Bill Sowers
Member
The "Loop the Lakes" Trip is over and we all made it back in good shape.
3,221 miles covered in 9 days. 4 Yamaha FJR1300's (2 '06's, 1 '05, 1 '03)
and 1 BMW K1200gt ('03). 3 of the 5 had CB radios so we could stay in contact reasonably well.
We left Princeton, WV on Aug 28th in good weather but that turned
into a downpour around Parkersburg, WV. Traffic was not bad and we
followed I77 to the very northern end and picked up I90 at Cleveland and
proceeded toward Buffalo. At about 500 miles we called it a day and got a
motel room near Erie, PA. It was still raining the next morning as we headed
along Lake Erie (Lake #1) toward Niagara Falls were we stopped for lunch at a Howard
Johnson's. The plans were go see the falls but none of us had any idea how
the best way to do it. I spotted a Grey line Bus terminal right next door
and after talking to the manager it became apparent the best way would be to
take a tour, which we did. We got rooms at the HJ's, parked the bikes,
unloaded our stuff and caught the bus. The tour was great and we got to see
far more than had we went on our own but since this is a motorcycle report,
I'll stick to that. We did take a gaggle of pictures though.
After breakfast, and on a beautiful morning, we hit the road again. Clearing
Canadian customs, we proceeded on up the Queen Elizabeth Way toward Toronto
along Lake Ontario (Lake #2). We intended to hit route 400 north. I made a mistake by
not continuing on far enough east and never got to route 400 before we
turned back to the west, thinking I had gone too far and missed it. No big
deal (NBD), we were just riding and having fun anyway and none of us had
ever been there so we just continued on to Guelph, OT and took off north on
route 6 to Owen Sound arriving in the late afternoon. Owen Sound is very pretty and on Georgian Bay which is a part of Lake Huron (Lake #3). After more pictures, the group headed east on route 26 to connect with route 400 near Barrie, OT., where we turned north toward Sudbury, OT., and began looking for a motel since it was dark and turning cold. Selection was slim so we opted for a little quaint (cheap) one but it did have a truck stop restaurant nearby which was OK.
A chilly morning (41 degrees) made us dig for more clothes and turn on any electrics we had. My grips and jacket felt real good. My friend's electric seat and grips on the beemer were very welcome also. At Sudbury we started removing the heavy clothes, had lunch and started looking for route 17 west. Traffic caused a disruption of the group but the CB's allowed us to get back together quickly and we all proceeded west toward Sault Ste. Marie, OT. Route 17 is the Trans Canadian Highway that runs from the east coast to the west coast across Canada and it is absolutely beautiful. It is two lanes but has many three lane passing areas. Traffic moves along smartly...to say the least.
We were now along the upper shore of Lake Superior (Lake #4) and the scenery is spectacular. Every few miles there are signs telling people to watch for moose but look as we might, we never saw a one. One big black bear with two cubs did come up on the road from the left side and right in the middle of our group. I was running 5th and saw them coming and yelled on the CB, "bear, bear". Our third rider had to swerve to miss her. The cubs baled back over the bank so momma stopped and took off back with them. Exciting stuff. Our third rider was the only one with "deer whistles" on his bike so maybe this had something to do with her stopping, I don't know, but she did. Later some deer ran across the road in front of us and they all stopped when he got close, looked, and then took off. Who knows? We found rooms for the night somewhere around Frater, OT, where rounds of blackberry brandy where consumed and very much enjoyed.
The morning began an absolute perfect day with some puffy clouds and a very blue sky. The temperature was “riding weather perfect” also. We were now at the top of Lake Superior at Terrace Bay and headed down the west side toward Thunder Bay. Magnificent vistas in all directions with hills, lakes, rivers, rock cliffs, bogs and islands everywhere. The group stopped many times to take it all in and snap many, many pictures. I had forgotten it was now Friday and Labor Day weekend so the motels had filled up fast..Finally, after coming back into the US at Grand Portage, MN we found a nice motel off the beaten path at Grand Marais, MN around 10:30 PM.
Again, another perfect weather day and we hit Duluth, MN., in time for breakfast/lunch at the Country Cooking. I had wanted to show the guys the Aerostitch store and after searching around a bit we finally found it. It an’t pretty but very functional and the guys that work there know their stuff. Compete outfits, jackets, bags and misc items were purchased. Good products sell themselves and a trip to Aerostitch is worth the discount and travel.
Back on the road we hit route 2 and followed it all the way across Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of MI, the shore of Lake Michigan, (Lake #5) the Mackinaw Bridge and I75 south. Off the bridge, traffic was flying and 90 mph was not uncommon. I75 led us to route 20 and Ohio. Continuing on southeast we crossed Ohio to route 250 and stayed on it through small towns and country side to Strasburg, OH and I77. We had done 408 miles, it was late and it was another 284 miles home so we stopped for the night at the Ramada Inn and again ate at another Country Cooking. A beer or two made it complete.
Morning brought rain in the forecast so we dressed accordingly and headed south on I77. An uneventful, wet ride brought us into Princeton at 1:00 PM where all the wives were waiting for us at my house and we partake of some Jocelyn’s Blackberry Brandy and finger snacks to celebrate a successful ride. Pictures, laughter and stories abound as a great time was had by all.
Looks like Montana next year….Maybe even Hyder, AK…..Will keep you posted…
Points:
Gas in Canada sucks…$1.00 +/- per liter and 3.8 liters/gallon = nearly $3.60 USD/gallon (with estrange rate)
Exchange rate sucks…$1.00 USD = $1.10 Canadian
Country = Beautiful
People = Beautiful
Trip = Beautiful
3,221 miles covered in 9 days. 4 Yamaha FJR1300's (2 '06's, 1 '05, 1 '03)
and 1 BMW K1200gt ('03). 3 of the 5 had CB radios so we could stay in contact reasonably well.
We left Princeton, WV on Aug 28th in good weather but that turned
into a downpour around Parkersburg, WV. Traffic was not bad and we
followed I77 to the very northern end and picked up I90 at Cleveland and
proceeded toward Buffalo. At about 500 miles we called it a day and got a
motel room near Erie, PA. It was still raining the next morning as we headed
along Lake Erie (Lake #1) toward Niagara Falls were we stopped for lunch at a Howard
Johnson's. The plans were go see the falls but none of us had any idea how
the best way to do it. I spotted a Grey line Bus terminal right next door
and after talking to the manager it became apparent the best way would be to
take a tour, which we did. We got rooms at the HJ's, parked the bikes,
unloaded our stuff and caught the bus. The tour was great and we got to see
far more than had we went on our own but since this is a motorcycle report,
I'll stick to that. We did take a gaggle of pictures though.
After breakfast, and on a beautiful morning, we hit the road again. Clearing
Canadian customs, we proceeded on up the Queen Elizabeth Way toward Toronto
along Lake Ontario (Lake #2). We intended to hit route 400 north. I made a mistake by
not continuing on far enough east and never got to route 400 before we
turned back to the west, thinking I had gone too far and missed it. No big
deal (NBD), we were just riding and having fun anyway and none of us had
ever been there so we just continued on to Guelph, OT and took off north on
route 6 to Owen Sound arriving in the late afternoon. Owen Sound is very pretty and on Georgian Bay which is a part of Lake Huron (Lake #3). After more pictures, the group headed east on route 26 to connect with route 400 near Barrie, OT., where we turned north toward Sudbury, OT., and began looking for a motel since it was dark and turning cold. Selection was slim so we opted for a little quaint (cheap) one but it did have a truck stop restaurant nearby which was OK.
A chilly morning (41 degrees) made us dig for more clothes and turn on any electrics we had. My grips and jacket felt real good. My friend's electric seat and grips on the beemer were very welcome also. At Sudbury we started removing the heavy clothes, had lunch and started looking for route 17 west. Traffic caused a disruption of the group but the CB's allowed us to get back together quickly and we all proceeded west toward Sault Ste. Marie, OT. Route 17 is the Trans Canadian Highway that runs from the east coast to the west coast across Canada and it is absolutely beautiful. It is two lanes but has many three lane passing areas. Traffic moves along smartly...to say the least.
We were now along the upper shore of Lake Superior (Lake #4) and the scenery is spectacular. Every few miles there are signs telling people to watch for moose but look as we might, we never saw a one. One big black bear with two cubs did come up on the road from the left side and right in the middle of our group. I was running 5th and saw them coming and yelled on the CB, "bear, bear". Our third rider had to swerve to miss her. The cubs baled back over the bank so momma stopped and took off back with them. Exciting stuff. Our third rider was the only one with "deer whistles" on his bike so maybe this had something to do with her stopping, I don't know, but she did. Later some deer ran across the road in front of us and they all stopped when he got close, looked, and then took off. Who knows? We found rooms for the night somewhere around Frater, OT, where rounds of blackberry brandy where consumed and very much enjoyed.
The morning began an absolute perfect day with some puffy clouds and a very blue sky. The temperature was “riding weather perfect” also. We were now at the top of Lake Superior at Terrace Bay and headed down the west side toward Thunder Bay. Magnificent vistas in all directions with hills, lakes, rivers, rock cliffs, bogs and islands everywhere. The group stopped many times to take it all in and snap many, many pictures. I had forgotten it was now Friday and Labor Day weekend so the motels had filled up fast..Finally, after coming back into the US at Grand Portage, MN we found a nice motel off the beaten path at Grand Marais, MN around 10:30 PM.
Again, another perfect weather day and we hit Duluth, MN., in time for breakfast/lunch at the Country Cooking. I had wanted to show the guys the Aerostitch store and after searching around a bit we finally found it. It an’t pretty but very functional and the guys that work there know their stuff. Compete outfits, jackets, bags and misc items were purchased. Good products sell themselves and a trip to Aerostitch is worth the discount and travel.
Back on the road we hit route 2 and followed it all the way across Wisconsin to the Upper Peninsula of MI, the shore of Lake Michigan, (Lake #5) the Mackinaw Bridge and I75 south. Off the bridge, traffic was flying and 90 mph was not uncommon. I75 led us to route 20 and Ohio. Continuing on southeast we crossed Ohio to route 250 and stayed on it through small towns and country side to Strasburg, OH and I77. We had done 408 miles, it was late and it was another 284 miles home so we stopped for the night at the Ramada Inn and again ate at another Country Cooking. A beer or two made it complete.
Morning brought rain in the forecast so we dressed accordingly and headed south on I77. An uneventful, wet ride brought us into Princeton at 1:00 PM where all the wives were waiting for us at my house and we partake of some Jocelyn’s Blackberry Brandy and finger snacks to celebrate a successful ride. Pictures, laughter and stories abound as a great time was had by all.
Looks like Montana next year….Maybe even Hyder, AK…..Will keep you posted…
Points:
Gas in Canada sucks…$1.00 +/- per liter and 3.8 liters/gallon = nearly $3.60 USD/gallon (with estrange rate)
Exchange rate sucks…$1.00 USD = $1.10 Canadian
Country = Beautiful
People = Beautiful
Trip = Beautiful
