Departure - 1: Pre-Travel Preparation

This will be my first solo vacation since 1971. The plan is to set out tomorrow morning at 6:30 AM and circumnavigate the lower peninsula of Michigan counter clockwise. I intend to document the journey with photographs and comments. A few months back I made a day trip part way up the east coast of Michigan's thumb. I got the notion to take pictures of my bike, a 1981 Honda CB750F, in front of some of the many Great Lakes' lighthouses. I spent today changing oil, lubricating, cleaning, checking, packing, and rechecking. All that is needed now is a good night's sleep. The weather is threatening rain in the morning but I should be out of that by noon. My wife, Cynthia, will be leaving later this evening to spend a few peaceful days alone in Hart on Michigan's west coast. The plan will be to join up with her on Friday evening and spend Saturday together before her return for home and my continuation down the west coast to visit my brother in St. Joseph.

Departure Wed 7/29/09

You will have to understand that this commentary is being written after the fact. This journey is now complete and being documented in retrospect. I awoke as intended at 5:30 AM, about an hour before the sun was to rise. I could hear the steady drizzle of rain on my window. I didn't need the sun to tell me that this mornings ride would require some extra care. At 6:30 suited up in rain jacket, slipped the rain covers on my luggage, kissed Cynthia goodbye and started on my first adventure. It wasn't long before unplanned event # 1 showed up. I got about 10 miles down the road and the bike started running rough. This wasn't planned but since I was so close to home I decided to baby it back home and look into the problem. When I arrived home I gave it the windex test. I grabbed a spray bottle of windex and hit each header pipe with a short blast. Sure enough, she was only running on three cylinders. My first thought was to check the plug wires but they were seated well. Next would be plugs but I had no spare plugs. So now all I could do was wait for the bike shop to open, pick up some new plugs and see if that solved the problem. By the time I got the plugs and tried a replacement it was 11:00 AM. But the plug was the issue so I packed the other 3 in my tail bag along with a plug socket, said my goodbyes again, and headed off once more amidst the raindrops. This time I had much more company on the road so it took a bit longer than expected to reach my first lighthouse. This is a photo of the Harbor Beach lighthouse on Lake Huron. Yes, I know, you need a magnifying glass to see it but they won't all be that way and there was no way I was riding out on that pier to get closer:)

Wednesday

As you can see the clouds soon departed and I was able to get a pretty decent picture of the Pt Aux Barques lighthouse at the tip of Michigan's thumb.

Thursday Morning

When I awoke Thursday I decided that it might be best to change out the other plugs and try to make a cam chain adjustment. The plugs were no problem but I quickly discovered that I had not brought a small 10mm box wrench needed to make the adjustment. I decided to keep heading north and stop at a couple of bike shops I found in the phone book until I found one that was willing to make the needed adjustment while I waited. Well, no one wanted to tough a 28 year old bike. I finally located a mechanic in Oscoda who was willing to lend me some tools to make the adjustment myself. I was able to finally loosen the the necessary nut and allow the chain to self adjust. After donating some beer money and chatting with the shop owner a bit I was finally off for another fun filled day.

Thursday Morning later

About 50 miles put me into Alpena. There I located a KMart and picked up a few tools I would need to make the cam chain adjustment again if needed. I could have done a better job of packing on this trip.

Here is a shot of a Paul Bunyan statue made from old Kaiser auto parts salvaged from Detroit junkyards. Paul is located at the Alpena Community College.





The next stop was Presque Isle. There are two lighthouses here, the new (left) and old. Clouds were starting to creep back in and I was sure there would be some rain arriving in the next hour or so.

Thursday forenoon

On to Cheboygan and it's two lighthouses. I was able to get a bit closer to the crib light (left). The range light still had to sit off in the distance a bit.

Thursday noon

I made it to Mackinaw shortly after noon. It was raining again so I decided not to take the ride over the bridge. Next year when I circle the UP I will tackle the bridge. Traffic was heavy and I couldn't get a good shot of the bridge and bike together but I did manage the lighthouse.