Circle Superior

[Tom A.]

I've always wanted to ride around Superior, and my wife is going to spend some time with her mother this summer, so I thought it might be a nice opportunity to let my new '08 stretch it's legs. So I have questions from those of you who have done this.

How many days would you recommend at a minimum? I having the toughest time judging the time to ride over the top from Grand Marais, MN to Sault St. Marie, MI

Favorite spots to eat, sleep, ponder the meaning of live, etc...

It the top half even worth the effort? I know the UP and 'sconny and know it's great riding. I would presume it's as nice in Canada.

And finally... Anyone wanna come along? I'll post the dates here one my wife decides when to go to visit mom.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rickcorwn]

I've always wanted to ride around Superior, and my wife is going to spend some time with her mother this summer, so I thought it might be a nice opportunity to let my new '08 stretch it's legs. So I have questions from those of you who have done this.
How many days would you recommend at a minimum? I having the toughest time judging the time to ride over the top from Grand Marais, MN to Sault St. Marie, MI

Well, it's just over 1,000 mile so you could do it in a day but I don't think that's what your looking for Four or five days is a good smell the flowers time frame.

Favorite spots to eat, sleep, ponder the meaning of live, etc...

There's lots to do and see all along the MN North Shore, Grand Marais makes a great place to stay but it's gotten a bit spendy lately. Look for State and Provence Parks and there are plenty of scenic overlooks all around the Lake. Wawa is a nice town and so is Terrance Bay. In the UP there's Grand Marais, Pictured Rocks Nat. Shoreline, Houghton and the Library brew pub, Copper Harbor, M26, Brockway Mtn, Pocipine Mtn etc...

It the top half even worth the effort? I know the UP and 'sconny and know it's great riding. I would presume it's as nice in Canada.

From Thunder bay to Wawa it' pretty lonley out there. It makes the UP look down right over populated. It is pretty but there aren't roads and side trips like WI or the UP.

And finally... Anyone wanna come along? I'll post the dates here one my wife decides when to go to visit mom.
Thanks in advance.

Post it up here! Sounds interesting to me but it as always depends on the dates.

 

[Wicked Webby]

Tom,

What dates you got in mind?

 

[wheatonFJR]

I haven't been on the north side of Superior...but I have heard others rave about the scenery. Maybe I'm remembering wrong...but that's what I thought I heard. I'm sure some canuckistanis might be able to help..if you tempt therm with beer.

google: around the lakes

and see what you find...

 

[jmdaniel]

I'll be in that general area about a month from now. Due to most of the responses to my earlier question on routes South from the Twin Cities:

Linky

we've decided to go North. We'll be heading east from the Twin Cities, with the first night spent in Green Bay, so I can fulfill my lifelong dream of pi**ing on Lameblow Field! :yahoo: The next day, we'll scoot around a bit in Door County, but mainly start up to the UP, where we'll spend the next couple of days, before heading back, with one more overnight somewhere in Northern 'sconnie. It's not a trip around Superior, but I'm sure you could tag along if you wanted to. The only downfall is that I would be lusting after your FJR. Mine will be in the garage here in Texas, while I am riding this:

Hey, my buddy works for Polaris, and beggars can't be choosers, but I'd rather be on a Feejer...

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

The towns of Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie have a sort of international feel, at least to a mid-westerner -- Wawa, not so much. The road/s linking them, 11 and 17, is a very good motorcycle ride (long...).

Thunder Bay has some interesting tourist spots: Kakabeka Falls, Old Fort William, the ski hill/ski jump area are a few.

 

[Tom A.]

Tom,
What dates you got in mind?

My wife's thinking of the weekend of July 12th to visit her mom. I'm trying to time the trip with this visit since she's really not interested in riding that far on the back. I have to pin her down though. As soon as she picks a date, I'll post a proposed schedule here.

For Day One I was thinking Twin Cities to Grand Marais. Sleep at the Hotel/Casino up there.

The last day I thought we could make it home (Twin Cities) from Houghton/Hancock. I know a nice hotel and brew pub up there from a recent college visit with my kid.

The rest I hope to fill in with advice from the forum. I'll also try some route planning on the AAA website tonight.

 

[Tom A.]

I'll be in that general area about a month from now. Due to most of the responses to my earlier question on routes South from the Twin Cities:
Linky

we've decided to go North. We'll be heading east from the Twin Cities, with the first night spent in Green Bay, so I can fulfill my lifelong dream of pi**ing on Lameblow Field! :yahoo: The next day, we'll scoot around a bit in Door County, but mainly start up to the UP, where we'll spend the next couple of days, before heading back, with one more overnight somewhere in Northern 'sconnie. It's not a trip around Superior, but I'm sure you could tag along if you wanted to. The only downfall is that I would be lusting after your FJR. Mine will be in the garage here in Texas, while I am riding this:

Hey, my buddy works for Polaris, and beggars can't be choosers, but I'd rather be on a Feejer...

Hey we'd let anyone come alone, particularly on a Minnesota made bike. I actually think it's made in Iowa. Anyway, even though I was thinking of going clockwise around, perhaps counter clockwise would allow more folks from WI and MI and other places to join us for the longest segments over the top side of the lake. I didn't anticipate this much interest. Really have to pin the wife down on dates.

 

[steam4]

There is a Lake Superior Magazine that would be helpful for planning (can't remember the exact name). I've also read a couple of circle tour guides that I stumbled over in a bookstore.

This website might be of interest, as its a rally for all motorcycles to tour the lake going counter-clockwise, and leaving on the 13th of July from the Duluth area:

https://www.wolfsheadrally.com/main.htm

I'm envious as this is something I've had on my bucket list for a long time. I was stationed in Duluth from '71 to '73 and always remembered the north shore as being stunningly beautiful...at least those few days that we weren't in a tavern :blush:

Dave

 

[Shane]

The last time I did a "Great Lakes" ride, it started out that direction.

I remember leaving Minneapolis thinking "boy, won't it be nice when we hit Duluth where the air is always nice and brisk!"

WRONG

106 degrees that day in Duluth.

Well, we were headed on to Toronto, and IIRC, the stretch from Thunder Bay to "The Sault" was about 1000 KM's, 600 miles, or, since we spent the first night in Two Harbors (add about 150 miles) before entering Canada, about 1.5 days at a comfortable, purposeful pace. Not a high speed route up there, but very scenic.

I think that the little town we overnighted in on the top of the big lake was called Beaver, Ontario. Neat little spot.

After a week, the heat broke when taking the long way home back up through the UP.

Enjoy the ride.

Shane

 

[Tom A.]

Half Baked Proposal #1 - Realize this is a plan to and from Mpls/St. Paul. Once I identify a date, it could be reversed to allow people from WI and MI to join for segments. In the meantime we'll stick with a clockwise route.

Twin Citites to Thunder Bay, ON (313 miles from Forest Lake)

Thunder Bay to Montreal River Harbour, ON (368 miles)

Montreal River Harbour to Houghton, MI (339 miles)

Houghton to Twin Cities (339 miles to Forest Lake)

There are some potentially long days in here, with not a lot of time for route deviation. We can sight see along the route, but that's about it. The big question mark here for me is Montreal River Harbour, ON. I need to research if there's any lodging there. This seems doable to me, and I'd only have to burn two of my precious vacation days.

Now I just have to sit on my wife and get her to divulge her plans so I can share a date.

 

[Tom A.]

Ok the neighbor came over and we both got all jacked up about doing this. My wife said it sounded like more fun than visiting mom, so I will be two up unless she seeks relief on the neighbor's Gold Wing. Dates and hotel stops are added as well. We are committed to the clockwise tour for reasons I won't get into here.

Here's the original plan with the dates that everyone wanted.

7/11 - Twin Citites to Thunder Bay, ON (313 miles from Forest Lake) - Best Western Crossroads Motor Inn

7/12 - Thunder Bay to Montreal River Harbour, ON (368 miles) - Twilight Resort (Cabins that sleep 4)

7/13 - Montreal River Harbour to Houghton, MI (339 miles) - Best Western Franklin Square Inn

7/14 - Houghton to Twin Cities (339 miles to Forest Lake)

The more the merrier, send me a personal message if you are interested in joining for any or all of this ride. I'm still accepting advice or questions here as well.

 

[c-zulu]

Tom, what time is your departure on 7/11 ?

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

7/12 - Thunder Bay to Montreal River Harbour, ON (368 miles) - Twilight Resort (Cabins that sleep 4)The more the merrier, send me a personal message if you are interested in joining for any or all of this ride. I'm still accepting advice or questions here as well.

I've stayed there -- rustic but quite nice (right on the lake, if it's the one I'm remembering?) -- a real vacation spot.

Don't pass-up the indigenous food offerings while in Canada: pirogies, butter tarts, etc.

 

[Tom A.]

Tom, what time is your departure on 7/11 ?

I truely haven't thought about it yet. I'd push for a shove off around 8am each day of the trip. Not brutally early (no need) but early enoguh for some sight seeing.

We could call you when we're a half hour away.

 

[c-zulu]

Looks like now I've got to work that day :angry2: I thought about meeting in Duluth and ridiing up to the border but.....

 

[Tom A.]

Looks like now I've got to work that day :angry2: I thought about meeting in Duluth and ridiing up to the border but.....

Let me know if things change.