Keweenaw Penninsula Bike Ride 2008 - Day 1

It was another very successful cycling adventure. The Keweenaw Penninsula is truly a paradise for cyclists. It has a combination of low traffic roads, beautiful lake shore views, many swimming opportunities, ice cream, historic richness, white sand beaches, access to beer, berry picking, high vistas, theatres, and on and on...

This year we had 21 riders. Actually before that day we had 20 confirmed then we recruited another just a few hours before the start.

Day 1, Aug 4, 2008 – 50 km - Baraga Casino Parking Lot to Hancock’s Best Western Copper Crown Motel

While Ang, Doug (not Classic Doug aka Pantry, but Doug Flagel formerly known as "new" Doug), were at a bike/ski/hobby shop in Ironwood, I overheard a woman mentiion RAGBRAI to the store attendant. Well, how could I not cut into a conversation with that word? So the woman, Terri Johnson, told us that it was her first ride and she loved it. And, that her group liked to socialize along the way. So I told her that we were going to do our own mini RAGBRAI in a few hours. She sounded somewhat interested then I mentioned that Peter Z and Michelle B would be coming too. That helped entice her, but Ang and Doug think that I might have turned her off when I said that there might even be some skinny dipping. We exchanged phone numbers, then about 20 minutes before we embarked from the Baraga Casino parking lot she phoned and was on her way. Yahoo! Is that an adventurous spirit or what?

Kay and Lynn from Madison and Jerry from Iowa were the first at our meeting place in the parking lot of the Baraga Casino. And, not long after we (Ang, Doug and I - I will refer to as ADI from now on) arrived, Jeanne and Bob from Brainerd arrived. They arrived at exactly 2:00pm and wanted it officially noted that they made it on time and were amongst the earliest arrivers. By the way. Jeanne and Bob were the very first people to arrive at the parking lot on 2007’s ride, so I'm kinda wondering what this "Larson Time" really is. Are Jeanne and Bob trying to change the original meaning of Larson time from being “always late" to being “on time” or even "being ahead of time"?

The Baraga Casino (like last year) was very generous in letting us park our cars in their lot as long as we left enough room for the RV's to park.
With 18 riders, we hit the road at about 3:30 a bit after Doug and Ruth rolled in. A few other riders were going to meet us later that day We started with a fast downhill towards L'Anse Bay, turned left onto Hwy 41 and followed the bay for the next 15-20km with a good wide shoulder (with some thin and rumble). The shoulder is a blessing because this section has the heaviest traffic of the entire trip.

As we continued north and east, the traffic gradually diminished. We had our first watering stop not too far past Chassel at the Pilgrim River Steakhouse. The amber beer was great. A couple who were having dinner saluted us for not being of young age and still riding. As we were visiting, our newest group rider, Terri rolled in from Hancock on her bike. She drove and parked at our hotel and rode the route backwards until she saw the sign of many bikes.

We tried something new which ended up being a good experience. Outside the bar, across the street is a bike path that we followed all the way into Houghton. It followed the canal all the way to the famous Houghton-Hancock bridge.

Our group split between the Keweenaw Brewery Pub and the ???. The brewery does not serve food, but gives menus of other local food establishments who deliver.
As I followed Peter Zenti into the bar, I saw him so right in with his bike without stopping. Peter's a man of adventure with a pinch if mischief.

We all took our bikes to the back patio of the Brewery were we met a couple of uninstrumented musicians (Randy and Justin), who were eager to play for us for free. So, they went home and came back 20 minutes later with their acoustic guitars and gave us a great and intimate show. I was not as prepared as I usually am on these bike rides. I only had one harmonica on me. I was able to play some songs with them, but needed my other key harmonicas. So this lack of harmonicas started a major APB search for Shamu which had my baggage with the other harmonicas. Once we found Doug P with the keys, Kay and I rushed to the Best Western Copper Crown motel and found the harps. We rushed back and I was able to join them. It was a blast. Randy who sometimes walked around with his guitar to the tables had that raspy voice and Justin a smoother and more passionate style. Their originals were hilarious, especially a the song about blood in the snowbank and the other about all the famous scientists brought out wails of laughter. Many of us will try to get their CD's. Doug F. really could relate because he works for the Ministry of Transportation and many of his colleagues would love to hear the snowbank song. Randy also plays for a Finlander group and is planning to visit Thunder Bay to play for our Finnish community in 2009.

Find out where the other’s ate

Before dark we all headed across the bridge and to the Copper Crown Motel. As we were settling in I saw our final two riders to join the trip. They were Anne and Dave from Iowa. They drove up from Illinois from another trip. It was good to see them again and to hear Anne’s wit (I met them for the first time in Texas this past spring.

Some of us went for a swim, sauna and whirlpool, then some for a last cool one (about $6.00 for a small pitcher of draft beer) at the ??? in Hancock.