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[QUOTE=manicmechanic;536251]I did the tour on a weekend back in '89 when it was called something else. Stayed in Wawa overnight, place with a loon on the roof. Did the trip in July, woke up to frost on the bike. I suggest stopping to enjoy the scenery.[/QUOTE]
Now that we have Global Warming no need to be concerned about frost ever here in Minnesota and never in July in Canada anymore either.
[QUOTE=redclfco;536227]The decision is made to B&B the trip.[/QUOTE]
Well, I had some good camping areas to suggest, but no B&B's. Still, I would like to suggest you make a stop and check out Aguasabon Falls, near Terrace Bay, ON. If you are travelling west to east on HWY 17 in Canada, there is a white sign with red lettering that says "Waterfall" with an arrow on the right side of the road. There is a short service road (maybe 1km or less and it's paved and curvy) that leads back to it - very easy to get to. The waterfall drops into a canyon and runs straight out to Lake Superior (visible in the distance).
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[QUOTE=jdmetzger;536259]Well, I had some good camping areas to suggest, but no B&B's. Still, I would like to suggest you make a stop and check out Aguasabon Falls, near Terrace Bay, ON. If you are travelling west to east on HWY 17 in Canada, there is a white sign with red lettering that says "Waterfall" with an arrow on the right side of the road. There is a short service road (maybe 1km or less and it's paved and curvy) that leads back to it - very easy to get to. The waterfall drops into a canyon and runs straight out to Lake Superior (visible in the distance).
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This is the kind of stuff I was looking for! Thanks Josh! We will be going through mid July...
The Willows Inn B&B in Rossport, ON. Very nice and reasonably priced. Good restaurant next door - Serendipity Garden Cafe and Guest House. Their guest house is a few blocks away from the cafe but very nice as well. Don't know about pricing at the guest house. The Willows Inn let us put the bikes in their garage for the night.
Wawa Motor Inn in Wawa. Nice restaurant and lounge. Typical hotel room. As I recall, resonable with regard to cost. You can park the bike outside your door.
We stayed at Fitger's in Duluth the last night for $100. Huge room and Duluth is a fun place, but that may be too close to home for you.
Don
Ouimet Canyon is one of the best stops you can make.
I did the Lake circumnavigation last July. It is some of the most dramatic scenery between the coasts. Highly recommend it. From Nipigon I headed north to Nakina. Immediately out of Nipigon you pass by the "Palisades", very unique Devil's Tower like formations, not as big but very dramatic and VERY old. In Nakina the pavement ends. There is only one motel and one restaurant. There are three schools in one building, French, English, and Original Peoples. The main function of the "town" is the airport which serves as transportation to points farther north. Two miles north of the airport is a sea plane base, sort of an airport annex. Also on the lake are Lodges, but no lodging. It is there that you catch a sea plane to the lodges! Oh yeah, I went counterclockwise. Two miles out of the Canadian Sault, this was in broad daylight at about 3:00 P.M. there was a black bear walking along the road. Don't miss Aerotech in Minn. Keep it gassed up. A great ride.
[QUOTE=womanridge;534891]Oops, forgot the other picture.[ATTACH]21155[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
I did eat here last July, 2009. I had grilled Elk in a blueberry/red wine sauce. Yes!!!
I could go on forever. You will see little figures along side the road usually on a low stone cut through a hill. The figures are little stacks of rock, sometimes made to look like little men a foot high or so. They are markers put there by the Original Peoples. Way cool.
I've wanted to get up to the UP and check out this brew-pub. Has anyone else been there? Thought I'd throw it in as a suggestion to try it.
[url]http://www.superiorsights.com/tahqfallsbrew/[/url]
Look scenic too. It would be near the shipwreck museum that was mentioned earlier. Near Paradise, MI. Some nice riding around there and I would also recommend the museum. Near Whitefish Point (OK, ON Whitefish Point) which is where The Fitz was trying to get to when it sank.
Gilly
Thanks, everybody for some GREAT suggestions! The route is coming together, slowly but surely! Keep em coming, and thanks again-in advance!
I did this trip last August on a GS650 by myself and had a fantastic trip. Don't miss heading to Copper Harbor, MI - a great ride up to the top of Brockaway Mountain. I rode from Houghton that morning to have breakfast in Copper Harbor. I don't remember the name of the place but it was right where the road tees in town. Many great sights to see on the entire loop. I did it clockwise - basically started at Paradise MI (after riding up from Kalamazoo the day before) and followed every two lane I could find that ran close to the lake. If you are looking for dirt try heading up to Crisp Point near Paradise. An old lighthouse is at the end of the road and hardly anyone makes the trip. I also enjoyed the ride up highway 13 out of Ashland WI. Fog in the morning in Canada made it very interesting and beautiful. Watch out for the logging trucks and Moose thru that area as well. Many other great sites to see if you are not restricted on time. Have a great trip.
[QUOTE=2beers;539140]Hello Red,
How long are you planning for this trip?
Is this a GS thing or are you planning on staying on pavement?[/QUOTE]
For the most part the dream is shaping up to include pavement and sissy gravel type of trip-SO FAR, however it's funny thing about planning trips; they can !poof! change direction as easy as the wind blows...
I keep getting information from people that are about destinations off the beaten path type stuff which may lead to an interesting trip!
I used to know many people that would come to Colorado, drive or ride up I-70 to Vail or Glenwood, or make the summit of Trail Ridge Road as their destination, maybe throw in a day trip to Colorado Springs and then exclaim "I've seen Colorado"...no, you have only [I]driven by Colorado [/I]if that's the extent of the trip!
I want more from Lake Superior.
Personally, I love to go visit old places, undisturbed or at least not crowded with Le Barons and Windstars. and brand new FLT's. Old lighthouses, Old oak barns with the grand roofs and cupolas, graveyards and other places that represent the history of the place is what turns me on as must sees in the places I'm passing through!
Thanks, everyone for these ongoing ideas of places to go.
There is a nice lighthouse in Two Harbors, MN:
[IMG]http://www.jdmetzger.com/img/rides/jamesbay3.jpg[/IMG]
There is also a nice view at a pull-off JUST before you get to the MN-CA border crossing (sadly this photo is a little washed out):
[IMG]http://www.jdmetzger.com/img/rides/jamesbay6.jpg[/IMG]
About 1/2 south of the Canadian border in Minnesota there is a ranger station on the north side of HWY 61. (Pigeon River?) You can walk a path there that goes about 1/2 to 3/4 mile into the woods where there is a beautiful waterfall.
Did the trip last september after labor day, one of the best trips ever. Did it counterclockwise from east to west. No traffic to speak of, great scenary, nice people. Check out Mackinaw Bridge, Sault Ste. Marie locks, small trading posts, tons of little lakes and rivers, great towns, roads and people. Also stopped at Aerostich in Duluth. Motels are bit more expensive in Canada. Smoked fish were my main diet, lots of stands that sell them. Get ready to take many, many pictures.