Planing for Next Season

[TriggerT]

I am trying to come up with someplace to take a 4 day, about 2500 round trip mile, ride to for next season.

I am looking for ideas, and want to hit some nice roads, instead of the normal crap we have around here in the Midwest. Since it probably will be during the months of June or July, I was thinking of heading North, just to try and stay cool.

Any ideas on where to go from the Northern IL area? I already know that heading West means at least 1 full day of flat crappy roads.

 

[odot]

there's a little meeting in july or so....I hear has lots of nice roads an what-not.....may want to check that out.

 

[TriggerT]

I had thought about that "Little Meeting," but I will only be able to get away for 4 days, so unless I want to run a SS1K both out and back I wouldn't be able to make it.

 

[airboss]

Great Lakes Tour?

 

[odot]

the meeting is only three days me thinks....and 2500 miles you should be able to do in 2 days easy. That would give you two extra days to powder your monkey butt with tequila and col' beer.

 

[rickcorwn]

A little jaunt around the Great Lakes would fit the criteria. If you wanted to keep track of receipts and stuff you could sent it to the IBA info here

Another idea I've been tossing around is a Grand Marais Trifecta. A ride to Grand Marais, MN - Grand Marais, MI and Grand Marais Manitoba. I know there's good beer at all three Grand Marais. :drinks:

 

[jwilly]

My vote is NAFO, Squeeze one more day in and your there.

JW

 

[airboss]

Great Lakes Tour?

OOPS! forgot The linkie first time.

 

[TriggerT]

I will forward my wife's contact info to all of you to talk her into letting me go to NAFO. Keep in mind that I will be leaving her by herself to take care of:

A 2 year son.

A 9 month old Daughter

A dog

A cat

2 horses

 

[Wolfhound]

Sounds like you're in ! I'm sure a day without you may not hurt as bad as She thinks it would. Just don't let Her get too use to it.. :dntknw:

 

[Murph]

Below is a variation of a ride that I've been considering taking around Lake Superior. My personal plan is to take another day or two and visit Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota.

Day 1: 550-600 mile day on scenic route through Eastern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Sault St. Marie

Day 2: 550 mile day around northern shore of Lake Superior to Grand Portage, Minnesota (with a brief stop at Pukaskwa National Park)

Day 3: Take ferry and spend day at Isle Royale National Park. Return on ferry and ride 150 miles to Duluth, MN.

Day 4: 500-600 mile day on scenic route through Western Wisconsin and returning to Northern Illinois.

Total estimated mileage: 1700 - 1900

Here is a rough map of the route but note that it only reflects main roads and not my true plan.

As the freezing temps are here, it's fun to think of this!

 

[Murph]

I will forward my wife's contact info to all of you to talk her into letting me go to NAFO. Keep in mind that I will be leaving her by herself to take care of:
A 2 year son.

A 9 month old Daughter

A dog

A cat

2 horses

Well, at least the cat can take care of itself!

 

[TriggerT]

Below is a variation of a ride that I've been considering taking around Lake Superior. My personal plan is to take another day or two and visit Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota.
Day 1: 550-600 mile day on scenic route through Eastern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula to Sault St. Marie

Day 2: 550 mile day around northern shore of Lake Superior to Grand Portage, Minnesota (with a brief stop at Pukaskwa National Park)

Day 3: Take ferry and spend day at Isle Royale National Park. Return on ferry and ride 150 miles to Duluth, MN.

Day 4: 500-600 mile day on scenic route through Western Wisconsin and returning to Northern Illinois.

Total estimated mileage: 1700 - 1900

Here is a rough map of the route but note that it only reflects main roads and not my true plan.

As the freezing temps are here, it's fun to think of this!

This is kind of what I was thinking about doing, but down through the main body of MI, and then back into Northern IL. Defiantly a possibility.

Thanks Murph.

 

[stryg8r]

Add highway 1 from Silver Bay to Ely. And since your that far Norh you might as well keep going to I-Falls, and then take Hwy 71 through the Souix Narrows to Kenora. Great road!

 

[Bluebullet]

Add highway 1 from Silver Bay to Ely. And since your that far Norh you might as well keep going to I-Falls, and then take Hwy 71 through the Souix Narrows to Kenora. Great road!

+1 a most definitely good road. Watch for moose though....you have to have the screen down and aim carefully to go underneath them.

 

[JR'SFJR]

Rode around Big Lake Superior a couple of years ago. The Canada side west of Sault Ste Marie is really nice going toward Thunder Bay. Green Bay to Green Bay was about 1400-1500 miles!!!!! Left near Green Bay one morning, met my son in the U.P.(from Mpls). Stayed the first night west of Sault Ste Marie, second nite near Duluth, then back to the relatives. May need a passport soon? Drivers license worked the last two summers getting through customs.

This summer, I left WI to home to FL. I diverted through your area down to the Ozarks to visit a friend se of Branson Mo. The big hills or small mountains make for some good riding also.

You could also ride one hard day down to the Smokies area and play in the mountains for two days. A few years ago, my son came out of Green Bay and I came out of FL meeting at Deals Gap late afternoon. Its about 800 for me, little less for him? Then there is lots of good roads around. I get in that area every summer. Its wonderful.

 

[RacinRay]

How about the BRP, Skyline Drive, Deals Gap and the Cherohala?

 

[markjenn]

I'd start by reducing mileage. I've never fathomed why one would willingingly subject oneself to back-to-back 600+mile days, at least not when you don't have to be somewhere or unless it's some kind of challenge.

On two-lane roads, it's virtually impossible to maintain much more than a 55 mph rolling average over the course of a day, so a 650-mile day is 12+ hours in the saddle. Gas stops and meal breaks are at least another two hours, so you're starting off with a 6AM-8PM day, even without any serious sight-seeing or smell-the-roses stops. If this sounds fun for four days in a row, they you're cut from a different cloth than me.

- Mark

 

[Murph]

If this sounds fun for four days in a row, they you're cut from a different cloth than me.

You hit the nail on the head. It's a matter of preference. I stop and smell the roses when I ride with my wife. However, when I ride alone, I like to cover alot of ground and only make brief stops as needed.

Dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks.