Day 10. Paradise to Wolverine. End of day. Sort of. It’s 7p and we are hunkered down. Went out for dinner in one of my favorite haunts in Northern Michigan
Today we hit weather again. Got out of Paradise and kept our rain gear handy. Spent time in the morning talking to other bikers who were traveling to all sorts of points, from all sorts of points. Two couples on Honda gold wings out for a few weeks have wracked up over 130k on their bikes
Headed south and then east around the final portion of Lake Superior to complete our circumnavigation. Nice. Nice to be able to do it. Nice to have the time to do it. Nice to be fortunate enough to have the resources. Most of all, nice to be able to do it with my sons and my brother.
We hit weather just south of Sault Ste Marie. We saw it ahead of us and pulled into a Presbyterian church parking lot that just happened to be there at the right time and was full of the faithful. Our rain gear was put on and and as soon as we pulled back out, it hit. Strong winds right on the nose of the bikes. Biking in weather is not bad if you have the right equipment. I think I mentioned earlier my cheesy rain suit. 🙂. Actually it wasn’t bad. We kept speed down to about 45, because of the wind and heavy rain. For the most part drivers give us leeway. Probably for the entertainment value of seeing a group of bikers out in that type of weather
We got to St Ignace, which is the northern terminus of the Mackinac bridge. Pulled into a restaurant, had a leisurely lunch and checked the weather. We realized that a sizable storm cell was moving through and was going to take a while. Finished lunch and decided to move into the bar and continue our strategy session.
Originally we were going to try and make Alpena. The thought was to visit the lamphrey eel sterilization lab (true story) on the way and try to locate the elk herds in the morning on the way out. With all the weather, I called my favorite cabin owners in Wolverine and they happened to have one available and so we geared up. Change of plans.
Crossing the Mackinac bridge in good weather is a hoot. It is also a hoot in not so good. It’s a 5 mile or so suspension bridge across the straits between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Traffic was heavy with all the 4 of July vacations heading home. Stop and go heading for the toll booths. We took the slow lanes to avoid the grates in the middle. Breathtaking views a few hundred feet above the water.
30 miles south or so we fueled up and took off the foul weather gear. Nice ride for the next 20 miles or so to Wolverine. Small town, nothing special, just very nice and I always seem to gravitate to it.
Our cabin is right on a beautiful trout stream, surrounded by old growth cedar and pine. We had a quick dinner at the only establishment in town. Stopped at the general store for our nights supplies. Now sitting on the porch of an old log cabin, with a steel roof listening to the thunder boomers roll in. No internet. A fine cigar, acceptable scotch and stories that are coming from everyone’s memories triggered by something in the present.
2,200 miles or so this far. Tomorrow we will meander one more day. We will spent a final night somewhere a couple hundred miles south before we head home. Now we are still here. Life is good..
