Summer Michigan Tour
 

I haven't taken an overnight motorcycle trip since 2004. This is unacceptable.

With the new year I'm given two weeks paid vacation and two weeks unpaid personal leave from work. Probably not practical to use up an entire month on the road-- though that would be amazing-- or even two full weeks, for that matter. I'm thinking one full work week plus the weekends that bookend it.

Slab it home to Flint on a Saturday and slab it back to Georgia two Sundays later. Nine days on the road, with seven available for my tour. May cut the tour to five so I have a couple days to spend with family and friends.

Obviously, I've seen a lot of Michigan already, but it's been years and I'd like to retrace some of my old routes. That said, I would also like to see some places I've yet to ride. Open to suggestions from others in the area.

There are a few routes I remember riding, but can no longer locate on the map. There is a road on the eastern side of the state (lower peninsula) that undulates up and down like a roller coaster for miles and miles, through towns and trees. Never seen anything quite like it, even in the mountains. There is also a 15-20 mile stretch of twisties somewhere north of Trout Lake (???) that I had written down for some time, but I've lost all my old notes. With very few homes, its runs along an inland lake with a little gas station in the middle (awesome venison jerky, and the fuel tank is above ground). Probably lots of others, because I used to spend many weekends wandering aimlessly. Those were the days...

I'm hoping to have some sort of standard by the summer; I currently have a guy semi-interested in trading his low-mileage ZRX1200R for my Miata. If I can't come up with anything by then, the SV will probably get the nod over the Triumph. The drone up I-75 will suck, but it will be fine once I slow it down inside Michigan.

Basic plan thus far: ride the east coast of the lower peninsula up, spend some time riding wherever between Mackinac and Keweenaw Counties (really want to make it back to Copper Harbor), ride down the west coast along Lake Michigan, and cut east from the Muskegon / Grand Haven area back to Flint. Camp as many nights as possible.

Irish Hills.

An ex-girlfriend (who was living in Lansing and spending a lot of time in Ann Arbor) once suggested I ride through Irish Hills. Never been there, good suggestion. I could hit it on my way back into Flint.

Assuming this is the area to which you're referring:

http://www.brooklynmi.com/images/map.jpg

Stockbridge, Pinkney, Hell, Whitmore Lake is a great area.

Blasphemy! I average 3-4 weeks every year on my trips, and it is very therapeutic. If I can't get at least a week away from home, then vacation isn't long enough! :lol

I'm not super familiar with Michigan, other than to say I want to ride over the Mackinac Bridge still! If you happen to ride over it, I want pics!

Yep, all the towns in this area are cool, with quality peeps.

I only get four weeks off MAX per year, and two of those are minus pay, which I typically can't afford. Taking one week on the road leaves me one week paid for individual days off throughout the year as I need them.

I've been across the bridge many times. Riding on the metal grate is an experience, especially when it's windy (when isn't it..?) and wet. Look down and you can see the water, 100+ feet below...

The upper peninsula is travel heaven to me. I haven't ridden in Alaska (yet), but parts of the U.P. are just so desolate and wild. Just me and the trees. I love my Appalachians, too, but it's different up there... no place I'd rather ride.

Memories...
 

Received a birthday greeting this morning from a forum I had forgotten. Searched my old threads and came up with this: Big U.P. Ride Next Year

I had a business plan, I was in contact with other touring agencies, I had routes mapped out, I was beginning to organize with motels and restaurants... and now I don't even remember why I quit.

It was more complicated than I had originally anticipated, and the business may not have made any money, but what a fun way to fail...

I agree the mighty mac is awesome! The UP is just that. desolate with nothing but a piece of pavement and trees. Probably just as many bears as people.

LOL I use to post on that site... too funny.

If you go sometime near the fall leaf change time frame the "tunnel of trees" (google search just that). I think its highway 131 up by Petosky. Not sure about the run on the east side of the state. Let Gas and I know when you come up we will have to make a day trip somewhere.

We were thinkin bout a couple day trips to "Copycat" cities, Brooklyn, Michigan. I know that there a few more but I can't think of them all off the top of my head.

Munising is the best town in the U.P.

119 up the NW edge is a sweet road.

Pics and stories from my trip this past summer - http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595729

Torch Lake on the NW side is pretty cool ------ Eminem and Kid Rock have property up there

The Tunnel of Trees is definitely set for my ride back down the west coast of the state. Haven't been through there since October 2003.

I've read through that thread before... my trip should be similar, hopefully because I'll also be on a WR250...

I visited Torch Lake just after Christmas in 2009. My aunt and uncle have property in Kalkaska County.

Hopefully I'll be on something bigger for my Michigan trip next year.

This bad boy is in town for the next couple of days so of course I had to go check it out. Now I just have to talk myself into putting the $500 deposit down before the end of March so I can get one . . .

http://i53.tinypic.com/rrunft.jpg

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner:

Upper Peninsula Adventure Trail (UPAT - 1250 miles)

This trip looks amazing. WRR/X is no longer an option... must have...

NOT THIS. Lame.

Just call me when you are in Michigan and I will show you the promised land.. Me and the crew will take you on the best roads in the tri-state area.. And then we will give Gasman two smacks across the fucking mouth cuz we like him..

I might do that one this summer as well . . . :rockwoot:

I wonder how long it would take all in one ride. I sent Cannonshot a PM for his thoughts. With the time I have, I may have to take just segments of his trip.

Also, how to address the issue of regular-octane gas..? The WR requires premium, does it not? Once in a while probably isn't a problem, but you might be stuck with crappy gas for the majority of the trip.

I rode my bike around the UP this past summer and I had no problem finding 89-91 gas for it. I've even run it on the occasional tank of 87 with no problem.

If you read that entire thread, Cannonshot told me how long he would budget for the entire trip. I'd have to search for where he said it, but it's in there somewhere . . .

Hmm . . . a quick search and I found it already . . .