[srobak]

Time
09 September at 07:00 - 12 September at 14:00
Location
Around Lake Michigan (and part of Lake Superior)

More Info:

You can see highlights from last year here: http://robak.net/lmct10.html

NOTE: A room deposit is required this year. Details in the full trip description which will be sent to interested parties.

Embark by MOTORCYCLE on an amazingly scenic, 1200 mile, 3.5 day lap around the Lake Michigan Shoreline, including a portion of Lake Superior and put a notch in your belt for this epic, landmark ride. The ride will be 95% daylight riding (14 hours of daylight available daily) with numerous stops for photo ops, smoke breaks, food, stretch and fuel. This is the same ride I do every year without incident on some amazing roads with stellar views through tranquil harbor towns, and little to no traffic once north of Milwaukee.

Some highlight spots on the trip include (do keyword searches): Milwaukee, Green Bay/Lambeau Field, KI Sawyer Air Force Base, Marquette MI/Northern Michigan University, Munising MI/Pictured Rocks/Miner's Castle, Hiawatha National Forest, Sault Ste. Marie National Forest, Mackinac Bridge/Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island Fudge Ice Cream, The Tunnel Of Trees/Highway 119, Lake Charlevoix, Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, Northport/Highway 22, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Manistee National Forest, Logan's Roadhouse/Holland MI, Blue Star Highway, Red Arrow Highway, 5-star Highway, Warren Dunes State Park, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

<specifics deleted, as this is a private event>

There is plenty of buffer time built into each day if we run late and to make plenty of stops to keep everyone "fresh". In all honesty - no more time will be spent on the bikes daily than on a typical weekend riding day.

Daily route maps:

Day 1: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...5142010026945430645.000483c401f84ee41d354&z=7
Day 1 option: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...142010026945430645.000483c40ff346daaa32e&z=11
Day 2: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...5142010026945430645.000483bd498f0e0f80e76&z=8
Day 3: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...5142010026945430645.000483bd8a6fedb9cbb14&z=8
Day 4: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...5142010026945430645.000483bdf9476d9ae0eaf&z=9

If you have a Garmin GPS I will be able to supply you with route files you can upload.

$ Details:

If you average 35mpg the trip will take approximately 34 gallons. At $4.00/gal that is $135, and at $4.50/gal that is $153 for the whole trip.

All 3 nights hotels are pending - 2nd night on the beach in Traverse City - and total per-person price will be approx 115-140 to include all 3 nights, depending on attendance.

Eat frugally as well (aside from the Sunday night steak! Best you will ever have - and it is only $15!) and you should be able to do the whole trip for $325-350, plus incidentals and extra spending money (casino etc).

***Please remember that this is a scenic tour around the lake and not a race or a stunt show. Anyone acting a fool WILL BE DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY***. There will also be several areas of spirited and technical riding along the way however, so everyone should be satisfied***

I have preliminary hotel reservations pending, and room deposits ($50) are due from everyone no later than 9pm July 17th, so try to lean one way or another by then. You always have the option to cancel up to August 26th without losing your deposit - so if you are on the fence say "yes" and pay until then.

More information will be posted in here as the date draws near. Please post questions to the thread or the FB event. Contact me on FB if you need an invite as this is a PRIVATE EVENT.

 

[Blown306]

:yes1: That weekend looks good for me, so for right now I am going to pencil it in. I'd also like to invite one of my riding buddies if that's OK...

 

[srobak]

Sure thing, so long as they are not squidilicious I'll PM you more of the detailed info tonight or tomorrow - unless you find me on FB, then I can add you to the event page.

 

[Blown306]

Not a squid at all...mature enough to know that stupid is expensive. He does more LD-ish trips on an FZ than seems to be humanly possible a good guy to ride with. I'll put the feelers out on the trip and let you know...

 

[srobak]

Reminder - RSVP's and the $50 room deposit is due by July 17. Refunds are given until August 26th - so any "maybe's" need to be "yes" by the 17th, or you will not have a place to sleep.

 

[Blown306]

Please PM me the details...I'm 99% positive I'm in for this year. Thanks :thumbup:

 

[srobak]

Will do - I am working during the day today, and traveling this evening for the holiday weekend, but will try to get it to you tomorrow if not Friday.

 

[srobak]

Reminder - RSVP's and the $50 room deposit is due by July 17. Refunds are given until August 26th - so any "maybe's" need to be "yes" by the 17th, or you will not have a place to sleep.

 

[srobak]

5 DAY NOTICE: Lake Michigan Ride room deposits due SUNDAY

Greetings all,

IF YOU ARE A MAYBE: Change your RSVP to YES. Deposits ARE REFUNDABLE until August 26th.

There are 5 days remaining for people to submit deposits ($50/person) for their lodging during the Lake Michigan Ride. These deposits are 100% refundable until August 26th, and I will provide receipts to that effect. If you cancel after Aug 26 you will lose your deposit so those attending do not get financially shafted by last-minute drops like they did last year.

If you do not make a deposit for the room then I will not hold accommodations for you, you will not be staying in the suites with the group, enjoy the reduced costs we receive for the block of rooms and high-occupancy suites, nor have beach-front lodging on Saturday. So if you are on the fence, better to reserve a spot and cancel later if need be, than to lose out entirely.

Deposits can be in cash or via paypal and receipts will be provided.

If anyone has any questions, please let me know.

 

[jbales]

Just made that same (almost) trip last last month. We also went to L'Anse, MI for a Cinnimon Roll the size of a loaf of bread for only $3.95!:lol::lol::lol:

 

[srobak]

Just made that same (almost) trip last last month. We also went to L'Anse, MI for a Cinnimon Roll the size of a loaf of bread for only $3.95!:lol::lol::lol:

Yeah if we had an extra day - I would include a full run on the Copper Harbor Loop... (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=U...ps6j-g&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=11&via=1,2,3,4,5&z=8), but it is hard enough to get people to commit to 2 days off from work as it is and attach it to a weekend.

 

[Steve F]

Reminder - RSVP's and the $50 room deposit is due by July 17. Refunds are given until August 26th - so any "maybe's" need to be "yes" by the 17th, or you will not have a place to sleep.

I JUUUUUUUst found out about this tour this morning, and I immediately called my wife to tell her about it. I (we) are interested, and would like to sign up. I don't use facebook, so this is the only means that I have to get in contact with you. I'll try to email you as well in case this post doesn't work.
Please send me the details if you think that I'm able to join you.
Some questions: Where does the tour start or leave from?, is the $50 deposit for EACH hotel, or all three? I was wondering if another couple could join us if they can make it? (we're all in our 50's and not a bunch of squids).

Steve F.

 

[srobak]

Heya - got your PM and will respond in a bit to that, but also wanted to answer the questions you posted here...

Start spot is north Suburbs on 41, near Great Lakes NTC where we can meet for fuel, breakfast and riders meeting.

The $50/person deposit is for the whole trip. 2 of the 3 nights we can do a short-notice cancellation on, but not for Traverse City. As I did not get deposits last year, this resulted in some of last years attendees getting shafted on room price when there were some last-minute drops after the cancellation date for Traverse City. This kinda ruined things for others and had a ripple effect of more drops which continued to increase the overall price for those still going as we were then stuck with the excess rooms. I will not let that situation repeat itself.

Another couple is fine - but if either/both of your couples are not comfortable sharing an open suite with others - you may need to make your own arrangements for at least Traverse City and possibly Holland (in which case the deposit to me is not necessary). The first night is private rooms within a large suite, so there are no privacy issues there. We do the suite route because the idea is to keep the trip costs to a minimum and the rate of savings is 40-60%. Unfortunately the only beach-front, suite floorplan available in TC at a reasonable rate over that weekend is a 2-room unit with 2 queen beds in one of the room and a queen sofa in the other.

Glad to hear on the squid factor, but do keep in mind that there is a bit of a schedule to keep, and we all have to be back at work for Tuesday morning. We will be riding 350-ish miles a day from sun-up to sun-down, and once north of Milwaukee - almost none of it will be superslab. There will be several/frequent stops for sights/stretch/food/fuel/etc, but they will have to be kept relatively short other than meals, and we are looking at ~8 hours of seat time daily. The idea is the maximize the daylight, as this is a "scenic" tour afterall. Pretty silly to do any significant amounts in the dark and miss the scenery

I'll get back to you in a bit on your PM, but also please feel free to post questions here too.

 

[Blown306]

It's official...deposit sent :yes1:

 

[srobak]

Got it. Will make sure you get the receipt shortly.

 

[Steve F]

Sorry I won't be going.......

It looks like I'll have to pass this time. I'm sure you're going to have a really good ride, ENJOY!!!
Steve F

 

[Steve F]

About the GPS route

One other thing........I opened the GoogleMaps routes that you posted, and I'm not clear on how these routes can get downloaded to my GPS. I saw the video that GARMIN has about doing the download thing. They show downloading direction to a point that GOOGLE MAPS searched for and figured a route, but I don't think it will work by downloading your posts. What's the procedure? Do I have to open the route, and THEN save it and load from there? Do I have to open the route and send it the GPS? I dunno, I'm confused.
I have a GARMIN Nuvi 360
Steve F

 

[srobak]

I have Garmin route files. I can get them to you in a couple of days.

 

[srobak]

Alright y'all - deposits are due by 9pm tonight, sunday. I have only received a couple so far... so those of you who have not sent them yet - this message is for you.

 

[Steve F]

I have Garmin route files. I can get them to you in a couple of days.

Hey SROBAK, I sent you a PM from this forum about your message......Steve F