Day One:
A couple of pictures of my loaded bike- understand since we were leaving early I carried up a couple extra tents to assemble in the light.  Although it looks way huge loaded, the top stuff was quite light (2 sleeping bags and pads).



Wednesday Evening, Grand Rapids to St. Igance- 248 Miles:  


    Jeff, Cal, Mike and I left at 3:00 pm- the rest were going to meet in Rockford (just north or GR) at 6:00.  Things went great right up until Lake city (about 90 miles north of GR)- we got gas and Mike's '79 CB750 started slow. On the way to Houghton and I-27, I noticed the headlight was dimming.  Not good.  At Houghton, his bike quit.  Turns out it was a bad rotor.  Anyway, since there was nothing we could do, we left while Mike's brother-in-law came up with his Yamaha FZR600 on a trailer and took Mike's CB back to GR.  What a friend!  When the other group came up, Ed stayed and waited with Mike for the FZR- they ended up about an hour behind.  First problem- worked out.
    Anyway, Curt, Jeff, and I continued up to St. Ignace without any issues.  We found the campground (mapping GPS is a wonderful thing- I have the Garmin GPS V), set up camp, and got supper at the local rat-hole casino.   Let me tell you- it's my impression, but I found the collection of slapped-together buildings that makes up the St. Ignace Casino very depressing.  A bunch of people pouring away their money.  Yippee.  Party-party.  Yahoo-great-fun.

    The other guys joined us when we got back, Ed and Mike made it up later that night (around 11).

    Anyway, enough rambling.  Here's a few pics from the ride up with Jeff, Cal and I (these were taken after we left Mike):
 


Day 2- Thursday: St Igance, MI to Terrace Bay, ON- 354 miles

 

    We left St Ignace and went to Sault Ste. Marie for breakfast.  Here are some pics from the ride- I shot one of each rider:


    Leaving the Soo, we were supposed to make a gas stop after about 60 miles, since it is quite a run all the way to Wawa.  Well, I was leading and missed the town (which actually only consists of a gas station- no other buildings).  Needless to say Mat the Canuck, our most prepared and most paranoid rider was a bit nervous about the missed gas stop.  We were stuck- Mark on the BMW had a gas transfer pump, so worst case scenario we could pump from some of the longer-range bikes into the Harley (or others that ran low).  Anyway, we made it just fine- about 132 miles and no one even hit reserve- for many of us it was the best gas mileage we had gotten.  Second problem- worked out.  Anyway, we now were in Wawa, ON.  If you have been to Wawa, you know what's there- the goose!  Here's a couple of shots:

    A bit after leaving Wawa, it looked as if we were going to hit rain.  Wisely Jeff Boeve decided we should pull over and suit up our raingear.  We did.  We hit rain not 5 miles later.  It's too bad- I couldn't pull out my camera to take pics in the rain, but the ride between Wawa and Terrace Bay was some of the best riding I have done to date.  The sights were amazing- the highway was cut through small mountains leaving towering cliffs on either side if the highway, and in other places you rode right next to Lake Superior (600 ft above sea level).  In one spot we came over a small mountain (1600 ft) and higher up were wisps of cloud curling down over the mountain ridge, dropping down several hundred feet into a valley below.  Gorgeous.  Made me think of the classic hymn "How Great Thou Art".  That's one of the beauties of motorcycling- seeing amazing sights alone with your thoughts, even with nine other bikes around you.  That was a cool ride, even if it was in the rain.  I definitely will be back to do that one again- maybe camping with my family.

    We had planned to go to Nipigon, but about an hour shy of that we hit Terrance Bay, ON.  We had been driving in the rain for a couple hours, and everyone was pretty sick of it.  We found a motel/gas station/bar, and got three rooms.  Turns out it was 19 cent wing night, and that was 19 cents Canadian!  That's like a nickel or something in American money I think... <G>
    Anyway, after driving in the rain 10 guys, 260 wings, and several pitchers of cold Canadian was a welcome combination.  We took showers in shifts (alone)- it was great being well fed and watered.
    Terrace Bay was an interesting town.  We met a local- Jonesy.  Between him, a group of girls, a huge curling mural on the wall, and some others we observed, pretty much every negative stereotype I have ever had about Canadians was confirmed.  Now understand- that isn't a slam against Canadians.  For you Canadians that read this, it would be like hitting a bar in backwoods Tennessee where the people had rebel flag tattoos, rode in the back of pickups, shot guns, and worried about spilling their beer while shooting or driving.  Cracks you up and confirms all the negative stereotypes you have about Americans.  Good stuff.
We slept well, and woke up to no rain and dry roads.  Here's some pics of the hotel.  Not all the bikes are here- a few parked farther down the way.

Me in my rain gear and the hotel...

On to Page 2 of the report