To Big Bay (MI) and back

[meach]

Took 11 days and 3000 mi to go to Big Bay MI (22 mi north of Marquette MI) and back earlier this month to attend a wedding. Went up thru TN, KY, IL & WI and back thru MI, IN, OH. We tent camped most of the time. This was our first long trip on the RSV

 

Some campgrounds we stayed at:

City of Rantoul, IL - Prairie Pines Campground - (formerly Chanute AFB trailer park)

Township of Big Bay, MI - Perkins Park Campground (where wedding reception was held)

Chain O' Lakes State Park, IN (huge park and campground)

 

We stopped by IR in Galena on the way and was going to camp at Blanding Landing but was made aware of train tracks right next to campground with trains all night blowing whistle. (Learned a Canadian salute of sorts while we chatted with a couple folks regarding the trains at the campground) ended up staying at Chestnut Mtn, I guess the desk girl felt sorry for us after spending all of one day riding in rain as she gave us one of their really nice rooms with a view of MS river (see pic)

 

Was one of the most unique weddings I've attended. Ceremony was held on top of Thomas Rock (aka Gobblers Knob) which overlooks the town of Big Bay, Lake Independence and Lake Superior (see pic)

 

Was a little nervous crossing "mighty mac" from UP back to lower as there was rain following us and didn't want to cross bridge in rain. We had to drive on the metal grate due to construction and front tire kept wanting to follow a joint in grate thus wobbling a little but all went well, beat the rain and stopped for fudge in Mackinaw City:)

 

My 07 RSV did great. Had an issue I was afraid was in final drive making noises, had new oil in drive but went to Autozone in Rantoul and bought knew oil and changed it in parking lot, inspected old oil and all seemed fine. Noises would come and go rest of trip, changed final drive oil again in Big Bay. Decided noises were tire related and possibly those 5 pins (not sure what they are called) inside rear hub being dry (put molly on em and drive spines after getting home)

 

Spending time riding along Lake Superior and Lake Michigan was kind of like riding along the coast but a whole lot cooler. Found a few lighthouses. The lighthouse at Big Bay was awesome, on a bluff overlooking Superior. (see pic)

 

Spent one night in a little converted pop-up camper in backyard of daughters house given as a wedding present to them, was actually really nice inside. 4 wheel trail right behind leads to a system of 4 wheel trails all over the UP. It seems everyone up there has a snow mobile for winter and a 4 wheeler for summer. Amazing you can walk out of the camper and go forever (if you wanted) and not cross a road or see anyone.

 

So anyway, a little summary of our 11 days, had a great trip. Weather was mostly great, a lot of rain on the way up but nice and cool in the UP, wedding went well, met a lot of yoopers, looking forward to next trip.

[Squidley]

Been across Big Mac several times as we lived in Michigan for pretty much 40 years. Always fun riding across it on a bike

 

The Northern lower and Upper Peninsula are beautiful, heavily wooded and just unreal. I miss being able to take weekend trips up there and just screw around. Nice pics, glad you got to see the best of Michigan...not Detroit

[meach]

...The Northern lower and Upper Peninsula are beautiful, heavily wooded and just unreal.....

Reminded me a lot of driving thru the Sawtooth Range (minus the snow peaks) in Idaho, the smell of fir trees in the air all the time. We loved driving down thru western lower MI. We came down 31 along the lake then camped in Interlochen below Traver City then south down 37 thru some of the national forest. Was going to go up the Kewanee P. but too much rain the day we had to head out so we headed on south. Will do the K.P. another trip up. We'll be back again.

[Squidley]

The west side of the state is beautiful, Traverse City is one of the biggest Cherry growing areas in the country, they are awesome. My Dad grew up north of Kalkaska off US 131 in a town called Alba. I loved going up there in the summer and fall, the colors will take your breath away

[cowpuc]

Nice ride report!! Thanks for sharing with us. Indeed our UP is awesome riding!! I LOVE tenting up there,, just gotta catch it when the skeeters and no-see-ums are down and watch where you store the Frito's.. Looks like you folks had a great time riding and a wedding to boot - cant beat that!!!

Puc

[rmac345]

Glad you enjoyed your time up in Gods Country. Weather hasn't been the greatest, but still some awesome riding!

[meach]

Glad you enjoyed your time up in Gods Country. Weather hasn't been the greatest, but still some awesome riding!

We had a great time in the area, didn't get to Marquette much, made a Wally world trip one day from Big Bay for supplies but we spent about 4 days in the area.

 

Came up 35 to 553 thru Guinn (sp?) and passed by what looked like a biker bar, on the way home we back south on 41.

 

The groom is from Marquette/Big Bay area. Grew up in Marquette (his mother was a doc but later moved her practice to Escanaba) He's working on his masters at Northern Michigan and works part time in a local BBQ rest., I don't recall the name but the day of the wedding they had to close because most of the kitchen workers went to the wedding and did the food for the reception afterwards.

 

He does stream ecology work all around the area, even up on the Huron Sportsman property.

 

Not sure we would have ever gone up there if not for having a good reason, had never been to the great lakes region, glad we made the trip.

 

On the way home was chatting with a fellow at a stop who used to live in Marquette, worked for Catapillar and his family couldn't take the winters so they moved back to the south after several years.

 

Be hard to live where you had to stop riding for several months, I'm too used to riding year round.

[LilBeaver]

Ugh -- I am quite jealous. I lived up there for a few years... a few years ago and have been itching to get back ever since... I have attempted to plan 3 separate trips on my RSV up there but other things got in the way.

I used to do a lot of camping up in that area... well... lots of places around the U.P. actually.

 

Anyway, glad you had a good trip and experience a part of the country that not many people get to!

 

:thumbsup2: