Captain Morgan
08-23-2010, 02:55 PM
This was a very last minute, barely planned trip. I hit the road later Thursday morning than I wanted to for a couple reasons. One, I decided to take the trip on Tuesday after I found out my ex was refusing to let me have my daughter for 5 days straight. I was pissed and just needed to get away from life for awhile. This was a great way to do it.
I went to Gander Mountain Wednesday night to pick up a few things. Opted to NOT buy a sleeping bag because I already had one. However, while packing the bike on Wednesday night (after midnight), I discovered my old sleeping bag didn't roll down very tight and took up too much space. So, I waited till Gander Mountain opened up Thurs morning and went and bought a fleece bag. It's not much of a sleeping bag, but it's perfect for summer temps.
I hit the road about 9:45am Thursday and rode up to Chicago to meet my cousin for lunch. Stopped in Kentland, IN for a couple photos of a windfarm.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs138.ash2/40217_153021971381939_100000224112462_476259_13721 58_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs189.ash2/45189_153021181382018_100000224112462_476215_32827 76_n.jpg
Had a great lunch in Chicago with my cousin. Ate at a deli and the sandwich was huge. I could only eat half of it. Unfortunately, it had mayo on it, so I didn't want to take it with me on the bike. Would have loved to eat the rest of it later. Took a couple pics of downtown Chicago (what I could see of it from the street) before hitting the road.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44820_153021518048651_100000224112462_476234_12787 30_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44820_153021524715317_100000224112462_476235_68942 _n.jpg
Continued on to New London, WI to visit with a friend of mine. I was running short on time, so opted to bypass the Harley Museum in Milwaukee. My friend took me to a place called "The Tree Stand" for dinner and drinks. I had the duck, she had the buffalo. Both were excellent. We also had Old Fashioneds to drink, which were great. I got on the road from her place the next morning about 8am and took my time since I only had about 5 hours of continuous riding that day. Stopped to get a pic by a farm in rural WI.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs307.snc4/40674_153021698048633_100000224112462_476239_38752 35_n.jpg
Rode through the UP, stopping for a pic next to Lake MI, then some others of a lighthouse in Escanaba, MI. The town was very small, but was definitely a beautiful little town.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs301.snc4/40401_153021858048617_100000224112462_476246_22430 64_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs301.snc4/40401_153021861381950_100000224112462_476247_66694 86_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021694715300_100000224112462_476238_68300 81_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021714715298_100000224112462_476244_21024 20_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021718048631_100000224112462_476245_65625 80_n.jpg
I stopped at "The Mystery Spot" a few miles west of St. Ignace, MI. This is a one of those "optical illusion tourist traps" where the walls and floors are built on weird angles. I stopped because they had zip lines and I wanted to try that. The zip line only cost $15, but you got a $5 discount if you bought the $7 tour of "The Mystery Spot," which made the tour only $2. So, I figured I'd go on the tour. It was okay for $2. LOL The zip line was about 800 feet long and was a blast. Sorry, didn't take any pics.
The weather was getting bad so I headed to Foley Creek, which is a National Forest campground. Set up camp, including a portable hammock that packs up to about the size of a softball.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44820_153021514715318_100000224112462_476233_75320 46_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44820_153021511381985_100000224112462_476232_17393 97_n.jpg
Headed into St. Ignace to hit up the Mackinac Grille. The perch was outstanding. Thanks goes out to Gas Man for sending the text and to Caveman for making the suggestion.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021701381966_100000224112462_476240_49126 88_n.jpg
While eating dinner, a bad storm rolled through. Got back to camp and climbed into the tent during a short break in the storm. Noticed a small bit of water inside the tent. Oh well, still gotta sleep. It continued to rain throughout the night and I woke up to wet feet and a wet head. :lol: I had no time to let things dry out, as I had a long ride ahead of me down to Niagara Falls. So, I just packed up a wet tent and got on the road.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs301.snc4/40401_153021888048614_100000224112462_476255_40515 72_n.jpg
Stopped for a pic before crossing the Mackinac Bridge.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44820_153021504715319_100000224112462_476230_57823 53_n.jpg
Took 75 south to Flint, then headed east through Ontario. I stopped for gas in Flint and I hope, for the sake of the town, that I just happened to stop in a bad area. At least 75% of the places were boarded up and buildings were in bad shape. I didn't hang around any longer than necessary. Stopped for a pic of the bridge heading into Canada.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs185.ash2/44820_153021508048652_100000224112462_476231_23236 25_n.jpg
And a pic of the border.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44820_153021501381986_100000224112462_476229_34222 37_n.jpg
Got to the border and got grilled by the guard. He asked why I was visiting Canada and I told him I was heading across to see Niagara Falls. He then asked, "What's over there?" Wow, these guys must think people are really stupid! He asked me at least 10 to 15 questions about where I was going, where I had been, what was in the bags on the bike, what I do for a living, etc. He finally let me go through. I guess I looked suspicious.
After getting through, I rode across Ontario, and have to say that I was surprised at the amount of livestock up there. I didn't see a lot of them, but I smelled them all the way across the province! :lol: There wasn't much of anything except farmland on this stretch. I stopped near London at a 50's diner and had a chicken sandwich with cheese and canadian bacon. Very good sandwich and the place was interesting. I felt like I'd traveled back in time.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs367.snc4/45003_153021301382006_100000224112462_476217_39436 37_n.jpg
I went to Gander Mountain Wednesday night to pick up a few things. Opted to NOT buy a sleeping bag because I already had one. However, while packing the bike on Wednesday night (after midnight), I discovered my old sleeping bag didn't roll down very tight and took up too much space. So, I waited till Gander Mountain opened up Thurs morning and went and bought a fleece bag. It's not much of a sleeping bag, but it's perfect for summer temps.
I hit the road about 9:45am Thursday and rode up to Chicago to meet my cousin for lunch. Stopped in Kentland, IN for a couple photos of a windfarm.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs138.ash2/40217_153021971381939_100000224112462_476259_13721 58_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs189.ash2/45189_153021181382018_100000224112462_476215_32827 76_n.jpg
Had a great lunch in Chicago with my cousin. Ate at a deli and the sandwich was huge. I could only eat half of it. Unfortunately, it had mayo on it, so I didn't want to take it with me on the bike. Would have loved to eat the rest of it later. Took a couple pics of downtown Chicago (what I could see of it from the street) before hitting the road.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44820_153021518048651_100000224112462_476234_12787 30_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44820_153021524715317_100000224112462_476235_68942 _n.jpg
Continued on to New London, WI to visit with a friend of mine. I was running short on time, so opted to bypass the Harley Museum in Milwaukee. My friend took me to a place called "The Tree Stand" for dinner and drinks. I had the duck, she had the buffalo. Both were excellent. We also had Old Fashioneds to drink, which were great. I got on the road from her place the next morning about 8am and took my time since I only had about 5 hours of continuous riding that day. Stopped to get a pic by a farm in rural WI.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs307.snc4/40674_153021698048633_100000224112462_476239_38752 35_n.jpg
Rode through the UP, stopping for a pic next to Lake MI, then some others of a lighthouse in Escanaba, MI. The town was very small, but was definitely a beautiful little town.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs301.snc4/40401_153021858048617_100000224112462_476246_22430 64_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs301.snc4/40401_153021861381950_100000224112462_476247_66694 86_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021694715300_100000224112462_476238_68300 81_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021714715298_100000224112462_476244_21024 20_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021718048631_100000224112462_476245_65625 80_n.jpg
I stopped at "The Mystery Spot" a few miles west of St. Ignace, MI. This is a one of those "optical illusion tourist traps" where the walls and floors are built on weird angles. I stopped because they had zip lines and I wanted to try that. The zip line only cost $15, but you got a $5 discount if you bought the $7 tour of "The Mystery Spot," which made the tour only $2. So, I figured I'd go on the tour. It was okay for $2. LOL The zip line was about 800 feet long and was a blast. Sorry, didn't take any pics.
The weather was getting bad so I headed to Foley Creek, which is a National Forest campground. Set up camp, including a portable hammock that packs up to about the size of a softball.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44820_153021514715318_100000224112462_476233_75320 46_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44820_153021511381985_100000224112462_476232_17393 97_n.jpg
Headed into St. Ignace to hit up the Mackinac Grille. The perch was outstanding. Thanks goes out to Gas Man for sending the text and to Caveman for making the suggestion.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs147.ash2/40674_153021701381966_100000224112462_476240_49126 88_n.jpg
While eating dinner, a bad storm rolled through. Got back to camp and climbed into the tent during a short break in the storm. Noticed a small bit of water inside the tent. Oh well, still gotta sleep. It continued to rain throughout the night and I woke up to wet feet and a wet head. :lol: I had no time to let things dry out, as I had a long ride ahead of me down to Niagara Falls. So, I just packed up a wet tent and got on the road.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs301.snc4/40401_153021888048614_100000224112462_476255_40515 72_n.jpg
Stopped for a pic before crossing the Mackinac Bridge.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs365.snc4/44820_153021504715319_100000224112462_476230_57823 53_n.jpg
Took 75 south to Flint, then headed east through Ontario. I stopped for gas in Flint and I hope, for the sake of the town, that I just happened to stop in a bad area. At least 75% of the places were boarded up and buildings were in bad shape. I didn't hang around any longer than necessary. Stopped for a pic of the bridge heading into Canada.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs185.ash2/44820_153021508048652_100000224112462_476231_23236 25_n.jpg
And a pic of the border.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs385.snc4/44820_153021501381986_100000224112462_476229_34222 37_n.jpg
Got to the border and got grilled by the guard. He asked why I was visiting Canada and I told him I was heading across to see Niagara Falls. He then asked, "What's over there?" Wow, these guys must think people are really stupid! He asked me at least 10 to 15 questions about where I was going, where I had been, what was in the bags on the bike, what I do for a living, etc. He finally let me go through. I guess I looked suspicious.
After getting through, I rode across Ontario, and have to say that I was surprised at the amount of livestock up there. I didn't see a lot of them, but I smelled them all the way across the province! :lol: There wasn't much of anything except farmland on this stretch. I stopped near London at a 50's diner and had a chicken sandwich with cheese and canadian bacon. Very good sandwich and the place was interesting. I felt like I'd traveled back in time.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs367.snc4/45003_153021301382006_100000224112462_476217_39436 37_n.jpg