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2008 START Tour will depart from Spirit Mountain Ski Area in
Duluth Minnesota Sunday July 13 at 7:45 am.
Registration starts at
7:00 am. There will be a bike blessing at 7:30 am
in front of the registration building. At 7:45 there is a short riders
meeting, the passports are handed out, and you are
free to leave. (Circle Tour "Passport":
the card you have stamped at each of the
checkpoints. Hey, we're not giving away U.S.
Passports!!)
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We need to
stress that even this is not a large group ride
and you are free to ride in small groups.
We do suggest that no one
rides individually, at least have a riding
partner. Some of the areas you will be
traversing are very, very remote. There's
no cell phone service on most of the route and
it is important that you not ride alone. |
Please support these fine folks, who have donated the free breakfasts,
fills of gas, and their time and energy to help us put on our tour!
Kaleva Cafe, Hancock, Michigan
Sydney's, Munising, Michigan
Young's General Store, Wawa, Ontario
Nipigon Husky, Nipigon, Ontario
For
more information on Mileages and Routes click here
1st DAY - Duluth, Minnesota, to Houghton, Michigan
Sunday. ~~ depart
Spirit Mountain. The first night's stop is
Houghton MI.
Houghton/Hancock
Campground
Hancock Recreation Area - through Houghton over the
Portage Bridge to M-203, follow this to the recreation
area.
$8.00 for tent site. Mention Wolf's Head if you'd like
to camp as a group. To reserve call
906.482.7413.
reservations prior to May
15th. 906-482-2720.
F. J. McLain State Park, eight
miles north of Hancock on M203, 906-482-0278.
Expensive, but grassy, flat and airy.
Website
Houghton/Hancock Motels/Hotels
| Best Western
Copper Crown |
800 528-1234 |
Hancock, MI |
| The Grand View
Chalet |
248 634-6036 |
Hancock, MI |
| Ramada Inn |
877 482-8400 |
Hancock, MI |
| Houghton Super 8
Motel |
800 800-8000 |
Houghton, MI |
| Best Western
King's Inn |
888 482-5005 |
Houghton, MI |
| Vacationland
Motel |
800 822-3279 |
Houghton, MI |
If you have other
questions about lodging, etc. call the
Keweenaw Tourism Council -- 800 338-7982
2nd DAY -
Houghton, MI,
to Munising, MI
The driver's meeting/breakfast
will start at 7:00am. It will be held at the Kaleva
Cafe, 234 W. Quincy, Hancock MI. We expect to be
departing at approximately 8:00am.
The second night of our tour we stop at Munising, Michigan.
City of Munising Tourist Park - on
M-28 about 2 miles before (West) you get to Munising.
This camp ground is right on Lake Superior! Tent site
is 13.00 a night and group site rate is 3.00 a head.
Please mention Wolf's Head when reserving your spot.
To reserve call (906) 387-3145
3 1/2 mi east of Munising Wandering
Wheels Yogi Bear Campground, M-28 E,
PO Box 419 Munising MI 49862
906-387-3315
(Telephone only answered after April 15th) $18 no elec or $21 w/elec Reg
price of the no hookup is $27.00 Must mention Wolf's
Head in order to receive the special price.
They also have camping cabins, showers,heated
swimming
pool,laundry,games(volleyball,badminton,horseshoes,big
ball golf) small store,ect..
A picture
rock boat tour is available in Munising.
Munising Motels/Hotels
| Best Western
Motel |
906 387-4864 |
Munising, MI
(east) |
| Comfort Inn Motel |
906 387-5292 |
Munising, MI
(east) |
| Days Inn Motel |
906 387-2493 |
Munising, MI |
| Superior Motel |
906 387-1600 |
Munising, MI |
| Village-Inn
Cottage |
906 387-5800 |
Munising, MI |
| Homestead Bed
& Breakfast |
906 387-2542 |
Munising, MI |
| Scotties Motel |
906 387-2449 |
Munising, MI |
| Terrace Motel |
906 387-2735 |
Munising, MI |
| Sunset Motel |
906 387-4574 |
Munising, MI |
| Super 8 Motel |
906 387-2466 |
Munising, MI
(east) |
| Valley Spur Inn |
906 387-2945 |
Munising, MI |
Weather
in Canada: http://www.weatheroffice.com
3rd DAY -
Munising, MI,
to Wawa Ontario
The driver's
meeting/breakfast will start at 7:00am at Sydney's
Restaurant on M-28 East in Munising. We should be
leaving by approximately 8:00am.
The third night of the tour we stop at Wawa, Ontario. Be sure to join us at the campground for a
free barbeque, even if you are not camping. The ride to Wawa is
approximately 258 miles. A slower pace than day 1.
BBQ will be at the Wawa RV Resort and Campground, phone number (705)
856-4368 to make camping reservations
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Customs going into Canada -
If you have a criminal conviction (Felony) in the past
10 years you may wish to check with Canadian Customs as
to weather you can enter Canada. Even a DUI is a
felony in Canada and you could be refused entry.
Canadian Customs
Canadian Immigration
Be
sure to check with your insurance carrier to make sure
that you are covered in Canada.
Radar detectors are
NOT legal in Ontario. The provincial police
confiscate them.
There is a
basic pamphlet at
Customs Information for Visitors
to Canada
For
information on who may not be allowed to enter Canada
please go to
Criminal inadmissibility
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Wawa Camping
We provide a barbeque on this
evening. We stay at a
private campground and it is a good chance to relax
around a bonfire and swap stories about the day's ride. Even if you choose to
stay at a hotel, please join us at the campground.
Wawa Motels
| Algoma
Motel |
Mission Rd |
705-856-7010 |
| Bristol
Motel - hot tub |
46 Mission Rd |
705-856-2385 |
| Lakewood
Motel |
Hwy 17 N |
705-856-2774 |
| Parkway
Motel |
Highway 17 S |
705-856-7020 |
| Superior
Courts Motel |
46 Pinewood |
705-856-1052 |
| Wawa
Motor Inn |
100 Mission Rd |
705-856-2278 |
4th DAY - Wawa Ontario,
to Nipigon Ontario
We will draw for door prizes including free
breakfasts, fills of gas, t-shirts, etc. at the morning breakfast
It is approximately 266
miles to Nipigon. Perhaps the most scenic day
of the tour. Keep your camera handy!
Lake Shore Road, east of Rossport - Provides access to the lake. Nice beach.
Boswell Point is here, one of Canadas most photographed islands. And you can walk
out to it on a sand bar!
Rossport. Quaint little town. Serendipity Garden Café & Gallery. Nice
quiet stop for a dessert.
Nipigon Camping
Stillwater Tent and Trailer
Park, Highway 11/17, 807 887-3701. Up to six people,
two tents, two motorcycles per site. 10% discount for Wolf's Head
participants. 6 person maximum
per site. Shower building use is included.
Nipigon Motels
Beaver Motel 807 887-3132
Birchville Motel 807 887-3141
Maple Leaf Motel 807 887-2811
Nipigon Inn 807 887-2030
Nipigon River Motel & Cottages 807 887-2815
Normandie Hotel 807 887-2448
Northland Motel 807 887-2032
Pine Crest Motel 807 887-2813
Sunnyside Cabins 807 887-3032
Town & Country Motel 807 887-2382
Vacationland Motel 807 887-1750
5th
DAY
- Nipigon Ontario to Duluth, Minnesota
Depart from Nipigon Husky. This is the site of today's
breakfast meet. They can seat 104 people
and breakfast starts at 7:00 a. m, and
again we will draw for free breakfasts, fills of gas, t-shirts, etc.
It
is approximately 300 miles back to Spirit Mountain. A nice scenic day so don't
get wrapped up in speeding back, stop and see all
the sights along the North Shore!

For a good sandwich in Thunder Bay give Rattlers
a try.
A few points of interest along the way:
http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/slee.html
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Park is 35k off the highway.
Grand Marais. A nice spot to stop and view the lake. Also home of the
Howlin Wolf Saloon.
A stop at Gooseberry
Falls State Park is always a good place to find many photo opportunities. Lots of hiking trails, and well worth the time. No permits are needed if
you are walking through the park.
Just north of Silver Bay Minnesota watch the lake
side for signs to "Palisade Head". Incredible
views from the top of a large hill/small mountain
and a 300 foot cliff to the water that is
very popular with rock climbers.
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It takes eight states:
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York
- to surround the southern
borders of the Great Lakes, but only
one Canadian province - Ontario - to border the
north.
Lake Superior
Facts and Figures |
CURRENCY
Use a credit card if possible to get the best
current exchange rate. The worst way to exchange
your funds is to pay with U.S. money for a purchase
and get Canadian money back for your change.
There are places to exchange money at the borders
and you can get a decent rate there but we would
suggest that you go to your local bank before your
trip and get some Canadian money to take along.
SUGGESTIONS
Helmets are required in Canada and Michigan.
You should have proof of bike ownership and insurance with you. More than likely
you will not be asked for these, but depending on the kind of day the Customs
Agent is
having, it may make things go a whole lot easier. You may also want to check with
your insurance agent to be sure your policy is in force in Canada. You
must have a valid driver's license and as of 2008
you must have a valid U.S. Passport or one of the
new Passport cards.
Because of the requirement for a passport, if you
don't already have one, you should make your
applications A.S.A.P. as it takes some time to
process and receive your passport.
You will definitely want to bring a camera, lots of film, sun block and mosquito
repellent. Also a variety of clothes. The people who have gone on this tour
rode most of the time in tee-shirts (or less). But it could just as well have required
warm jackets, full leathers, or your riding suit. This is a tour for serious
riders. It is definitely a rain or shine ride, so come prepared!
Dense fog is also a very real possibility, so do
be prepared for it and use caution and good judgment. Get reservations ahead of time, as July is prime tourist time
in the region, and motels and campgrounds fill up
fast.
We also STRONGLY advise no nighttime travel,
especially on the Canadian shore, due to the large
number of moose, deer and bear. It is wilderness up
there (no cell phone service), and you could be a
long way from help. We do not condone anyone
riding alone. You do not have to ride in large
groups but please ride with one or two companions at
least.
We are sure you will enjoy this tour as much as we do
and would appreciate any
suggestions, criticisms, or feedback you may have. When you do the tour, let us know
about places you thought were great to eat at, or interesting places to stop. Pick us up a
business card if they have them. Perhaps you found an interesting side trip?
Please let us know about it. Help us share this information with others.
We look forward to meeting and riding with you.
Please keep safety in mind as you ride the Lake
Superior Circle Tour.
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