Molson Bike Tour (North): M-22 Ride

Yep, 600 is the estimate I came up with today. The road (quite an outstanding one at that) is 116 miles (looked it up) and you have a conservative guess of five curves every mile. That brings a grand total of 580 but I'll round it up to 600 for the bonus curves through Northport on route 201. That is a lot of curves! And quite fun.

My other estimate was 300 other motorcycles passing us by Sunday. The leaves had some pockets of great color but wasn't quite at peak yet. Regardless, when you get 65-70 degrees in October in Michigan, you capitalize on taking a joy ride on one of my favorite roads, M-22. The festivities started Saturday as I met up with Mark C. and his dad Chuck at their place in Ludington.

Sunday morning we road north out of Ludington into Manistee. While riding through Manistee, I was bummed to see one of my favorite breakfast places, Stafano's, had closed. They served a mean breakfast and when you ordered a side of bacon, you didn't just get a few wimpy strips; they gave you a mass of bacon. As Jim Gaffigan would say, "yay bacon!!!" Before I get off on bacon stories, the ride then moved north on US-31 out of Manistee, east onto the Coates Hwy, north up to Kaleva, onto 115 east, north into Karlin along 137 through Interlochen (beautiful area) and then into Traverse City for a cold beverage. A shout out to the Aaron Rodgers-loving bartender at Dillinger's who did not lack confidence. When you root for a good football team, I guess you can do that. She grew up in Iron Mountain which is more or less a stone's throw from Lambeau Field so we let her slide. We had no ammunition with our beloved Lions. Did I mention we didn't have to watch the Lions Sunday? Another great reason to ride a motorcycle.

Out of Traverse City, we headed north on M-22 into Northport and found a great city park in town. It was time for a 30 minute siesta in the shade to recharge the engines. We rode up to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula to Leelanau State Park where there was a lighthouse tour. With said tour was a line and we weren't into lines Sunday; back to the joy ride on 22 we went!

Coming through the Sleeping Bear Dunes/Glen Arbor area, we got to see in person the damage that the August storm had. My tree-hugging dad would have cried. Tree(s) down!

Our last stop for the day was in Empire at Joe's Friendly Tavern. Before arriving there, I got a laugh and was kind of bummed at the same time while riding through the town. Recently I read in the paper about a 'scenic turnout' area in the city that really isn't one as the trees have grown to block the view and park cuts prevent fixing the view. So we come on M-22 into Empire and there is the Scenic Turnout sign. There were a few cars in the parking lot with a handful of people with a very confused look on their faces. Where is the view? Again, I laughed but was bummed. At least take the sign down.

After some great dune views in Empire (picture below), we headed into Frankfort and rode down Forest Avenue; some incredibly maintained homes with the classic wrap around porch. I could live there.

A ride down M-22 wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Arcadia area Lake Michigan lookout; and it isn't blocked! I'm not sure of a better view in Michigan.

South out of there into Onekema, we went down Crescent Beach/Lakeshore Road into Manistee. It was getting close to dusk at that time so the deer alert was on. And a deer sighting was not too far behind on the road. With two Harleys and my modified pipes, however, he/she quickly fled thankfully.

No mechanical failures I am happy to report and besides one train crossing in Manistee and a few Sunday drivers, the flow was fantastic.

It was a Pure Michigan commercial if there ever was one on Sunday.

Trail Head