Modern Buddy

on Friday morning, we're taking the Scarabeo on a 430 mile trip to Amarillo, TX. Not the most exciting destination, but we have friends there. I used to live there for a couple of years.

Got a tune up, a new rear tire (the old one was showing thread!) and some good supplies, so wish us luck!

Who else is road tripping this summer?

I just got back.

Going up into Michigan along the lake at the end of the month. The lady and I will be taking old 12/red arrow/blue star up into South haven. From there we are going over to Kalamazoo, to see some friends, and back the way we came. It's should be about 500 round trip give or take a few depending on how mucho meandering we do in between our destinations. First two up trip I have taken on the scoot. We are actually going to my P's house in Bridgman Mi. This weekend to see if she can handle a couple hours on the scoot. If she can't I'm going myself.

Hey Good Luck! Sounds like a lot of fun. I hope to take one this year, but most of my trips tend to be on the motorcycle riding 2 up.... I will take one of some sort though......

Wheelz wrote:Going up into Michigan along the lake at the end of the month. The lady and I will be taking old 12/red arrow/blue star up into South haven.

Good choice.

skully93 wrote:on Friday morning, we're taking the Scarabeo on a 430 mile trip to Amarillo, TX. Not the most exciting destination, but we have friends there. I used to live there for a couple of years.

Got a tune up, a new rear tire (the old one was showing thread!) and some good supplies, so wish us luck!

Who else is road tripping this summer?

Good luck, sounds like good ride! I've stopped in Amarillo, but never stayed. Had family in Tulsa at the time.

I'm planning a multi-day, ~2000 mile ride for September-ish. Just haven't decided if I'll use the Kymco or the P for it. Maybe I could be really dumb and take the Zuma once it's finished.

Hope you enjoyed the trip.

In July, I'll be joining my buddies in Leech Lake, MN for our annual fishing trip. The difference this year is I'll be riding the MC while they haul my fishing gear. I'm going to take a week on the return and do a solo ride on the south of Lake Superior and the western side of Lake Michigan. Should be fun.

Rob

Rob wrote:I'm going to take a week on the return and do a solo ride on the south of Lake Superior and the western side of Lake Michigan.

Do you have a route selected? In some places there aren't roads along the south shore of Superior, on account of it being a pretty rugged cliffy shoreline, so you have to go inland to get anywhere.

Also, what dates, exactly? Assuming that my backbone holds up, I might be in the same area in the second half of July.

TVB wrote:

Rob wrote:I'm going to take a week on the return and do a solo ride on the south of Lake Superior and the western side of Lake Michigan.

Do you have a route selected? In some places there aren't roads along the south shore of Superior, on account of it being a pretty rugged cliffy shoreline, so you have to go inland to get anywhere.

Also, what dates, exactly? Assuming that my backbone holds up, I might be in the same area in the second half of July.

It looks like I'll be in Leech Lake on July 20th and heading out on the 27th. A slight possibility the dates will be July 27 and August 3rd depending on when a couple of others can arrange their vacations. But if you're going to be in the area at the same time, it'd be great to meet up for a while.

No, I haven't scoped out the ride on the south shore of Superior at all. Thanks for the heads up. I know I'm going to spend probably 2 nights and 1 day in Ashland, WI meeting up with another friend for a day of smallie fishing on Chequamegon Bay.

Then I want to spend a couple of days in Door County. Other than that my plans are wide open.

I'm very familiar with the western shore of Lake Michigan. Any suggested routes or definite things to see on Superior?

If I had more time, I'd take the north shore of Superior on the return trip. The stretch between Duluth and Grand Marais is one of my favorites.

Rob

Rob wrote:It looks like I'll be in Leech Lake on July 20th and heading out on the 27th. A slight possibility the dates will be July 27 and August 3rd depending on when a couple of others can arrange their vacations. But if you're going to be in the area at the same time, it'd be great to meet up for a while.

Unless I have a change of plans, on the 27th I'll be heading south out of the UP to catch the red-eye ferry out of Manitowoc.

I'm very familiar with the western shore of Lake Michigan. Any suggested routes or definite things to see on Superior?

Depends on how far out of the way you want to go. The Tahquamenon Falls are cool, but pretty far east. More on your route is Pictured Rocks, which is worth stopping to take a boat tour out of Munising. The approach to Munising through Marquette does run largely along Superior, so it should provide you with some lake viewing along the way. It's a bit of a side trip, but some of the prettiest riding roads are up in the Keweenaw Peninsula up to Copper Harbor.

update:

Stayed an extra day to hang with friends and relax.

Ride there was fighting the wind and uphill the whole way. Very evil! It was hot but fun, got there by mid afternoon.

On the way back it struggled a LOT less. Once we hit CO springs, we hit a little rain and a major herd of idiots who couldn't go less than 90 through a construction zone in the rain. I hate the highway when it's like that. Would've hated it just as much in the car.

900 miles!

I can see why people ride the big cruisers. the route really ate up the gas mileage, but I'm still glad we did it.

TVB wrote:

Rob wrote:It looks like I'll be in Leech Lake on July 20th and heading out on the 27th. A slight possibility the dates will be July 27 and August 3rd depending on when a couple of others can arrange their vacations. But if you're going to be in the area at the same time, it'd be great to meet up for a while.

Unless I have a change of plans, on the 27th I'll be heading south out of the UP to catch the red-eye ferry out of Manitowoc.

I'll likely be in Ashland, WI the evening of the 27th and 28th, heading out along southern Superior on the 29th. I'll likely pull into Door County sometime late the 30th or the 31st. If any of that works for you, let me know.

I'm very familiar with the western shore of Lake Michigan. Any suggested routes or definite things to see on Superior?

TVB wrote:[Depends on how far out of the way you want to go. The Tahquamenon Falls are cool, but pretty far east. More on your route is Pictured Rocks, which is worth stopping to take a boat tour out of Munising. The approach to Munising through Marquette does run largely along Superior, so it should provide you with some lake viewing along the way. It's a bit of a side trip, but some of the prettiest riding roads are up in the Keweenaw Peninsula up to Copper Harbor.

Actually I've been to Keweenaw, but spent most of my time riding ATV trails. We stayed in the Twin Lakes area and rode all the way up to Cooper Harbor, and you're right, very scenic. On one rainy day, we toured an old copper mine that I didn't particularly want to visit. My wife made me go, but after the fact I was glad she did .... very interesting.

Rob

skully93 wrote:update:
Stayed an extra day to hang with friends and relax.

Ride there was fighting the wind and uphill the whole way. Very evil! It was hot but fun, got there by mid afternoon.

On the way back it struggled a LOT less. Once we hit CO springs, we hit a little rain and a major herd of idiots who couldn't go less than 90 through a construction zone in the rain. I hate the highway when it's like that. Would've hated it just as much in the car.

900 miles!

I can see why people ride the big cruisers. the route really ate up the gas mileage, but I'm still glad we did it.

Glad you had a good time!

I'm definitely hooked on road trips ... my favorite type of riding, both solo and with friends.

I wish I'd take more pics and videos, but for whatever reason when I'm riding, I just don't want to take the time to do so. My wife is talking about taking a vacation to Ireland next year. If so and if I can find the time/place to rent scoots or a MC, I'll come back with a boat load of pics (unless I get too lazy once again).

Rob

I haven't ridden for any of this, but the beginning of the month was a long weekend at East Coast Classic in Wildwood, NJ. A week break.

Then this past weekend I went to a convention to help my sister with her booth in VA Beach, and then on Sunday we immediately left on a plane for St Louis; my other sister presented her thesis at a conference at STLU.

I have about a week before my family+some extended family all drive down to Outer Banks and spend a week in a rental house.

Then I turn right around and drive to PA for Running of the Bulls rally.

Then about a week or so after that I drive to Baltimore for another anime convention.

I hadn't really realized until like last week that I had made my summer so busy like that.

I'm really tired right now and this isn't helping

Had I known, I'd have taken you out for a Slinger or some toasted ravioli. Then a concrete for dessert.

PeteH wrote:Had I known, I'd have taken you out for a Slinger or some toasted ravioli. Then a concrete for dessert.

Awww, thanks PeteH! ... actually, toasted ravioli does sound very tasty, and so does that concrete! We got in to STL laaaaate on Sunday and had to be at the airport at 4 on Wednesday, so we were really only there for 2 days. We went to the Arch, the Zoo, a science center that turned out to be geared towards kids (oh well, it had dinosaurs), at at the Boathouse and also a Syrian place called Ranoush that a friend suggested to us. I was looking out specifically for scooters while riding about, and only saw ONE on the road. It's a really pretty city though, I would absolutely go back!

Heheh. Oh, you mean _these_ dinosaurs?

Rob wrote:

TVB wrote:

Rob wrote:It looks like I'll be in Leech Lake on July 20th and heading out on the 27th. A slight possibility the dates will be July 27 and August 3rd depending on when a couple of others can arrange their vacations. But if you're going to be in the area at the same time, it'd be great to meet up for a while.

Unless I have a change of plans, on the 27th I'll be heading south out of the UP to catch the red-eye ferry out of Manitowoc.

I'll likely be in Ashland, WI the evening of the 27th and 28th, heading out along southern Superior on the 29th. I'll likely pull into Door County sometime late the 30th or the 31st. If any of that works for you, let me know.

I'm very familiar with the western shore of Lake Michigan. Any suggested routes or definite things to see on Superior?

TVB wrote:[Depends on how far out of the way you want to go. The Tahquamenon Falls are cool, but pretty far east. More on your route is Pictured Rocks, which is worth stopping to take a boat tour out of Munising. The approach to Munising through Marquette does run largely along Superior, so it should provide you with some lake viewing along the way. It's a bit of a side trip, but some of the prettiest riding roads are up in the Keweenaw Peninsula up to Copper Harbor.

Actually I've been to Keweenaw, but spent most of my time riding ATV trails. We stayed in the Twin Lakes area and rode all the way up to Cooper Harbor, and you're right, very scenic. On one rainy day, we toured an old copper mine that I didn't particularly want to visit. My wife made me go, but after the fact I was glad she did .... very interesting.

Rob

Update .... I am leaving this Saturday for Minnesota and my itinerary will be close to what's posted above. TVB, If you'll be close to any of those areas in a similar time frame, let me know and perhaps we can meet up for a ride, drink, etc.

Rob

We're making a mini-trip today from NW Indiana to Saugatuck, MI. It will end up being about a 250 mile round trip, with much of it along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

I have to take advantage of the absolutely gorgeous riding conditions ... low 80s, low humidity, cloudless skies.

Rob

I'd signed up to take Monday and Tuesday off, hoping to do an overnight down the Lakeshore to Warren Dunes and back, but it was rainy and windy and cold. Today and tomorrow would have been a great second chance to do that ... but it's my turn to be "on call", so I can't even go for an afternoon ride.