Heading to min-wis-mic, any recommendation??

[HOGCDR]

I'm heading to Min-Wis-Mic in May, any recommendation as to what to see or stay way from?? It's a 14 day 7,000 mile trip, give or take. Leaving from Missoula, Montana on I-90, breaking off on I-94. Overnight in TRNP and enter Minesota a Fargo. I'm coming out of Michigan around South Bend to see Norte Dame. I have some recommendation so far, inital route is changeable.:usflag1:

[wwells]

We have family in the Appleton/Green Bay area and have made the trip from Middle Tennessee on two wheels before. I like to avoid Chicago traffic, but that is not easy. But then, you might want to go to Chicago.

I can say that we love Door County, Wisconsin! As you look at the WI map, that is the little finger that sticks out into the lakes. There are several lighthouses and points of interest that you can tour. They have some pretty good food as well. If you are going there, stop in Green Bay to see the Train Museum and (if you have any interest in football at all) go to Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. They have a year-round facility there. The Packer's Hall of Fame is GREAT!

I grew up as a Cowboys fan, so I really had a hard time appreciating the Packers, but have learned to do so. We did not camp in WI since we were visiting family.

Hope this helps... enjoy the trip.

[bluepoof]

I can say that we love Door County, Wisconsin! As you look at the WI map, that is the little finger that sticks out into the lakes.

Actually, it's the thumb on the mitten. :D

[wwells]

Actually, it's the thumb on the mitten. :D
"Thumb" works for me. I was just looking at my right hand when writing. Sorry, I'm easily confused...:confused:

[jkane13]

Going west to east huh? How ya gettin outta WI and into MI? Via da UP der hey? ;)

If you take the UP (Upper Peninsula), there is an old long bridge you have to cross. I have not traveled it, but am told it's a metal grate type, so your bike will handle very strangely for the whole time. It might be fun though anyhow. I always wanted to do an around the lake ride, but no one wants to go along.

Crossing Wisconsin can be interesting. The west side is nice and hilly and curvy. South there is Hwy 60 and 33. Both are very nice. Look for Wildcat Park in the south west area. Fantastic riding area! Ride through the park for sure if you can.

As you go north, the roads become farther apart. More desolate and quiet riding with less towns to stop in. If you just want to get across, take 29 or 10. If you want to see things, take almost any other road!

Time of year is important. But fall in the northern half of the state is so worth it! Hwy 8 is up near the far north, and is really nice! Lots of lakes in that area also. May will have just green everywhere. Still a lot of roads are narrow and have nice trees very close without any ditches. There are lot's of places to bury bodies up there! Look for the National Parks where you can camp for like $5 a night. Quite a few Indian Reservations also.

If you have to cross the middle of the state, it can be a little boring. Maybe because I grew up there, but I don't find it exciting. Mostly flat long straight roads with tiny inclines that can't really be called hills! There are a few bluffs in the middle, but you have to ride 30 miles between each one. Hwy 54 goes through the middle. Lot's of cranberry marshes between Black River Falls and Wisconsin Rapids. It's not terrible boring, but very flat.

As you get east of the Wi River, things get a little more interesting. The lakes start to pop up in the middle. I could give you some nice snaky roads to take if you wanted to spend some time in the middle. Be careful in Waushara County. They have roads like 20th street and 20th Ave and 20th Lane, and they are close to each other, but do NOT meet! To the new rider, you may think you are on the right road, but are not. And many of those roads only go a couple miles and then dead end. If you ride in that area at night, I can take you to places that will make you think you are in one of those axe murderer movies and you are about to be lost forever. ;-)

Another choice to get into Michigan is the Ferry. It's not free, but some people really like it. They strap your bike down for you and away you go.

South east near Milwaukee has some nice stuff called the Kettle Moraine areas. There is both a north and a south area. Both are very nice riding, but they don't really take you anywhere. Just a nice way to waste a day. :-)

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have about Wisconsin. I have not been everywhere, but I have visited a lot of it.

[HOGCDR]

Have a 04 Road King witha 95 bigbore kit, 80K miles and love it's solid ride.

Coming out of Wis into Mic over the Mackinaw Bridge, looking forward to it's!

I'm coming out of Mis to Wis at Duluth taking Hwy 13 off of Hwy 53. Hwy 13 all the way around until it hits Hwy 2 (heading to Milwaukee).
Choice 1: Hwy 2 w to Hwy53s to Milwaukee.
Choice 2: Hwy 13s all the way until I94 to Milwaukee.

Milwaukee; HD factory & Museum!!

I see Hwy 8, I do not see a NP anywhere??

From Milwauakee heading north to Green Bay, GB Hall of Fame.

Out of GB it was recommended to drive Hwy 55n into Michigan, what do you think?

I have 3-days in Wis out of a 14 day trip. It's 2-days getting to Min, 3 days in Min, 3-days in Wis, 3-days in Mic, and 3-days to get home, give or take aday!!

So how do I cut up Wisconsin??

[bluepoof]

There's a lot of awesome riding (and camping) in the North Woods. P^

From your options, I'd do Hwy 53 south out of Duluth towards Chippewa Falls (have a Leinies while you're there!)

There's not a lot of interesting riding (IMO!) between Chippewa Falls and Milwaukee, but you can certainly take non-freeway back roads that parallel I-94 if you want to stay off the freeway.

Or, maybe from Chippewa Falls, keep going south on Hwy 53 to La Crosse, then take Hwy 14 east towards Milwaukee.

Hubby and I rode from Muskego (where my mom lives; it's near Milwaukee) to La Crosse in a day last summer, on all county roads. It was neat, presuming you like farms and cows. P^

[jkane13]

You could take 2 to 13 and 13 to 8 then go south on 55. 55 is a really nice ride to the south. It goes through some Indian Reservation roads that have pull overs instead of passing lanes. Nice scenery! You can stop at one of the pull overs and relax for a minute if you want. 13 is nice in that northern area, and if you stay on it to the middle, you'll drive past the place I was born. :) Unfortunately, Marshfield is not exciting, and they have a very enforce noise ordinance, so no loud pipes!

You could stay west on 53 going more south and find a way to 33 which is a really nice ride across the entire state including my favorite 15 MPH curves in Wild Cat Park. :) I would go around Lacrosse instead of through it, but it's not that big of a town if you just want to go there.

You can take 53 to 8 and 8 to 73. 73 goes south and east. It does go all the way to most of the other roads like 33 and even 60 one you get south enough. It depends on how fast you want to get to Milwaukee.

If you really want to get lost ... take some of the town roads I grew up on. ;) In Clark Co near the south, get off of 73 and take County Rd Z south. Take 54 to the east from there. As you approach Port Edwards/Nekoosa, take Cty G south to Cranmoore road. Go east and it will take you into Nekoosa. Take Section Rd south to get to 173. Turn east into Nekoosa. Put your gas mask on. It's a paper Mill town! At the river, turn right (southeast) to cross the river and end up back on Hwy 73. Take 73 through Plainfield. On the other side of Plainfield take a half left to get on Cty P. Take P to the end. Turn south on Hwy 22. Take the next left which is Aniwa Dr. When it ends, turn right/south on Cty K. There is no sign to tell you the name of that road. DOH! When K T's with Cty A, turn right/west onto A. Take the next left/south on A which is 20th Ave. At the next stop sign 20th will turn into G. Keep going south. In a mile or so, look Left/West and you will see a big Reindeer Farm. Keep going south. Turn right/south on Hwy 152. When it intersects with 21st Ln and County S, zig-zag left and then right to go south on 21st. That will merge with 22nd Ave. Keep south. Turn south on 20th Dr. It will merge with N Silver Lake Rd. keep south and west. It Tees with County F. Take a right to the north west. County F will take you back to Hwy 73 where you take a right and head south again.

From there take 73 south to 23 east. In Ripon, turn south on Hwy 49 towards the Horicon Marsh. When you get to the Horicon Marsh, take the time to rid all around it and use the town roads to get close to see it. If you really have time, drive through the middle of it on the tour trails. When done, head south to Hwy 33 and take it east into the Milwaukee area via West Bend.

Enough for one day! When I remember to, I'll get you some roads heading north out of Milwaukee and towards Oshkosh which is along the way to Green Bay.

[HOGCDR]

Jeff,
Thank you for your input, it sounds like you know Wisconsin good. Here is my route so far, but it can change based on input:

1. Hwy 53 to 13 up and around to Bayfield and down to Ashland.
2. Either Hwy 13south to 80 running by Ft McCoy (FamCamp) overnight or jump on I94 to Milwaukee (overnight)
3. Milwaukee to Great Lakes Naval Station, TBD on route down and back?? Want to see the base, old navy man!!
4. Head up to Green Bay and then up to Michigan byway of Hwy 55.

Now what do you recommend?? It might be easier to send to email address.

[Bipeflier]

I happened to be in SW Mich. this last week on business. I had been making plans to return on the bike at some time to go to Mack bridge, but after driving the roads, I will look elsewhere!.

Those roads are VERY ROUGH and broken up. Pot holes that could destroy a front bike tire.

Hopefully the road crews will get out soon, but I won't be riding there.

[HOGCDR]

Need some input about Minnesota, what is there to see beside the "Mall of America"?

[bluepoof]

There's the Spam Museum in Austin, along I-90! :D:D:D

[wwells]

There's the Spam Museum in Austin, along I-90! :D:D:D
Now THAT'S worth going to Minnesota for! Seriously... It sounds interesting, but I'm sure the Princess wouldn't be as intrigued as I am.:please1:

[finney]

Need some input about Minnesota, what is there to see beside the "Mall of America"?

What area of MN are you planning to go through?

[HOGCDR]

Entering at Fargo then to Minneapolis to Duluth up North Shore Drive to Grand Portage State Park. Return down Hwy 61 to #1 to International Falls. TBD Hwy 71 to Bemidji or 71 to 46 or 71 to 6?? Bottomline back on Hwy 2 to Duluth, crossing into Wisconsin. Max 3-4 days in Minnestota before hitting Wisconsin.

What would be the recommendation for sites to see, where to camp, where to eat??P^

[HOGCDR]

Test:

http://images22.fotki.com/v838/photos/7/1485527/7339641/20090222_MISC_0436-th.jpg

OK, can someone tell be what I did wrong with this photo to get a red X. I used the secound method to transfer a photo.

[Trailace]

Test:

http://images22.fotki.com/v838/photos/7/1485527/7339641/20090222_MISC_0436-th.jpg

OK, can someone tell be what I did wrong with this photo to get a red X. I used the secound method to transfer a photo.

First off you had 2 //http: at the beginning of the link. Next make sure you are using URL address and not the link.

[finney]

Entering at Fargo then to Minneapolis to Duluth up North Shore Drive to Grand Portage State Park. Return down Hwy 61 to #1 to International Falls. TBD Hwy 71 to Bemidji or 71 to 46 or 71 to 6?? Bottomline back on Hwy 2 to Duluth, crossing into Wisconsin. Max 3-4 days in Minnestota before hitting Wisconsin.

What would be the recommendation for sites to see, where to camp, where to eat??P^


The North Shore is really beautiful. Stop at Split Rock Lighthouse, about 50 miles north of Duluth. All the state parks are nice along 61, although some do not have camping (Grand Portage doesn't). The ones we have stayed at are: Gooseberry Falls, Temperence River and Cascade River. Another really nice one is Jay Cooke, south of Duluth. When you take Hwy 1, stop in Ely, its a neat town. It is also worthwhile to see the Soudan Underground Mine (within a state park) between Soudan and Tower. If you are heading over to Bemidji , you have to go south on Hwy 71 to Itasca State Park. This is where the mighty Mississippi begins. Then take Hwy 200 to US 2 and on back thru Duluth. Check out http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html for info on MN state parks. Many of them are located in places with historical significance. Is there any reason you want to go thru Mpls/St. Paul? If I were you I would head from Fargo to northern MN right away so you could have more time to spend. Just a note- it'll probably be a little cool in May, but things won't be so busy yet.

[HOGCDR]

http://images47.fotki.com/v1462/photos/7/1485527/7339641/20090222_MISC_0436-vi.jpg?1237317925

Test: It worked!! Thank you Rick for finding my problem. Rick how do I get it larger? What is the max size & dimension that I can use?

[Trailace]

http://images47.fotki.com/v1462/photos/7/1485527/7339641/20090222_MISC_0436-th.jpg?1237317925

Test: It worked!! Thank you Rick for finding my problem. Rick how do I get it larger? What is the max size & dimension that I can use?

You copy the link in the thumbnail but you need to do it in the bigger pic. I changed the th.jpg to vi and it now is a bigger size.

[HOGCDR]

Rick,
Thank you for your feedback, I'm slowly moving forward. Are you saying; at Fotki I copied this pic in their thumbnail size vice their larger size? How would I know what to look for when coping the pic?

[HOGCDR]

Test:
http://images15.fotki.com/v227/photos/7/1485527/7343808/ALASKA_20080602_0248-vi.jpg

Rick,
Got it!! Now, if you copy from a photosite, it does not eat your bandwidth up correct?

[jkane13]

Jeff,
Thank you for your input, it sounds like you know Wisconsin good. Here is my route so far, but it can change based on input:

1. Hwy 53 to 13 up and around to Bayfield and down to Ashland.
2. Either Hwy 13south to 80 running by Ft McCoy (FamCamp) overnight or jump on I94 to Milwaukee (overnight)
3. Milwaukee to Great Lakes Naval Station, TBD on route down and back?? Want to see the base, old navy man!!
4. Head up to Green Bay and then up to Michigan byway of Hwy 55.

Now what do you recommend?? It might be easier to send to email address.

When you get on Hwy 80 off of 13 in Pittsville, yell out a hello to my place of origin. 810 residents, and 8 bars! :D

I94 is what it is. If you need to make up some time, it is always there! I wold go for Hwy 60 or 33 heading east off of 13.

On your way out of Milwaukee heading north, look for the Kettle Moraine Hwy. It is a series of back roads that are very nice. Not fast, but nice riding.

Here is a link http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com/rideplanner/share/156725 to a ride I did a couple years ago, or was it last year? Anyhow, it will get you from downtown Milwaukee near the USO / Art Museum (actually from where I work) to West Bend via some of the best riding in Milwaukee. From there, head north on Cty D to take a right on Lighthouse Lane. After you cross a small creek/large ditch, turn left/north on Kettle Moraine Drive. From there, follow the signs for the Kettle Moraine Scenic Roads. It will change roads from time to time. When you get tired of it or need to pick up some time, you can either head west to 45 or 41 or east to I43. Either will get you north faster.

If you want more back roads that will get you around Lake Winnebago, here is another ride you can pull some nice roads out of. http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com/rideplanner/share/157533

Good luck on your ride. Sounds like fun!

[HOGCDR]

Jeff,

So your housed out of Milwaukee, how do you like the area. Other than the HD Museum and factory, what else is good to see there?? Since I'm retired navy, I thought I would run down to Great Lakes Naval Station to see what I will see. Fort McCoy has a camping area so if I do not make Milwaukee I'll stay there. Where do you recommend to camp near Milwaukee?? Also is Milwaukee know for any king of food/resturant??

[HOGCDR]

Rick,

How do you get multiple pics in one message without pasting each and editing each additional pic, manage attachments only puts in thumbnails correct???

[superfish]

jkane13,

I'll be crossing the Mackinac bridge in May,09. It appears to be paved.
What/where is the long steele grid bridge that you mentioned in your post??
I'd like to avoid it or at least know about it before I get there.

I'll be comming up through WI and going down to my daughter's place in St Johns, MI.

[G wizz]

jkane13,

I'll be crossing the Mackinac bridge in May,09. It appears to be paved.
What/where is the long steele grid bridge that you mentioned in your post??
I'd like to avoid it or at least know about it before I get there.

I'll be comming up through WI and going down to my daughter's place in St Johns, MI.

Superfish,

The bridge in question is, in fact, the Mackinac Bridge, the "Big Mac" for short. The total length of the bridge is five miles. It is four lanes wide.
The two center lanes are steel grating, the two outside lanes are cement. If you have to ride the center lanes, it is about one mile of steel grating. The only reason you would forced to ride the steel is if they were doing repairs on the two outside lanes, which seems like about fifty percent of the time.
If you relax, don't put a death grip on the handlebars, just let the bike find it's own path, riding the steel is a cake walk.
Myself... I get a rush riding the steel, and looking down through it to the water below. P^

St. Johns is only about forty miles from where I'm at. Hope you enjoy the ride.
G wizz

[HOGCDR]

G,

How is the frozen north these days??

[G wizz]

G,

How is the frozen north these days??

Well, Its gonna be spring here ... someday, so they say.
Right now we're having day time highs in the low fiftys, but it still dips down into the low to mid twenties at night. Snows all gone, but the weather witch says snow flurries for the weekend.
I did pull the camper out and give it a dust off. I'm anxious to haul it somewhere for a a couple of days of R & R.

G wizz

[snowy.vtwin]

G,

How is the frozen north these days??

Rain/snow mix for the next few days. grrrrr. May is usually a nasty weather month for biking in the Upper Peninsula of Mi. If you're gonna do it I'd recommend sticking to the north shore of Lake Michigan. It doesn't really warm up for summer along Lake Superior until around the 4th of July. If you're in the Green Bay area headed across the U.P., go to Marinette then M35 to Escanaba and from there US2 all the way to Mackinaw. Very scenic if you're not shivering from the cold.

As far as the Mackinaw bridge, wind is the main concern there.

[Trailace]

Rain/snow mix for the next few days. grrrrr. May is usually a nasty weather month for biking in the Upper Peninsula of Mi. If you're gonna do it I'd recommend sticking to the north shore of Lake Michigan. It doesn't really warm up for summer along Lake Superior until around the 4th of July. If you're in the Green Bay area headed across the U.P., go to Marinette then M35 to Escanaba and from there US2 all the way to Mackinaw. Very scenic if you're not shivering from the cold.

As far as the Mackinaw bridge, wind is the main concern there.

snowy.vtwin welcome to the site!

I have never road on the Mackinac bridge but hope to someday. They say the deck at center span could move as much as 35 feet (east or west) due to high winds. :eek:

[G wizz]

snowy.vtwin welcome to the site!

I have never road on the Mackinac bridge but hope to someday. They say the deck at center span could move as much as 35 feet (east or west) due to high winds. :eek:

Trailace ...
Snowy.vtwin is correct about the winds through the Mackinac straits, In the past, cars have been blown off, right over the side, but now the bridge authorities won't let traffic cross over when there are high winds.

G wizz

[HOGCDR]

The weather was great today, 65 and clear skys. Road the loop to Glacier, 367 miles. Plotted the GPS and to photos along the way. Plan to use Track-n-Share to sink gps and photos, something called geotagging. Learned my camera nad gps were not on the same time zone. Trying to get all the bugs fixed before I roll east next month. P^

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome to the site snowy.vtwin!

[snowy.vtwin]

The forecast now is for 12 or more inches of snow near Marquette tonight thru tomorrow. There have been many years with snoow on the deck for Walleye opener on May 15th.

For those who would venture to the U.P. a good site for info is http://www.upcruising.com/

[Dstrickland]

Well, the HD facilities is a gotta do. I would think that if it were me, I'd have to go to a brewery or two in Milwaukee also. Green Bay is a gotta do too. Lambeau field is hallowed ground. Like Yankee stadium. I'm not a Packer fan but the place is full of football history.

I've been to the UP of Michigan as a kid and I like Makinaw Island (spelling I'm not sure of) but the bridge from the UP to the LP is nice from what I remember. The trip sounds great. You're going to have a great time. Ride safe.

[jkane13]

It's May, not sure when you are making the trip. If you do make it to Milwaukee, leave me a PM (or public is fine too) and maybe timing will work out to grab a beer while you are here. I work downtown.