Ducati Monster Forum

I'm bored and thought I would post about this, I hope it's the right area.

In one month some friends and I will be setting out to ride all the way around Lake Michigan. We all live in north central Illinois. I've grown up fishing and snowmobiling in northern Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan, so I know the area a little bit up there. However, I'm interested to hear if anyone is from anywhere on our route or has made a similar trip and has suggestions on roads to take, places to see, things to do.

On my list already are Lake in the Clouds in the UP, Copper Harbor, and the Tunnel of Trees Road in the LP of Michigan.

Any others?

Be careful crossing the bridge!! It is scary as SHIT!

I made the same trip in about '88. I went North up the West side of Michigan, around the horn and down through Wisconsin and Illinois and back up through Michigan.

Make sure you get some smoked whitefish while you are in the UP or Northern Wisconsin.

I primarily took highway 2 through the UP and it was very scenic, but this was 25 years ago.

Mark

Cool, why is the bridge crossing scary?

Patrickmccabe is/was a member on here - he did that run a couple years ago.  He lives in the Chicago area. 
The Door Peninsula is pretty, but the tourist traffic can be bad.  I have a lot of runs in the central part of the state
and the Southwest has tons tremendous twisties with no traffic but tractors and Amish buggies.  The issue is the time
and distance from your route.  If you guys need a place to bunk about 20 miles West of Oshkosh, let me know.

You could always stop at the Packer Hall of Fame! ;D

We'll likely be riding up the Western/Central portion of Wisconsin. We live in Dixon, IL and we often make the run up to the Savanna/Galena, IL area so we're familiar with how awesome those roads can be. We'll be heading that direction, crossing the border, and heading north through that corner of Wisconsin.

Because it is FREAKING high, long and see through! When I went over (again, this was in about '88) I rode on a grate where you could look down and see through to the water. Mix that with winds and the grate grabbing the tires and it was scary.

Mark

Haha cool, I'm excited. There's a bridge in Savanna, IL that crosses the Mississippi that is grated like that, but not nearly as long or high.

If you are coming in the Southwest Corner, running up 35 to Prairie du Chein, then taking 60 East along the Wisconsin River would be a neat ride.  That stretch of 60 is neverending sweepers for about 60 miles.  You could also go North out of Prairie, continuing on 35, up along the Mississippi and past up to Superior.  The Woodruff, Minoqua area is pretty and Hwy 70 between Minoqua and Eagle River is real pretty along the river.  If you are in Minoqua, make sure you stop at the Island Cafe for a meal - especially if you like good Greek food.

Let me know your timetable.  If the planets align, I might be able to join you for part of your spin.

Great, that's the kind of advice I'm looking for! I'm really familiar with the Minoqua and Eagle River areas. Staying in Minoqua snowmobiling quite a few times and grew up fishing Eagle Lake. I had my eye on that Rt. 60, just on the map it looks like some great riding. There's a chance we'll be stopping at the Dells for a night, because one of the guys knows some people there.

As far as a date, the tentative plan is to leave the morning of June 7th, but that is subject to change because a couple of the guys have jobs that can change at the last minute.

If you take 60 from Prairie to Spring Green, you can get on 23, which will run you right to the Dells.  If you jump off 60 to the North or 23 either way, you are in rural twistys for hundreds of miles.
If you are into architecture, on 23 just South of Spring Green is Taliesin - Frank Lloyd Wright's home and school. 

This is the tentative plan. Eagle River by the end of the first night, Eastern side of the UP by the second night, southwestern Michigan by night three, Chicago night four, and then home. We could have anywhere from 3 to 8 guys but as of now it's looking like it's going to be 5 of us. My Monster, a guy on a '01 Kawi ZR-7, one on a 79 Honda CB750 cafe, a guy on an early 80's Honda CM400 cafe, and the fifth guy hasn't decided between his early 80's KZ 550 Streettracker or his 70's Ironhead hardtail. Gonna be an interesting looking group to say the least.

https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Dixon,+IL&daddr=Savanna,+IL+to:43.2778448,-89.7906802+to:Wisconsin+Dells,+WI+to:Eagle+River,+WI+to:45.9967241,-89.3161863+to:46.1572505,-89.3563538+to:46.2171723,-89.4021502+to:46.4840378,-89.5867383+to:Gogebic,+MI+to:46.6827816,-89.9648899+to:Silver+City,+Carp+Lake,+MI+to:Copper+Harbor,+MI+to:47.4295632,-88.2364507+to:St.+Ignace,+MI+to:Ryan+Nature+Preserve,+North+Lake+Shore+Drive,+Harbor+Springs,+MI+to:Traverse+City,+MI+to:Silver+Lake+State+Park,+MI+to:Chicago,+IL+to:41.774304,-87.84222+to:41.6431444,-88.1495044+to:41.5943678,-88.1631739+to:41.7693231,-88.7346523+to:Dixon,+IL&hl=en&ll=44.566991,-88.033447&spn=6.41803,13.634033&sll=47.208374,-88.085632&sspn=0.764998,1.704254&geocode=FUlpfgIdhKaq-il5lvifVakJiDEBRel4_y38pQ%3BFYNPggIdBlGg-inFOv2upZrihzE7LD1Z2cQdyw%3BFRRelAIdKOel-imx_z3ba3EHiDGXTSr9PDbemg%3BFdezmQIdMjSm-imddssHPkkHiDF4MwsozSbNSg%3BFfijvAIddT2u-inf82dutDdUTTHYS33xclVVzA%3BFbTavQIdpiSt-ikLqt6F6jNUTTFihPVutdyvHQ%3BFcJNwAIdv4es-ikVoyL4FitUTTFMde4Kw32-5Q%3BFdQ3wQId2tSr-imNwCYhjn9WTTGN66fHh0QFTA%3BFUVKxQIdzgOp-imnuQo1oGlWTTFxAp6wQ8ptqg%3BFW6bxAIdPuij-inVlBqtxJJWTTEHzI9eBRMR4w%3BFZ1SyAIdpz6j-imt5ebCgChWTTFGS9iH1Ahuuw%3BFXORygIdWTup-ikDN62cMbNXTTFuZ3MuNqVnyQ%3BFRdP1AIdcObC-inroCtEq4NaTTEMeUx9524Fyg%3BFbu30wIdXp69-iljs2FYiZ1QTTEevym4bVKsAQ%3BFWnbuwIdty_z-inV8p5PGvY1TTEgQFswez5Ndg%3BFb8xuAIdUfHt-iFij-WOwhLIPin3ZEScdGZKTTFij-WOwhLIPg%3BFbEHqwIdaIjl-indKdrXsjIeiDEhVnQ_P9y_Rw%3BFYZkmgIds-PX-ilzsu2HEfQbiDFYr81WZyf-iA%3BFWICfwIdGuDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFeBsfQIdVKLD-ilpxFPyzjcOiDH7-WLxYYsW2A%3BFYhsewIdAPK--imZyf0XFV8OiDFHnx2QiZlGeQ%3BFf-tegIdm7y--im5gHoo-l8OiDHPPYoinBWNcg%3BFWtZfQIdRAS2-inHzBSkFtIOiDGUdhPvhEg5NA%3BFUlpfgIdhKaq-il5lvifVakJiDEBRel4_y38pQ&oq=Traverse&dirflg=t&mra=dpe&mrsp=13&sz=10&via=2,5,6,7,8,10,13,19,20,21,22&t=m&z=7 (https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=Dixon,+IL&daddr=Savanna,+IL+to:43.2778448,-89.7906802+to:Wisconsin+Dells,+WI+to:Eagle+River,+WI+to:45.9967241,-89.3161863+to:46.1572505,-89.3563538+to:46.2171723,-89.4021502+to:46.4840378,-89.5867383+to:Gogebic,+MI+to:46.6827816,-89.9648899+to:Silver+City,+Carp+Lake,+MI+to:Copper+Harbor,+MI+to:47.4295632,-88.2364507+to:St.+Ignace,+MI+to:Ryan+Nature+Preserve,+North+Lake+Shore+Drive,+Harbor+Springs,+MI+to:Traverse+City,+MI+to:Silver+Lake+State+Park,+MI+to:Chicago,+IL+to:41.774304,-87.84222+to:41.6431444,-88.1495044+to:41.5943678,-88.1631739+to:41.7693231,-88.7346523+to:Dixon,+IL&hl=en&ll=44.566991,-88.033447&spn=6.41803,13.634033&sll=47.208374,-88.085632&sspn=0.764998,1.704254&geocode=FUlpfgIdhKaq-il5lvifVakJiDEBRel4_y38pQ%3BFYNPggIdBlGg-inFOv2upZrihzE7LD1Z2cQdyw%3BFRRelAIdKOel-imx_z3ba3EHiDGXTSr9PDbemg%3BFdezmQIdMjSm-imddssHPkkHiDF4MwsozSbNSg%3BFfijvAIddT2u-inf82dutDdUTTHYS33xclVVzA%3BFbTavQIdpiSt-ikLqt6F6jNUTTFihPVutdyvHQ%3BFcJNwAIdv4es-ikVoyL4FitUTTFMde4Kw32-5Q%3BFdQ3wQId2tSr-imNwCYhjn9WTTGN66fHh0QFTA%3BFUVKxQIdzgOp-imnuQo1oGlWTTFxAp6wQ8ptqg%3BFW6bxAIdPuij-inVlBqtxJJWTTEHzI9eBRMR4w%3BFZ1SyAIdpz6j-imt5ebCgChWTTFGS9iH1Ahuuw%3BFXORygIdWTup-ikDN62cMbNXTTFuZ3MuNqVnyQ%3BFRdP1AIdcObC-inroCtEq4NaTTEMeUx9524Fyg%3BFbu30wIdXp69-iljs2FYiZ1QTTEevym4bVKsAQ%3BFWnbuwIdty_z-inV8p5PGvY1TTEgQFswez5Ndg%3BFb8xuAIdUfHt-iFij-WOwhLIPin3ZEScdGZKTTFij-WOwhLIPg%3BFbEHqwIdaIjl-indKdrXsjIeiDEhVnQ_P9y_Rw%3BFYZkmgIds-PX-ilzsu2HEfQbiDFYr81WZyf-iA%3BFWICfwIdGuDG-inty_TQPCwOiDEAwMAJrabgrw%3BFeBsfQIdVKLD-ilpxFPyzjcOiDH7-WLxYYsW2A%3BFYhsewIdAPK--imZyf0XFV8OiDFHnx2QiZlGeQ%3BFf-tegIdm7y--im5gHoo-l8OiDHPPYoinBWNcg%3BFWtZfQIdRAS2-inHzBSkFtIOiDGUdhPvhEg5NA%3BFUlpfgIdhKaq-il5lvifVakJiDEBRel4_y38pQ&oq=Traverse&dirflg=t&mra=dpe&mrsp=13&sz=10&via=2,5,6,7,8,10,13,19,20,21,22&t=m&z=7)

Depending on timing - I might be able to meet up at Plainfield at the intersection of 39 and 73.  Thats about 40 miles West of me, right on a 130 mile loop I run a couple times a year.  Ed Gein's home town.  Just don't bring it up in the area, the locals don't take it well.

That is the best ride in michigan from the bridge on down, keep on the look out for wineries with free food and drink. It seems like there is one about every 20 miles.  It goes to crap south of Benton harbor all the way through chicago so get ready for nothing to see and traffic.  One thing you have to do is watch for deer and turkeys as usual, but stay sharp as we are being over run with both lately.  If you see one turkey flying across the road expect a long slow line of them to follow.  Their normal altitude is helmet high. 

Have fun!

Tahquamenon falls and or Pictured Rocks parks are both pretty cool but probably a bit out of the way of your route sine they are on the northern side of the UP.

Sounds like a cool trip, take some photos for us!

Lol thanks for the advice on the turkeys. Deer are much more common over here, getting pretty good at avoiding them.

Not too much is 'out of our way' in the UP, seeing as how we're gonna make it all the way to Copper Harbor, I've heard real good things about Pictured Rocks.

that looks like a pretty nice route. I live in near the Ontario-Michigan border, and I was thinking about doing something similar. I know google maps says 31 hours, but how long did you plan to set aside for this?

It's hard to tell, I've never really planned a long distance bike trip. Every road trip I've ever planned I always say it's going to take less time than what the computer says, but that's because I always count on going 5-10 mph over the speed limit and a no BS trip where we're trying to get to the destination. For a trip like this, we'll probably be going at or below the speed limit a lot of the way just taking it all in and there's no destination really. I think it might take longer than the 31. We have 4 1/2 days to do it so I'm not too worried.

'88.  Wasn't it about that time when a Yugo was blown off?!

I'm from there.  I kick myself for not riding the DR around there more often.  Ann Aror to Lansing is quite boring.

When you get to Traverse City I would take M 22  up to Northport then take it south to Manistee. M 22 hugs Lake Michigan and is very scenic with a few sweepers towards Manistee.  I also suggest visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes on that leg. 

(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2855/8765194201_01f2fb43fb_o.png)

Great, thank you for the advice! That's going to be late afternoon, if everything goes according to plan, of our third day. You might be a good person to ask. For our third night's stay, I was considering staying at Silver Lake State Park. I know there's a big powersports scene there at the dunes, would that be a cool place to camp out/hang out/watch some powersports?

That's funny. I grew up 9 miles from there but couldn't afford a dirt bike or a quad... I have no idea.  I imagine they'll be booked so plan ahead. I hung out in Silver Lake in HS a little and it was awesome.


I know you're talking about the WI/MI border but that seems really optimistic. I did a trip to that area a couple years ago from Cadillac (2 hours from of Silver Lake) and it took all day (mostly slab)...however it was the dead of winter and I was in my truck and on the clock: Lots of fatigue.   That might not be a problem for a road trip in the summer on a bike [Dolph].

I'm not sure what part you're saying is optimistic? I don't know if I'm just not getting it because I haven't quite woken up yet...

Anyway, the plan so far is the Eagle River, WI area the first night, Painted Rock National Lakeshore the second night, Silver Lake area the third night, Chicago the fourth night.

It looks like ~400 miles the first two days, then ~350 the next two. I know that's a lot, but I figure 8 am to 8 pm it shouldn't be too difficult.

Well, we're four days away from when we were supposed to be leaving and the trip has been cancelled. In February 8 friends and I agreed to do this trip. One-by-one they backed out, excuses ranging from money, to non-running bike, to life changes. Apparently four months wasn't enough time to get things in order.

So anyway, I've been so jacked for getting out of town that I'm going to leave by myself and head south to meet up with my much more reliable motorcycle buddy. We'll be riding quite a bit over the weekend, as he has a Kawi Concours and can go for daysss. Should be about a 1,000 mile weekend, and it's a blessing in disguise because I haven't seen my friends from the University of Missouri in quite a while so that will be nice. Here's a proposed route:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=8131+S+Rangeline+rd,+Columbia,+MO&daddr=37.7201401,-91.1666515+to:Potosi,+MO+to:38.4505235,-91.0722205+to:8131+S+Rangeline+rd,+Columbia,+MO&hl=en&ll=38.122674,-91.234589&spn=0.864281,1.704254&sll=37.77777,-91.165237&sspn=0.434175,0.852127&geocode=FbfdUAIdOe2A-ildIq8pcLzchzGhB3SE_oeiVg%3BFUyQPwIdReiQ-infVrByf4nZhzFvKUP50LGPZQ%3BFTbdQgIdu6-W-imxqCIrfp_ZhzFqKM227qBA1g%3BFVu1SgIdJFmS-imhe8PxxFrZhzHGbr7m2DQyag%3BFbfdUAIdOe2A-ildIq8pcLzchzGhB3SE_oeiVg&gl=us&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=11&via=1,3&t=m&z=10

 Good on ya, don't let others derail yer ride!