I wanted to visit my family in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as do a long test-run on the GS in preparation for the trip to Mexico in October. I was going to loop around Lakes Michigan, Superior and Huron, through Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and across Ontario and Quebec in Canada, then back through New York state. After talking with my high school friend Trevor, who is now into dual-sport motorcycling, I decided to join him in northern Michigan for some trail riding instead.

I changed my original route and did end up going back through Ontario, but didn't make it into Quebec. The original ride would have taken more like three weeks, and I had only budgeted two. It was a fun trip, regardless.

On the way to Michigan I stopped in Allegany National Forest to camp and ride some ORV (off road vehicle) trails I had found online. It was pretty great. Well marked trails, and all hard-packed dirt. Free camping, too, after paying $35 for the ORV permit.

A long climb in Allegany. It was about three hundred yards. Fun!

One of the mellower areas. There was quite a variety of terrain which was perfect for the GS. These trails were ranked as beginner.

In Ann Arbor I met up with Trevor (right) and Chris, another high school buddy. We took a little ride around the area where Chris lives, just outside of Ann Arbor. A Harley, a Kawasaki and a BMW. Strange riding group.

My mothers husband Mike, my sister Debbie's partner Becky, and Debbie. Maddie, the furry one, is their dog.

Mama working her magic in the kitchen. She's about to either say presto, or shoot electricity from her hands and zap what's in that bowl.

My father (in black) and his wife Margaret. They're flanked by his brother Howard and Howard's wife Andrea, and their children Max and Stephanie.

Trevor and I about to hit the trails, north of White Cloud, MI.

We were going to ride a 200 mile trail, but it was all deep, sugar-fine sand. With the inadequate tires I had on my bike, and its size and weight, there was no way I would be able to do it. This photo was taken after two and a half hours. We had only covered three miles. I dumped my bike about 6 times in that distance. It was also about 95 degrees and I was sweating my ass off. That black t-shirt I'm wearing was originally blue.

Here's part of the trail. Deep sand. It was pretty narrow, too, with trees growing on either side. It was tough. We bailed shortly after this and looked for a place to camp.

Riding the sandy trail.

Drying our sweaty gear at the campsite.

I couldn't believe the color of the water up there. This is, uh, can't remember, but pretty far up north. Near Charlevoix? The water was crystal clear, like the Caribbean. Weird.

Halfway between the equator and the north pole.

Trevor lashing down some wood for the evening.

We camped the second night at Arbutus Lake. Trevor was cracking me up calling it Ar-butt-us. It had a more hill billy pronunciation: Ar-bew-tus.

The following day we did some more trail riding. Ditching my heavy camping gear and bags helped some. The rain which hardened the sand helped as well. It was still tough going and I got stuck pretty bad on this hill. You can see the look of disgust on Trevor's face.

Hitting some puddles. Ohhh... Fun.

Mmmm... doughnuts. Breakfast of champions with big guts.

We stayed with Trevor's friends Fred and Heidi at their place in Petosky. They were very gracious hosts and very sweet people. Trevor cooked up some venison for dinner, then we hung out by the fire pit and drank beer. Very nice.

Riding north from Petosky along the coast. Looks like Scotland or Ireland, I think, but I don't think they have any blue skies there.

Riding through the tunnel of trees.

This could be some remote Caribbean location, but no, it's in Michigan. Weird, huh?

The Mackinac, that links lower Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. It's a long bridge. A very long bridge.

Trevor rode with me up to the U.P., as they call it, then turned back to Petosky when we got to the state park I was going to stay in.

Sunset at Brimley State Park. I got there, made some dinner, watched the sunset and was in my tent by 9 PM. Not that exciting of a night, but turning in early was a good thing since then next day was going to be long.

Campers at Brimley. Lots of creature comforts.

The Bushplane Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Only in Canada.

North Bay, Ontario.
Though still in Ontario, the sign for the agricultural (farm) market is in French.

Eastern Ontario was pretty gorgeous, and it would have been good to explore it more. Next time. Always next time.

Making dinner at some road-side picnic area. Mac & Cheese. Yum. Some guy in a pickup truck, who was camping in the area, drove into the picnic area and stopped to talk. He was a little too friendly, and I think I was getting "cruised." Kind of freaked me out.

Sun going down. I ended up riding from the campground in the U.P. to Ottawa. It was a 15 hour day. The last three hours were spent riding through some pretty desolate areas. The moose crossing signs didn't console me, either.

The bridge that crosses the Saint Lawrence River, into New York.

The Adirondacks.
I had to kind of blast through here, but Lisa and I came back a few weeks later to camp.

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