Well, I was waiting for another long winded s.o.b. to do this (Rick gave a
REAL short version), but I just can't wait. Here is my wife's and my long
version:
Took Gear to bike at 8:00 and packed up (bike has been at someone else's
garage that actually had enough room to work, 3 miles away from my house).
Went to Bruce's 9:00 meeting spot but he had left by the time we got there,
so we had a quick breakfast. Left around 10:00 with storm clouds on our
tail. Managed to keep ahead of them, but by the time we got through the
customs backup at Sarnia we knew that the group had left Smitty's already,
so we headed out the 402. Construction had it down to 1 lane in places,
but there was little traffic. Had grown weary of it by the Highway 81 exit
and we hit the 2 lane highways to Stratford. We did get there on schedule
and met the rest of the group, got our cool tour shirts and travel packet
and had a good lunch. Judy's Helix had an old problem which had become
intense during their trip in (YOU pull out into traffic with a bike that
may quit on you!), but a deceptively bad plug boot was found and replaced
and the tour was on.
Day One
Headed off into the Southern Ontario countryside (straight roads and wide
farm vistas) under cloudy skies and cool temperatures. First stop was a
leather goods store near Blythe. Never have I seen so many leather
jackets, vests, chaps, and assorted goods in one store (that takes up at
least 2 buildings), and Rick had wangled an additional 10% discount for the
group. Very nice wool goods too. From there we headed for the coast and
traveled some beautiful coast highway, said to rival 101 in California.
Arrived at the shore resort in Southampton and found our accommodations to
be the entire resort. This included a two-story lodge overlooking the water
and several cozy cabins. Dinner was great, a short stroll from the resort,
and we were pleasantly surprised to find it was included in the tour due to
the deal-making abilities of Ridemeister Rick. The sky had nearly cleared
up, but the clouds on the horizon that hid the setting sun did not keep it
from coloring the sky - red sky at night, rider's delight!
Day Two
Started with a great breakfast buffet, cost again $0 (see above). Headed up
the Bruce peninsula in cool but clear weather. Our first stop was a neat
lighthouse complete with a nearby shipwreck, although some folks were not
exuberant with the unpaved roads traveled to get to it. Nice views from
the top and there were interesting displays in the attached living
quarters. From there we continued up the Bruce to the ferry dock at
Tobermory. We arrived a half-hour before the ferry was to leave, just
enough time to grab a quick lunch (although slowpokes like me ended up
finishing theirs on the boat). We had the pleasure of tying down the bikes
after riding them into the cavernous hold of the ferry, but the trip was
smooth and it was a beautiful day for a cruise. Gassed up after debarking
in North Bay, and headed to Little Current for dinner. Stopped at a great
bluff view of the bay at Ten Mile Point, next to a high-end native craft
store/gallery (carvings, quill work, silver/turquoise). Then we hit the
first treasure of the tour as we passed into the Canadian shield - a
section of rolling hills where Highway 6 was cut in slots through the
granite heights and then mixed with a healthy dose of curves, all ridden
under the rapidly coloring sky as sunset approached. On several rises we
were treated with a view of the bikes ahead silhouetted in the orange/red
sky and framed by the vertical rock cuts. We reached our motel just after
sunset and we were ready for a good night's rest in Massey.
Day Three
Continued along the north shore of Lake Huron on the Trans-Canada highway.
We stopped at Thessalon where those folks tired of unpaved roads went on to
Sault Saint Marie. We headed towards Ranger Lake as part of a group of 9
bikes. We soon found the second treasure of the tour, a wonderful stretch
of twisting, rolling highway following the Missisagi River. After stopping
by an open section of road overlooking a stream entering the river (photo
opportunity galore), we found our luck improving as we immediately came
upon a sign stating "Winding Road, Next 20 Kilometers"! Words can not
express this ride, but I have to believe that local riders wear their tires
out edge-first. We certainly attempted to, disregarding the "Warning -
Moose" sign we passed. Arriving at a gas stop just short of Ranger Lake
Road, the adrenaline and good fortune of finding that great road inspired
the group to continue on the paved roads through Chapleau to Wawa (what's
an extra 100 miles when you're having fun?!?). Sadly we needed to head for
home as my wife had to be back to work Monday, and so we were the only ones
who took Ranger Lake Road. This proved to be a big mistake. Although it
had been recently graded there was no deep gravel or sand; we were making
better than 30 mph, not great but acceptable. We heard a jangling noise
and found that the license plate cover had fallen off, and it's plexiglass
cover had disappeared. When we reached the halfway point at Ranger Lake
the road had not been graded, which left nice clear patches where we could
travel quicker. Now we remembered why they grade dirt roads as we hit the
occasional patch of washboard bumps. The occasional patches got worse
until they became the majority of the road surface. The shaking/rattling
was so intense that my Vetter fairing disgorged the radio into my lap! By
then we were too far to turn back, and toughed it out to the end. 50 miles
of dirt road, 2+ hours, and we could have had the joy of retracing that
wonderful stretch of Highway 129. Back on the paved, we got something back
as the road near Searchmont was another sweet stretch of twisty, hilly road
following the Goulais River and criss-crossing the Agawa canyon rail line,
complete with a nice waterfall. However our enthusiasm was damped by the
beating we had taken on Ranger Lake Road and the knowledge that we had to
get 300 more miles done and that would take us until midnight. We
enviously spied some of the group already relaxing at the night's stop as
we sped past. Crossing into Michigan our tender backsides were treated to
the dubious treat of an Interstate with thumping expansion joints every
hundred feet or so, a real disappointment after the much smoother Canadian
roads. This continued throughout the Upper Peninsula to the bridge, and
was occasionally repeated as we followed the superslab home. We were so
worn that I called my son to meet us partway there, and he picked up my
wife. I then found a nearby motel with a Jacuzzi (she may have stayed with
me had she known about this) to effect repairs to my body, as I intended to
rejoin the tour the next day.
Day Four
Started out from Au Gres, headed to Alpena to meet the tour at the planned
lunch stop and scouted out some alternate routes on the way. I say planned
as there was no one there at the stop. I continued up the coast road
thinking to meet them on their way, and tried to contact several riders on
their cell phones. Cell phones are way overrated - I had no luck at all.
Went on reserve and planned to get gas soon, but the section of highway was
as isolated as any I had seen, with a house every mile or so and no gas
stations in sight. Finally came across a station, but it was temporarily
closed as they were having their drives repaved! Now I was pretty sure I
was not going to make it as the trip odometer passed 200 miles for this
tank of gas, and I began preparing myself for pushing the wing on this, the
hottest day of the tour (about 90). I tried to keep the most efficient
aerodynamic profile and the steadiest possible throttle to stretch things
out, and as the odometer hit 206 I saw salvation in the form of a Mobil
station near Rogers City. 42+ mpg on that stretch - perhaps the fates were
balancing things out a bit from that Ranger Lake Road fiasco. I ran back to
the lunch stop and spent some time putting my radio back in (it still works
fine) and gave up on the group at 3:45 and decided to complete this leg of
the tour on my own, meeting up at their dinner stop. The views on the road
south of Alpena were great, and the cool breeze blowing in off the lake had
to drop the temperature by 15 degrees. Several rest stops had their own
section of beach, and I couldn't resist stopping and getting wet at one of
them. I arrived at the dinner location at around 7PM, and the group was
not there either. So it was on to home for me.
So, I had a fantastic trip and am ready to sign up for next year, but will
sit out any Ranger Lake Road segment, thank you. Can't say enough about
the great job Rick did organizing this trip, and can't wait to find out
where the tour actually went Monday (and what about that bear?!?). 1300+
miles well spent!
KJ, Waterford MI
CWC #411
'78 Wing, Canadian Blue now with 33K miles
