Brownlee Lake park was cheap, just $20, and very clean. But very small, no hiking trail or real activity, at least not for me!
After Brownlee Park the ride was fine, I got to Sault Ste. Marie, had a quick lunch and head toward the border.
Lineup for the border crossing was over a long bridge and it was a bit of waiting. The officer at US custom was asking too many weird questions, probably wanted to make sure I really know Canada and live there!!
First thing after border crossing was to get a cell phone plan. I stopped at first AT&T store to get a plan and luckily the plan they had was even better than what I saw on their website before, so now I have a month worth of prepaid cell phone plan that I can use in just about 10 days, including 500min US voice, 500MB data and free text to US/Canada.
The ride to first campsite in US, Tahquanemon Falls state park, was through Hwy 28, which is basically a straight line in the middle of forest without any turn and any ups and downs for hours! I had problem with playing music and this straight line wouldn’t finish, I had to stop at the side of the road to fix the issue with playing music, now the road is bearable.
Straight road ahead and straight road behind
I got early to the camp site so once the tent was up I headed toward the falls to check the Falls and an hour of hike in the park.
Tahquanemon Falls
Lower Fall
Upper Fall
Hiking in the Tahquamenon state park
For dinner, the packaged food, again too much, this time Pad Thai.
Rivermouth campsite at Tahquanemon state park
Packed everything again in the morning and tried to hit the road sooner. Checked the route again, GPS, Google maps and both online routes I saw for Lake Superior circle routes, all continue the route through HW 28, which is even the longer straight road than what I did yesterday, there is no way I go through that again, I would fall sleep for sure this time.
Riding in morning fog
Lake Superior Circle Tour
On the map I see a winding route 58 that goes from Grand Marais to Munising and it’s listed as Historic route, but whatever I do, GPS doesn’t route through it. So I decided go with it on my own.
First I went to Grand Marais, very small town by the lake, had a very good pizza in Stonehouse bakery, a little rest in the beach and then continue in Historic route 58, for the first 10 kilometers GPS was keep trying to turn me back by asking me to make U turn, finally GPS gave up and said “continue for 40 kilometers”. This was a great ride and nice weather too, I’m glad I ignored the GPS.
Grand Marais
Stonehouse bakery
Forecast for the rest of the day and in fact next few days is on and off rain. So I decided to change the plan from tent camping to cabin and if there is no cabin, then Motel. I checked next campsite in my schedule and no cabins available, next camp site is another 1 hour ride, they have one Teepee available, basically for those that don’t know, as I didn’t know myself either!, it’s similar to the tents from Native Americans, so I decided to give it a try. If I get there on time before someone else takes it.
From now to the rest of the day it was keep raining on and off, but it was not heavy rain and as I dressed well and had good tires, I was not bothered at all.
I get to the site just before 6, the tent looks nice, at least I don’t have to put up anything, but while I’m waiting for the ranger to show up for registration, I started to check the next campsites on my route to see if they have any cabins available and the campsite that I was supposed to go the next day had one and yet another hour of ride away. I decided to ride the extra hour, at least at this site I can stay for two nights and avoid one round of packing and unpacking!
Finally at the McLain state park at 7:30pm, the cabin is nice, right in front of Lake superior. It also has fridge, microwave and two burner stove! But it is 10 minutes walk from comfort station 🙁
Cabin at McLain state park
View of Lake Superior from the cabin
Tomorrow, Laundry time and ride all around Keweenaw Peninsula.
