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Just one week ago myself and 8 other motorcycles ranging from a brand new Harley Davidson to my 1979 Suzuki GS 750L were completing a ride around Lake Superior. We left on Sunday July 22 from my home in Berrien Springs Michigan, southwest part of the state, to Macinaw City MI. We camped at a great private campground just east of town . Monday we headed to Sault Ste Marie and through Canada customs. That took about an hour, but wasn't to bad. After lunch we headed west on High 17. The sights were fantastic, many small inland lakes and wet lands. Monday night we camped at another private campground at WaWa Ontario, just off of Highway 17. It was a great little private campground and was very inexspensive. Traveling through that part of Canada we found to be rather exspensive, especially with gas at about $1.20 per liter for regular. We were paying over $5 per gallon for premium. Food is also more exspensive. Tuesday we stayed at Sleeping Giant Provincial park. Very nice park, but a little pricey by the time you pay the $10.50 vehichle permit per motorcycle and the camping fee of around $25 per sight. Wed we rode back into the US. We stopped at an overlook, about 50 miles north of Duluth MN , on the edge of Lake Superior, and I mean on the edge. There is a great view from a cliff of about 150 feet high overlooking the lake. When clear a person can see Duluth. We camped that night just west of Superior WI that night. On Thursday we rode up around the Apostle islands. Really a nice ride early in the morning. Very little traffic and very scenic. We had a pretty long ride this day and ended up in Copper harbor MI. I was here when I was about 9 years old and hadn't been back since. Don't really remember the sights from so many years ago, but it was fun going back to that area. I want to go back and explore some of the old copper mines that closed over 100 years ago. We stayed at historic Fort Wilkins State park. Another nice place, but once again vehicle permits for each motorcycle, at least I was MI resident so only cost me $6. It seems to me that motorcycles should be half the cost as an automobile since there are only half the wheels. I guess that makes to much sense for the governments to understand and would cut into their revenues. Thats another topic. Friday we did some site seeing around Copper Harbor then headed toward Tahquamenon Falls State park. (another vehicle permit) Along the way we saw many sandy beaches that were inviting. We stayed at the rustic campground about a 14 mile ride north of the falls. I would highly recomend staying there vs the campground near the falls. It was so pretty and very quiet with no cars, trucks, trains, planes to hear. Saturday we headed south back to lower Mi. We ate lunch in St. Ignace. The 50th anniversary of the Mighty Mac bridge was being celebrated as we were in town, but we were all getting pretty tired so didn't stick around for the festivities. Riding across the 5 mile bridge is a nice experience, almost worth the trip up north just for that.
When we arrived back at my house my trip odometer had turned twice and read 254, in other words the old GS 750 L ran flawlessly for 7 days traveling 2254 miles. I averaged about 42 mpg traveling at speeds of about 65 most of the time. It used about 1 pint of oil. Not bad for a 29 year old motorcycle. The worst part of these old suzzies is the seat. I put on a sheep fleece and a Butt Buffer pad. I would not have made it without. It is 1300 miles just around lake Superior plus the ride from my house and back. This means a ride of around 300 or more miles per day. That does not leave much room for sight seeing. I would like to do it again, but allow more time to stop and see some of the sites. But our primary objective on this trip was riding, and we did alot of that. We were all pretty tired by the time we got home, but I would do it again.
I almost forgot the weather. We had perfect weather. No rain, and not to cold. We had one day in the 90s, and most of the time 60 to 80 degrees. Riding along Lake Superior the conditions change often. One area can be sunny and 82 degrees, then you can ride into fog and 60 degrees or just a cool breeze off the lake. I was the lead bike one day and it started out nice and warm, but got cool as we got close to the lake, so I pulled into a scenic overlook to put on sweat shirt under my leather jacket. I was glad I did, as it was a very pretty beach. We spent a half hour there. 20 miles later we had to take some clothes off as it got warm again. So point is go prepared for all kinds of weather because there is nothing worse than riding when cold and wet.
Greg O
When we arrived back at my house my trip odometer had turned twice and read 254, in other words the old GS 750 L ran flawlessly for 7 days traveling 2254 miles. I averaged about 42 mpg traveling at speeds of about 65 most of the time. It used about 1 pint of oil. Not bad for a 29 year old motorcycle. The worst part of these old suzzies is the seat. I put on a sheep fleece and a Butt Buffer pad. I would not have made it without. It is 1300 miles just around lake Superior plus the ride from my house and back. This means a ride of around 300 or more miles per day. That does not leave much room for sight seeing. I would like to do it again, but allow more time to stop and see some of the sites. But our primary objective on this trip was riding, and we did alot of that. We were all pretty tired by the time we got home, but I would do it again.
I almost forgot the weather. We had perfect weather. No rain, and not to cold. We had one day in the 90s, and most of the time 60 to 80 degrees. Riding along Lake Superior the conditions change often. One area can be sunny and 82 degrees, then you can ride into fog and 60 degrees or just a cool breeze off the lake. I was the lead bike one day and it started out nice and warm, but got cool as we got close to the lake, so I pulled into a scenic overlook to put on sweat shirt under my leather jacket. I was glad I did, as it was a very pretty beach. We spent a half hour there. 20 miles later we had to take some clothes off as it got warm again. So point is go prepared for all kinds of weather because there is nothing worse than riding when cold and wet.
Greg O
/ awesome you took a ride through my old stomping grounds LOL!!!
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