Heading up north for a long weekend next weekend

[CLAY]

Here's the route:

View Larger Map

We are then planning to hug the eastern side of the state along the lake.  We have done the western side many times.  Thursday night after work to East Tawas area, Friday to Drummond and explore (and possibly do some swimming and possibly along a couple of the shipwrecks there), camp on the island Friday night, Saturday explore/head back downstate/go to the fire spots this spring on the UP/whatever floats our boat, Sunday head home.

Any advice from anyone?  Any roads to hit?  We hit H58 last summer, and it was a blast- I highly recommend it- but I don't think we are going to hit it this summer.  

Oh- one more thing- we are planning to try some stealth camping.  Any advice on locations near out stops?  We basically figure to pull off down a state land two-track, slide a ways off the roads and set up camp, cooking over our campstove.  

Thanks!  

[Dan K]

Sounds like a great weekend.  Stealth camping is always fun too.

I have no advice for roads or stops, even though I'm currently in SW Michigan, but can share a stealth camping story.  About, oh, 20 years ago (wow) I was in the Bad Lands, car camping out of my Geo Tracker.  About halfway through the Bad Lands 'loop' I saw two tire ruts going out into the wilderness.  My buddy and I untwisted the barbed wire gate, drove about 3 miles in, and did the exact same thing.  No fire, used the camp stove.  Around 1am, the sound of a wolf or coyote pack with what sounded like an hour long battle for a new leader with non-stop barking and howling was WAY too close for comfort.  But in the AM, we did some great climbing, snuck our way back to the main road, parked it in the main parking lot and cooked up some breakfast there and no one was the wiser.

There wasn't much to hide the car behind - it's pretty flat with canyons bellow - but we did choose a nice peninsula of land jutting out into a dry riverbed that's access area was equal to the length of the car.  Blocked it off with the car and walked our gear down into the peninsula figuring nothing TOO big could get past the car. One of the best camping memories of my life.  

I'll have to dig up the pictures, but apparently it was during the Sturgis rally - there were hundreds of bikers there during breakfast and I have a pic somewhere of me scratching my head with countless bikers behind me. (trying to keep it moto related).

Sorry for the hijack...just miss camping.  Wife decided she's done peeing in the woods, kids not that into it.

-Dan

[sleazy rider]

If you have the time, http://byways.org/explore/byways/10781/ is a fun ride from Oscoda.

[Bender]

Well if you wanted to stay between grayling and lovells..you could camp at my place..i would even tell you where the firewood is.

[Loki]

If you have the time, http://byways.org/explore/byways/10781/ is a fun ride from Oscoda.

sleazy your an assbag......

if you guys are going north on 23, on the way back why not head down to cheboygan and follow 33 south to just about Mio. take F32 east along the river thru McKinley and down thru Glennie and south to that road Sleazy assbag mentioned.

As your heading east toward Oscoda you will see a sign for the Old 23 route south, take it towards Tawas City, its a fun road.

i might be able to tag along if its an open invite, I have havens if the sky isn't very nice.

L;

[sleazy rider]

sleazy your an assbag......

L;

Screw you very much too.    I spent way too much time up that way going back and forth to Alpena CRTC.

[Loki]

Screw you very much too.    I spent way too much time up that way going back and forth to Alpena CRTC.

yea i forgot about that, i like that area for casual easy riding. in other words on the wing.....yawn>

L;

[CLAY]

Well if you wanted to stay between grayling and lovells..you could camp at my place..i would even tell you where the firewood is.

On the way home we will be.  Is that offer available?  I'll shoot you a text.  

sleazy your an assbag......

if you guys are going north on 23, on the way back why not head down to cheboygan and follow 33 south to just about Mio. take F32 east along the river thru McKinley and down thru Glennie and south to that road Sleazy assbag mentioned.

As your heading east toward Oscoda you will see a sign for the Old 23 route south, take it towards Tawas City, its a fun road.

i might be able to tag along if its an open invite, I have havens if the sky isn't very nice.

L;

Always.  Shoot me a text- we can hook up for part of the whole thing.