LAKE SUPERIOR

Day 10, Tuesday, May 09, 2017

The alarm sounded at 6:30 AM and we both got out of bed.  We got dressed, packed and I took one bag out to my Motor.  I uncovered the Motor; it was 32 degrees, packed the single bag and cleaned my Motor.  J. B soon came out and I told him that I was going to breakfast.  The others started coming in slowly.  We all had breakfast but we were not in any hurry.  Chuck was waiting for 9 AM.  That is the time that the Harley shop opened.  Chuck was telling me yesterday that today, we would be going shopping.  I told him that that would be good because I wanted to get a shirt from Thunder Bay.  Chuck looked and me and agree, “Yea, you need a shirt.”  It was 9 AM and Chuck, Jan, J.B. and I walked next door to the Harley store.  Yes, I know, I don’t ride a Harley.  I just needed to walk and not stay at the Hotel just sitting.  We got to the store and Jan bought a shirt, J.B. bought a “poker chip,” Jake arrived and bought a shirt and Chuck bought two shirts.  All of the shirts said, Thunder Bay Harley.”  We were done so we walked back to the Hotel, finished packing our bags and we were ready to leave.  Chuck was checking the internet for a place to go and buy shirts.  He found a place and gave Ken the instructions on how to get there.  We left at 10:25 AM.

Ken rode a few miles into town and we couldn’t find it.  Ken pulled into a parking lot of a florist.  Chuck went in and asked directions on how to get to the store that he had found.  He was given directions so he returned to his Motor.  Chuck led the Group and a couple blocks away.  Chuck found the store and we all found a place to park.  We all went into the store and it was a small boutique.  Inside, they had some children’s clothes and women’s clothing.  There were no clothes for men.  Most of us went in and then left the store.  Chuck stayed inside and bought some shirts for his grandkids and Jan bought a sweater r for his wife.  Ken bought a shot glass.  We all returned to our Motors and Chuck told Ken that we could ride down to a certain street and turn.  The street would take us to the Parkway that we wanted to go on that borders Lake Superior.  Well, so much for MY shirt.  We left at 11:25 AM.

Ken led the Group and I followed then C.E., Chuck, Jake, Jan, and J.B.   We rode through town and arrived on Canada 11.  We got on it and went eastbound.  We rode for 50 miles and it was cold.  It was 43 degrees.  It was a good thing that we put on warmer clothes than last night.  Ken stopped at a Flying J Truck Stop in Shuniah, ON at 12:06 PM so that C.E. could top off his tank with gas.  Gas stations and restaurants were at a premium on this road.  There was a restaurant at this stop so we thought that we would take advantage and have lunch.  It wasn’t a Subway but it was food.  We all went in and ate.  We were done with lunch so we left at 1:09 PM.

We continued on Can. 11.  The road would curve and get close to the Lake.  It was breathtaking!  We continued to ride and 41 miles later, we stopped in Nipigon at a Husky Gas station and we all gassed up.  We were done gassing up and we left at 2:10 PM.

It was my turn to lead again.  Jan followed, with Chuck behind and then C.E., J.B., Jake and Ken.  We continued and rode up on several places where they were doing construction.  There was one where it was posted that they were doing some blasting.  We continued to ride for 70 miles and stopped at 3:27 PM at a Shell Gas station in Terrance Bay.  It was a much needed stop.  Most of us were very tired and were sleepy.  That is what usually happens after we have lunch.  The Shell gas station also had a mini mart and a Subway.  We went in and took the necessary pit stop.  Chuck, Jake and J.B. bought their usual coffee.  Have I told you that I hate them when they do that?  Although we only had about 50 miles to go, we still needed this stop.  We then left at 3:53 PM.

 

We continued to ride.  At our last stop, Chuck told me that we were going to stop in Marathon at a motel that he had called to check for availability.  I asked him for the name of the motel and he didn’t remember.  I asked him for the address and he didn’t have it.  He had written the information on a small piece of paper but didn’t know where he put it.  He told me that he believed that it was the Marathon Airport Inn and Gas Station.  We rode for 49 miles and at 4:44 PM I pulled into the parking lot of the Marathon Airport Inn and Gas Station.  I was willing to bet that this WAS the Motel that Chuck had called.  We all parked in front and went in.  Chuck asked the Desk Clerk if he was the gentleman that Chuck spoke with and he confirmed.  We all checked in, unloaded our bags and took them to the rooms.  The room assignments for tonight were the same as yesterday:  J.B. and Me, Jake and Ken, Chuck and C.E. and Jan as a solo.  When Chuck went to his room, it was a king bed and I don’t think that Chuck wanted to sleep with C.E. and “spoon” all night.  Well, if he did, he wasn’t going to admit it.  C.E. became the solo and Chuck roomed with Jan.

There was a restaurant on property which is used for breakfast.  J.B. asked the Desk Clerk if we could use the restaurant to gather.  The Clerk said that it was OK.  The Clerk also told us that Pizza Hut delivers to the Motel for free.  We decided to order pizza hut for dinner and take the Clerk up on the offer to use the restaurant.  The Clerk also said that he would make us some fresh coffee.

Today we rode for 210 miles.  Tomorrow we will continue on Can. 11 and ride to Sault Ste. Marie.  Once we pass through Sault Ste. Marie, we will be back in the United States.  We shall see…