Kenora to Sault Ste Marie?

[Digital Rodney]

Make time for Pictured Rocks National Park, gorgeous area, and by now, the road should be paved all the way through. I went south from there, so I can't help you any further!

Originally Posted by randyd

I'm planning a ride from Edmonton this summer, and one candidate is Hwy 17 from Kenora to Sault Ste Marie, and then around the south shore of Lake Superior through Michigan.

Has anybody done this ride? Is it worth it? It's a long way from Edmonton!

[gggGary]

IMHO the trip around the lake is worth the 2 days of flat to get there. Last did the "around the lake" two summers ago in the van. Leave yourself plenty of time to stop and wander around. It's worth the ride up the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor too. If you like history, the old copper mines are fascinating.
PS we met and talked for a while with an old guy (well he looked old) who rode his BICYCLE there from Edmonton.

[randyd]

Thanks for all the feedback people. It sounds like the ride is as good as I imagine it to be.

I ride every June with a group of about 12 guys and I'm pushing hard for an eastern route for 2013. The response I'm getting is lukewarm. Most of the guys feel that it is just too long a ride, especially after putting in almost 7000 km last year riding to the Grand Canyon and back. They want something shorter this time - likely into British Columbia.

So I have to make a decision: ride with the guys, or go it myself to Lake Superior. Hmmmm.

[vonh]

I last did the ride in '69 on a bike, lol, just a few years ago. From Vancouver to Montreal and back. It's been a while but I think 17 takes you to Ottawa. I loved riding N. Ontario some beautiful country there.From the Soo south on 400 is boring too. I didn't mind the praries though. I did it again with my wife in a cage a few years later, back when Terry Fox had just died. I remember stopping at the marker they had erected for him now it's a monument. You Must stop there it's very moving!!! I can remember hitting the Ontario border and thinking almost there, lol, I didn't realise at the time I was only 1/2 done. What an eye opener.

[williewonka]

Originally Posted by vonh

I last did the ride in '69 on a bike, lol, just a few years ago. From Vancouver to Montreal and back. It's been a while but I think 17 takes you to Ottawa. I loved riding N. Ontario some beautiful country there.From the Soo south on 400 is boring too. I didn't mind the praries though. I did it again with my wife in a cage a few years later, back when Terry Fox had just died. I remember stopping at the marker they had erected for him now it's a monument. You Must stop there it's very moving!!! I can remember hitting the Ontario border and thinking almost there, lol, I didn't realise at the time I was only 1/2 done. What an eye opener.

Ontario is a big province. lol!

I was one of the last people to see Terry Fox run. We drove to the main highway to see him run by, and give encouragement/money. We had to keep going back because he kept stopping. No one realized it was because the cancer came back until he got to a half hour out of T.Bay and he had to stop for good. It is a beautiful monument.

Edit: Sorry to get off topic. I hope you're able to ride this way. It would be a fun ride.

[randyd]

Originally Posted by williewonka

Ontario is a big province. lol!

I was one of the last people to see Terry Fox run. We drove to the main highway to see him run by, and give encouragement/money. We had to keep going back because he kept stopping. No one realized it was because the cancer came back until he got to a half hour out of T.Bay and he had to stop for good. It is a beautiful monument.

Edit: Sorry to get off topic. I hope you're able to ride this way. It would be a fun ride.

I never mind getting off any topic to talk about Terry Fox. One of the few true heroes that I can think of.

[Iceblue]

I'm with Willie. Definitely Hwy 17. Hwy 11 is a snore and more trucks than 17. The best part is from Thunder Bay to the Sault outstanding scenery with lots of curves and hills. Try not to ride after dark lots of deer and moose.