Great Lakes Challenge with a Twist.

#1
Before all the craziness started, I was thinking about doing the Great Lakes Challenge with the added twist of doing all of the Great Lake Series Rides. The most efficent start/return for each lake ride seems to be St Ignace. Circling the lakes totals 4754 Miles. I came up with a ride time of 100 hours. Included in that 100 is 21 hours of rest.

Leg 1 To St Ignace



https://goo.gl/maps/g69RnnKeMa7opLvN8

Leg 2 Lake Huron

https://goo.gl/maps/QuUtepSv92cu91fy8
Leg 3 Lake Michigan

https://goo.gl/maps/9LwqkSXqc1gFnmq77

Leg 4 To start of Lower Great Lakes

https://goo.gl/maps/imb3GvRkhmmJ85oC9

Leg 5 Lower Great Lakes

https://goo.gl/maps/QrJgQxBreCky3KcFA

Leg 6 to St Ignace

https://goo.gl/maps/c2JLBkCcXkN5a6HY7

Leg 6 Lake Superior

https://goo.gl/maps/8eirXWwSNUXBm78x7


Leg 7 Return to Start

https://goo.gl/maps/CP6tJ8u235a8RKUB9

When adding the first and last leg to the run, total miles is 5760, Run time of 120 hours with 37 hours rest.

Has anyone done this ride?

This ride doesn't look possible for 2020 so I am in the long range planning stage at present.

Thanks for contemplating the ride.

-Mark

PS. Not sure how to get these maps to show tried inserting example below which showed during writing but disappeared when I pressed save.

<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m40!1m12!1m3!1d5607815.798482866!2d-92.91677730086853!3d46.66248400123778!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!4m25!3e0!4m5!1s0x52a6332052b03f75:0xe62733d548e09ada!2sClearview General Store, 5323 MN-61, Lutsen, MN 55612!3m2!1d47.647445!2d-90.675011!4m5!1s0x52a9141fae324157:0xe237130fab5409b7!2sHoliday Stationstores, 915 Lake Shore Dr W, Ashland, WI 54806!3m2!1d46.5879303!2d-90.8948473!4m5!1s0x4d4e20448ef7cc47:0x8db0faaf6cd4a981!2sHoliday Stationstores, 2000 US-41, Marquette, MI 49855!3m2!1d46.5477801!2d-87.4303326!4m5!1s0x4d35f5d84cf2b27d:0xfb93cd098f624a6b!2sHoliday Stationstores, 924 US Hwy 2 W, St Ignace, MI 49781!3m2!1d45.8568588!2d-84.73760349999999!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1590976544171!5m2!1sen!2sus" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" aria-hidden="false" tabindex="0"></iframe>

PsPs

updated the links.
 
Last edited:

Bill53

Premier Member
#2
Ambitious but doable ! I had hoped to finish the Great lakes this year but not looking good at the moment. The lower Great Lakes requires a little thought about when you pass through the Toronto area though. It is one of, if not the busiest section of highway in North America. Take the 407 just north of the 401. It is an electronic toll road but will save your time and nerves..... and depending on the time of day the plate cameras can miss.
 

mcrigid

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#3
Hi Mark,
Challenging ride for sure! I have been planning a similar ride myself but it doesn't look like it can happen this year.

If you are attempting a Great Lakes Challenge make sure you pick up the DBRs required in the order listed. If you go around Lake Huron first you will be getting Sudbury, ONT or North Bay, ONT. The way I read the rules, to stay in the proper order you must pick up Watertown, NY (Lower GL) or North Bay (Lake Superior).
http://www.ironbutt.com/themerides/gl/index.html
It would be a shame to put in that much effort and not get the cert.
 
#4
Hello Mark,
Your routes look like four great days of riding! I'm planning to do the regular Great Lakes Challenge as soon as the border opens and quarantines are no longer necessary. Good luck on your ride.
 
#5