Inland Midwestern Ferries - with a twist (of the wrist)
Aug 22, 2014 14:05:44 GMT -8
Low Light Mike and Starsteward like this
Post by stevejones on Aug 22, 2014 14:05:44 GMT -8
I don't know how I missed running across this forum over the years - but what a find! I do enjoy riding ferries.
I figure starting this thread is as good a way as any to introduce myself.
I've sort of invented a sport that ties long distance endurance motorcycle riding with riding inland ferries. So far I believe I'm the only practitioner of the game. But I'm sure it will catch on soon
RideToEat.com/ferry
It's just a summary page. A detailed trip report, which includes some background and history for many of the ferries in the ride, as well as photos, is is here.
My wife and I also took a motorcycle trip last summer that included a ride on the "MS Chi-Cheemaun" on Lake Huron, from Tobermory to South Baymouth Ontario. We took the Friday evening "Sunset Dinner Cruise" and highly recommend it.
On that same trip we rode the Badger (a coal-fired ferry) across Lake Michigan from Michigan to Wisconsin. We used their "B&B" option, a nifty but poorly advertised feature that allows you to board at your leisure in the evening, use your stateroom like a motel room, get free breakfasts in the morning while everyone else is boarding, and be all ready to go when the ship sails for Wisconsin in the morning. Really an interesting and fun trip. And a fascinating historic vessel. You feel like you're on the set of an old movie, and almost expect to see things in black and white next time you open your eyes.
We have a long bike ride planned for next month to catch the fall colors in the southern Appalachian mountains, riding most of the ferries mention in the trip report link on the way out and back -- but at a much more leisurely pace. My wife is immune to the Long Distance Endurance riding bug. Immune might not be a strong enough word. She's more of a 9-5 sort of gal. Attempts to expand her range instantly produce shockingly mutinous behavior.
Anyway, if anyone finds these inland ferries interesting, I'm happy to try to answer any questions.
A lot of inland ferries teeter on the brink of economic viability. Sadly, some have vanished even in the short time I've been riding them, but there are always more to explore if I'm willing to ride farther.
I figure starting this thread is as good a way as any to introduce myself.
I've sort of invented a sport that ties long distance endurance motorcycle riding with riding inland ferries. So far I believe I'm the only practitioner of the game. But I'm sure it will catch on soon
RideToEat.com/ferry
It's just a summary page. A detailed trip report, which includes some background and history for many of the ferries in the ride, as well as photos, is is here.
My wife and I also took a motorcycle trip last summer that included a ride on the "MS Chi-Cheemaun" on Lake Huron, from Tobermory to South Baymouth Ontario. We took the Friday evening "Sunset Dinner Cruise" and highly recommend it.
On that same trip we rode the Badger (a coal-fired ferry) across Lake Michigan from Michigan to Wisconsin. We used their "B&B" option, a nifty but poorly advertised feature that allows you to board at your leisure in the evening, use your stateroom like a motel room, get free breakfasts in the morning while everyone else is boarding, and be all ready to go when the ship sails for Wisconsin in the morning. Really an interesting and fun trip. And a fascinating historic vessel. You feel like you're on the set of an old movie, and almost expect to see things in black and white next time you open your eyes.
We have a long bike ride planned for next month to catch the fall colors in the southern Appalachian mountains, riding most of the ferries mention in the trip report link on the way out and back -- but at a much more leisurely pace. My wife is immune to the Long Distance Endurance riding bug. Immune might not be a strong enough word. She's more of a 9-5 sort of gal. Attempts to expand her range instantly produce shockingly mutinous behavior.
Anyway, if anyone finds these inland ferries interesting, I'm happy to try to answer any questions.
A lot of inland ferries teeter on the brink of economic viability. Sadly, some have vanished even in the short time I've been riding them, but there are always more to explore if I'm willing to ride farther.