Ideas for A Rally - to - Rally Circumnavigation of Lake Superior

http://www.skunktails.com/

TO

http://www.sidecar.com/

More information and stuff to see and do around The Lake and/or the Nort' shore tis occasionally added at the bottom of this page.

Latest addition April 10.

Two possible routes, both departing the SKUNK Rally, Cameron,  Wisconsin and ending at the USCA Rally, Duluth, Minnesota. The difference tis that the longer one "hugs" the lake shore as much as possible while the short one leaves more time for off the road gawking.

Pictures/Resources of the 2007 Trip Around the Lake

There follows a possible itinerary and descriptions of some things enjoyed and places stayed on previous trips around The Big Lake. There are certainly other sights to be seen and it may help the reader who pursues this listing to realize that I be the type that takes pleasure of sitting, with a friend, in a 2 story outhouse.

TENTATIVE PLANS AND OPTIONS

http://www.exploringthenorth.com/porkiesum/intro.html

There are a couple of campgrounds at the Porkies and motels in Silver City.

I will be staying here as it tis closest to a nice sand beach, albeit nearer the COLDER end of the lake: http://www.exploringthenorth.com/silver/silver.html 

Nice rides are to The Lake of the Clouds and around the South Boundary Road while an evening drift wood fire on the beach tis mandatory as one supervises the setting of the sun.

Depart Monday for Munising. Short mileage tis about 260  while long mileage is about 310. Along the way one passes The Yoopers Tourist Trap http://www.dayoopers.com/thetrap.html

 and a variety of Pasty Shoppes. If you wish, you may contribute to the continuing and at times acrimonious debate over if pasties are best served plain, with gravy or ketchup.

If you choose the long route, up the Keweenaw Peninsula, you may wish to check out Fort Wilkins, Brockway Mountain Drive, the "end of the road" (Highway 41) and take various mine tours.  Also the last 20 miles or so up 41 to Copper Harbor are absolutely delightful deep forest twisties.

Depart Tuesday for The Soo,  220 miles short route, 280 long. Plenty of advice elsewhere about customs, no need to repeat formal stuff here. Informal suggestions are: 1) Don't tease the agents; 2) When signaled to approach the booth do so with helmet shield open (so your soft brown eyes and honest face are plainly visible) and upon stopping shut off engine so all can hear; 3)Answer honestly!!!

At the Canadian Soo can view locks, tour the Bush Plane Museum  (always a "must" for me) http://www.bushplane.com/  and if wish spend an extra day and take the Algoma Central - Agawa Canyon trip http://www.algomacentralrailway.com/content/tours/canyontour/index.html .

From the Soo on, one will find quite nice lakeside Provincial park campgrounds, as were recounted in HACK'd, private campgrounds and motels.

Depending upon sightseeing proclivities and if you wish to stop and build you very own rock cairn or have your picture taken with Winnie-the-Poo http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10193 , arrival will be in Marathon after 250 miles or Nipigon after 370 miles or - points in between or before or after.

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.

Lao Tzu: 570-490 B.C.

Friday tis a short jaunt to the Buffalo Chip Campground, where the less hardy Sidecarists will be basking in the hot showers that they demand when "roughing it"

Epilogue:

Who knows what will be added here as the future unfolds, not even

"The Shadow".

Additions, the beginning:

>>>>>>>>DISCLAIMER!!!!!!<<<<<<<<

skunk disclaimer in small print

People Write

Gust responded with (among other things) : Johnnie me lad or buoy (nun or can as the case may be), in traveling nothing tis firm (please see old Lao Tzu). Two days in the Soo? No problem. Of course all depends upon where ye stand upon pasties and their accouterments or condiments as the case may be. (Practice safe ingestion, always use condiments.)

Gust responds hanging head in embarrassment, "How could I have missed such a site on past travels - obviously a Must See!! Many Thanks Rich!!

Gust asks: 1) Can you find it as ye circle The Lake??   2) Is Kevin the one on the left or right?

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Pleasure Driving Fjord Horses             
Philis Anderson
Session Options:
. . . Daily, Mid-May through mid-October
Selectively bred for more than 20 centuries, Norwegian Fjord Horses might best be described as short and stocky, friendly and versatile. Whether pulling boats along Scandinavia’s fjords, working in farm fields, or pulling a cart to market, fjord horses were important partners for generations of farmers.  In this course you'll have a chance to experience the joy of working with this unique breed of horses while learning the basics of pleasure driving a horse and cart. Lessons begin in an outdoor arena and progress to beautiful trails through the quiet woods above Grand Marais.  This course is open to all, including those who would prefer simply to relax and take a pleasure drive with a team of fjord horses driven by the instructor.  A second person is welcome to observe and share in the cart ride as the lesson progresses for an additional $25.  Available most days May 15 to October 15, weather permitting.

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 0.5
. . . Hours: 10am to Noon (or 1pm)
. . . Tuition: $75      
. . . Materials Fee: None
. . . Intergenerational Age: na
. . . Intergenerational Tuition:
. . . Level: Beginner

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Daily Sailing Aboard The Schooner Hjørdis
         (Lake Superior Schooner Adventure!)
Ben Doornbos/Matthew Brown/Nathanael Kinzli
Length in Days: 2 hours
Session Options: Daily mid-June to mid-October
Hours: Daily: 9am, 11:30 am, 2:30 pm and 5pm
Tuition: $45 adults, $35 for kids under 12
Materials Fee: Included
Level: All levels
Set sail for an adventure that provides an introduction to the craft of sail, plus the ecology, geology, and history of Lake Superior.  The two-hour sail includes a tour of the Grand Marais Harbor and a journey onto the Big Lake for a spectacular view of the Sawtooth Mountains and the North Shore.  Sails most days of the week from mid-May to mid-October.  Call ahead for sailing dates, as the Hjørdis is used for other coursework. Call for reservations-six passenger maximum.  Sign up available starting March 1.

Plus other activities/short courses which may be found here: 

http://www.northhousefolkschool.com/classes/ChronList.htm

SUBARCTIC

If you wish experience "subarctic" flora on your trip you may wish to descend to the floor of the Quimet Canyon, remembering that while it tis down hill all the way, it is up hill all the way back  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouimet_Canyon

Or with a Minnesota climatological, map find the sliver of subarctic climate a bit inland from Grand Marias.

Other Stuff - if want more info give a holler

Amethyst Mine, Agate Beaches, Finnish BBQ,

Detailed maps, although between the Soo and Thunder Bay there tis basically only 1 road so ye would have to work at getting lost

Suggestion #1 would be to contact your friendly insurance agent and secure a card/letter/whatever confirming that your vehicle insurance tis good in Canada. There have been "stories" of individuals involved in fender benders who were not allowed to travel on until insurance coverage was confirmed.

Suggestion #2 would be to carry credit card in regrettable case of accident requiring medical services. There have been "stories" of difficulties obtaining some, non-emergency medical services. Apparently Canadian providers can make little sense of the "loopholes" in our "health care system" and  may require you to pay up front and then seek your own reimbursement from your company.

As indicated these are "stories", but stories heard from reasonably creditable sources in a couple of specific cases. As little Timmy said, "Be prepared and expect the unexpected".

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