Riding Wisconsin and Michigan, Ideas?

[ottobot]

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?

[ChrisK]

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.

[IZ]

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

'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.

[nllm_oo_mlln]

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. 

[ChrisK]

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. 

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?

[nllm_oo_mlln]

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.

"Eastern side of the UP by the second night, southwestern Michigan by night three"

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 .

[ChrisK]

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.

[ChrisK]

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:

[SpikeC]

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