got the Harley Davidson V-Rod home, I proceeded to get it ready for the trip, by installing the Ram-Mount GPS & Video Camera mounts. I planned on shooting some video, followed by a bunch of still shots of the areas we would be driving through over the next three days of riding. This trip I would not being using a windshield, tank bag, or any other accessories, so I would be carrying everything on my back in a BCA Stash H2O knapsack.
I trusted my riding comfort, dryness, and apparel to Shift racing Apparel. I have been using Shift products for a number of years now, and have been very pleased with Shift, and it is what my family wears when we ride together.
My still camera is a Sony A700 with the Sony Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T DT16-80mm F3.5-4.5 ZA Lens. My helmet camera is the VIO POV 1.5, the company is located in Marquette MI.
With only a day to set up my bike, and no time to lose, I was ready and rearing to get started on this epic ride around lake Superior on the Harley Davidson V-Rod. Let me tell you, I feel very privileged to do this trip on one of my most favorite manufacturers motorcycles.
Although my trip officially started when I picked up the bike from Harley Davidson headquarters in Milwaukee, the trip odometer on my GPS was zeroed in from a door to door leg, which would round out to a final mileage of 1213 miles door to door around Lake Superior, at a total of 21 hrs. & 7 minutes of driving time for me.
I was up bright and early Friday morning with a game plan of meeting my trip mates, Guido & Jens Ebert at Marquette MI early Friday Morning. I started off by hitting a torrential down poor in Rapid River, and rode through that most of the way to Marquette MI, where it stopped for a few hrs. while I waiting for the crew to arrive form Holton MI, where they had stayed the previous night (Camping). I had a long leisurely breakfast and awaited the arrival of the crew.
The guys finally made it and we headed east on #28 to our first stop of Lakenenland. If you have never been there it is a great place to take the family and explore. Tom Lakenen has a web site where you can check out more about it on line at www.lakenenland.com.
After a brief stop in Lakenenland, we were of on a breezy run to visit the Whitefish Point Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. We were to meet up with a long time acquaintance, Tom L. Farnquist who is the Executive Director of the Museum, and this man has a wealth of knowledge about ship wreck exploring in the Great Lakes.
We were treated to a personal interview with Tom, and also a personal guided of the museum with Tom. I made sure I caught this on video for later viewing. I have to thank Guido's brother Jens for taking my camera and capturing some great still shots of the museum while we were there. The museum's web address is www.shipwreckmuseum.com.
From the museum we made tracks across the top of the U.P. of MI to the Canadian Border crossing at the Sault MI. That is where the weather decided to test us even more, because once we made it through the Canadian Border, all the heavens dropped everything on us. We drove westward through blinding, cold, rain on Highway # 17, all the way to our next stop, which would turn out to be Wawa ON. I videoed some, but unfortunately it was raining to much to risk pulling out my camera. By the time we reached Pan Cake bay, which is about an hr. out of the Sault Canada we were totally soaked through. When I pulled out of the gas station at Pan Cake Bay, my bike went on auto pilot and all I could think about was reaching the Bristol Hotel in Wawa, where I knew there would be good friends, a warm bed, per usually that excellent Northern Canadian Hospitality.
When we pulled into Wawa, we were quite ready for that adult beverage & a hot shower to bring the life back into our tired, cold & weary bones. To my surprise Chico was there with his smiling face to meet us at the door when we arrived. Shortly after that we were joined by the Bristol Motel owners Bonnie & Willy. I highly recommend a stay at the Bristol Hotel where they treat all their guests like family. Willy also runs an outfitters, where he takes people atving, sledding, fishing, & bear hunting. You might say that the Bristol Hotel is a one stop adventure experience. You can read more about them in our travel section of my web site at www.atvpt.com/destinationslodging.htm or direct at www.bristolmotel.com.
We spend the evening with our friends from Wawa spinning yarns of earlier years. My head hit the billow that night with thoughts of tomorrows ride from Wawa to Thunder Bay, and beyond.
I was so thankful to Bonnie & Willie for providing us a warm, dry, clean, and friendly place to stay on our first night out. Having a dry hotel room gave me a chance to dry out my wet riding gear, and when I woke up I was ready for the road westward again.
After saying our good buys, we headed out of town with a quick stop by the Goose to take a few pictures. From Wawa you head inland on Highway # 17, away from the lake. This part of leg was warm and dry, thank you. We used this warm weather to make numerous stops to take photo's and to take well earned road breaks from our ride.
So far the Harley Davidson V-Rod was working like a well oiled swiss watch, and I was loving it. This bike pulls like a John Deere tractor on steroids, and then some! Fuel mileage has been very decent through out the trip, and to the exception of some very bad gas we got at several gas stations in Northern Ontario, our bikes were working great.
We were making great time, so we decided to stop in at Marathon for some chow, and a short break. We stopped at a little sub store called Subs and Such for lunch, and I was very glad we did. That homemade sub really hit the spot nicely, and I was ready for the road after that.
Our road miles were piling up fast and we were way ahead of schedule due to the previous days rain. Road construction wasn't bad, but as we neared closer to Thunder Bay I noticed an increase. Delays weren't too bad, but one does have to negotiate these construction zones with careful deliberation so as not to crass & burn.
The road from Terrace Bay to Rossport along Highway # 17 is breath taking and very easily enjoy by motorcycle. Our next stop would be a quick pullover at the Terry Fox memorial as you enter Thunder Bay ON. This is a very moving memorial and is well worth the stop before proceeding on your journey.
We blew through Thunder Bay, and headed for the Canadian/USA Border at Pigeon River. This was a very memorable crossing for me and one I will not forget. Unlike leaving the US going into Canada, I encountered a hard working, conscientious, border person, who was very thorough at his job. I thought to myself this is not going to be fun, but was I wrong. After going through my documents, the Border patrol person went out of his way to welcome me back home, and I was touched by this. Other people could learn from this person.
When we reached the border the Ebert's were on their turf now, and very familiar with the area. They officially took over as my tour guides, which I really appreciated. We headed south on Highway # 61, which would eventually land us in Duluth MN. Upon arriving in Grand Marais, a day ahead of schedule, we decided to splurge and get a nice room and a good meal, to which I was not disappointed with either. We stayed at the Best Western, Superior Inn & Suites, and were rewarded with a very clean, comfortable room. Free, provided breakfast the next morning was a bonus. We took a tour of town, and then set out on foot to look for that good meal we were waiting for. We found a nice, quaint, local place down by the water and were rewarded with great food, and some good adult beverages too. I had the Nova Scotian stew, and could use another bowl of that today
After a long day on the road we headed off to our rooms for a well deserved good nights sleep.
Day 3 of our trip found us staying the night at Grand Marais MN for the night. In the morning we got up, had a quick breakfast, and were back on the road again, with anticipation of another day of dry riding. Not to worry, mother nature was not going to have anything to do with that. Not to far down the road we were met with a steady, but annoying rain again. This made it difficult to stop for any pictures. As you can see in our ride videos, it was pretty damp riding.
So once again, we were in go mode, and aimed for the next Stop of Duluth MN. Fortunately, as we neared Duluth, the weather broke and we had a period of sunshine for a few hrs.. One of the things that amaze me is how anybody could ride a bike in the rain without a helmet, let alone cruise down the road on a good day with out one. All I can say is, that is not for me!
We pulled into Duluth and explored the downtown area. This is one area I would like to come back to some time and really take a better look around. My thanks to Guido & Jens for the tour of Duluth.
As we headed out of Duluth MN to cross the bridge into Superior WI, we encountered the worst roads I have ever driven on. These people need to get this route figured out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally across the bridge, we split up, with Guido & Jens heading south, and me continuing eastward on Highway # 2, which would eventually land me in Escanaba MI.
This part of the trip was somewhat lonely for me, because I had gotten used to being with the crew over the past 3 days. It truly is a very nice bonding experience when you ride together with a group of other motorcycle riders. It is one that you will not very easily forget too soon.
I slowly meandered across the top of Wisconsin on Highway # 2, eventually entering Michigan on the same Highway. I lucked out and had great weather until I got into Michigan. By the time I made it to Crystal fall, it was raining cats & dogs again, just like the day I left on this trip. Welcome back to Michigan, eh!
I stopped for gas in Crystal Falls, and donned my rain gear once more. There I picked up another group of riders that were waiting for a break in the weather. I took them on a short cut that eliminated about 30 minutes of unnecessary riding in the rain. i am sure they were happy to run into a local who new the area.
About an hour later, I drove out of the rain and rode into Escanaba MI with bright sunshine to greet & welcome me home. My butt was feeling the miles in the saddle and I was grateful to be home.
I asked myself if I would make this trip again on a Harley Davidson V-Rod, and my answer to myself was Hell Yes, lets Ride!!!!! I have grown fond of this motorcycle and have got to know it very well on this short 1200 mile ride. My only complaint is I have to return it to Harley Davidson, way too soon.
So, all in all, this was a great trip, with good friends, on great motorcycles, a good time, despite the fowl weather! I am looking forwards to next years ride, which we do a Charity Fund Raiser for Our Fallen War Heroes and their Families.
My thanks to all my sponsors who made this trip possible for me to do, and also to my loving family who graciously allowed me to join the Ebert's on this epic road trip around Lake Superior.
Well, my trip is done, my pictures are posted, all the trip videos are up, my thoughts about the trip have been put to words on this thread, I have feeling in my butt again, now it is time to plan the next trip around Superior.
This time we will do it as a fund raiser to provide something for our Fallen Heroes and Their Families.
Lest we not forget, Freedom is not Free, it is paid for in blood, way too much blood!
Let's pray for the families that have lost their loved ones, so we can still enjoy trips like I just completed. Without their sacrifices we would not be able to do so!
