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Author Topic: 5 years in the Making  (Read 179 times)

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Offline Head

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5 years in the Making
« on: October 20, 2015, 09:47:31 AM »
Finally, 5 years after getting her endorsement and work and kids and starting a brewery, we're going moto camping!!!!

The first hurdle was getting the kids to my mom's house.  We trailered the 36 miles.  Also makes it easier on the way home, just load up and everyone takes a nap.  In the photo below I could not get the wife's First Gear jacket to zip to her Joe Rocket pants.

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Both bikes ready to go. No idea why its tiny.  Can you tell I'm excited, three pictures and we're not ever away from Grandma's house yet

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So the general idea is to head west toward Ontonogon hit the South Boundary Rd. in the Porkies and just see from there.  This is literally Jess's first trip longer than a few miles ( 50) to work.  No real pics for the first bit, just riding and getting used to things.  Her Ninja still has an erratic idle that I'll get around to this winter.  Oh yeah I forgot my speedometer at home! 

Beautiful weather heading out.  Oddly it wasn't until a few miles from Ontonogon that we started getting machine gun pelted with bugs.  Like some serious three round burst fire action.  We had to pull over at a gas station to clean off our visors, drink some water and chat with a couple that were out for a ride too.

We get near the edge of Porcupine Mtns and this pops up.

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It was thick along the ground but not very high so the sun was poking through.  My visor was instantly dewed up and then my glasses.  So I pulled over.  Back on the road we were closing in on our reason for being down this way. South Boundary Rd.  27 miles of twisty hilly 2 lane through one of the UPs untouched old growth forest. 

It was hard to see in the fog, but there it was.  With road closed signs!!!!!!  Off to the ranger station to see whats up.

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There was a culvert replaced 7 miles up the road, its passable, but the signs had to stay up until its paved or something.  OFF WE GO!

It was a great ride, I let Jess lead so she could relax and just focus on riding.  I could see her getting more comfortable the more turns we hit.  Then all to soon we hit the other end and stopped for a few pictures.

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We had gotten a late start.  A friend was up and we chatted well past our early departure time.  So after the sign photoshoot and a little incident dropping a bike ( on a hill and getting your foot caught on the gear on the bike with the kickstand up!) we stopped for gas in Wakefield and looked for a campground for the night.  Find place to sleep and then find some dinner.

We ended up staying at Lake Gogebic State Park.  Beautiful park, luckily there is a Lodge like a mile from the campsite that served food.  Nothing to really talk about food wise, but it is always a hoot when you walk into a bar/ resturant FULL of Harley dudes and ol' ladies in mostly full gear carrying helmets.  Eat, get some beers for the fire.  Being quite exhausted we cashed in early.

I was given shit for my choice in take out

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More to come.  Mostly just text as Jess's phone died. ( UPGRADE time, and some farkles!!! Xmas is going to be fun) Day two was nice, I'll get a map up of where we went in case someone wants to know.

Something Jess said early in the trip still makes me laugh, "Wow!! I never realized when you ride, you smell the world. And anything dead on the side of the road!"
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Offline Max Wedge

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2015, 10:25:41 AM »
 :clap: :bigok: Yay!!! (5 years is a long time!) Waiting for more....
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Online mxvet57

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2015, 10:57:06 AM »
WOW you really do ride.
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Online Bounce

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2015, 11:28:55 AM »
Nice ride. Shame to ruin it with Pabst. :)
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Offline Head

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2015, 01:25:06 PM »
Quote from: mxvet57 on October 20, 2015, 10:57:06 AM
WOW you really do ride.

It does happen.

Quote from: Bounce on October 20, 2015, 11:28:55 AM
Nice ride. Shame to ruin it with Pabst. :)

You and the wife, it tis a fine lager I tells ya!
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Offline Head

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2015, 02:03:22 PM »
Day two.

But first the map of day one.

https://goo.gl/maps/zPfVzSVWPYq

And two. Woke up, took down camp and re packed the bikes.  Re-checked the map to make sure which way we were going to go.  Hopped on the bikes and put down about 20+miles to Watersmeet were we had a great breakfast at the Roadhouse Cafe.  Unassuming door in a building that housed the post office and a small gas station.  Good portions, excellent price.  Coffee was serviceable.

Half way through my biscuits and gravy with two eggs Jess says, " I wish we had another day, look at all those roads towards Marquette," as she smoothed the map on the counter," just take our time and loop our way there and make our way home."

Shes got it.  Next summer is going to be good.

Gas up, stands up.  map here - https://goo.gl/maps/RXBeHUspkB32

On an open stretch of US-2 we played passing each other back and forth.

Another little bit down the road we head north on NFH-16.  I've taken this road a few times before, decent enough but most of this trip has been about being away from traffic and this really fits the bill. This is my first time taking this road going north.  Better than the other major roads.

The rest of the way goes by nicely.  Taking our time, a few stops to get off and stretch or whatever.  No pics and really the only thing to see are some trees and farms.  We roll into my moms house early afternoon, load up the bikes and make our way home.

Could not have gone any better.  Next year we go east in the UP, I've still never been to Grand Marais.

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Online st2sam

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2015, 04:42:55 PM »
 :clap:
Thanks for sharing.

Better late than never and it only gets better!  :thumbsup:
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Online Papa Lazarou

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Re: 5 years in the Making
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2015, 03:44:01 AM »
 :popcorn:
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