General Cycling Discussion - Around Lake Michigan

I was trying to respond to a reply on ferry services on lake michigan. Is there one from Gills Rock, Wisconsin (door Penninsula) to Fayette state park, Michigan (Garden Penninsula.)? I know there was at least once for a League of(called the Shoreline Tour) Michigan Cyclist Tour IN 2001. bj

I am a former Michiganian..There is a ferry service between Ludington,Mi and Manitowac, Wi...Think Manitowac...
I understand the one between Muskegon and Milwaukee is about to be restored and it will be a new hydrofoil.
To the Garden Peninsula.Don't think so.
I think I recall Michigan tourism on the internet answers these questions.
ps- I was hoping this thread centered about riding around Lake Michigan..Wondered how you get about Chicago.

The ferry out of Gills Rock only serves Washington Island at least in regular service.

ps- I was hoping this thread centered about riding around Lake Michigan..Wondered how you get about Chicago.

This guy plans the route, drives it by car, and then rides it by bike. http://www.cyclotour.com/

'Round Lake Michigan: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, 2nd. Edition
1300 miles (2100 kilometers) of magnificent riding. That’s the equivalent of bicycling about half way across North America! Many cyclotourists split their tour of this Great Lake into a 2 year adventure by using the across Lake Michigan ferry.
The 2nd. Edition of 'Round Lake Michigan... includes 2 routes connecting Lake Michigan to Lake Huron in the middle and at the bottom of the Lower Peninsula. An improved route through Indiana connects Lake Michigan to Lakes Erie and Huron.
Bikeways in Chicago and Milwaukee lead to signed rural road routes near the shore. Paved trails along abandoned rail beds bring you to delightful small towns.
Around a bend, on a hidden peninsula’s rural road, the Lake emerges in your view as a sparkling blue sight. The Door and Traverse Peninsulas will bring delight to your pedal strokes as you meet bicyclists simply enjoying a day or two of riding.
Sleeping Bear and Indiana Dunes National Lake shores will amaze you. The 300+ mi. (480+ km.) of National and State Forests will enchant you. These forests extend 50-100 mi. (80-160 km.) inland and are interlaced with Mt. bike trails.
The vivid blue of the Lake will entice you to jump in to it! You’ll pull out your fishing pole and catch monsters of the deep blue. All this without leaving the United States!
‘Round Lake Michigan: A Bicyclist’s Tour Guide, 2nd Edition US $24.95
Order your copy by emailing us: cyclotour@cyclotour.com .

I haven't seen ferry service from Chicago that goes to Michigan, Canada, Wisconsin, etc. I always commented that it would be great if any of the ferries took up the opportunities of putting together a ferry route for other states and Canada. Instead, our ferry service revolves around the tours of the lakefront.

As far as rides, I do know there is a ride that goes all the way around Lake Michigan from Canada on the east side of the lake to Canada on the west side of the lake (and vice versa). I don't remember, but I do believe there is a book out there or several books from the different states you can get that detail how this is done. I think Catfish may have mentioned this book to me, so if anyone's interested, contact him first.

Koffee

The new ferry service, the Lake Express, runs from Milwaukee, WI to Muskegon, MI (my home town). It just launched this week. We (Muskegon) do have the old Milwaukee clipper parked along the lake and there is an organization working on doing some restoration work, which has been slow but sure. The new Lake Express ferry is a brand new ship.

The SS Badger is a Larger ship which runs between Ludington, MI (about 1 hour's drive north of Muskegon) to Manitowak, WI (about 1 hour north of Milwaukee).

Here's some links:

http://www.lake-express.com

http://www.ssbadger.com/defaultContent.asp

http://www.milwaukeeclipper.com/newsite/main.htm

:)

-jeff