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Home The U.P.
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Bike Week
The ride through the Keweenaw Peninsula up to Copper Harbor is as good as it gets when it comes to motorcycling Michigan's Upper Peninsula. So far I haven't found a better loop to ride in the U.P. then Highway M-26 and US-41. The best route is to Highway M-26 north into Copper Harbor and then Highway US 41 back. Highway M-26 starts just northeast of Rockland, Michigan. From there it winds its way up to Houghton, where you cross over the Portage Canal. It was a great day for riding when my wife and I rode down into Houghton and crossed over the Houghton/Hancock Lift Bridge. I hate riding over bridges with metal grates. You know the ones that cause your front tire to weave back and forth. However, since my bike can't fly or tread water, we had to ride it.
Once on the other side I followed M-26 to the right. Highway M-26 runs along the canal headed east out of Hancock. Compared to the Houghton side of the river, there isn't a lot of new construction going on here. I'm sure sooner or later things will take off on this side of the canal as well. Anything on water has a way of attracting developers. Riding the Keweenaw, you pass through one small mining town after another. With the mining industry all but gone now in the U.P, it's amazing how mining towns have flourished while others still struggle to get by. Sometimes I wonder what keeps people in some of these towns. Family, a genuine love of the area or no where else to go. It's probably a combination of all of the above.
I caught a glimpse of it as we came into town. Like some mechanical monster it just seem to be standing there. At first riding past it, I turned the bike around and went back. My curiosity had me wondering what that piece of steel sticking out of these structures was? This town was Tamarack City or once was anyway. I parked the bike along the road next to a park and we went for a walk along the old stone buildings. While not as ghostly as the ruins in Freda, Michigan it still captured my interest. Again, I wish I had some help piecing all the ruins together. You just can't do it looking at what's been left behind. You need someone who can connect the dots. This copper stamping mill sits on the edge of Torch Lake which is part of a EPA Superfund cleanup. Copper mining activities in the area took place from the 1890s until 1969. During that time they produced mill tailings which were dumped into Torch Lake and contaminated the lake sediment. I guess the EPA found ways to clean up some or most of the lake because the water looked clean and clear. While I poked among the cement pillars, my wife wandered down to the lake to do a little exploring. I eventually followed along and noticed some fencing around certain areas. I wonder if this was a polluted area. If so, it was pretty close to a new house being built on the lake shore. Later, getting back on the bike I saw a sign across the street that showed various lots for sale on the lake. I also notice what looked like a boat fishing out on the lake.
Not far up the road, we rode through the town of Lake Linden. It seemed like one of the mining towns that had managed to put the loss of the mines behind them and was growing. Had we had more time I would have stopped and walked around. It's in Calumet where Highway M-26 hooks up with Highway US-41 to continue its trek north towards Copper Harbor. Calumet is a town with an amazing history. Less than a 1000 people live there now, but during the 1900's when copper mining was as its peak, the area was home to around 25,000 people. A couple years ago, my wife and I last stayed in the adjacent town of Laurium at bed and breakfast. Both towns are so full of history I recommend any biker consider spending time there.
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Motorcycle Friendly
Motorcycle Service U.P. State Parks - there are at least 19 good reasons to buy a park sticker.
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