Re: Trip Planning: Summer 2013

Posted by sgtslag on Apr 24, 2013; 8:44pm
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Trip-Planning-Summer-2013-tp4039727p4039830.html

If possible, consider traveling through Ontario, along the north shore of Lake Superior...  It is gorgeous!  We circled Superior in '09, in July:  average temperature of 56 F, rained all four days through Canada, but it was a bucket-list trip, and in spite of being cold and wet the entire time in Canada, we loved it!  Watch out for bears and moose, though, as they will run out in front of you.  The Trans-Canadian Highways are excellent blacktop, two-lanes mostly, except near metro areas.  The people are extremely friendly, common (in the very best way), and fun to visit with.  The scenery is awe-inspiring, to put it mildly.


The Canadian highway heading west, into Winnepeg, after you leave Ontario and enter into Manitoba, is incredibly boring, flat land, which is very much like I-90, through SW Minnesota -- take some No-Doz before you enter either stretch.  Try to make your way through southern Ontario, if possible.  Kenora is amazing:  'mountains' rising up all around, with lakes in the valleys, with islands, and homes on the islands.  It is truly beautiful country, where many Hollywood types supposedly have mansions as get-away's (very believable, once you see how stunning it is).  In Ontario, you will see fox, and beaver, many times, along the roadways, with possible moose, and black bears, as well.

We never had an issue finding a motel in Canada, but the Northshore Area of Minnesota can be more challenging: fewer motels (maybe), and plenty of resorts, and cabins -- which may be booked solid all Summer...  Just be prepared to look for a place to stay before it gets too late in the day.  Mom & Pop motels are the most fun, but they don't always end up being a money saver -- ain't a lot to choose from, few of them around.  Internet is not always available, and if it is, it can be very slow -- dial-up speeds on a wi-fi.

The Northern Minnesota Iron Range area is quite majestic, plenty to see, as well.  The North Shore region (referring to Lake Superior's shorelines) is fantastic, similar to southern Ontario, though not as wild; there are many rivers draining into Superior, with State Park hiking trails to explore (along MN Highway 61, running along the shoreline) -- don't miss these, if you are in the area!  If you travel this region, be aware that MN Highway 1 is curvy enough to make a dog vomit -- my brother's friend took his dog on it, in a car, and it got sick from the twisties...  No joke.  You may want to avoid that -- goes into Ely, MN, through some virgin wilderness (Superior National Forest area).

You may want to contact the tourist offices for areas you plan to ride through.  They can supply you with current State/Provincial maps, as well as coupons for lodging, and an abundance of information on sites to visit.  For Minnesota, visit Explore Minnesota.