Keweenaw Meet 2.0

[redneckdan]

What:  Keweenaw Meet, Eat and Ride

When:  July 10-12th, 2009

Where:  Base Camp is located in Copper Harbor, Michigan.  

Friday night we meet in town for a bonfire and social gathering.  Tent space is availible.  Saturday we wake up and depart for the days ride.  Jason will be leading a road ride.  I will be leading a dual sport ride, dificulty depending on what the participants want.  There are not many DOT-nazis here, a person would be okay with a non-plated dirt bike on the dual sport ride.  Post ride on saturday there will be a BBQ in the city park.  Sunday morning we wake up, have breakfast and part ways.  A $10 donate is requested to help cover food costs.  PM me or Head to confirm attendance.

I can suggest routes to try on your way to/from copper harbor, just let me know where you are coming from.  I've rode quite a bit of the western UP.

So far we have on the list...

Head
Doogman4
Redneckdan

[Ack535]

I would be interested!

Pete

[CLAY]

Would you be interested in bumping that up to June?  My July is full, but I have a couple June dates, and I planned on heading that way anyway for a short weekender...

[redneckdan]

Sounds good with me.  Late june would be better than early june.  Some times we can still get a hard frost in early june.

[CLAY]

I'll check some dates...

[Head]

I'm all for it!  Any where you can go I can probably do it.  Just have to order some knobbies  Or I can lead the less dirt inclined around, I have a better route in my head this time. 

So what became of the Saber?

This was last years - http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,24562.0.html

[redneckdan]

I still have the sabre.  I think it is a bearing that went bad on the main shaft of the transmission.  I'm just wait to for the semester to end so I will have time to wrench on it.

[doogman4]

So, would this meet be road only friendly? I don't have the dual sport or a dirt bike, but would sure like to attend.  

Also, can you provide an approximate location? I would like to do some planning.

What kind of camping is available. I have a hammock set up and would like to have a spot to hang.  

Doog

[Head]

Yes I can lead a few around on just the street.  With only the briefest of forrays off.  This is the Keweenaw you know.  Doog between Houghton and Copper Harbor.

Dan I am more than willing to offer the same setup as last year to anyone.  Unless you want to host it at your place.

My only problem with late June is the 22nd.  My presence may be required at my next child's birth.  Other than that I'm golden.

[redneckdan]

So, would this meet be road only friendly? I don't have the dual sport or a dirt bike, but would sure like to attend.  

Also, can you provide an approximate location? I would like to do some planning.

What kind of camping is available. I have a hammock set up and would like to have a spot to hang.  

Doog

There will most likely be a bigger group doing a road ride than a dual sport ride.  Houghtons zip code is 49931  We got lots of trees in the keweenaw, we should be able to find a pair for ya somewhere.  Make sure you hit M-35 on the way up, well worth the slight detour.

Dan I am more than willing to offer the same setup as last year to anyone.  Unless you want to host it at your place.

My only problem with late June is the 22nd.  My presence may be required at my next child's birth.  Other than that I'm golden.

Probably best at your place.  H.F.D. frowns upon bonfires within the city limits.  How 'bout you pick which weekend would be best for your schedule?



I would lead a dual sport ride and jason or some one else could lead a road ride.  Worse comes to worst I could set some one up with a GPS route of a tour da keweenaw.

[Head]

Ok.  Sorry Clay, but the second weekend in July fits between responsibilities.  Stop by if you do come up in June, my place is always available.

So as of now July 10-12 my place, free camping, Fri bonfire party, Saturday post ride BBQ, Sunday breakfast.  Donate $10 if you can.  Specifics worked out  soon.  PM me if you are coming, hope to come, or wish plague on my house for fun.  

This year I'll make beer for the party, any requests?

[CLAY]

No problem- it's starting to look like a early weekend deal right now anyway (Thursday- Saturday maybe?).  I'll be sure and let you know when I'm coming up...

[mxvet57]

This year I'll make beer for the party, any requests?

just kick the alcohol content up a notch

[Head]

I just made a Rye Amber Ale that's 6.56% and nicely hoppy.

No problem- it's starting to look like a early weekend deal right now anyway (Thursday- Saturday maybe?).  I'll be sure and let you know when I'm coming up...

Sounds good, I'll let the wife know ahead of time so she can panic about how crappy our place looks.

 
what kind of camping is available. I have a hammock set up and would like to have a spot to hang.  

Plenty of trees in my back yard, and did I mention its free!

[doogman4]

Alright!

It is on the calender.

[Head]

Well there's one, I'm there and Dan is sure to come.  Thats 3.  We'll need to keep a tally, Dan the best to do would be edit the original post with the information and update it as things progress.

[redneckdan]

bump

[Head]

Ok sweet off to a good start.  Now BBQ chicken or counrty style Pork Ribs? I'll make a nice Bock or a Chocolate Porter to go with it.  Or maybe a Vienna Lager?  I just got turned onto those.  

Now I just need to reassemble the bike.  I better hurry I have a 1200 mile trip on May 5 to Tobyhanna, PA.

[doogman4]

So Dan,

Tell me there is some good trout fishing up in that area?????

I am planning a long weekend and would like to hit a stream or 2.

[forester]

Damn...this would be an awesome event, but its so tough to get it out of my mind that from here, getting to the Keweenaw takes roughly the same amount of time as it does to get down to Western North Carolina (if you keep within a reasonable tolerance of the speed limits).  Obviously, the riding isn't even comparable; on road or off.

A couple of notes:

There are solid trout streams all over copper country (brown, rainbow, brook, splake, and salmon and steelhead in the right seasons).

If anyone goes to hang a hammock, it better have mosquito netting built in, or you will be toast in most places up there (or here).

Awesome place to camp, bonfire times, or drink beers  

[Head]

All the way up here in the Harbor we really don't get mosquitos.  Its the blackflies in late May early June that try to steal your sanity.  By second week of July we're fairly bug free by in the boonies standards.

Doogman - Fly fishing or regular?  I know very little, but my father in law and his best friend are HUGE into stream fly fishing.  I can get them here during the bonfire and make an introduction, few beers in and you're golden. MGD is their preference.  

And suck it up Forester, its not that far.  I'd like to get a longer ride in with you than the last time, and knock a few back and shoot the shit.

[doogman4]

All the way up here in the Harbor we really don't get mosquitos.  Its the blackflies in late May early June that try to steal your sanity.  By second week of July we're fairly bug free by in the boonies standards.

Doogman - Fly fishing or regular?  I know very little, but my father in law and his best friend are HUGE into stream fly fishing.  I can get them here during the bonfire and make an introduction, few beers in and you're golden. MGD is their preference.  

And suck it up Forester, its not that far.  I'd like to get a longer ride in with you than the last time, and knock a few back and shoot the shit.

Mosqy's or flies, either way, I bring protection wether in the tent or hammock.

Head, I can go either way, I will count on fly. You get the pa-in-law guide there, I'll buy the brew. I have a fellow taxidermist friend that lives up that way too. All he does is fish. I might give him a call too. All I know is I'll need local knowledge to get to the fish.

I am starting to get xcited now.

[redneckdan]

So Dan,

Tell me there is some good trout fishing up in that area?????

I am planning a long weekend and would like to hit a stream or 2.

Yer joking right?   How well does your bike do off road?  By the time you get up here it shouldn't be too muddy.  There are streams up near Jason's place as well as a bunch of stuff around here and down toward mass city.  If you want to take a couple extra days to do some fishing I would be more than happy to guide you around.  Today I was down near horoscope swamp road chasing some brook trout rumors.  Waters too high to fish so I was just scouting things out.  Got so fricken stuck on a logging road I had to lay the bike on its side, pile up some brush and drive out on that.  Most of the streams here are smaller.  I do my scouting with a worm rod and once I know theres fish abouts I switch to the fly rod.  I run a 6' furled leader and wear out the first 30 feet of line while the rest of the line never leaves the reel.  Be sure to give me a holler.  I might be down in mass city when you roll in or at home in houghton, depending on my work schedule.  I'll PM my phone number

ps- a little visual.  The smallest one is 14"  Opening weekend last year with one of my fishing friends.

[doogman4]

Dan,

The bike is a roady only. I will have to hope someone has a truck for the fishing excursions  

I plan on taking more than just  a weekend, so plan on the fishing. I am good with flippin worms. Nothing wrong with catching in my book.

[redneckdan]

I think we can manage

[Head]

That's a good looking truck.  The kind where you smash into a tree and worry about the damage to the tree.  I got one of them too.  Just smaller.

[doogman4]

That truck is a 2 track dream!

I had a Jeep Commando that had many meetings with trees on the 2 tracks. Smash, look at each other, laugh, throw it in gear and go!

[redneckdan]

Another bump to the top and a picture of todays project....

Hard side boxes!!!

[xsPain]

That one on top looks bigger than my first apartment.

[Head]

Sweet Jebus those are big.

[Head]

Bump and Route


View Larger Map

I want to figure the departure time so the lunch stop is at the Michigan House, I've fallen hard for their Black and Blue Burger.

[redneckdan]

I don't have anything that well planned yet.  Depends on who shows up and what they want to do.  Could go do a water fall tour other than the water is low by that time.  Could go do a 7 peaks tour, summit all 7 major peaks in the keweenaw in one day.  I'm always up for a good game of 'fugawe'....

[doogman4]

Well, so far it's just 3 of us.

I am road only. I would love to dual sport, but the RS doesn't have knobby tires.

RNDan, you still up for some fishin?

[redneckdan]

Most definitely.  Worse comes to worst I'll throw on the motard tires and chase you guys around.

[xsPain]

I'm thinking about this, but am still a bit unsure. My schedule for work is changing and I won't know the new one until, well, I'm back at work next week.

[mxvet57]

Hey Jason, I'll be in your neighborhood tomarrow so i'll stop by the store.

i'll be staying in houghton.

[Head]

Hope to see you, I'll be working morning so I'm off at 3pm.  Just bug whoever is there

[redneckdan]

I have to work on sunday the 12th, the mine where I work is hosting an under ground mountain bike race that day.  I'll be there for the friday bonfire, ride on saturday and then either head down to mass city on saturday evening or stay in the harbor saturday night and do a mad 100 mile dash on sunday morning.

[Head]

What mine do you work at, that race interests me.  At least you can be here for the important parts, the riding and the drinking .

[redneckdan]

Adventure Mine in Greenland, MI  The race is not completely underground but parts of it will be.  Mine is not illuminated so bike lights are required.

[Head]

I know of at least one other person that should come along, he lives here in the Harbor and I rode his GS1150 the other day.  So that's four, maybe five if his friend comes, but he's a brand new rider with a XT225.  

I'll try and get Butch to show up with his old 40's Harley cause it's just sweet, and he has some great flat-tracking stories.  Damn and that reminds me Jim used to race and wrench motocross in the late 70s early 80s and he just asked me to give his CR250 a once over.

So right now four or five total for the ride and possibly 6-10 for the cookout after.  As for the night before party, lots have been know to surface for a good fire.

[Oddball]

That race on June 12th?  If so I might have to stop by and see some of it as I'll be wrapping on a week of riding the UP.

[Head]

Nope, we're talking about July.  Come swing up to the Harbor and say HI.  

[BillL]

A bunch of us from over on cb1100f.net visited Copper in June of 2007.  I've been looking for an excuse to go back.  We stayed at the lodge just outside of town.  Nice spot.  Maybe I can convince one of my sons to go along.  We'd be roadie types. The timing appears to be July, 10 and 11.  That still the case?

[Oddball]

Nope, we're talking about July.  Come swing up to the Harbor and say HI.  

Yep that is a must do.  It'll be on June 7th - 9th because that's when we are staying at Scott's Superior Inn, actually one of his cabins, then moving over to Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie for a few days before returning to Hurley then home.

[Head]

Yes, still on for July 10, 11.  If you're not leaving in a hurry my wife makes a huge breakfast on Sunday morning.  Oh and a slight menu change for the cookout, Brats.  I recently got a ton of them for cheap.  

And for those who don't want to camp hotels are listed here http://www.copperharbor.org/lodging_s.html

[redneckdan]

Jason, I'll be up in your neighborhood on monday.  The cannontrek advrider invasion is rolling through town that evening, staying out at high rock bay if you get bored...

[redneckdan]

Copper Harbor here I come.

[Head]

I see the prerequisite Blatz is on board .  Oh I'm bored, but family responsibilities come first

[doogman4]

Another bump to the top and a picture of todays project....

Hard side boxes!!!

Dude, What happened to the big side buckets you put on??????

I am still planning the trip. I just found out I will be unemployed as of June 30.  

So, If I can do the trip on the low $ side, I will still come up. Then. the fockers down below planned another camp out for the same weekend.
One way or another, I am trippin that weekend. I am planning on heading out on the 8th and spending a day with a friend in Norway. Then up to your camp for the weekend.

I need a northern fock week away. I can't wait.

[Head]

Doogman that sucks.  Come on up.  Cheap beer, cheap eats, cheap bastards all around.  I just got the lager in the fridge the other day, so in three weeks I bottle and then its cutting real close but it'll be ready just in time.  

[doogman4]

I am. If I get there before the weekend, any problem with a place to camp?

Yes it does suck, but that's the state of the auto industry.

I am trying to find another person or 2 to do the ride with. Still working on that. I may just be solo. I will be heading to Grand Lake north of Alpena on the Sunday. Meeting my wife and kids there. My mom and dad are getting a cottage for 2 weeks and we are staying with them.

I hope you have a good selection of home crafted brews to taste. I have a good taster, professional level taste buds.

[Head]

No problem.

[redneckdan]

Dude, What happened to the big side buckets you put on??????

I hadn't rode on the trails back to the camp in over a year.  Last I had been on them they were pretty rough.  They have been improved a lot and now you could drive a jihad-mobile (2wd toyota pickup) out to the lake.

[Head]

Bump for one month to go!  And drop a PM to me or Redneckdan if you are even thinking of coming, I need to get the food planned out and stuff.

[Bikenut]

Dont know if I can get off that weekend . Will give it a try

[Head]

One week to go! I will be prepared!

[ruf]

I will be in Bete Grise Thursday through Sunday with a couple friends, riding the UP.  Would like to try to meet you guys.  Sent a pm.  

Thanks;

Bill

[redneckdan]

Jen and I will be there friday night/saturday.  Not sure if we will be riding or what not, might bring the canoe up and poke around lake superior.  I'll have to bail out early saturday evening because of the mine race on sunday.

[doogman4]

RNDan and Head,
I am still on. I am leaving home Wednesday morning and plan on camping on the way up. I am stopping in Norway to fish with an friend and then I will be there Friday.

Head, I am still interested in fishing if your father in law (?) and/or brother are interested.

Need a real address to set the gps to. Maybe you can post it?

[CLAY]

Well fellas, I can't make it this year, but  97 Honda XR650L might be making it's way to my home Saturday.  Picks will tell the tale...  I'll have a DS bike for the back woods ride yet...

[mxvet57]

Need a real address to set the gps to. Maybe you can post it?

just set it for copper harbor. it's not a big town.

[Head]

Its easy.  If you come in on 41 take a left at the blinker and I'm the last house on the left # 1098.  Coming in on 26 its the first house on your right.

Jason Robinson
1098 Gratiot St.
Copper Harbor, MI 49918.

If you get lost in Copper Harbor or have trouble finding my house you will be mocked .  See yall in three days.

[CLAY]

If this XR650 thing takes, I might plan on it next year just to ride the thing that far.  After seeing Verboten take his KLR to James Bay, the least I can do is the UP...

[sleazy rider]

When you do it, count me in.  I'll ride the XR600 up with you.      You'll be in for a rude awakening unless you change the seat.  hehe

[redneckdan]

Had bit of a set back....on the way home from work yesterday I biffed it and surfed the gravel.  No serious damage to the bike, crash guards took a beating but protected the radiator.  Front fender got scuffed, headlights shattered but I can fix that.  My left knee is swelled up and very stiff.....very little if any road rash though.

I'm not sure if/when I will make it to the harbor.....I'm medicated on the good shit at the moment....fell outta the chair twice while typing this....

[doogman4]

I see no one posted anything about the Keweenaw meet. Maybe that's because NO ONE SHOWED UP!!!  

Oh well, I was there with Jason.

Thanks Jason for the fantastic  home brew. Keep the recipe for that chocolate dark stuff. It was GREAT!! Thanks for the eats too. Also, pass my thanks to Jessie for breakfast.

A few highlights for the rest of you.

I spent 2 nights in Copper Harbor. I camped at Fanny Hoe Campground on Thursday. As I was pulling in to check rates, a dude on a harley pulled up and asked if I wanted to split a hotel room. Welllllllllll, no, but I would like to split the cost of a camp site. So we did. The guys name was Paul. He was on a journey from CA and had been on the road since the 10th of June. I think he said he had put on over 5000 miles on his trip. He was on his way to somewhere in the UP to visit his sister an party. Cool dude. We had a few drinks, some pizza and great conversations.

I spent the day on friday doing a little riding, hiking and site seeing. I met a bunch of other riders and had some great exchanges. A couple from Minnesota on BMW 1200K with a sidecar hauling a camper. Met a couple of harley guys from the detroit area in the Harbor for the weekend. And, I met a guy from Minneapolis on a dual sport bike. I was sitting on my bike on the shore of Lake Superior when this guy pulled up. We spent over an hour just chatting about life.

I hooked up with Jason in the evening at his house. I set up my hammock and got a fire started while Jason gathered some of his home brew. The rest of the night was spent around the fire, telling stories and meeting some of Jason's friends. Somehow the conversation turned to bears and how Jason and Jessie hadn't seen bears in town for 2 1/2 years. After enough beers and bear stories, we called it a night. I climbed into my hammock and "tried" to get to sleep. I must have been successful, because it was around 5:30 when I was awakened by a strange sound behind me. I poked my head up to see momma and baby bear about 15 feet behind me on a 2 track. Well, not being one to say "Oh cute little bear", I started growling and making big boy sounds (not screaming like a girl, Jason). Momma and baby took off a running. I in turn, put my pants and shoes on, in that order, and swiftly made my way up to the house. Thank goodness that Jessie has a 3 week old baby, a cutie too, to feed. She asked me in for some pancakes and coffee. I told my bear story. She told me that was strange. Maybe they just aren't looking out the windows at 5:30 in the morning to see the bears?

Jason and I went for a ride on Saturday. We started out around 9:00am. The roads up there are fantastic. I had a great ride. I told Jason that due to the overwhelming turnout, I would just pack up my camping gear and keep heading south when we hit Houghton. I did and ended my day at Grand Lake, smack between Rogers city and Alpena. Around a 435 mile day.

I found a tee shirt that was fitting. It showed a tent pitch in the night with a warm glow coming from it and had the following quote "You have nothing to fear, except fear itself (and bears)"

Bears or not, I had a great time. Thanks again Jason and Jessie for hosting. See you next year.

[sleazy rider]

I screwed up and made reservations at the St. Ignace motel for two nights.  It should have been one and I'd have headed up the rest of the way, then turned around and come home on Saturday.  Copper Harbor is a fantastic place to spend a long weekend exploring.  I want to get back up there and find out where the dirt trails at the end loop of US-41 go.  

Did you catch any of the rain on the weekend?  It rained most of Friday's loop around the eastern UP.  Friday evening was spent doing some repairs to the GS in the motel parking lot.  I lost a front caliper bolt somewhere on the dirt trails between Au Train and Grand Marais in the Pictured Rocks National Park!  I found a similar bolt at the local Ace Hardware and bought some allen wrenches to install it.  Saturday morning headed south, it rained until I got to Traverse City, then great weather the rest of the way south.

 

[doogman4]

It rained very lightly during the night both Thursday and Friday. That was it. dry during the day.

Great weather up there. It was windy though. The ride back on Saturday was a constant cross wind. The Mac bridge was a trip.

I'll get some picts up soon.

[Bikenut]

You should've shouted, I'm just over in Kingsford. I couldn't get off that weekend but I start 5 weeks off tomorrow Might make it up that way for a day. For sure will in the fall.

[Head]

Well my computer died shortly after the "event", and I've been so busy that I never got around to posting up anything.  
  Yes I must confess I do scream like a girl.  Carpenter ants in your pants is not fun. at all.  So there.  Since Doug had had ridden up 26 I took him down 41 though the covered stretch and then out to Lac La Belle and Gay.  Headed in to Mohawk then back to Copper City and out the back to hit the Traprock Valley road.  There was a moment coming over the Houghton bridge that we got seperated, but after breaking a few speed limits I managed to loop around and try to catch up.  Luckily Doug stopped at the Citgo right outside of Houghton and we said our good-byes and splitted ways.
  At first I was just going to ride out to Freda, catch some lunch at The Michigan House and head home.  I was on my way to that dirt covered stretch when I took a left and decided to go somewhere new.  Zig-zag on some side roads and I end up on 41 a few miles from South Range.  I went through South Range looking for how much of the old highway was left.  There used to be this great stretch right past the school that had some lovely sweeping esses.  But progress and child saftey left only 100ft past the school.  I went back to the intersection with every intention of heading home.  Then two bikes went past, an FJR and a Blast, the same two that passed Doug and I that morning at the gas station in Copper Harbor.  
  So I went to Ontanagon, and to Porcupine Mountain State Wilderness Park.  Specifically to ride the South Boundary Road.  Yes, it was worth it.  It goes on the list with M35 to Gwinn, 41 and 26 up here, and that stretch on road west of Bay Mills that has no number.  Its a nice little two lane with knee high grass right up to the white line, no shoulders.  Fun twisty road.  At one point I came in a little to hot fixated on the trees straight ahead, and mashed the brakes.  Before doom hit I forced myself to release the binders, look though the curve and go.  I worked and I live.  I turned around when I got to a sign saying Welcome to Wakefield, OH crap, thats damn near Wisconsin!  
  I headed home the way I came with plans to come back to the Porky's and see more.  Maybe next year the meet needs to be a multi-day all he best UP roads camp out....  Hmmmmmmm