Duluth, MN to Sault-Ste-Marie, Ontario

[yfor01]

Does anyone have any suggestions on the best route for this leg of my part of Norther Tier route(Anacortes, WA to Montreal trip)?  Should I stick to #2 for most of the way or is #28 a better quieter alternative?

Any help is welcome!!

Thanks,

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

US Hwy. 2 goes through Duluth, into Superior, WI and along the south shore of Lake Superior, and if I remember right, it has wide shoulders most, if not all of the way. When you get to Da U.P of Michigan, 'der, you'll want to git on dat Hi-way 28 und dat'll take ya right to Marquette and on den to da Soo. (Those will be the directions you will get if you ask a "Youper" when you are in Michigan. Translation: Shortly after you enter MI on US 2 at Ironwood, you will take a left on US Hwy. 28 towards Ishpeming and Marquette. 28 goes through those cities, all the way to Sault Ste. Marie.) Last time I was up there, (Aug. 2005) major portions of Hwy. 28 were being rebuilt and widened. Hopefully they are about done now. The entire route is very scenic, along the "big lake they call Gitchee-Gumi" and the hill country of the U.P.

Enjoy the ride.
Trailpatrol

St. Brendan's Spoke Bicycle Travel Club
www.stbrendans-spoke.org

[Jerrycari]

I am sure "Trailpatrol" was just jesting, but just so you know, to get
through the U.P. you will not need a translator. I grew up there and can
assure you that most people there do not speak much differently than
other midwesterners.

Last summer I toured through the U.P., then headed west to Montana.
If you go through Marquette you will most likely be dismayed by the
bicycle unfriendly conditions as you make your way into Marquette.
Marquette itself has some great bike paths, but making your way into
the city heading east, or out heading west, is unnerving.

Marquette is a worthwhile stop but the only campground -- Tourist
Park -- caters to RVers. When I tried to get a spot for my tent I was
told they didn't have any more space for tents, even though the park
looked rather vacant. I could have rented an RV spot for $20, or $25,
but that was much to pricey for me. Instead, I pushed my bike into the
woods nearby and camped for the night -- free.

[ridebc2]

My wife and I rode that section last summer as part of our cross
continent journey.  We followed HWG 2 until Wakefield and then joined
HWG 28 from there.  We stayed on 28 until Sault Ste. Marie Mi.

I dont recall that the shoulders were very wide, but the traffic was
fairly light with not a lot of truck traffic.

If you continue from Sault Ste. Marie Ontario to Montreal be very
careful along Trans Canada HWG 17.  There are a few portions of the
road that have good shoulders but the further East of  the Sault you go
the worse it gets.   Traffic is very heavy with lots of trucks.  It is like
that until at least North Bay.  There was a lot of construction West of
North Bay but hopefully that is done.

This road is not for the faint of heart.  It is my personal opinion that
this is the worst section of road on the entire trip and if you can figure
out an alternative, even if it takes longer, I would advise it.   That being
said a lot of people ride it every year and maybe I am just a weenie.

[yfor01]

Thanks for the info.  This is not the first time I hear that...however I am short on time, if I had longer I would stick along the Northern Tier route until around Buffalo and we cut across around Kingston, On.  I will have to play it by ear...