Day 3 Keweenaw Penninsula Ride - The Adventure Begins

Day 3, July 3, 2010 Copper Harbor to Calumet - 89 km

We started with a substantial climb out of Copper Harbor towards the Golf Couse. By about 3 km, we were at the top. It’s always such a nice ride under the canopy of trees at this beginning portion of Hwy 41.

Then there was the famous left turn off 41 towards Lake Labelle that was missed by a number of the fast riders. They (Al, Tom, Miriam, etc) got creative however and met the group later in Gay, but took a different route (and may I suggest – NOT the scenic route LOL). The hill down towards Lake Labelle was big and steep. At the beginning we are already moving fast, then there’s a road sign saying “Steep road” – What??? It already was steep, well, it got steeper. So steep that Donna got off her bike, so steep that Bill almost missed the turn at the end, and so steep that Doreens forearms got sore from holding so dearly to her brakes.

Some of the group stopped to view the famous row of mailboxes then got back on the route to Haven Falls. It was a great place to have a SAG/tailgate stop. Robbie did a great job with the spread and was helped by Debi who decided to have the day off. What a spread – cookies, cut up fruit, Gatorade, water, even watermelon!!! Thanks Debi for buying the watermelon. It was a perfect place and distance to stop.

The road got much flatter on this section of the route with awesome tropical-like views of Lake Superior and the Keweenaw Bay. At one point a bunch of us stopped for some more refreshments and were given some great yoga stretches by Donna. Then Doug even showed us some inverted moved – standing on his head!!! Quite a few went into the cool water to drop their body temperatures. It was starting to get hot and everyone started to feel it by the time we got to Gay.

A substantial number of us went into the well known “Gay Bar” and had some of their famous hot dogs. I had the “Have it your way” – and thank Doug for buying it for me. Some of the riders hung out across the street in the shaded area of a open area, where another tailgate stop emerged. It was real nice to have Robbie heading the tailgates, and have Debi as company and a helper for her was a bonus.

I, Gene and Doug were the last ones on bicycle out of Gay. After a few kilometres, they took the alternate left turn and I decided to go straight. I had another dang slow leak even after changing the tube this morning. Time for a new tire. I should have done that before the trip. I passed by Donna and Elaine who were trying to cool down in the shade, and I gave them some of my water. As I continued towards Larium, the temperature continued to rise. I actually briefly felt a brief spell of nausea, then later found out that two other riders actually vomited due to the heat. Later on, at 5:00pm, Doug noticed a thermometer which read 98 degreee F. Holy Cow, that means that earlier the temperatures were probably over 100!!!.

Well as I rode into Larium I spotted the SAG vehicles and a bunch of the riders trying to get out of the heat in the backyard shade of De La Terre restaurant/bar. They were very gracious to us, and eager to have us come and have dinner later that evening and even offered to drive us from Calumet to come to that evening’s street dance. They were celebrating the 4th of July even though it was July 3. We were tempted, but decided to stay in Calumet.

Then, we had a substantial climb up to Calumet. Roger Q’s chain broke. Fortunately the SAG was around. There was rumble on the climb which often had glass in the indentations. It started steep but eased off as we got higher. Gene and I caught up to Louise who was having a shade break. At some points as we were climbing up that hill I felt like I was going to boil over.

Then, at the top some of us made the wrong turn but were diverted back and only two blocks down, we were at the Americinn.

There were riders cooling off with cool beer inside the lobby and laughing and visiting and enjoying the coolness inside. Susan was working on arranging everyone to eat at the Michigan Inn, while others went for a swim/hottub.

Everyone to enjoyed dinner at either the Michigan Inn or Carmelita’s. We had a visit outside of Carmelita’s for a while then had a nice 5 minute stroll back to the hotel. We had fun with Theresa, who left her purse on a chair at Carmelita’s. Louise picked it up and we had a bet as to how long it would take before she noticed that she did not have it. What a hoot!

When we got to the hotel, we were in a perfect spot to see the fireworks of Laurium below. Inside was a meeting room where we were able to visit and make a bit of noise after 11:00pm