This bike trip starts August 3rd in Saute Ste' Marie - Canada. The trip will proceed north and west along the northern shore of Lake Superior, thru Thunder Bay to Diluth Minn. and then east along the north shore of Michigan's Upper Penninsula (south shore of Lake Superior) back to Saute Ste' Marie. The last leg wil be south to Torch lake Michigan. Total trip miles 1,355 and 20 days.
Monday, August 22, 2011
The End
The Griffis picked me up at the The Driftwood Inn and we promptly started the celebration! All and all it was a wonderful time and the trip has given me new appreciation for this region. Already starting to think about next year's adventure which will be Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay in late July. Anyone interested in doing any or all of the ride let me know.
My next adventure starts September 8th, with the Not Dead Yet gang to ride from PDX to and around Crater Lake. I'll start a new blog for those who want to follow what five over 50 guys can do besides sit and watch TV.
Jeff Reaves
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Sunday, August 21, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Barrell house
Day 18- 105 miles
The campground tonight is the best one of the entire trip. Although there are no showers, Lake Superior is at the foot of my tent! With road grime and salt caked to my body after the long miles and sun, I plunged into the water and enjoyed a reasonably warm lake and 2 ft surf. Ahhh feel like a new man.
Since I'm pretty much done with the ride here are some facts of the ride:
Total days riding 17 plus 1 rest day.
Total miles 1,360 (average 80 mi/day
Camped 14 out of 18 days
Motel for 4 days
Two - 1/2 days of rain
Ate 30 packages of Quaker Oats
Drank 16 cups of coffee at camp
Average beers per night 2 - I think?!
Ice cream/ Blizzards -6
Power bars - 16
Calories burned per day 4,500
Burned 22 oz of stove fuel
1 worn out tire and zero flats
Times had to get up a pee at night- 2
Bear and moose sighting - 0 (bummer)
Best moment - talking in camp at night
Worst moment - Wally's World (Eagle Adventures)
Jeff Reaves
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Friday, August 19, 2011
Grand Sable sand dunes
Day 17 - 55 miles of rain
vineyard and are promoting their wine in the UP. The name is Sarver Winery.
Grand Marais has a nice harbor and is the jump-off point for those hiking the Nat'l Lakeshore. This area had a very large Pinery and huge log rafts use to line the shores. In the winter this area is snowmobile central!
Jeff Reaves
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Thursday, August 18, 2011
Day 16 - day of rest
Jeff Reaves
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Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Day 15 - 78 miles of beachfront
Marquette is a wonderful town with a well developed downtown and waterfront. The road out of Marquette to Munising is along the National Seashore park and is gorgeous. People where out enjoying the weather - sunbathing and swimming.
I had met two cyclist early in the day who were also circling Lake Superior. We talked briefly but I was in the zone and outpaced them early. I stopped for breakfast and they continued on- but by 2 pm I had caught them. We rode together in the afternoon and enjoyed the ride into Munising. Parted company at the Dairy Queen where I enjoyed a Cookie Dough Blizzard. They rode to a camp 5 miles outside of town.
At DQ I met two grandparents (in their 60's) each with their own motorcycles doing a three day tour with their 6 and 8 yr old grandkids on the back of their bikes! How cool is that! Biggest issue was to make sure kids did not fall asleep on the bike.
I decided to find a motel since I'm staying over to kayak tomorrow. I've signed up for 7 hr kayak along Pictured Rocks - should be fun!l
Jeff Reaves
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Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Day 14 - 101 miles
Houghton, until the 1920's was a hugh copper mining town but like most things in this neck of the woods the town has had to reinvent itself into tourist interests. Based on my last two days, this area has to have the fewest teeth per capita and the most rusted out pickups!
The ride out of Houghton was along Grand Traverse Bay (some of you may also know there is a second Grand Traverse Bay near Traverse City) was flat and beautiful. Stopped at a rodeside stand to buy bananas, wild blueberries and tomatoes - when you bike its all about the food.
The road turned inland with a serious 10 mile climb and head winds. At this point I did not expect to go a 100 miles, especially at my meager pace of 10 mph. The road finally leveled out and the wind shifted. Rolled into camp and started my routine of setup, cleanup and eatup. Had a steady flow of visitors tonight who all biked and wanted details of my trip and we exchanged bike tales. Looking forward to Marquette and Munising tomorrow.
Jeff Reaves
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Bridge over Keweenaw portage canal
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bio-mass furnaces
Day 13 - 85 miles wind, rain & sun
Also had my first patsy if the trip! For those not familiar with this wonderful food group check out this website.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty
Jeff Reaves
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Day 13
Jeff Reaves
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Sunday, August 14, 2011
Day 12 - 55miles and a day to clean
Jeff Reaves
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Saturday, August 13, 2011
Day 11 - 88 miles of country roads
Jeff Reaves
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Friday, August 12, 2011
Day 10 - 60 easy miles
Jeff Reaves
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
Day 7 - 90 miles of headwinds
Biggest news for the day-
Bikes through two tunnels
Can now see the south side of the lake! - tomorrow is the big turn to the east!
Jeff Reaves
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Day 8 - 85 miles back in the USA
The ride out of town was tricky since HWY 61 was closed to bikes and peds. Thank goodness for the map function on the iPhone to help me navigate another route. The detour proved to be a pleasant ride in the farmland around Thunder Bay. The legs today just didn't have their normal zip and every turn of the crank was a chore. I made the 40 miles to the border by noon and really wasn't looking forward to the next 50 miles.
Right after the border crossing was a climb up Josephine Mountain. The strenuous climb finally got the legs to WAKE UP and even with a steady headwind I felt much stronger. Of course the Chesapeake Pie Company at the bottom of Josephine Mt helped with a roast beef sandwich, coke and cherry pie with ice cream - nice!!!
Rolled into Grand Marais, which has a wonderful little downtown and harbor for sailors on the lake. I'm stay in a city run campground which is pretty well run and has a nice view of the harbor. My neighbor Carl (on motorbike) is a former kayak guide in these parts - so he is giving me some great information on stops along my route.
Jeff Reaves
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Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Thunder Bay
Day 7 - only 30 miles to TB
Jeff Reaves
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Monday, August 8, 2011
Day 6 - 108 miles!
Needless to say I felt like Chevy Chase at Wally's World! "what I've just pedaled 80 miles and your closed!"
Anyway the next campground was another 25 miles up the road. I pulled in at 9:00pm just ahead of an evening
thundershower but amazingly enough I enjoyed the day.
I've reach my most northern point in Nipagon and am now heading SW toward Diluth.
Jeff Reaves
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Sunday, August 7, 2011
Day 5 to Rossport - 75 miles
The day was forecast for rain and I mentally had prepared for a somewhat wet day. But the clouds parted and blessed me with temps in the high 70's and an rare 10mph east wind. Today also had me returning to the lakeshore which brought beautiful views to distant islands in Lake Superior. Also today marks northern most shores Superior and tomorrow I will reach my furthest point north before heading down to Thunder Bay.
Meet some fun folks today and my 1st recumbent rider if the trip. Murray Skelton is from Trononto and started his trip in Vancouver. Chatted for quite awhile - his trip had him abandon his pull along trailer and exchange the wheels with those on this bike because of failed bike rims. Hard to leave a $250 trailer on the side of the with gear that you can't fit on your bike.
Last night I had Wayne the "Chip Truck Driver" visit me with his two boys 4 and 8 years old. They are locals in Marathon and for fun drive thru the campground. Needless to say not much happening in Marathon. Anyway he gave lots of information about moose, bears and timber wolves. He said I'd see lots if moose today - well I saw zero. His information that timber wolves and black bears won't bother you in not valid!
End of day took a nice dip in Superior- ohh it's cold! Hoping for a clear night of stars. Who knows I might even see the lights if the Bocci Ball Court at Torch Lake!
Jeff Reaves
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Saturday, August 6, 2011
Day 4 - 60 miles and wet
Jeff Reaves
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Day 3 - late post.
Jeff Reaves
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Friday, August 5, 2011
Wawa landmark
Day 3- 85 miles and 100 degrees
Jeff Reaves
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Day 2 - 85 miles and 10 hours
The scenery was worth the effort, great vistas and shore line along the way. Agawa Rock Pictograps and Old Woman Bay were the highlight of the Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Jeff Reaves
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Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Day one - 60 miles, 7 hr ride.
The US dollar is worth less than the Canadian dollar.
All the women talk like Sharah Pallin.
There is alot of wilderness in this neck of the woods.
Jeff Reaves
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