Tennessee 2008

Tellico Plains Club Ride #1, March, 2008

MikeNGoatNot only did we ride them there trails, we took pictures as well.

 


The Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee has two designated horse/hike/Motorcycle trails. Trail 81 and Trail 82. These are not recommended for beginners (or flatlanders anyway). Both are relatively short linear trails. Each has a few climbs and a bit of side-hill off-camber action.

Believe it or not, we were there to ride the awesome backroads that wind along the mountains. These two single track trails were simply “hero section” options. Out of the several hundreds of miles of excellent, easy forest roads these two trails take up less than 12 miles together.

Special thanks to Kieth L for recording & sharing the video.

Video of Trail 82 (the easier trail). It had been raining the previous couple days making for a slippery ride. The rain came back about half way into the trail, which explains the blurred images.22 Minutes. Flash v8 Video, 80MB

Video of Trail 81 (much tougher trail). No rain today, just rain the last few days. Nice and sunny, with 4″ of wet leaves covering slick clay, loose rocks and the frequent roller log. This is only the first ~1 mile, the camera operator broke his wrist during filming, you’ll see. 7 Minutes. Flash v8 Video, 40MB

Video of various roads. Samples of what the paved and gravel/dirt roads look like. These are the roads we took from Tellico Plains to reach Trail 81. There are better ways (less pavement) but we had already used them on the previous days. 22 Minutes. Flash v8 Video, 86MB

About Falling

Falling while riding in sand is inevitable. With enough practice you too can become an accomplished soil sampler.

Here’s one of our yahoo’s in action. He had reached a blocked off 2T and attempted a standard turn around. Unfortunately (or fortunately for your viewing pleasure) the sand was a bit too soft and when the front popped off the sod it just plowed and stuck. Since the back tire was still higher up on the short ledge of sod there was just air under the riders right boot rather than the hoped-for firm footing. Obviously a more competent rider would have yanked on the bars and twisted the grip, but not this dude. Some folks simply exist to serve as a lesson for others.

The best part is the bike doesn’t stall, stays in gear (no autoclutch) and the rider is able to recover and escape the scene before anyone sees him. If nobody sees it, it never happened, right? 30 Seconds. Flash v8 Video, 2MB

About Tuck n Roll

Falling while riding in sand is inevitable. With enough practice you too can become an accomplished soil sampler.

Here’s a professional in action. Note the right side bar clip the tree to throw off his rythym followed by a quick dab to the left to increase air time. Follow it up with a tuck & roll in the soft sand and confirm the camera was recroding for extra credit. Lesson learned – don’t let the camera dude follow you.

No harm, no foul. Little O Trail. Mike W piloting. 15 Seconds. Flash v8 Video, 1MB

Whiskey Creek Classic 08 Video

Whiskey Creek Classic

AMA National Dual Sport; June, 2008

Video (below) provides a good overview of the type of routes in use at the Whiskey Creek Classic. Some trail, a little road and lots of two tracks. Scenic riding. Terrain is mostly sandy. Mostly forested with a mix of pine and hardwoods typical to western Michigan. 5 Minutes. Flash v8 Video, 17MB

 

Dave & Bruce run to Oshkosh

The Big One – aka Oshkosh ’08

by Dave Brock

We’ve always called it the Big One, any motorcycle ride leaving from home and returning in a big loop. Back in the ’70s we did the CCC Trail Safaris a few time, the best were leaving from home with tent and sleeping bags. When Bruce suggested we go to the Oshkosh Airventure, I was ready. Our plan was to ride to Ludington, cross Lake Michigan on the ferry, leave our tent and sleeping bags with Bruce’s cousin at the air show. He has a trailer there and volunteers for the EAA , we’ve always been interested in planes and such.

So this trip was going to be exciting, we get to see the War Birds, home builts, vintage, and helicopters. The next step was to ditch the tent and sleeping bags and continue on to the U.P. and ride some of the CCC’s U.P.D.S. which we had done in ’02 and ’04. When we get the Bridge, we continue on to some of the trails from the CCC’s L.P.D.S. that we had done in’06 down to U.S. 10. From there we’ll try to dirt roads the rest of the way home. I tried to lay the routes from home to Ludington and US 10 to home on dirt road as much as possible using MapSource Roads and Rec.

Day 1. We head out north and west through Waterloo area, lots of dirt roads and on through farm land then to Manistee N. F. What I remember the most in the farm land are the smells, fresh cut hay, sweet clover, onion fields and of coarse dairy farms. One pleasant suprise, we cross the Flat River through one of the few covered bridges in Michigan. 291 Mi., crowded seat with the tent and sleeping bag.

Day 2. We line up on the dock in Ludington to board the S.S. Badger with about 40 road bikes, some headed to Sturgis Bike Week. Good weather, smooth sailing, not much to do on the Badger. I left my GPS on to record the course to Manitowoc. Average speed 15 MPH.- 60 Mi. Off load the Badger onto US 10 to US.41 to Oshkosh. We set up the tent at Jim’s trailer while the Goodyer Blimp is overhead. So many planes of all sort to see!!! 139 Mi.

Day 3. We get up early to try to see as many planes as possible in our one day lay over. There are trams and buses to take us to the different types of planes. War Birds, B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26, T-6, P-51, P-38, F-86, Mohawk, Caribou, F-15, F-16, F-22 (star of the show). Military cargo and refueler jets.Even some Russian Migs. Only one Huey H model (disappointing I worked on them  in Viet Nam), Seahawk(Navy version of a Blackhawk) Osprey, Bell 47 and civilian Rotorways. Red Bull Europian helicopter ( I don’t know the type). Many vintage Bi-wings, High wings, sea planes. So many personal plane and ultra lights. They have 3 Bell 47 flying continuesly. I’ve got go for a ride in one!!! They have a really neat museum there and we spend a couple of hours in. >From 3 to 6 in the afternoon they have an air show every day, loops, rolls, smoke, explosions, and flying in formation. The star of the show is the F-22 doing amazing things that defy gravity plus flying in formation with a P-51 Mustang. this event is very well organized, they have 1200 port-a-johns – no waiting.

Day 4. We get rid of the tent and sleeping bags, more room on the bikes and head north to the U.P.. We get off of US 41 onto secondary roads. It rolling farm land to Lena, Wi. to visit Bruces 94 Yr. old aunt and cousins. We leave Lena and head north again and soon we see an eagles nest on a power line.We’re getting closer to the U.P. when we stop for gas we talk to some guys on crotch rockets, they’re going the same way and we meet them again, one them with a flat tire. One of them went back to get some tire plugs but they have no way to pump up the tire. I have a Slime Pump on my bike and Fix-a-Flat and we get them going again.(No good deed goes unpunished!!!)  We finally get to gravel roads in northern Wi. Almost to Florence and Crystal Falls Mi. 221 Mi. Motels and showers!!

Day 5. The quest for Mt. Arvon!! We were on two previous U.P.D.S. rides and we were unable to find Mt. Arvon. We left Crystal Falls on snowmobile trails until we got to gates, so we didn’t go around them but went out to the highway to Champion. We were back on track up to Mt. Arvon from the south side only to come to dead ends,I had layed the route out With Roads and Rec. but you can’t always go by whats on Roads and Rec. There is alot of logging going on in that area, making thing kind of confusing so we go to the north side of Mt. Arvon and find blue arrows leading the way. We reach the summit and sign the log and take pictures then continue on. Heading to Marquette we see alot of blueberry pickers. We’re almost to US 41 and I go on reserve and when we stop at 41 my bike stalls and won’t start!!! Bruce tows me down the road to a gas station and we gas up. The bike still won’t start, so we change the plug, tinker with the carburetor and wear down the battery!!! So Bruce says there’s a Walmart up the road and he goes and gets a new battery. We install it and we’re back in business. (Remember no good deed…..) 162 Mi.

Day 6. We leave Marquette on snowmobile trails to Gwinn and then on Gladstone and then U.P.D.S. route to Newberry. 256 Mi.

Day 7. From Newberry to Rexton then on to St. Ignace. In St Ignace we replace a nut and bolt on Bruce’s luggage rack. Some photo op at the Mackinac bridge then on to Bluffs at Black Lake for lunch. Off again to Mio on L.P.D.S. route. The hot tub at the motel in Mio feels pretty good!!! 252 Mi.

Day 8. While in the area, We head to the snowmobile trails to Lumbermans Monument on The Au Sable River, always a good ride. Then to St. Helen and   south through the Gladwin area. We get back US 10 area and it looks like rain so we go to a motel in Midland. After we unload at the motel, it rains a couple of times through the night. Got lucky again!!! 257 Mi.

Day 9. Not many dirt road south of Midland until we come across gravel roads heading south. We manage to keep on dirt about 50% of the way home!!! 164 Mi.
1741 MI. Total 218 MI. AVG. per day. Moving AVG.-29.39 MPH. AVG. MAX.- 51.52 MPH. Moving AVG. – 7.25 HR.. Stopped AVG.- 2.49 HR.

More Photos from this ride

Another excellant ride with no major break down and no rain!!!

Chandler Hill Challenge, September, 2008

Chandler Hill Challenge, September, 2008


Video (below) of the Chandler Hill Challenge Dual Sport course. Includes selected sections of MCCCT, ORV Trail, two tracks (that go on and on) and some “obscure” two tracks. 5 Minutes. Flash v8 Video, 17MB

 

Wolverine Area Lodging

Updated 7/20/12

The event location is just south of Wolverine. Boyne Falls is west of camp, about 15 miles. Indian River is north of Wolverine and has numerous motels about 22 miles. Gaylord is south of Wolverine and about 23 miles from camp.
Those that we think are closed are shown as strikethrough

Motels/Hotels/Cabins:

Wolverine –

Malone’s Sturgeon River Cabins
http://www.malonescabins.com/
231-525-8890

Silent Sport Lodge
http://www.silentsportlodge.com/
231-525-6166

Walloon Lake –

Dickson’s Lodge
http://dicksonslodge.com/
231-535-2415

Boyne Falls –

Sleepy Fawn Motel
(231) 549-2663

The Brown Trout Motel
http://www.browntroutmotel.com/
1-888-609-7261

Four Seasons Motor Lodge
http://www.fourseasonsmotorlodge.net/
(231) 549-2710

Gaylord –

Holiday Inn Express
www.hiexpress.com
(888) 400-9714

Best Western
http://www.bestwesternmichigan.com/hotels/best-western-alpine-lodge/
(989) 732-2431

Baymont Inns & Suites Gaylord
http://www.baymontinns.com/Baymont/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=17819
(989) 731-6331

Indian River –

Hometown Inn
http://www.irhometowninn.com/
888-255-3365

BRENTWOOD LODGING
http://www.brentwoodlodging.com/
800-880-3440

Coach House Motel
http://www.coachhousemotelir.com/
231-238-9370

Silent Sport Lodge B & B
http://www.silentsportlodge.com/
231-525-6166

 

Vanderbilt –

Closest motel we are aware of, but has not had stellar reviews by our members:
Elkland Extended Stay‎
7591 Old 27 Hwy N, Vanderbilt, MI – (989) 983-3201

 

More information:
info@gldsmc.com
Jeramey @ (989) 751-6863

GLDSexMi Reports

GLDS Expedition: MichigantheCourse

Reports

 

Great write-ups and photos galore from previous runs.

Much of the upper peninsula uses areas well covered from the UP Dual Sport Safari and the CannonTrek.

Bryan Much has arguably the best ride reports going. See his 2008 CannonTrek (UP) and 2008 GLDS Expedition Michigan (LP) on ADVrider.com.

Interactive Photo Map covering both LP and UP. Photo gallery as well (thanks to Bryan for use of his photos).

Images by Bryan Much

GLDSexMi FAQ

GLDS Expedition: MichigantheCourse

FAQ

 

Q. What’s this “bikes bigger than a 650L will test the rider” stuff?

A. Michigan has lots of sand, if you want off the pavement, plan on riding sand, ruts and other types of technical riding that is much easier done on a smaller/lighter bike. We hope to rate each section to make it easier to decide what’s OK for you and your ride.

Q. Do I need a GPS and which one should I get?

A. Yes and Garmin, mapping unit. 60CX is very popular with our crowd. The files are universal and you should be able to get them to work with most any unit, some easier than others. Some units do not handle tracks very well (Nuvi, Zumo) or at all (StreetPilot). You’ll need to convert the tracks to routes to use the data.

Q. What tires should I run?

A. DOT approved knobbies. Your choice. Pirelli Scorpion Pro in the front and a Kenda TrackMaster K760 in the rear is a good combo. Central and Western UP is more rocky, the rest is pretty sandy. Put another way – less air pressure in sand, more in rock.

Q. I have the CD, can I make copies of it for my riding friends?

A. Yes. Long as you are not selling/bartering/trading the copies (ie for commercial purposes).

Q. I don’t want to print out all the maps, or they take too long to download. What can I do?

A. See the VVMapping partner product on the download page.