Hogs Trip 2022

Yet another trip south.

I have been riding with this group since 2009 and this year will be my thirteenth trip with then.

Six to eight riders. Approx five with Harleys and two with Hondas.

 Already we have had two of the regular riders cancel out. Dudley and the Kid.

Here is the current plan.

Day 1: 5th August: Syracuse New York to State College Pennsylvania

Day 2: 6^th August: Luray, Virginia – 235 miles (378 kilometers)

Day 3: 7^th August: Galax, Virginia - 237 (381 kilometers)

Day 4: 8^th August: Gatlinburg, Tennessee - 315 (507 kilometers)

Day 5: 9^th August: Gatlinburg, Tennessee - 200 (322 kilometers)

Day 6: 10^th August: Campton, Kentucky - 200 (322 kilometers)

Day 7: 11^th August: Clarksburg, West Virginia - 278 (447 kilometers)

Day 8: 12^th August: Mansfield, Pennsylvania - 322 (518 kilometers)

Day 9:  8^th 13^th August: Home, Syracuse, New York - 127 (204 kilometers)

Total estimated miles: 2,039 (3,282 kilometers)

Appalachian Mountain chain. Great Smokey Mountains National Park North Carolina, Tennessee. Blue Ridge Mountains.

We also plan to run the zip line at Red River Gorge in Kentucky which has five lines ranging from 400 ft to over 1,900 feet in length.

Day 1. Friday 8/5/22 287miles from home to State College Pennsylvania. Home to The well known Penn State University. 98,783 students.

The day started off well with at 8am with a short forty minute ride to Auburn NY to meet Bobby. A cup of coffee and we started our bikes. Well at least mine did. Bobby’s battery was dead. He has had several batteries in the last few years which is more than normal. Whilst Bobby took apart his bike ready to fit a new battery, I rode to fetch him a new one up the road. After some time of fiddling around it started and we rode to a Harley dealer fifty miles away to have his bike checked over. The thought was it was an issue with his alternator but after an hour it all checked out and we headed off. We were supposed to meet the other four riders in our group from Buffalo NY for lunch but headed straight to our destination. Wet weather gear was donned and we rode through several storms and finally reached State College about six o’clock. The bad news was that Bobby’s engine light came on just as we entered town so it will be another drama in the morning to find out what has caused it.

 We had a great dinner and I was starving seeing as I had no food for the entire day due to delays. I set up the waitress to ask “Mr UHaul” what bobby’s order was at dinner. Regular readers will recall that Bobby on one trip blew his engine and had to rent a UHaul to get home. It’s a regular line and never gets tired. (except to him) He told the waitress that he was paying the bill and her tip was now zero. Very funny. But you had to be there.

Day two. Saturday 6th August 2022

233 miles to From State College to Big Meadows Lodge, Shenandoah National Park. Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Not a lot to report. Rain for the last hour of the ride and very hot and humid the rest of the way. Skyline Drive is over a hundred miles long from the start of the park to the end. Skyline drive runs right through the national forest and the Big Meadows lodge is right in the middle. The lodge is fifty miles into the park. The road is amazing. A winding, beautiful two-lane road with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour. There is lots of pull offs for views. The park and lodge were built in the 1930s. Very old world with cabin type accommodation with plumbing that hardly worked. 

Day three. Sunday 7th August 2022

276 miles to Big Meadows to Galax Virginia. 

I awoke at 6am to find three deer standing out the door. I walked past them and they didn't even move. There also was a skunk but luckily it ran off. We started at the crack of noon once again. 

We finished most of Skyline drive and then road some back roads and small highways. My bike managed 43 miles per gallon today. My average is around 40 so I was pleased. Gas is cheaper here. Premium at home is $5.50 per American gallon and today I paid $4.74.

Great ride with no rain. Bloody hot and humid but no rain. One of the guys said it was ninety two degrees. The last hour was under cloud cover and very high so it was a nice time. 

No break downs and no visits to the Harley dealers for repairs. Who could ask for anything more.

Several years ago we stopped at exactly the same location. One of the guys said "Look. Tugs accommodation for the trip". He was referring to some of the lower value accommodation I booked for our Nova Scotia.  The building still stands but in even worse repair,

Day four. Monday 8th August 2022

282 miles Galax Virginia to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. 

We left early. 9am. It might not seem early to everyone, well anyone, but for this group it was early. Mainly highway miles with the last sixty miles on the smokey mountains parkway. A little bit of rain but just enough to get wet. Whilst were at lunch it poured but by the time we finished it had stopped. We put on our wet weather gear on and it was hot and humid like a steam bath but after little bit of rain we cooled down.

We met an old time Hog, Mike Wilson in Gatlinburg. He had ridden up from Jacksonville Florida. Mike had not ridden with us for five years and was even thinking of selling his bike which he had not ridden for a year. Mike who lived in Syracuse and was a neighbor up the street from where we lived is the one who got me interested in riding again and put most of the chrome on my bike.

A simple dinner with the waitress asking "Mr UHaul" what he wanted for dinner. I still think its funny. Deep down I think he appreciates the attention. 

In between drinks I did my washing because some of the clothes were wet and its nice to get things done. I had woken at 4am and decided not to go back to bed and wake my roommate so it was a long day. 

Sitting around. We watched a black bear down the hill open a truck door and climb in to search for food. After a rumage he left and he did not close the door.

Day Five. Tuesday 9th August 2022

43 miles around Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

We awoke to the prospect of rain in the afternoon so it was agreed we would have a short ride up north for twenty odd miles to a famous gun store called Buds in Sevierville Tennessee. It was huge with thousands of guns and loads of ammunition. The photos do not do it justice.

Up the road was a huge knife shop called Knife works so up we treckked. Thousands of every type of knife and more.

 

We returned to the hotel and naturally it did not rain all afternoon except for a sprinkle but we had a nice lunch and relaxed. At night we went to a restaurant downtown by bus and Ubered home..

After dinner we sat outside and all of a sudden a mother bear and three cubs raced across the lawn next to us. They were travelling pretty fast so one of the guys shot this quick picture to prove we were not lying. After four days riding it was nice to relax a little. We stayed in the hotel for two days so it was nice not having to pack and unpack.

Day Six. Wednesday 10th August 2022

219 miles to Gatlinburg Tennessee to Campton, Kentucky.

Up early at 5am. I'm an early bird. I wake up and I should go back to sleep but I find the first few hours of the day great. I plan the day ahead, write the blog, clean the bike of bugs, shower, dress and be ready for the road. Trouble is then I have to wait for the others but I would rather wait than be late.

Today we had to be at the Red River Zipline at 4pm so we headed off at an unprecedented time of 8.30am. We had done over sixty miles before the time we normally would leave the hotel. We expected rain the whole day but it never happened until ten minutes before our new time of 1pm. We made such great time I arranged the time for the zip line to 1pm. At ten to one it poured down and we hid under the awning of a gas station and I called the zip line place to see if we could delay the start. They said if we were not there at one pm we would have to come back at original time of 4pm. We raced the last ten miles and arrived at about 1:10pm. I spoke to the manager and spun a story of traveling all this way just to run the zip. He finally relented and we were set to go. We were supposed to do the zip a few years back but it was cancelled because of lightning so here was out big chance.

There were four zip lines progressively longer and faster. It rained for the first two and the we could hear lightning all around us. They wanted to cancel the last two longer lines and let us do the two shorter ones but he weather improved and we did the final two. We did not take a camera so I have chosen some stock shots off the zip lines' website.

We had five tickets and six riders but the Deak volunteered to stay at the start for the whole hour it takes to ride all three. They say with a party of twelve it can take up to two hours with all the hooking and unhooking but we were fast

After we finished we rode to the hotel at three thirty. The earliest arrival time ever. We rode the two miles into town for an early dinner but it was welcomed considering we had no breakfast or lunch to save time. Great meal but we rode back to the hotel in pouring rain and then sat around with the guys drinking bourbon and smoking cigars. Tomorrow the weather looks good and so does the ride to home over the next three days.

Day Seven. Thursday 11th August 2022

311 miles Campton Kentucky to Clarksburg West Virginia. 

Not a lot to report. Great roads through Kentucky and Ohio but terrible once you were in West Virginia. Speeds varied from twenty five miles per hour through small towns to eighty five on main highways. Great weather all the way with storm clouds in the distance. Steve Schumer (alias the Deacon) was the lead rider on his Honda Goldwing. An amazing, powerful bike. No issues with directions and he chose some great roads away from highways. Steve planned the whole trip and everything is great including hotels and most food. We had pizza and wings at the hotel. Everyone seems tired tonight. No breakdowns or problems. Light traffic with few trucks.

Day Eight. Thursday 11th August 2022

355 miles from Clarksburg West Virginia to Mansfield, Pennsylvania. 

Heavy rain overnight caused my speedo/tacho/info dial to mist over inside and made it almost impossible to see my data such as miles to empty, time, miles covered. I was running low on gas but only had a rough idea by how much. Over the day it dried out but was a pain.

No rain but cooler that previous days. Speed limit was seventy five for most of the journey. The lead rider is in charge of planning the ride, navigating, speed and overtaking when needed, The rest of the group ride staggered and basically do nothing but keep an eye out for items on the road such as squashed animals and car parts. The last rider (me) looks out for cars merging, cars getting too close or cars trying to overtake up the right lane when we are in the left overtaking.

With six or seven riders we spread out and leave plenty of space but we get what I call the "concertina" effect. The front bike sits on a fairly constant speed but each rider can drop back and then speed up during a stretch of road. This can give a ten to fifteen miles an hour change at the rear. The front bikes sits on seventy but my bike can get to eighty or eighty five to catch up.

The weather was getting cooler. Tomorrow morning will be forty seven with a high of seventy eight. Bobby, who hates the cold, will rug up and turn on his heated seat and grips.  

Day Nine. Saturday 13th August 2022

 140 miles from Mansfield Pennsylvania to Syracuse home. 

Short haul and home by 1pm. The Buffalo boys headed off this morning.

Went through a town called Utica just south of Syracuse. Some very bad roads and hundreds of traffic lights. The Mayor's brother must have been the traffic lights' installer.

Statistics:

Total 2,146 miles
262 Average per day (not include 43 miler day) 8 days Riding
Longest day 311 miles
Shortest day 219 miles (not including 43 miler and last day)
12 gas (petrol) fills
47.37 gallons premium
Highest cost $5.05 per gallon
Lowest cost $4.00 per gallon
Total cost of gas$/petrol $212.20

Pre-Ride banter

Fastest gas tank filler – current champion: Dudley

Fastest to do up his seat belt – current champion: Bobby

Fastest to get admiring glances – current champion: Tug

Fastest to fall asleep in front of fire – current champion: Dilli

Fastest Honda tape applicator – current champion: Equally between Deak and Dilli

Fastest to speed dial to UKnown company: current champion and undisputed solo entrant: Bobby

Fastest telephoner to his standby mechanic – current champion: Dilli

Fastest to call a pee stop - Current champion Rage (Closely followed by Tug)

Fastest fetcher of two dozen bud lights – current champion and undisputed leader: Mike

Fastest user of the term “ish” - current champion: Bobby closely followed by Mike.

Fastest user of hand’s free - current champion Dudley

 

Tomorrow is someone’s birthday. It will be hard to work out who but here are a few hints:

Has worn a seat belt more times than anyone else on our trips (not counting Uber trips.)

Chose Waffle House and country kitchen eating establishments

Had more changes of new bikes then Rage has underpants

Rides less miles on three bikes combined than anyone else with one

Renowned for off road adventures (No – not Mike getting beer)

Second best mechanic (after Mary)

Stops for friends - but in the distance

Famous for use of the term "ish" at every morning departure

Loves special decorated bedrooms

Eats like a sparrow

Changes bikes before the tires wear out

Most appreciated for planning, leading and expense rationalization.

Discussion was held on who had the fasted bike. Tug wrote “On the bike issue we should race the kid on his bike and Bobby on his Ducati to see who can stop”

I'm already using depends, That way I can set up the beer cooler on the patio and don't have to move. - Rage

For a bike that looks great (particularly the white part) but will only go ten miles every second year it seems like a lot of work. Why not work on the Ducati. It does twenty miles a year.  - Tug

 And what about the old drum brakes?  Dilli ask your wife if she thinks Bobby should change them to disc? - Bobby

 To Dilli – I’m putting electronic ignition in the old Triumph and had to remove primary cover.   Gasket was baked on pretty good.  Would you please ask Mary what to use to remove old gasket?  Thanks.   = Bobby

 Met an Australian guy driving a UHaul and hauling a car from Vancouver to Novas Scotia. I gave him Bobbie's phone number for some tips seeing Bobbie is the UHaul expert. - Tug

 Maybe when I'm done I'll come wrench with you.  - Bobby    Fixing brakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Tug

 Dillie - give the Deak's sister in-law a call. She can look up the internet then fix it with some Honda tape. It won't last long. Just enough to get you home. - Tug

 When I hear Australian all I hear is "blah blah blah fresh fish blah blah blah white bikes aren't gay blah blah blah Worcestershire blah blah blah sheep are sexy blah blah blah" - Mike

 On the bright side, you're still not as close to the box as Tug. - Bobby

Only 96 days to go.

1. Remember registrations

2. Inspection if applicable.

4. Annual maintenance (Dillie's wife needs prior notice )

5. Repair brakes and other recalls

6. Get written permission from wives, partners or boyfriends

7. Stock up on Honda tape now in case there is a shortage.

8. Practice on hills if you have not ridden a hill in the last twelve months.

9. Practice filling your bike with gas if you have had issues before. (Shahin will supervise the anonymous rider concerned. )

10.  Buy shorter cigars for those long haul days.

11.  Buy an alarm clock for those early starts (whom are I kidding?)

Guess whose birthday it is today, A few hints.

      1     Always carries three rolls of Honda tape in his saddle bags

      2     Is the most relaxed rider in the gang.

      3     Married to a fridge and bike mechanic

      4     Smells of fish. (Not Snapper)

      5     Falls asleep in front of fires.

      6     Works part time as Santa

      7     Has a ride-on-mower faster than his bike

 

About Nova Scotia

As we rode onto the reservation on a cloudless day and it was almost one hundred degrees, a young native girl appeared and she was smoking hot with a tight low cut leather dress, long black hair and holding a pair of fluffy handcuffs. She was told to look out for the handsome man who was Australian and riding the best looking bike in the group. She replied “That makes him even more sexy”

 I have been consulting my attorney for a case of cruelty, targeted foul language (even if disguised) bias towards a minority, unfair blockage from membership, forced participation with two certain second rate equipment users, excessive drinking, smoking and more to follow.

What states are we riding through to eat at Waffle House?  - Dudley 

The state of confusion, the state of disbelief, the state of ecstasy, for starters - Deak

Other questions:  is

Is Dilli's fridge still working?

Did Dudley learn to pump gas?

Did Bobby stop snoring?

Did Rage get anything else replaced?

Did Mike say “back in ten minutes”?

Did Deak learn to keep his bike up?

 

On the next ride we should have Bobby give a lecture on "political correctness for fun and pleasure."  Compulsory attendance by Dudly. Back up speech by Deak. Dilli will have to stay awake during it. Rage will not be able to walk out when he disagrees. The kid will have to have the bike fixed before the Lecture.   - Tug

Finally an honest observation. Thanks Mike.  This event was passed off as a "helpful incident" where the perpetrator was helping me by finding my "lost" brand new and greatly treasured phone and was going to return it in the parking lot before we left the restaurant but "forgot". We now have and honest and upstanding witness who has testified it was in fact stolen. The funny part was calling the thief and asking where he was currently located. He provided the name of a different town to the location app on my iPad. He then called me back on my own phone. Justice at last. Protect your daughters and sons (and sheep) from this heinous individual.  

I was contemplating life and I want you to tell me when the upcoming trip became a reality. Today I polished my boots and it dawned on me. It was not preparing my packing list, writing up the blog or even washing the bike. It was the boots. When did it or will it dawn on you?  

1. Ordering the new rain suit?

2. Loading the bike with Honda tape?

3.  Having Mary check tire pressure and oil level?

4. Seeing your doctor to see if you can ride?

5.  Having your wife move the lawn mower out of the way to get your bike out (because you don't know how to start it)?

6. Taking your bike down to the Cathedral to have it blessed?

I forgot three other realization triggers that we are riding. 

7. Riding down the long driveway and doubling your milage for the year. 

8.  Looking up the UHaul directory for outlets along the route 

9. Looking up Waffle House locations. 

 On Road Quotes 

"I have to slow down. I need to start drinking more hard liquor" - Dillie

"Even the old guy did the zip line" - Dillie to Mary

"Is 80 too fast" - Deak    "Not when your doing 95" - Tug

 "I need a new jacket" - Bobby (after seeing a high Vis jacket)

 "I need a pee" - Rage (often)

 "Why does everyone pick on poor Tug" - no one

"I need just one more sip" - Bobby on first night

 "Do you need to take so long" Deke at the gas stop. "Yes - I have taken so long 376 times" - Tug  "Why not just take a photo" - Deke 

"Let’s do a gas and go" - Bobby (Said twice in hundreds of gas stops)

"I need new tires, maybe I'll just get a new bike" Not said by Bobbie but is funny

"Tug you do nothing - now you can" Bobby (on me ringing the zip line for a delay)

"Rage is in charge of food and peeing, Bobby is charge of trip direction, Deke is in charge of safety and censorship. Dillie is in charge of Mary, the planner is in charge of route and hotel locations what can I do? "Ring the zip" - Bobby

 "I want to get home for the wedding - just at the right time - early enough to appear helpful but late enough to do nothing" - Bobby

 "Yes - I sank a snow mobile in the lake" - Dillie

 

Circle the Great Lakes Ride 2022

The plans for this ride started over two years ago and before Covid but as you might know, the entry to Canada has not been allowed until recently and is now opened to fully vaccinated travelers. 

I will ride through Ontario Canada and eight states of the USA: New York (twice), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indian, Michigan (twice) Ohio and Pennsylvania,

Entry to Canada

To enter Canada you now have to register online with copies of your inoculation, a list of places you are visiting and there might even be a necessity to nominate a place you can isolate if you contract Covid. I’m only in Canada for three or four days so I do not see it as a big issue. I have been told masks are still compulsory which I totally believe in. I also believe anti-vaxers are complete idiots.

History of the trip

I started to plan this trip in early 2019 as I was sitting in my study and looking out at the frozen landscape with its snow covered vista. It was just below freezing and I was fairly depressed. The maps for the trip were done and the waypoints were even entered into my trusty Garmin. I had Googled earthed some of the roads to see what could possibly lie ahead. The plan was to complete the trip in June 2020. I had studied the precipitation around the Great Lakes and it appeared that June had less rain than most months. Not that rain is a big problem but I prefer to stay dry when I ride. There is nothing worse than soggy boots and gloves or slippery roads.

Finally 2022 and the ride is possible.

I take off solo on June 2 and hope to ride 3,749 mile (6,033 kilometers). Later in the year In August I also will ride the 2,000 mile (3,219 kilometers) down to Kentucky and back with five friends for our annual bike trip.

My Circle the Great Lakes ride plan has stayed basically the same since 2019 . (See map below) I will travel north in New York state from Syracuse to the Canadian border at the Thousands Island Bridge which is about three hours from Syracuse. I will then travel north of Lake Ontario to Kingston Ontario and then north of Toronto to Barrie, Ontario which is South East of Lake Huron.

 

From there I can either take the road to Sudbury or take the ferry from Tobermory to South Baymouth. (See map below with full red line for alternative ferry route)

The ferry takes about two hours for the thirty-mile trip but the more direct road would be faster by two hours but the ferry seems far more adventurous. On previous trips I taken several ferries and it is a great experience. One ferry ride was across Lake Champlain in Vermont and the other from St John, New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. This ferry was a little scary getting on and off the ship because of the wet and slippery steep steel mesh ramp used to get on and off.

The planned route then takes me to Sault Ste Maria and Wawa and then north of Lake Superior to Marathon and Thunder Bay. I will cross back into the U.S.A. on the way to Duluth Minnesota and to Chicago (On Lake Michigan) via Marquette, Green Bay and Milwaukee.

I expect the full trip to take eleven days and cover 3,749 miles. (6,033 kilometers) I may decide to shorten the trip and skip going around the main north part of Michigan by taking the dashed red line straight across the bottom of Michigan as seen on the map. The shortcut will save two days and cut 628 miles (1,011 kilometers) off the trip. If I do shorten the trip this year, I will plan to ride the Michigan segment solo in 2023.

I’m targeting to ride approximately 300 miles (483 kilometers) per day but not knowing the quality of the roads it might be more or less. Who cares? They call me “Mr. Easy Going.”

On the regular annual trips with the “gang” I ride with each year, they plan each trip then book all the hotels on set dates in advance because finding three of four rooms is generally harder than the accommodation for just one. Also the group likes to stay at “fancy” hotels or Holiday Inns. I prefer the old style motel with my room door right in front of my bike. Easy in and easy out rather than lugging all my gear up and down five floors. As long as the place is clean it will do me. Again Mr. Easy going. I will be riding solo on the trip and stopping when I’m tied, eating when I’m hungry and getting up when I’m awake. No bookings. Many people call me “Mr. happy go lucky.” Well some. Well nobody.

Another advantage of going solo is I will ride early, stop whenever I need to get gas (petrol) or have a drink or find a loo. I rode solo for 2,476 miles (3,985 kilometers) down to New Mexico via Kentucky in 2017 and it made life very easy.

I am not very fond of riding in the rain. If it rains I will wait until it stops. There is nothing worse than soggy boots and slippery roads. As I have no hotels booked it makes it easy to adjust the itinerary.

Gas prices have gone up 50% since last year and is now over $5.50 per US gallon. It is now about $25 to fill up as against $15 last year. I believe Australia is paying 74% more based on premium gas being around AU $2.33 per litre for premium

My Bike is ready for the trip

To get ready for the trip I had to get a new rear brake light because the old lens was broken A new lens in the old days might have been ten dollars. Today you must replace the whole unit. To make my bike more visible I also decided to get a new LED headlight and spotlights. Now I’m lit up like a Christmas tree

I use a Garmin for directions. The great advantage is that it shows the speed limit in miles per hour so when I’m in Canada I know what speed to go in miles per hour and not have to convert the metric

Already this year I have had seven rides since April 11 and have ridden over 600miles (2,574 kilometers) My Harley Davidson Road King classic is running so well and purrs like a kitten. (or possibly a lion – do lions purr?)

A Sad Day

It is Tuesday May 15^th 2022 and what a sad day it is. I bought a new pair of motorcycle boots. It is funny you can replace jeans, socks and even helmets and gloves without compunction but boots are emotionally hard for me to replace. I still have a pair of hiking boots from twenty years ago and a pair of riding boots from one hundred years ago.

My motorcycle boots have travelled over sixty four thousand miles (100,000 Kilometers). From the top they look like new, after all they probably have only really had a couple of miles of wear with them which has mostly been walking from the bike to the cash register at the gas station (servo) and to the reception of hotels and diners. The bottom of the right boot is almost new as it has hardly touched the ground because it is the left one that is the one that touches and scrapes the ground when I stop. The right one touches the rear brake occasionally but not often. The left one also shifts the gear lever up and down all the time. Unfortunately the left one has a very little soul remaining and starting to peel. I have superglued it several times and it still works fine but before this next trip I felt it might give out halfway and there would be nothing worse than losing your soul.

I have bought a pair of new boots almost identical to the old boots but has a few extra Harley badges which is a bit too fancy for me. Yes – I will keep my old left boot for posterity. I might even include it in the list of items to be buried with me. (Which at the moment only consists of my old dog’s ashes.)

A little about the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes of North America is a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes with sea-like characteristics in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. They are Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario and are in general on or near the Canada–United States border. Hydrologically, there are four lakes, because lakes Michigan and Huron join at the Straits of Mackinac.

The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on earth by total area, and second largest by total volume, containing 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume. The total surface is 94,250 square miles (244,106 km²), and the total volume is 5,439 cubic miles (22,671 km³),^[5] slightly less than the volume of the Russian Lake Baikal (5,666 cu mi or 23,615 km³, 22–23% of the world's surface fresh water)

The Great Lakes began to form at the end of the Last Glacial Period around 14,000 years ago, as retreating ice sheets exposed the basins they had carved into the land, which then filled with meltwater. The lakes have been a major source for transportation, migration, trade, and fishing, serving as a habitat to many aquatic species in a region with much biodiversity.

Great Lake Trip 2022

Day 1    6-2-22   Home Syracuse to Aurora Ontario 311 miles 5.5 hours

Day 2    6-3-22   Aurora Ontario to Tobermory. Ferry to South Baymouth & Espanola  243 miles 8 hours

Day 3    6-4-22   Espanola Ontario to Wawa Ontario 299 miles 5.5 hours

Day 4    6-5-22   Wawa to Thunder Bay Ontario 301 miles 5.5 hours

Day 5    6-6-22   Thunder Bay to Washburn Michigan 287 miles 6 hours

Day 6    6-7-22   Washburn to Green Bay Wisconsin  371 miles 5 hours

Day 7    6-8-22    Green Bay to New Buffalo Minnesota  282 miles 4.75 miles

Day 8* 6-9-22    New Buffalo to Mackinaw City Michigan 398 miles 7.5 hours

Day 9* 6-10-22 Mackinaw City to Flint Michigan 300 miles 6.25 hours

Day 10 6-11-22  Flint to Painsville Ohio 373 miles 6.76 hours

Day 11 6-12-22`Painsville to home Syracuse NY 314 miles 5 hours

*Might not ride.

Day 1 Thursday 2^nd June. Home from Syracuse NY to Chatsworth Ontario,

436 miles (702 kilometers)

The border crossing into Canada was so easy. My experience in the past was sitting in a very long queue in extreme heat with a very hot Harley underneath me. This time no cars. I was there for only ten minutes and no other vehicle came near the whole area. I had entered all the information in the Canadian data base seventy two hours before I arrived so they had everything online including my vaccination documentation.

The ride over to Aurora Ontario (Northern Toronto) was mainly highway. Those Canadian drivers certainly know how to speed! I met up for a short visit with Graeme Murray, my Colgate client in Malaysia over thirty six years ago. Graeme was first person to meet Susan before we were engaged.

After I left Aurora I rode until I was tired and decided to stay at the first motel I saw. Pretty bad choice, It was cleanish but terrible. The next day I rode past several far better ones just up the road.

My room was on the second floor with the balcony. Nice enough owners. Two power outlets for the whole room. Curtains were broken,

Very popular as you can see from all the cars. Three huge trucks parked in the area overnight.

Had a very nice dinner just down the road.

Day 2 Chatsworth to Sault Ste Marie Ontario

311 miles (500 kilometers) riding - 28 miles (45 kilometers) and one and a half hours

I had to be at the ferry wharf in Tobermory at 8am so I left the motel at 6am. It was about 48 degrees Fahrenheit (about 5 degrees Celsius) I had my right hand wrapped in my plastic seat protector and my left hand under my bum. I was blue from top to tail.

I had not reserved space on the ferry so there was a question whether they would let me on. It was all cleared up and approved and I was then first on and off. The ferry loader said the best looking bike should be on and off first.

I met a fellow biker on a Victory on the boat and we rode together the rest of the day through several storms and huge wind gusts that just about pushed me over (not really but it sounds good.)

The modest motel I am staying in tonight is surprisingly nice, very clean, plenty of power outlets and even a rag and Windex to wipe down my bike. I plan to ride at around 9am tomorrow once the ice clears off the bike.

The ferry was larger than I expected. 

• 

I was first on and first off!  (Stock footage)

• 

Heading out.

Day 3 Sault Ste Marie to Terrace Bay Ontario 321 miles (517 kilometers)

It was really cold this morning so I slept in and left at 8:30am. First stop to buy a hoody and a pair of gloves. It certainly made a difference. At lunchtime I put the hoody on first, then my leather jacket and finally my coat liner to block the wind. I also put on my wet weather pants. The gloves are cheap gardening gloves that went over my proper riding gloves. I felt like the Michelin man but I felt warmer. The road was excellent almost all the way. Very little traffic and sixty miles an hour about all the way. Around every bend a new valley, lake after lake, river after river and lots of waterfalls. Most of the way I had beautiful views of Lake Superior There are so many pine trees that it smells just like the inside of a 66 Chevy with too many air fresheners. I have not seen one moose even though there are warning signs everywhere. Gas hit a new high today of $2.46 per litre or $US 7.26 per US gallon. No rain today and none predicted for a few days. Fingers crossed.

 A very popular motel which was pretty good.

They even provided a wood block for the kick stand and cleaning gear for the bike. The motel had a very comfortable bed, new carpet and very clean,

 A bit cold in the morning. Frozen frost on the bike.

 The now famous $4 glove that worked well. Still could use the Garmen and phone because of the rubber fingers. The color stood out well. Also bought a cheap hoodie in the only size of regular.

Day 4. Terrace Bay to Ashland Wisconsin.  418 miles (673 kilometers)

Awoke at 5pm. 35 degrees F (2 degrees C). Showered and dressed and then waited for the snow plow (just kidding) Set off at 6:30pm and headed to Thunder Bay via Rossport (named after my son). Amazing views and great roads. Meeting a number of other solo riders. Two were off to Vancouver and one was headed back to Toronto. Also met an Australian who was driving a UHaul from Vancouver to Novas Scotia and towing a car. He was helping his sister move across the country.

The border crossing was very easy. Again I was the only vehicle.

There have been almost no dead animals all the way along the road but today there was one dead moose and one very smashed truck beside the road. Nothing else. Tons of birds. A low flying herd of geese flew over me and one of them delivered a huge package all over the front of the bike and a little on my helmet. A lesson in life. Minding my own business and it happens.

When we were in South Dakota years ago, a young farmer said “there were just two Seasons in SD. Winter and road construction”. Same applies in Ontario. Tomorrow I head down to Chicago. I have already decided to skip the ride up to the top of Michigan and back. It is just too cold and I have seen enough lakes to last me a lifetime.

Plenty of lake everywhere. Every turn was a new pond, stream or lake.

Day 5 Day 4. Ashland Wisconsin to Chicago.  455 miles (732 kilometers)

Last night I ate at a Mexican restaurant near the hotel and thought I would be poisoned by the next day. Good Mexican food is great. Poor Mexican is ……

The trip today fast and furious. All highway and a speed limit of seventy most of the way but most cars were doing at least eighty. Luckily all behaved well. Lots of trucks as the closer I rode to Chicago. I decided to head straight down to Chicago rather than taking the coast roads as per the original plan. Still cold most of the day but the last one hundred miles were actually warm. A little bit of rain - just enough to be annoying and uncomfortable. I was wearing my wet weather gear for warmth anyway, so I was fully prepared. Three gas stops and a muffin for lunch. No mucking around.

Tonight’s dinner was really enjoyable. A friend of my wife whom she knew when we were newly weds in Malaysia thirty five years ago lives in Chicago so we went out to dinner. Patty was full of memories of the “good old days”. Susan and her have kept in contact but have not seen each other for about thirty odd years. Patty had not changed much and her voice and laughter were exactly the same. 

Tomorrow I head for home with just 717 miles to cover in two days. Hopefully I will be home on Wednesday at lunchtime and in time to play golf in the league Wednesday night.

Day 6. Chicago to Madison Ohio 446 miles (718 Kilometers)

Another early start in the cool. I say cool because nothing is colder than up North. Chicago was 54 degrees (12 C) this morning.

Traffic out of Chicago was pretty good although there was a lot of road repair. Toledo was a a bit crazy but Cleveland was insane. There was no direct link so it seem I drove all over the place. It started getting warm so I removed my rain coat and back on the road it poured with nowhere to stop. 

Damp everything and the cold returned. The speed limit on the highway is 70 and there are millions of trucks. They are very well behaved and predictable but I love it when they overtake each other, an inch at a time and it takes forever. Pizza tonight and early to bed. Only 300 miles to go. I’m sure there will a hot meal and a kind word for the long gone hero of the family.

Day 7. Madison Ohio to home 327 miles. (526 kilometers)   I have now circled the Great Lakes 2,716 miles (4,371 kilometers)                            

Went to bed early so I could make it home early.  11pm the fire alarm went off with a loudness equivalent to Bobbie snoring. The hotel was full and everyone stood in the carpark for almost and hour while the local fire brigade turned up, searched the place for fire, found nothing and finally turned the noise off.

I hit the road about 7:30am  through the rest of Ohio, Pennsylvania and finally New York. I made one stop (other than for gas) at Hamburg New York to visit “Dilligaf” at his work. Dillie is one of the Hogs we ride with and I bet the only Hog who reads this stuff.  It’s a test and we will see.

There were lots of construction on the freeway but the worst was just a couple of miles before my final turnoff. A truck cut me off and then showered me with stones. “What a bad chap” I said inside my helmet.

Special thanks to Shawn and Tony at Universal Sales in Syracuse (315) 474-1188. They made sure my bike was well prepared for the trip and it did not miss a beat. They said I could call anytime if I had an issue. I only called them to say how well the bike was going. If you ever need a Harley mechanic in Syracuse they are the best. Far better than the local Harley dealer who is just the pits. (Except for the older parts guy who is terrific.)

Some statistics from the trip that no one is interested in:

Miles covered: 2,715.6 (4,371 kilometers)

Average miles per day: 388 (624 kilometers)

Longest day: 455 miles (732 kilometers)

Shortest day: 311 miles (plus ferry) (500 kilometers)

Fuel stops: 15

Average mpg: 41

Highest mpg:42.9

$ spent on gas: US$403.54

Average price gas: US$ 6:05 (US gallon)

Highest price: US$ 6.99 (Canada)

Lowest price: US$ 4.70 (In Syracuse!)

Average fill: 4.42 gallons with a 6 gallon tank

Average mileage per tank: 181 (targeted 200 miles knowing full tank range is around 240 miles)