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Bike Week When Highway H-58 is fully paved, this may well be the best ride in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Final paving of Highway H58 is set for completion in October 2010.
It's taking the long way between Manistique and Grand Marais, but Lock, Load & Ride is one those rides that will put more than a couple of smiles on your face. It's got a little something for everyone who enjoys motorcycling. From the beaches of Lake Michigan to the beaches of Lake Superior and all the great riding in between this is one ride I'm recommend to everyone.
The ride starts out in Manistique, Michigan with a cruise west on US-2 along a great piece of shoreline on Lake Michigan. About five miles up the road is the little community of Thompson, Michigan. Riding into Thompson, you'll see a sign for Palms Book State Park, this is Highway 149. Make the right turn on Highway 149 and follow it to a stop sign and turn left and continue on Highway 149 to Thunder Lake Road.
Roll north up Thunder Lake Road north to County Road 442. (Look for a small green Camp 7 sign at the corner) Turn left on County Road 442. As I remember, once you turn on Thunder Lake Road, the only paved road on your left will be County Road 442. It's not paved going to the right. Miss it and Thunder Lake Road ends a few miles north when you run out of pavement. So just turn around and go back looking for the first paved road going to your right this time.
Note – Lock, Load & Ride is a route full of twists and turns on two lanes of remote U.P. blacktop. Much of the ride has little or no road shoulder and is perhaps better fitted to favors sports bikes than cruisers. As every rider should know every road deserves respect and caution and Highway 442 is one of those roads. By the way, the route isn't much for cell phone coverage or gas stations.
Lock, Load and Ride is a series of roads with Highway 442/443 kicking things off. With a barrage of twists and turns you can find yourself in an intense ride that takes you through the heart of the Hiawatha National Forest. A quick glance at the Michigan State Road Map doesn’t even show it as being paved. From the time you enter your first turn until you arrive at Forest Highway 13, the ride is a fun snake of a road. Of all the times I’ve ridden Highway 442, I don’t think I’ve encountered more than a half dozen vehicles. Although on one ride we encountered a washed out bridge which had us taking a dusty gravel road detour. By time we got back on pavement our leathers were looking more white than black. I guess you could say it's all a part of riding Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Forest Highway 13 is where you say good bye to Highway 442. Not as intense as Highway 442, Highway 13 is still a nice cruise that winds through tunnels of trees. Approximately 25 miles up the road keep a watchful eye for Buckhorn Road. A quick left turn and it's time again to lock and load again as much like Highway 442, Buckhorn Road is one turn after another. It always ends way to soon for me when I pull up to the intersection at Highway M-94. However, it's a good place to pull off the road and take a little breather.
A right turn on Highway M-94 takes you on an easy stretch of road that eventually curls you north into the town of Munising, Michigan. It's here that M-94 intersects with Highway H-58 and you begin the last leg of the ride. (Munising is a good place to grab some lunch or top off your tank)
The completion of Highway H-58 between Munising and Grand Marais has been long coming. Finally in October 2010, the road will be completed. Highway 58 takes you east our of Munising past Picture Rock National Lakeshore. Not much of a road for starters, but that quickly changes after you make a 90 degree turn north. From here on, a new blacktop with huge sweeping curves awaits you. A pure pleasure to ride the road winds its way back and forth towards the little coastal town of Grand Marais, Michigan.
It's such a nice stretch of road, you could also most cry when it suddenly stops with a road closed sign. With only 4-5 miles left to be paved you almost want to say to hell with it and continue your ride on the gravel road. I guarantee bikers will be lined up to make the ride when the road officially opens. While the first leg of to the sign above was straightened into sweeping curves, I understand much of the last segment will be left with its many original twists and turns now enjoyed by snowmobiliers. I know this is one biker who can't wait to make the full Lock, Load & Ride next October.
See you all in Grand Marais in October 2010!
Brad & Kathy
Kolbus
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