A lap around Lake Superior

[Ole]

very nice post, love the pics and the comments, I stopped doing long camp trips on motorcycles years ago, nice to see some who still do!
Which wind screen is that on the CB, NC Deflector?

Yes. And I am not a rich man. Bike camping trips are in my budget. I could never do this if I moteled every night.


After 2 days in Canada we hit Sault Ste. Marie.It was a very busy border crossing but it was fast because they has all the lines staffed. bing we are back in the USA. Found a campground walking distance from the Soo Locks. Right on the water.



We weren't set up 5 minutes when the campground owner threatened to toss us out. Was she HOT. Our tents we still wet from a heavy dew the night before? So we moved a picnic table from an empty campsite closer to ours so we could lay everything out in the sunlight?
She did not like that one bit. We called her the nazi but not to her face.
I liked the location so we mellowed and didn't yell back at her.



Once the fur quit flying we sat on the river and watched the big ships go to the locks.





these guys had some nice northerns



it cost us $3 to cross this bridge into America



the Locks






We ate and beered at The Antlers Bar
and watched the ore boats go by as doing so it was a funky place
wonder how they got that name?











This ship was full of coal from Sandusky Ohio
As soon as they closed the locks the workers came out of their quaters and started to unlock all the hatchs. They had to unload as soon as they got through the locks on the Canada side at a big power plant.
They were moving fast.





After a few minutes see how much higher he is? opened the upper locks and boom away he went to deliver his load. No pumping of any water just gravity.





he had the 4 barrel kicked in


Ore boats went by all night long. We could hear their engines humming and they blew their horns a lot.





twas a very busy place



coming and going both ways

the old power house all hand laid bricks very intricate like





I would like to go back to that campground and stay longer just to watch the boats go by
if the nazi lady would just stay in her office that would be great

[SanPete_imp]

Nice travel report with lots of pics. The Lighthouse pic was my favorite. "The Antlers Bar" What a lovely room of death. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRMvvds6MpM
The Nazi lady shouldn't bother you as long as you don't move her picnic tables LOL.

[rboe]

When I lived in Duluth I got to go on the Stennis, a 1000'+ self unloader like you show there. Very interesting ship.

[Ole]

From Sault Ste. Marie, MI, we just high tailed it to Grand Marais, MI. It was fun in spots



We again picked up the Big Lake at Grand Marais





the restored lighthouse keepers shack





H58 is a great twisty road. It goes from Grand Marais to Munising. It is The U.P.'s version of Deals Gap. Don't miss it if you are in the area.

We then followed the lake to the Keweenaw. A point of land that juts out into Lake Superior. With Copper Harbor at the tip. This was our campsite near Calumet:



It had a dirt bike trail right behind us.



guess the lamp will have to do for a campfire tonight boys


Great views of the lake up in The Keweenaw but it was kinda touristy





The guy that owns this brewery in Copper Harbor is an ADVrider. Alas, he was closed.



would have loved to sample that Smoked Porter



my son knew a guy with a cabin on this lake but he wasn't home either.







Over to Ontonagon for one last view of Superior

[the Ferret]

Great pics ole. I have some similar from my last trip up there. Copper harbor was a dissapointment, but the road leading out of there 26? was pretty cool except for the wind blown sand. I love the UP even if there are no mountains.

[wildezt_imp]

Thank you for taking the time and sharing this with us Ole... !

[Ole]

Great pics ole. I have some similar from my last trip up there. Copper harbor was a dissapointment, but the road leading out of there 26? was pretty cool except for the wind blown sand. I love the UP even if there are no mountains.

I have been bumming around The UP for about 40 years. Different way of life up there very laid back. There are a few good roads but one has to sniff them out. Around Ralph there's a gud one, M26 along the shore up to Copper Harbor is good, US 41 coming out of Copper is good, avoid Brockway Mtn not worth it, the already mentioned H58 out of Grand Marais is good, 550 north of Marquette is short but OK, and there is a TON of good dirt around Gwinn if that is your thing. Our family had a cabin on Golden Lake near Iron River for many years, I don't think there is a road in The UP I havn't done!
The Porcupine Mtns. I used to backpack the porkies in my youth



South Boundary Rd in The Porkies is very twisty.
Don't see many of these left



Near The Porkies







We all had to work soon so sadly we had to head south.
So long lake Superior we will catch you again next year






Our old cabin near Iron River. Looks like the new owner is taking good care of her



Golden Lake where our cabin was. It is full of Lake Trout and do they ever taste good when caught through the ice



Going through Phelps WI it started to rain. Our only rain in 7 days. It lasted about a half hour and we camped in Eagle River WI at Hi Pines Resort. I ve been there before and even got my fav campsite





The red maples were all ablaze in Northrn WI. Canada the leaves were still green. Hi Pines has a bar and pizza joint and since it was near the end of the season beers and pizza were half price. 3 of us beered and ate and watched Ohio State beat Wisconsin for $32 all night! We got lucky on that.

last day was a quick 250 miles home on roads we had all done hundreds of times. So no pics.

The bikes ran great. No one texting took us out. A few close calls with deer but that's everywhere. I only checked my fuel mileage on the CB once and it got 50.2 mpg. It needs highway pegs and I have a plan for that this winter. It was a fun trip even better my son was along.