Hello ,I will be riding through Michigan and wanted to know if anyone has rode up the east or west side of the state along the great lakes. I would appreciate any suggestions .Thanks

 

Here's what we did the end of June / first of July. I vote for the west side up the coast of lake Michigan, cross the bridge, up to Superior, back down to Milwaukee and then WAY WAY WAY out around Chicago.

Trip was great. Left and rode rain mod=st of the first 400 miles. Day 2 and 3 had absolutely fabulous weather. Traveled M22 around the lake back to US 31 at Travers City. Stayed in Charleviox. Back on 31 day 3. Dunked our tootsies in the lake and found some Petoskey stones. On up to Harbor Springs and onto M119, the tunnel of trees. It only proved to reinforce my thoughts that in our area, we live in poverty. Wanted to eat at Legs Inn at Cross Village but was a little to early. Crossed the bridge and with the wind speed it wasa white knuckle experience. On up to Tahquamenon Falls, 8 bucks to buy a passport to get my our of state bike into the State Park. I told the gal theat the bike was made in america and didn't need a passport but she saw no humor in my commemt and simply stated that if we wished to see the falls that is what it would take. So that's what we did. Spent the night in Newbury at a great little Mom and Pop motel. Off the next morning to Munising to take the boat tour of Picture Rocks. Rain, 40 mph winds and 42 degrees. Paid for the boat ticket, boarded the boat and when the captain said that the water was a bit "lumpy", I knew that we were in trouble. He didn't miss his guess. If there were 45 people on the boat, 35 of them have a red bio-hazard bag with fish chum in it. Although our group was having a ball, he turned the boat around. They gave us half our money back. It was sooooooo cold we rode only 66 miles that day. Awakened to some good weather the next day and made our way to Milwaukee and the Museum. The last thing that the little gal told us when we bought our tickets was "Please don't lean over the exhibits." Of course it didn't take long before the HEAD of security was behind us telling and demonstrating to us how NOT to lean over. Be certain that his method didn't work either and for the most part evertime we looked behind us, he was there. He even followed us to the souvenier shop. Good fellow though, he told us what to look for and how not to get caught. Wanted to take the high speed ferry back across the lake but there was no room on the boat. Tried to make reservation 2 days in advance but I think that Street Fest had something to do with that. I wanted to go WAY out around Chicago but got out voted. Down I-94 to I-294. Paid our toll to get on and away we went. 75/80 MPH in a 55, 6 lanes wide, truck traffic on the 2 right lanes. $ times I saw signs saying toll plaza ahead, but being from Ohio, I wasn't gertting off so I thought that I didn't have to pay a toll, so I went straight through. I got in the I-PASS lane and that's exactly what I did, I-PASSED straight through. Whene we got to Gary, Indiana, one of the guys rode up beside me and told me that I really had a set of nads. I asked why, and he told me that we should have stopped at each of the toll plazas and paid our fee. Guess I missed that one. Motored on over to the easst side of Indiana and spent the night in Kendallville. Great people and a great motel. stopped at the Valpraiso or Napoleon H-D shop, forget which, and they had an exhibit that would rival any at the museum. Stayed over on more night and then made our way home. Oh yea, a couple of days after we got home, I looked up that little oversite of not paying the tolls and evidentally it happens quite often cause they give you 7 days to pay your toll if you miss one which is exactly what I did. All in all, just a great trip and not enough time. OBTW, was eye witness to a pink dressed tranny in Lake Trout that absolutely scared the HELL out of me.

 

One more thing, if you do make your way up the western side of Michigan, stop in a little town named Ludington at the junction of 31 and 10. Find the ice cream shop on Main St. called Jones' Ice Cream and treat yourself to the toasted coconut flavor. They say that there is only one place in the states to get it and you are there. Great place to savor the flavor.