Route from Niagra Falls to Sault Ste. Marie

[tandemrider]

Hi -

My wife and I are planning a self-supported cross-country tandem trip departing from Port Jervis, NY,in early May '09, but this year's tornadoes in IL, WI, and MN have made me wonder about my plan to use the ACA NT route.  I know that tornadoes can hit just about anywhere, but it seems that the farther north you are, the better.  I also understand that May and June are not the best time to avoid tornadoes, but we have to leave in early May.

I have been thinking about going up to Niagra Falls, then to Sault Ste. Marie, and joining US 2 at Thomaston in the MI Upper Peninsula just before the WI border.

My plan would be to go from Niagra Falls to Owen Sound, ONT, then up the peninsula to the Tobermory-South Baymouth ferry, then join HWY 17 at Espanola.  This would mean about 90 miles or so on HWY 17 into Sault Ste. Marie.  Since that's the only road (according to my road atlas), I'm wondering how it is for cyclists.  I'm thinking it might be jammed with trucks, buses, and RV's, not to mention passenger cars.  Anybody have any experience?  Also, are bikes allowed on the bridge at Sault Ste. Marie, or do you have to get transported by truck?

Thanks in advance for the information.  

[wildandcrazy]

My wife and I rode route 17 east bound from Sault Ste. Marie to the ferry on our tour around Lake Huron (2007).  The road varies greatly, along with the traffic.  The traffic came in bursts, so you could let it pass when it was heavy.  The drivers were a rule, extremely good about moving over.   The shoulders were OK most of the time, but they also came and went.  Our worst section were the roads in the Bruce Peninsula after we had come across on the ferry.  The Journal is on the CGoab site as "Lake Huron - Clockwise".  We went across Michigan's U.P. last year (2008), and that journal is on crazy guy also, if you want to explore routes across Michigan.

[Rep]

Hi
I live in west central Wisconsin, about 60 miles east of St. Paul, MN.  I would be 150 miles south of Duluth.

Yes, we get tornadoes in this area.  I do believe though that the farther north you go there is less chance of tornado activity.

Do check out the weather in the UP of Michigan.  I suspect you will learn it is not as big a deal as you may think.  My area, maybe, up north?  Less so.

[paddleboy17]

Tornadoes in Michigan are more of a spring thing.  I would be more concerned about spring showers than spring tornadoes.

Would you consider crossing into Michigan at Marine City?  That is south of Port Huron.  There is a ferry boat, and it is quite doable by bike.  You could follow the Michigan side of Lake Huron north.  There is a shuttle service for bicycles at the Mackinac Bridge.  There are a couple of League of Michigan Bicyclist rides that get permission to ride across the Mackinac Bridge.  Perhaps you could time your arrival and ride with them across the bridge to the UP?