Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
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Cruiser
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Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
Excuse the re-post. Posted this in initial thread but probably better to do it as a stand alone post.
Well, I took this trip. Had a great time. Did an Iron Butt SS1000 run from Enterprise, Al up to Grayling, MI at night in order to beat the heat. It was just under 1100 miles in 18 hours. Spent the day and night there resting and then continued up over the Mackinac Bridge and into Ontario Province, Canada. Rode to Wawa the first day. Hwy 17 is beautiful. Being used to the 100+ temps in Alabama I froze my butt off with Canadiantemps in the 50's and rain. Next day headed for Thunder Bay with overcast sky and temps in the 40's when I left. Froze again. Hit rain halfway to Thunder Bay. Now cold and wet. Hit road construction with stretches of gravel. Now cold, wet and PO'd. Got to Thunder Bay to find more construction and decided to head for the border. Loved Hwy 61 down to Duluth. blew thru Duluth and went on down intoMN. Was makinggood time until, around dusk,the deer started to cross in front of me. I decided to find the nearest motel. Happened to be in Spooner, MN...nice placeto spend the night. Got to St Louis, MO the next day and then on home to Alabama the day after that. Back into the brutal heat we've been having. Drank water constantly underway to avoid dehydration.Turned out to be just under 3200 miles in five days. Had a great ride and wouldn't trade a minute of it.......even the wet ones. Or the cold/hot ones. That's all part of it. The Ultra makes rides like this easy. Turn on the XM radio, program the GPS, set the cruise control and relax. I'm not even unpacked yet and I am already thinking about my next ride. Life is good.
Thanks to those who volunteered information about the route, it was much appreciated.
Well, I took this trip. Had a great time. Did an Iron Butt SS1000 run from Enterprise, Al up to Grayling, MI at night in order to beat the heat. It was just under 1100 miles in 18 hours. Spent the day and night there resting and then continued up over the Mackinac Bridge and into Ontario Province, Canada. Rode to Wawa the first day. Hwy 17 is beautiful. Being used to the 100+ temps in Alabama I froze my butt off with Canadiantemps in the 50's and rain. Next day headed for Thunder Bay with overcast sky and temps in the 40's when I left. Froze again. Hit rain halfway to Thunder Bay. Now cold and wet. Hit road construction with stretches of gravel. Now cold, wet and PO'd. Got to Thunder Bay to find more construction and decided to head for the border. Loved Hwy 61 down to Duluth. blew thru Duluth and went on down intoMN. Was makinggood time until, around dusk,the deer started to cross in front of me. I decided to find the nearest motel. Happened to be in Spooner, MN...nice placeto spend the night. Got to St Louis, MO the next day and then on home to Alabama the day after that. Back into the brutal heat we've been having. Drank water constantly underway to avoid dehydration.Turned out to be just under 3200 miles in five days. Had a great ride and wouldn't trade a minute of it.......even the wet ones. Or the cold/hot ones. That's all part of it. The Ultra makes rides like this easy. Turn on the XM radio, program the GPS, set the cruise control and relax. I'm not even unpacked yet and I am already thinking about my next ride. Life is good.
Thanks to those who volunteered information about the route, it was much appreciated.
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12
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RE: Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
Sounds great. I was going to go on a similar trip a couple of weeks ago, but rescheduled. I'm heading from Indianapolis on Monday to Saul St. Marie, Thunder Bay, Duluth, Milwaukee, back to Indy. Any inisights into places to stay, not to stay, etc would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
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Cruiser
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RE: Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
JR
Can't be of too much help to you as I only spent one night up there in Wawa. Stayed at the Sportsman's Motel on the main drag. Clean place but pricey. There was a nice little place right across the street from it that I probably should have checked out. Stop for a coffee at Tim Hortons in Wawa.........always a treat.As I indicated, I did not stay in Thunder Bay. I hope you get to take the ride as the scenery is great.
Brgrds,
Jerry
Can't be of too much help to you as I only spent one night up there in Wawa. Stayed at the Sportsman's Motel on the main drag. Clean place but pricey. There was a nice little place right across the street from it that I probably should have checked out. Stop for a coffee at Tim Hortons in Wawa.........always a treat.As I indicated, I did not stay in Thunder Bay. I hope you get to take the ride as the scenery is great.
Brgrds,
Jerry
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
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RE: Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
Jerry,
Thanks for the information. I'm hopping for better weather than you had. Not sure of my overnight stays yet, but I'll stop for a cup a few times along the ride.
Thanks again,
JR
Thanks for the information. I'm hopping for better weather than you had. Not sure of my overnight stays yet, but I'll stop for a cup a few times along the ride.
Thanks again,
JR
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Cruiser
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RE: Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
ORIGINAL: JR Indy
Jerry,
Thanks for the information. I'm hopping for better weather than you had. Not sure of my overnight stays yet, but I'll stop for a cup a few times along the ride.
Thanks again,
JR
Jerry,
Thanks for the information. I'm hopping for better weather than you had. Not sure of my overnight stays yet, but I'll stop for a cup a few times along the ride.
Thanks again,
JR
The lesson I learned (again) is just pack your electric vest/liner. Always. It doesn't take up much room in the saddlebag. Rather have it and not need it than the reverse situation. I don't care if I'm going to Florida in August I am not leaving home without it ever again. I learned this years ago and got complacent. There does seem to be a cooling effect coming off Lake Superior, so pack for it when you go.
Jerry
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 2
From: canada
RE: Sault Ste Marie - Thunder Bay
Indeed. I bring warm clothes going up that way all the time. I find it even going from Southwestern Ontario to the Cabot Trail at the end of June. I woke up in the morning and left Baddeck and 19 degrees C, and ended up in North Mountain, only 150km's further north, at 2 degrees and sleet!
One thing that I wanted to note for those travelling from the Sault to Wawa - it's exactly 234 km's, and there ain't no gas stations. Thank goodness I filled up before leaving.
Cannon
One thing that I wanted to note for those travelling from the Sault to Wawa - it's exactly 234 km's, and there ain't no gas stations. Thank goodness I filled up before leaving.
Cannon
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