Bridge and ferry: riding on water in the Michigan U.P.

Publication: Rider

Publication Date: 01-AUG-03

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COPYRIGHT 2003 Ehlert Publishing Group

I felt the presence of Lake Superior long before I could see it. With the morning sun just moments from revealing itself on the horizon ahead, each exhale of my breath produced a visible cloud of vapor that would float around for a second or two inside my face shield. The grandest of the five Great Lakes was letting me know it was there.

In July, a quick, strong shift of wind from the lake can turn an 80-degree day to a shivering 50 degrees in minutes. On this late September morning, just before sunrise, that legendary lake wind was keeping the faking-mounted thermometer hovering somewhere south of 40 degrees.

I was about to cross the border from northeastem Wisconsin into Michigan's Upper Peninsula (U.P.) on U.S. Highway 2. I was off for an autumn ride across Michigan in search of some fall-color foliage and to take a ride across Lake Michigan on a 400-foot ferry.

My first destination lay just ahead across the border. As the sun rose above the horizon, I shivered against the cold Lake Superior wind and gave a little extra twist to the throttle.

Porcupine Mountains State Park is a jewel of waterfalls, lakes, woods, hiking trails, grand vistas and great motorcycling. Entering the park on Gogebic County Highway 518 from Wakefield (if you need some guidance, there is an excellent Tourist Information Center right at the border on U.S. 2), your first must-stop is the Presque Isle River, where a short hike from the parking lot leads you to...

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