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Lake Michigan Circle


Vic4Life

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We took 5 days to circle Lake Michigan travelling between 200- 280 miles per day as we did a lot of sightseeing – the entire route being around 1300 miles.

We did this one clockwise, spending some time at the Village at Grand Traverse where we visited a former state run asylum. You could spend an entire day here with all the history. The asylum’s construction consists of 8 million bricks that took less than 3 years to build…..what a remarkable feat for 1883!

Glen Arbor was one of the prettiest most serene places I think I have ever been, such a quaint town with a lot going on and so beautiful, being on the shores of Lake Michigan. Glen Arbor is home to an olympic size cherry spitting pit and lots of restaurants and shopping can be found within walking distance if you stay over night in town.
Homestead Dam
in Benzonia was a nice rest stop where we saw some fishermen and a lot of fish trying to jump the dam to head upstream.
Muskegon was a place we stayed overnight and it is the birthplace of snowboarding
. You can also find a Buster Keaton statue close by if that is of interest to you.

The Michigan Maritime Museum was an interesting place and an inexpensive at a cost of $8 an adult. Home to 5 on-water fleets, the tall ship was just spectacular.

Unfortunately after visiting the location for the Ferris Bueller movie’s garage scene in Highland Park my bike wouldn’t start. After pleading with Randy’s Cycle to send someone out with a regulator he did. I was certain that was the problem as I had left Ontario with a brand new battery.  3 hours or so later and we were back on the road, new regulator and another new battery…….good to go!

We visited Mary Nohls historic house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin which features numerous cement sculptures outside but they have since been dismantled and possibly shipped to Sheboygan to be displayed at the Michael Kohler Art Center as was discussed years prior (this would need confirming).

Kewaunee County Jail museum is a great place to spend an hour or so. While you are in the area nearby I’d recommend taking a look at the worlds tallest grandfather clock – standing 35’11” tall, chimes can be heard on 1/4, 1/2 and full hours. .

Us Coast Guard Canal Station in Sturgeon Bay was a nice place to stretch your legs, with history of the area throughout.

Wequiock Falls is a small waterfall you don’t have to hike to and is within a small park, great picnic spot with washrooms.
The 45th parallel marker can be found continuing north on US 41 just before Marinette.

Another fabulous trip full of exciting adventures.

 

 

LakeMichigan.PNG

Lake Michigan Circle for the VMC.gpx

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  • 3 years later...

Did this as well - but ended up doing it in 3 days.  August 25-27, 2023

Fri:  Plainfield, IL -> Escanaba, MI (381 miles / 9 hrs) https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORQVdx5rv
Sat: Escanaba, MI -> Mackinac Bridge/Tunnel of Trees -> Manistee, MI (328 miles / 6 hrs) https://www.relive.cc/view/vevWBVxgPyq
Sun: Manistee, MI -> Plainfield, IL (295 miles / 5 hrs) https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8gj8jjPq

Ride over Mackinac Bridge 8/26/2023


Ride through Tunnel of Trees 8/26/2023
 

 

Lake Michigan.gpx

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On 10/4/2023 at 4:02 AM, PhilChad said:

Did this as well - but ended up doing it in 3 days.  August 25-27, 2023

Fri:  Plainfield, IL -> Escanaba, MI (381 miles / 9 hrs) https://www.relive.cc/view/vdORQVdx5rv
Sat: Escanaba, MI -> Mackinac Bridge/Tunnel of Trees -> Manistee, MI (328 miles / 6 hrs) https://www.relive.cc/view/vevWBVxgPyq
Sun: Manistee, MI -> Plainfield, IL (295 miles / 5 hrs) https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8gj8jjPq

Ride over Mackinac Bridge 8/26/2023


Ride through Tunnel of Trees 8/26/2023
 

 

Lake Michigan.gpx 407.21 kB · 0 downloads

Wonderful ride. Thanks for sharing 

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  • 4 weeks later...

I did the same thing a couple of weeks ago when the trees were at their finest.  Been working in Michigan so decided to ride the bike. I had planned to ride the ferry from Muskegon to Milwakee on the way home but rain and a few other factors made me miss the boat. No worries, I got a room in Grand Haven expecting to ride the one leaving the next morning. However due to big waves they canceled that one.  Rode south, staying out of Chicago.

 

first leg: <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9230230" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

 

2nd <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9230837" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

3rd <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9231435" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

4th <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9231435" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

5th <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9231435" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

6th<iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9231435" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

almost home <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9231435" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

last leg <iframe src="https://a.rever.co/embed/rides/9231435" width="700px" height="700px"></iframe>

 

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