Lake Michigan ride

[Rick Pope]

Lookie here folks, Larry Zimmer has put together something special for late summer:

Following are the basics for a ride I've planned 1st week of August, Jul 31 through Aug 6, around Lake Michigan from Chicago to Traverse City, . I'll not call it a rally, just a ride inviting ICOA people to come along.
Meet Saturday night, Jul 30 near Gary IN. Exact place tbd.

*Sunday morning ride through Chicago to near Milwaukee. We will meet Dan Stuckmann there at a place he will identify. He will take us riding thru the Kettle Moraine Area which is generally around the Elkhart Lake country (Road America). We will finish the day in Manitowoc. We will stay Sunday night and Monday night in Manitowoc. Motel info tbd. There is a submarine and associated museum there to tour. Also, plan to do some riding in the Door County peninsula. These between later Sunday afternoon and Monday. Either Sunday or Monday night, we'll have a grill dinner at Dan's. [240 mi]

*Tuesday: ride to Houghton, MI. Some scenic stuff. Staying the night in Houghton. Motel info tbd. [250 mi]

*Wednesday: ride to Newberry, MI. Includespossible stop in L'Anse for 1 lb. sweet roll, painted rocks lakeshore, Tahquamenon Falls. Motel info tbd. [200 mi]

*Thursday: ride to Traverse City. Includes possible stop at Mackinac Island, ride along Lk Mich East coast thru 'tunnel of trees' road, Harbor Springs, etc along coast to TC. Motels tbd. [190 mi]

*Friday and Saturday: Ride the Leelanau penninsula, including Mich Dunes Nat'l park, possibly a lighthouse, etc. Plenty to do in TC and the area if you like micro-breweries and food. Casinos conviently nearby. Bluegrass/folk/rock festival at the Dunes. [? miles, depending upon what you want to see]

*Saturday: break for home.

Note: As mentioned above, we will meet Dan Sunday about noon near Milwaukee. Anyone wishing to join there is more than welcome to do that. Or, join any where along the way. As I mentioned. we will have defined evening stops. Anyone can 'sign-on' anywhere/ leave anytime. Come join us Thursday night in Traverse City for just a couple days, etc.
My plan is to make this as informal as possible. Given we will not stay anywhere long (1 or 2 nights), I will not make any arrangements. I will compile a list of a few motels at each stop; however, I'll leave it to individuals to choose whatever/wherever they might want. And, make your own arrangements. As for the riding, I'll list the general routes. People can stop anywhere they might like along the way to sightsee. We won't try to hold the entire group together: this can be too much when there are more than a few people over distance. Plus, different things for different folks. Then, we'll have an established 'meeting' place for end of day. Total distance for this loop -- Gary, thru UP, back to Traverse City -- is about 900 mi.

As plans gel, Larry and I will be posting more info. Susan's already announced that she's goin'.

[Larry Zimmer]

OK, all. I've finally gotten it together. Here's the detail for August.


AUGUST MICHIGAN ‘GYPSY’ RIDE
Here’s what we have. This will be a touring/sight-seeing type thing for folks to ‘follow-the-leader’ or do what they would like and catch up at the end of the day. I’ve tried to list a few options for lodging. I have talked with people at each of the privately-owned places; and, looked at their web pictures. The people were super; places look ‘homey’ and not cookie-cutter. There are the usual chains available at most: Best Western, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, etc. This is not an ICOA rally. Just any folks who have the time and would like to do a little touring. Due to the uncertainty of numbers, I do NOT have any rooms blocked anywhere. Everyone is on their own to make reservations. Because it is the high season for tourist in all this area, I suggest making reservations at least 2 weeks ahead. A month might be better. Mention at the private places that you are with the small m/c group that I called them about.
Especially to note, you’re welcome to join us anywhere along the way. Obviously, it will be easiest to find us first thing in the morning; or, the evening. While I have locations (city/village/etc) for lunch generally in mind, the actual eating place will be found at the time. Dinner after checking into lodging.
• 31 Jul: Meet/Leave Hammond, IN Sunday morning to meet Dan Stuckman in Wisconsin for afternoon ride thru Kettle Moraine area to Manitowoc, WI. We will meet at the Motel 6 at I94 exit 5 (on 179th street. Check google maps). Plan to leave there 9:15 Sunday morning. Dinner/BBQ at Dan’s after the riding: details tbd for that. (About 220 miles)
o Lodging: Birch Creek Inn http://www.birchcreekinn.com will give us rate $65. [first choice] They are private-owned all ground level/park outside your door. 800-424-6126. Also available, if you prefer, are Comfort Inn and AmericInn. (Find on web)
o I plan to stay Saturday night in Hammond at the Motel 6. There is a Best Western next door.
• 1 Aug: Tour WW2 submarine in Manitowoc in the morning. Lunch at ice cream shop in town. Or? Ride sometime in the afternoon to Iron Mountain, MI. About 100 miles. If time allows, visit the Cornish steam pump.
o Lodging: Comfort Inn at $85. Motel 6 is $40. All nearby. There are others: Hol Inn,Days Inn,etc. nearby, typically at $80 - $90. I haven’t found a good private place here. If I do, I’ll let all know. I'll likely do the M6 for the difference.
• 2 Aug: Ride to Copper Harbor,Keeweenaw Peninsula, thru Houghton/Hancock, including Brockway Mountain drive. Waterfalls/lighthouses, etc along the way. Plan lunch in Copper Harbor (about 150 miles from Iron Mountain). Overnight in Marquette.(another 150 miles). This day could be shortened about 90 miles by not doing the Brockway drive. We'll vote at the time.
o Lodging: Cedar Mountain Inn approx $60. http://www.cedarmi.com (privately owned place) Again, options would be HI, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, etc.
• 3 Aug: Ride to St. Ignace via lake Superior shore/Grand Marais/Painted Rocks, etc. 220 miles with considerable count roads.
o Lodging: Cedars Motel approx $55. Some rooms knotty pine, bonfire at night (they might even provide s’mores). (Again, privately owned.) There are the usual options in town.
• 4 Aug: Ride out of St. Ignace to Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point (with working lighthouse and museum) about 190 miles. Ride back to St. Ignace and take ferry boat to Mackinac Island, if time allows. [NO bikes, or cars, allowed on island. Leave at ferry dock.]
o Stay, again, in St. Ignace the night, same place.
• 5 Aug: Ride to Traverse City along Lake Michigan shore line, including tunnel-of-trees along MI route 119 thru Harbor Springs. Approx 125 miles at leisurely pace. Spend the afternoon in Traverse City or riding some of the tourist spots nearby, such as Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park. (approx 35 mi West from Traverse City)
o Lodging: There are many places in Traverse City and area. Rates are expensive. The best I've found are AmericInn at $135 and Motel 6 at $105. This is a very touristy area, especially on Fri and Sat night in the Summer. My plan is to stay at the AmericInn. But, many places are within a few miles of each other. So, if you find another place you'd rather stay, it will, likely, be closeby.
• 6 Aug: Leave for home from Traverse City. Obviously, anyone finding TC area interesting enough can stay the night Saturday, too.

We’ll take breaks fittingly along the way after riding 1 to 1½ hours, depending upon where we are. No longer than 1½. Also, anything interesting along the way, we’ll stop. The intent is to ‘smell the flowers’. Note that a number of our nightly stops, most of them actually, happen to have local brewpubs in the area, ice cream shops, etc. So bring extra air for the tires. Hope to see you.

I'll try to get the route map posted here fyi so that folks might be able to have an idea where it's going.

Any questions, comments, etc. you can post here, pm me or write to me at cbxlarry@gmail.com . Enjoy the season. See you in Saluda.

[Rick Pope]

Had a chat w/ Larry this evening. It looks like the Lake Michigan Ride will be populated by a small, but quality group.

If you're inclined to tag along on a relaxing, scenic, weeklong tour, let us know. Frequent photo ops, pie tastings, evening tire kicking, and ice cream are "given". Cigars and good beer are also certainties. Stress will not be allowed on this trip.

[Larry Zimmer]

UPDATE. This ride date is getting close relative to making reservations. Traverse City rooms, particularly, are booking quickly: some places already filled for the 5 & 6th. I don't know about the others along the way. But, I would suggest deciding and checking soon. Given the itinerary, anyone wanting to meet us along the way, come along!! If the weather man cooperates, this will be a nice ride through some good scenery.

Also, note that I have made some updates in the itinerary description, above, including some things relative to rooms in Traverse City.

[Rick Pope]

Well, Looks like I need to get in gear and make reservations. We've been looking forward to this trip for some time.

[Larry Zimmer]

A bit of update: Anyone planning to join us and wanting to meet us Sunday in Wisconsin for the afternoon and/or rest of the ride (or part of it), we will meet at McDonalds at exit 85 on I43 at about 12:00. Target leaving McDonalds about 12:30. That is a bit North of Milwaukee; essentially, along Lake Michigan. My phone number while on the ride only will be 810.355.6179. Prior to the ride, pm me if you have any questions.

[Rick Pope]

I've made all my reservations. Looking forward to meweting up Saturday evening and heading out Sunday morning.

[2618]

This a was a great venue, Had a blast with crew that came and ran into some members I haven't seen in 15 years! Talk about exclusive- I arranged for us to see the Keller John Deere collection- upwards of 500 tractors, many first production or pre production models. They are not open to the public, but I saw them last fall for the first time and they were gracious enough to let are small group check it out. Rick was like a kid in a candy store... Thanks for the memories, Dan and Barb

[Rick Pope]

We're on our way home. We left Larry at Kallimazoo and are now in Decatuer, IN. We decided it would be pointless to get home at midnight, so it's one more night in a motel.

Now for a quick and dirty summary of the tour:

We met with Larry in Hammond, IN last Saturday evening so as to get through Chicago and Milwaukee early Sunday. We met up with Dan Stuckman, Van and Joel Kamurka, Dean Stuckman, and one other CBXer who's name escapes me. A nice ride through the moraine area followed, along with an ice cream stop, and we ended the day with a fine dinner prepared by Dan and Barb Stuckman.

Monday we tagged along with Dan and Barb to a tractor collection. There were many prototypes and low serial numbered examples for us to see.

After we left Manitowoc, we headed north and stayed in Iron Mountain, then Marquette, St. Ignase, and finally Traverse City. Suffice it to say we found some good micro-breweries, wineries, and the best doggone cherry pie you can imagine. Oh, and the scenery and roads were good too.

More details to follow whenI have a real keyboard. Typing on an I-pad is slow.........

[Larry Zimmer]

Here's a brief summary of a great week. The ride/tour was just a 3-person venture: Rick and Susan Pope and yours truly. I'll get some pics added in a bit.
Saturday night, met Rick and Susan, near Chicago, starting with a cold malt beverage and pistachios at the motel with Susan's sister, from Chicago, and her boyfriend. This was followed by dinner. Susan and friend drove. A real relief from the heat permitting a bit more cooled malt beverage to wash down some good ribs.
Sunday met with Dan Stuckman and company for a ride through the Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin, including obligatory ice cream stop. Followed by GREAT ribeye dinner that Dan's wife, Barb, served. (Of course, there was ice cream involved with dessert!)
Monday, the Keller John Deere museum. This place is the Barber of the John Deere world! Unbelievable! Five 60x100 buildings with just about every JD from day one, including some prototypes. Rode to Iron Mountain for the night with dinner at a walking distance nearby restaurant. Certainly, time enough for a cigar and brew afterwards.
Tuesday, rode to Marquette, visiting the lake shore and a lighthouse. Whitefish dinner with bourbon pecan pie dessert at the local brewpub downtown. (Taxi made for a more relaxed dinner, here.)
Wednesday, off to Munising and the Pictured Rocks shore boat cruise. Lunch dock-side. Then, to St, Ingace for the night. More Whitefish followed by cigars and daily review at the motel. (s'mores optional.)
Thursday, Tahquamenon Falls. Great brewpub there for lunch: smoked fish salad with fresh brew -- worth the trip alone. A good cigar and s'mores at the motel after dinner.
Friday, over the big Mac bridge (grated roadway and all) and through the tunnel-of-trees to Traverse City. Obligatory stop for fresh baked cherry pie on the way after lunch in Harbor Springs. And, yes, cigars and cherry wine to accompany the daily review after dinner.
Saturday, tour the Leelenau peninsula with another great lunch stop including a fresh cherry-chicken salad. Of course, fresh-baked cherry pie and ice cream break, later,en-route back to Traverse City just in time to catch some of the Antique Wooden Boat Show. Dinner followed by the usual cigar and cherry wine review!
Sunday, sadly, head for home.
A great relaxing 1700 miles. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Thanks a million to Rick and Susan: great traveling companions. As Rick said, it was a quality ride; not quantity.

[EMS]

Larry:

How many rode their CBXes?

[Larry Zimmer]

With just the three of us, Mike, I was on my X, Rick the Blackbird and Susan the SV. Just spattering of rain; and, the heat quit after Monday. It just went uphill all week -- right to the last cherry pie and ice cream stop!

[2618]

Hey I had mine there for 100 miles or so:)!

[Rick Pope]

We had a total of 3 CBX's at one time, Larry (82), Dan(82 in 81 clothes), and Van(79). Other "X's" were two CBR-XX's. Dan has one of those pretty red XX's. Made my black, dirty old '97 look pretty sorry.

In retrospect, I probably should have taken my '79. It wouold have been much more comfortable. But the last time I went through Chicago on it, I lost the alternator and had to swap batteries 10 times over two days. Modern reliability has it's place.

[Larry Zimmer]

OOPS! Sorry guys. I was just thinking of the entire ride when I answered Mike. Photos to come soon as I get Photoshop sorted out. Yes, Sunday was a 3X day! And, a AAA day all around. Again, thanks to Dan and Barb.