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-   -   Riding along Lake Michigan in mid-late August in Lower and Upper P (https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/30470-riding-along-lake-michigan-mid-late-august-lower-upper-p.html)

semegrant 06-24-03 12:38 PM

Riding along Lake Michigan in mid-late August in Lower and Upper P
 
I am touring with a group in Michigan from August 16 to 28 and am interested in finding out three things
(1) What is the status of mosquitoes or other "biting" bugs along shores from Ludington to Mackinaw City across bridge to Upper Peninsula and then west to Escanaba/Marinette and then South to Green Bay, WI, our original starting point. I am very susceptible to bug bites.
(2) What are the general wind conditions on the lake?
(3) I was told the ride is generally flat to rolling. Is that true?

Guest 06-24-03 10:47 PM

I don't have the answers to your questions, but I'm curious about your route. Where is your route? I mean, what is your route? Where did you get the idea?

Funny, I was talking to someone this evening about doing the same thing you're doing!

Thanks!

Koffee

Fleetwood 06-24-03 11:28 PM

Sounds like a nice ride. How many in your group? To answer your questions.
1. Mosquitos are moderate from Ludington to the bridge, biting black flies can be heavy at times when you get to the UP. We generally apply sun screen with a bug lotion in it. We always keep benndryl with us for swelling from bites.
2. Wind will not be much of a factor until you cross into the UP and only then on occasion. I really wouldn't worry about it unless there were storms predicted.
3. Flat when you come out of Ludington and turning more into rolling hills as you approach the bridge. I don't know what route you are taking but you will encounter a few good climbs along the way.
I have a cottage on a small lake in Evart Michigan which is just off of route 10. I don't know your route but if you are coming this way we are generally at the cottage on weekends and will be there all week from Aug22 to Aug 31. You can email me if your interested in stopping by,camping for the night etc. rdesanti@aol.com.

Braumeister 06-25-03 08:13 AM

Here's the official report from Northern Michigan (Petoskey):

1. Black fly season in the U.P. is all but over, however, I understand the mosquitos are on the rampage--DEET up and camp on the breezy shores of Lake Michigan if you can. Things should be better in August, however.

2. The Great Lakes create their own unpredictable weather patterns; typically, there is a westerly wind, but friends of mine who rode the same route as you last September had headwinds across the U.P. Go figure.

Perhaps some of the most difficult winds to combat are those that come off fully-laden lumber trucks on U.S. 2--there is a good shoulder on this road, but be cautious and check that mirror!

3. What's the perspective of the information you received on hills? No, there aren't any mountains on the route, but here is lots of up and down (aggrevating in some cases).

I can't comment on Wisconsin, but you'll have relatively flat land across the U.P. on U.S. 2. Once you hit the lower peninsula, however, things get pretty hilly, particularly around Harbor Springs and Petoskey. If you plan to hug the shoreline (like we did last year) you will encounter some good hills all the way to Manistee (US 31, M-22, etc.). This does, however, make for a beautiful ride.

There are bike paths running through Petoskey and Traverse City that minimize the horrible summer traffic danger in these busy tourist towns. If you'd like details on these routes as well as good pub stops (:beer: ), feel free to email me. I can also recommend (or recommend against) certain campgrounds on your route.

This is a great trip--you'll have lots of fun!

B.

blwyn 06-29-03 09:11 PM

By mid-August mosquitoes will be gone. You may have some deer fly problems but they are more anoying than bitting. Winds will vary a lot, seldom more than 15 miles per hour though. Very few hills in the UP on into WI


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