Cycling Around Lake Michigan Bike Tour

[@TrailoFire]

It restores my faith in humanity, when I see positive videos like this and realize kind generous people are still out there. Thanks for another great video Paul, maybe we will bike past each other someday, who knows.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

You are too kind. Thanks again! I really appreciate it. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@p.w.hanlon8335]

It's refreshing to see a regular guy take such a trip, give us simple directions that we could follow and not care about a Like or Subscribe. Thanks, Paul, your video makes me think about giveing Lake Michigan a go

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I appreciate that. Thanks for watching. I love the great lakes. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!

[@larryblair1418]

Paul you are my favorite cycle tour dude! Love your videos.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Wow, thanks! I appreciate it. Ride on!

[@michaelcarmody2095]

When I was a kid (74 yo now) we used to drive US-2 from St Ignace to Menominee on our way to Ashland WI. This portion of your trip brought back great memories! Thanks. I also have cycled that section from Sleeping Bear to Macinack City on a bike tour. Great memories there too! I do love your videos. Thanks again.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks again!

[@SinnerSince1962]

What a great ride, Paul! Sometime, you'll have to share what meals you have along the way. It great to see what others consume to sustain their travels.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I just eat normal food, nothing special. For breakfast my 1st choice is a local greasy spoon for eggs, potatoes and sausage. The local coffee clutch that usually gathers in these little places is part of the local scenery. The earlier the better, 5 am. If that's not an option then a 24 hr place like Denny's or Waffle House. 3rd choice is fast food, McDonalds or Hardees. It's quick, cheap loaded with fats and proteins and there's no waitress to tip. However I always carry some spare packets of oatmeal just in case none of the above options are available. Just boil water. I know my body and I can't ride more than 5 or 10 miles in the morning without food. For lunch, depends. If in a remote area with little chance of finding food midday, I pack a lunch in the morning. It could be Subway or cold pizza leftover from the night before. Last resort is a convenient store pre-packaged sandwich. I like to carry a bag of walnuts and some fruit, just in case. When I get hungry, 1 banana will get me 10 miles down the road. If I pull into a town midday looking for lunch, it's usually not a sitdown restaurant, too time consuming. Plus, I learned not to eat a big lunch and then get back on the bike right away. So lunch is light but very important. If I do stop at fast food for lunch, I usually carry it down the road and eat under a shade tree, unless it's really hot and I need to cool off on some AC. For dinner, usually something sitdown. I'm chill and it's time to re-fuel and re-hydrate for tomorrow. Sometimes I might order pizza and have it delivered to my hotel room. Leftovers are lunch tomorrow. I usually don't include that stuff in my videos because to me its just not interesting. And watching myself or someone eating food in a video shot ... is repulsive too strong a word? But that's just me. In my Lake Michigan video I had a shot showing a pot pie that was my lunch. For some reason that was interesting to me. You may know this, but Upper Michigan is known for a local delicacy called the Pastie. (Rhymes with nasty not tasty, but they are very tasty and not nasty at all.) It's like meat and potatoes wrapped in a flaky pie crust and baked to a golden brown. They're really good! I've never seen them outside of Michigan. Well, in my quest for a Pastie I ran across this pot pie which was one of the best things I've ever eaten. They were served at a local grocery stored only on Wednesday. The locals line up for them. I just happened to walk in that particular grocery store on a Wednesday when they were just coming out of the oven. So I bought one, and forgot about the Pastie. Sorry about the long response, but you seemed interested.

[@helloitsdawn]

@@paulsuchecki3985 The pastie seems something like roti or a beef patty/empanada (depending on where and from whom you buy it). The fillings vary and you can choose a vegetarian option. Then again, since you're from the Chicago area, you probably know this.

[@darlenemartinez384]

I couldn’t do that trip without going up Door Peninsula to Washington Island. Also instead of taking a van across the bridge you can take the ferry over to Mackinac Island and then take the other ferry over to St. Ignatius. The island is a beautiful place to visit and no cars are allowed. Horses and bikes, that’s it. Don’t plan on spending the night there because it’s expensive! Love your channel!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. I've bike toured in Door county before. Very nice. I've never been out to Mackinac Island. Sounds pretty cool. Thanks again. Stay safe out there and ride on!!

[@OldDocThedan]

This was outstanding Paul. Ive spent plenty of time touring by bike, and somehow feel like I’ve done it wrong for decades. Lake Michigan eh….? Huh… Maybe I need to recalibrate myself a bit and find such a great perspective. Thank you for making this happen. -ODT

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Glad you enjoyed it! I love the Great Lakes for cycling. Thanks for watching. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@colinosterhout3742]

I’m recovering from being sick and this video was just what I needed. I have a bike trip coming up in June and can’t wait.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. Hope to see you down the road. 😎

[@amybaldwin3294]

I'm addicted to your videos ❤️thank you for sharing your adventures!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it! 😎

[@verlinrice9955]

Paul, another fantastic journey on the bike. I enjoy your travels. Thanks for sharing with us. 🙂😉

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate it! 😎

[@markbajek2541]

If you ever decide to do that trip in reverse taking a couple extra days maybe see if you can squeeze in Door county, WI, then go the garden peninsula of MI (Fayette state park) and try to hit Mackinac Island from either side of the bridge (I think St. Ignace is the easier ferry to board as it get's less traffic, plus there is a motel/restaurant combination (Driftwood) across the street that serves a mean cedar planked whitefish.) Then maybe take the trail from the bridge S through the center of MI or possibly the route along US23 down to maybe alpena/tawas and then peel west back towards Ludington and take the Badger over to Manitowoc then the coastal routes back to Chicago. (or you could take the lake express/ aka pukefest ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee) The badger is the softer ride and it dumps you off about 1 block or two from the SS Cobia submarine tour (better sub than the Silversides in Muskegon) and there are a couple of motels very close to the ferry in Manitowoc.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Sounds like a great trip. Thanks!

[@mcuinjr]

Hello Paul, good morning! You are my perfect inspiration! Someone who love biking… not a cyclist athlete, who strives for time performance, but rather someone who enjoys the journeys at the proper 20km/h pace, on this marvel creation by humankind called bike. I’ll be 63 in June, used to ride bike a lot in my hometown, at São José do Rio Preto, always had bikes and, on the last couple of years, restarted to make more frequent use. First, riding a couple of miles to the sports club, in Campinas, where I leave now, then making 5 to 10 miles on flat gravel tracks, and increasing, up to 100km, to 120km (that’s my record so far - LOL), but with dream of long rides (not making my old body suffer, as the contemporary philosopher Paul Suchecki says…). Those dream rides include Mosel Valley, in Germany, around 270km, crossing Austria through the Danube, 300km, and making the Rhine from start to finish, around 1300km… Again, you are a true inspiring person! Now, GO RIDE YOUR BIKE!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I agree, slow down and enjoy. No need to hurry. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. I hope to ride across Europe one day. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!! Sorry for the slow response.😎

[@TheUpl8te]

I just found your channel and love it. A group of four of us rode clockwise around Lake Michigan in September of 2020 in 15 days.We started in Gary but had a time constraint due to work schedules. We took the ferry from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island and road around it the ferried to Mackinac City. We had a great time!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Sounds like a great ride. Stay safe out there and ride on!!

[@nsick]

Another great video! I loved the ghost pipe and club mosses at 13:50.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks! Plants are cool. 👌

[@Walt1119]

Have watched several of your videos, this one brought back several memories, yes, I've been to Horicon! Nice wildlife preserve, did that on one of the Wisconsin tours. Thanks so much for sharing with us, ive been away from cycling for a few years and now trying to build myself up in it again, hopefully I'll get to do a tour.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I love the great lakes, especially Lake Michigan. The west coast of Michigan has some of the best beaches anywhere. Thanks again for watching. I really appreciate it! Stay safe and Ride on!!

[@stevenpaulday4825]

I love this. Thanks for sharing, Paul. I hope to ride around the lake one day soon, too.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. The west coast of Michigan has some of the best beaches in America. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@danielduesterbeck4153]

Paul- I enjoy watching your videos my friend!! I just did this same trip Summer of 2021. I live in WI, and started there, went counter clockwise heading down to Chicago and then up. I've liked watching your gear videos. Seems like I have a lot of the same gear, except I am a hammocker. And I don't tote a coffee pot like yours. I'll be starting in WI this year, and heading for Pittsburgh, to do the Cumberland GAP trail. Ending in DC. Appreciate your inspiring videos. Keep on pedaling!! This retirements stuff is pretty sweet!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Daniel, Thanks for watching! I grew up in the Chicago area and Wisconsin is one of my favorite states to bike tour in. Touring around Lake Michigan in the summer is like having the AC on all the time. The GAP and C&O are great trails. Enjoy! Can't wait to join you on the retirement trail. Very soon. Thanks again!

[@renecarbonell240]

WOW, your doing what Ive always wanted to do!! And after your videos you've CHANGED along with the bike your riding. I'm going to search for a 2021 video. YOU KEEP ON RIDING!!!!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I hope you get a chance to touring. I just got back from 7 weeks of biking. 2021 bike touring videos are coming. Thanks again!!

[@briansmith8470]

I loved this video! Especially when you showed a brief glimpse of the Great Western Trail in Villa Park. I used to ride that trail almost every day during the summer when we lived in the western suburbs. Thank you!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Lake Michigan is awesome. Stay safe and ride on!!😎

[@curtiswhitener1616]

Paul, never stop!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks!!

[@garysladek9110]

Nice trip. Thanks for taking us along. Your closing words are true. As I go about my day, I say to myself, what soul am I going to meet next? Traveling by bike is an excellent way to encounter people. Cheers.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Bike touring is a great way to travel. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@ZmanKC]

I'm glad I found your channel. Interesting videos of cycle touring. Also, the music is great.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Stay safe and ride on!

[@KennyCz87]

This is so cool. I talked to a friend about doing this in opposite direction. Thank you.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@lasanallien6657]

Always enjoy your videos

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!

[@kevinclark6965]

Hey Paul I'm currently on that same trip! I'm in Frankfort today getting some rest. Headed north tomorrow morning. It's been a beautiful ride. Leaves are just starting to change up here. Weather has been perfect. Got the idea from watching your videos. I'm not keeping up with your mileage though so I'll take any camping tips you got! Keep the videos coming!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Sorry for the slow response. I've also been out bike touring. I was up in Door Co. Videos coming. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!

[@ironsausage808]

Just found your channel. Wife and I love it. We live in manistee and have rode the Sleeping Bear Heritage trail a few times it’s a wonderful trail. Also the Betsy valley trail in Frankfurt is a good one.this summer we plan to ride all 3 Lake to lake trails here in Michigan among others. Thanks for the cool content.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. I love the west coast of Michigan. Best beaches anywhere. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@gobybike5016]

I live in Michigan and your videos inspired me to try some of the places that you've travelled. I wish you'd mentioned where you spent the nights.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

The best places that I stayed at in Michigan were along the lake. I basically beach hopped from one state park to the next. From the Indiana Dunes all the way to the UP eh. My favorite was PJ Hoffmaster. Sleeping Bear Dunes is very cool also.

[@LionsIndy]

Did you make reservations in advance? Or did you take advantage of the policy in Michigan to not turn cyclists away if the park is full?

[@georgemacheel2039]

I loved your laid back commentary and music. Roll on!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I appreciate it!

[@ratana_music]

Love the video. Makes me want to go a bike adventure with my old Jamis Diablo bicycle. 🤘🚲

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Dust off that old bike and adventure away. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!😎

[@markhaban5642]

I'm starting monday 7/25/22. Going clockwise. Hoping for 18 days on the bike. Excited and nervous all at once.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Sounds great. Have fun out there. Stay safe and ride on!

[@Y34RZERO]

I want to do a ride across Louisiana. I live in western La for work, and it's 138 miles to get to natchez mississippi. Another one that would be good would be a trip around Toledo bend. That is about 30 miles away from me. I haven't made out a route but I'm sure it's a good bit. I tried the layers thing you told me about and it worked a lot better. Unfortunately due to work I always come home at night after work on a 10 mile ride. I was riding in 50 degree weather which is normally too cold for me but I did very well. Riding with all my lights flashing so people see me. I don't like riding at night but with the safety equipment I feel a lot better about it.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Sounds like a great trip. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!

[@jairoribeiro2029]

Thanks for one more great video, by the way, you did a great closing, riding a bike does good for all your being. Greatings from São Paulo, Brazil.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks. This was one of my earlier videos. Greetings from the USA!

[@sargeroberts2430]

Bravo! Am enjoying your tours....and videos. Very well-done and thanks for sharing.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.

[@jimr513666]

Awesome video! I live near Milwaukee and we have some of the best bike trails around.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I have cousins in Milwaukee. Oak leaf trail is awesome. Hope to be riding it soon. Thanks!

[@indoorkangaroo3431]

Great video Paul, you are an absolute inspiration. I’m still only new to bicycle touring but with one done last year I will hopefully get my second done in a couple months. Melbourne to Adelaide. Have to agree it’s a great way to travel, really puts you in tune with the surroundings. One day I’ll try Adelaide to Perth and hit 1000 miles in a tour myself.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it. I'd love to bike tour in Australia some day. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!! Sorry for the slow response.

[@paperjourni8964]

such an awesome tour! Thank you for sharing! I once circled Lake Superior by car, a huge dream of mine is it to do it by bike again 😅

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it!

[@Betheldridge-w5x]

wonderful videos, Paul. where is your next trip? one comment on your videos: you have a lovely smile, so I think you should smile more ! Ride on and stay safe...

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. This summer I plan on riding as many rail-trails as possible. Greenbriar trail in Virginia in June. Also thinking about the Michelson in SD. Maybe RAGBRAI? Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!

[@gregpriddy8595]

Nice macro shots, Paul. G

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@kevinwhited984]

Congratulations!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks. I really appreciate it. Stay safe and ride on!

[@PhoenixRider1]

Outstanding!!! ❤ Great video. The ride looks like a great adventure. Thanks for sharing. This is what I want to do. I am glad I found your chanel. Happy riding and stay safe out there.👋

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. The Great Lakes are a national treasure. I love Lake Michigan. Hope to see you on the road.

[@Woodleytrav58]

Brilliant, what a ride, your lucky, America had great places to bike pack, im looking at doing my first now im retired if my body will let me.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I know how you feel! I hope my body allows me to ride this summer as well. Thanks for watching.

[@edhespin4104]

I'm surprised how fast you made it around the lake. I'm sure a few iffy areas around Chicago and Garry Indiana

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I started and ended in the suburbs and went way around Chicago. I skirted around Gary on a Sunday morning. It was pretty quiet. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!

[@mxaexm]

I would love to do this trip…might have to take the ferry and do just the upper part…(Just hate the Gary area:( and would like to avoid It).

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Avoiding the big cities is a good idea. But some of the best beaches are south of Ludington on the Michigan side. Thanks for watching. Ride on!!

[@bryanwehmeyer]

I always enjoy videos. I’m beginning to wonder if there is somewhere you HAVEN’T toured! 😀 you get around, dude. Awesome.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching! There's lots of places i haven't bike toured yet. I need to go to Alaska, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, just to name a few. I might not get to them all but I gotta give it a try! Hope to see you down the road.

[@budcline]

What an adventure, Paul - wish I could have done some of that ride with you. Your route on the West side of the lake brought back some memories from rides I did many year ago around Horicon Marsh with the Springfield Bicycle Club group. I look forward to watching your other videos! Bud

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks Bud. You need to get better and I need to get better and we need to go riding together again some time. Like the C&O.

[@budcline]

@@paulsuchecki3985 I hear you on that! I am walking every day with a new walker that is helping. I hope to get back on my recumbent trike next week.

[@ulrichharbach9827]

Thanks for this video. I did the bicycle tour around Lake Michigan this June and came across your video during preparation. I explored the other videos on your channel and enjoyed them very much (and am a subscriber since then). It is also nice to see how the videos have improved over time - maybe you could do a video on the equipment you use for filming?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Sorry about the late response. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Thanks for the suggestion, it's on my list. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@uhu69]

Awesome video and ride Paul! Thanks for making winter a bit better here in freezing and snowy Canada! 👍🏼🍻

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. Stay warm!

[@jedibusiness789]

Old guy passing the replacements. Not sure if it gets better than that.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Stay safe out there!

[@reeceholmes8546]

thanks Paul

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thank you Reece.

[@morganboutwell8231]

how cool! youre a legend

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Stay safe and ride on! 😎

[@EnjoyTimeOutdoors-Steve]

Great trip and great video Paul!!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!!

[@loganlodhaseng4891]

Amazing tour, 30k miles on the old bike!!! You sir are a true cyclist..

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Miyata 1000 is "The" classic rig. I've been touring on one since the early '80's. They ride like "buttah". I also own a Trek 520 and a Surly. They're great bikes, but compared to the Miyata, they're like riding a saw horse. I'm a 57 year old school teacher getting ready to retire. I try to get out every summer and ride as much as I can. When I do retire, I plan on becoming a full time bike tourist. (When this stupid pandemic is over). Thanks for watching my video, I hope to see you down the road!

[@pleasetellmeitworks]

Hey Paul, if you had to do 1 part of the route, would you recommend going up through WI and through the UP to Mackinac, or up along the west coast of MI to Mackinac?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Tough choice. The west coast of MI has the best beaches. But I like the small towns of rural WI and the UP is more "back woods". Whichever direction avoids Chicago would be a big plus. Milwaukee is kind of a mess too. Either way Riding near Lake Michigan in the summer is like having the AC on all the time. Have a great trip. Thanks again!

[@pleasetellmeitworks]

@@paulsuchecki3985 Great, appreciate the advice, maybe I'll find a way to squeeze both in one trip. Great videos by the way! Hoping we can cross paths one day on the road

[@scottw3756]

@@pleasetellmeitworks My son and I rode around lake Michigan this last summer. We started in Kalamazoo MI Rode the Kal-Haven trail to South Haven Mi. then up the cost to Ludington Mi. We then took the S.S. Badger Ferry across Lake Michigan to Manitowoc WI and around the Lake back to Kalamazoo. It was a great ride and we where able to avoid all of the B.S. of Gary IN, Chicago, and Milwaukee. There is also a ferry that runs from Muskegon MI to Milwaukee so you can avoid Chicago, and Gary IN. Another note is check with the Mackinac Bridge Authority to see if they have started running the bridge service for bikes they stopped the service because of COVID. We took the ferry to Mackinac Island from St.Ignace spent the day on the Island and then the ferry to Mackinac City It was an awesome day.

[@richardgrena3186]

great job, looked like a fun ride.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching and commenting. It was a great ride. Hope to see you out there.

[@johnseaark8706]

This is the best back packing vid I have seen. Who /what band is the first song with the harmonica? I could listen to Paul all day, and that song in the background! Kick ass video.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Sorry about the slow response. Been out biking. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. That music comes from a program that I bought called Mixcraft. It's unregistered music that anyone can use. That particular song reminds me of Neil Young, but it's not. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!

[@yooperupnorth8897]

Great video!Thanks for sharing!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching!

[@shane4176]

Thats a big lake

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks again. It's a Great Lake, literally. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@thuggooch1776]

I live in Escanaba! This video is awesome I'd love to go around the lake some day.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Escanaba is a great place. Lake Michigan is a national treasure. Ride on!

[@fadingmargins]

Is it hope or inspiration your videos give me. Just recovering from the aftermath of C19 and all the lockdowns etc and find myself very unfit but I was out yesterday and again today and in between I have logged a few miles with you on your channel. Please keep em coming - have you retired the Surly?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching! The lock down has put a damper on many of my plans as well. I take the Surly out on some trail rides and get it dirty. But otherwise it stays in the garage most of the time. Stay safe out there and ride on!!

[@mswarrior932]

Great video!! Hi Paul, that looks like a great ride!! Good way to log on a thousand miles! How was it riding through the Chicago area?? 🚴

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks! I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, so I kind of know my way around. But in general, I don't care much for big polluted cities with major traffic. Stay safe!

[@gageburroughs1640]

Quite the ride. Amazing.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Gage, Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. I appreciate it. Did you see my Western Express Bike Tour Video? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGqcc3iBlq92kNE Check it out.

[@templeriley]

Paul, Your videos are just great. This one especially for me because I grew up near Grand Rapids. How do you make those animated maps? They are a great point of reference for your trips. Ride on my friend!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. First I draw the map without the red line and I scan it. Then I add the red line and scan it again. During the video editing process I use a "wipe" transition from one to the other to make the line move. Pretty simple. Thanks again. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@johnrushman9330]

No stop at Mackinaw Island? I hope you've been there before!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Mackinaw Island looked crowded and touristy. My parents love that stuff, I try to avoid it when I can. I'll take a quiet deserted beach any day.

[@markbajek2541]

@@paulsuchecki3985 Paul, it is touristy and busy in the high season but in the shoulder seasons not quite as much once the kids go back to school. The easiest way would be to reverse this route spending a mid week night at the Driftwood motel in st.ignace directly across the street from the ferry and take the first ferry from st. ignace to the island when the island is still quiet and starting to wake up, spend a few hours cycling around it (maybe 8 miles around) and the downtown then catch a ferry back to Mackinaw City instead of st ignace and then cycle down the L huron side of Michigan to about alpena or Tawas City. then peel west and take the Badger out of Ludington to coastal Wisconsin and take the trails back to chicago. ... Mackinac island really is not to be missed at least one time in your life before you can't ride a bike around the island and are forced to take a carriage ride . You don't have to buy any fudge or T shirts if you don't want to but really in the early morning hours with dew on everything when no one is up and about except vendors and horses that place is magical. And you'll be amazed at the difference between the more developed west side of Michigan and it's eastern L huron side counterpart... You can still get a small house in Alpena for around $100K a few blocks from the waterfront., there are small cottages 8 miles from the coast still going for $70K. It's a forgotten part of the state especially the part from Rogers City S towards Alpena. Then again there is a house with 700 acres of land jutting out into L huron going for 18 Million with 18,700 feet of private waterfront and a $2.3 million dollar 227 acre private island sitting 3 miles off Alpena that's up for grabs if you ever feel like you need some privacy that Mackinac island can't provide..

[@THEBLACKANARCHIST]

I have been on that same route ☺️

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. I love the Great Lakes, they're a national treasure. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@Walt1119]

Oh yeah,,, I subscribed too!!!!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for your support. I appreciate it! 😎

[@CuHead1]

12:10 Green Bay Wisconsin is famous for 'cheese packers"? Is that a slam on Wisconsin? It's famous for cheese.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

No. I love Wisconsin. I'm bike touring in Wisconsin right now. I have cousins in Milwaukee. They are Packer fans. So sometimes I do make wisecracks about the Packers. All in good fun. I call them Packer Crackers. 😁

[@francisarbelo8099]

Well Done!!!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks!!!

[@jeremylutersz3374]

Very Cool👍

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Stay safe and ride on!😎✌

[@brucebowman8878]

Hello Paul, did you freestyle or did you use a defined route?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching! I really appreciate it. On the Lake Michigan trip I free styled it. I just stayed close to the lake. Stay safe and ride on!

[@adamkwiatkowski4107]

Wonder what you use to keep mosquitos away?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

DEET as a last resort.

[@adamkwiatkowski4107]

@@paulsuchecki3985 I heard mosquito's called a state bird up in Wisconsin. I'm in South Florida. Riding Everglades you need a net. Mosquitoes and noseeums here consider deet as their favorite drink of choice.

[@oldguy871]

Paul, I totally love following your adventures with commentary and music BUT please turn down the music a bit. At my age it is difficult to understand all of what you are saying as the music overpowers sometimes. Anyway, keep up the good work...

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Sorry about the audio. Still learning. The voice track is weak. I purchased a really good microphone so in the future the voice track will be better. Thanks for the feedback. Others have made similar comments. I'm out touring right now, working on my next video. Thanks again.

[@oldguy871]

@@paulsuchecki3985 Happy trails Paul. I look forward to seeing more videos.

[@The-GreenHornet]

Paul, just started watching your videos that I stumbled upon. What type of recording device do you use, as well as your new microphone? How often do you have to charge it as well, and...do you just compile all your video, then after you get back home do your editing and put together your videos?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

@@The-GreenHornet I'm not a professional video guy, just a hobby. I have a Canon E50. I mount a Rode Pro Plus shot gun mic on it to get better audio on the voice track. Thats new, because in my other videos I simply used the "in camera" mic, which is mediocre. I also carry a GoPro mounted on the HB's. I have a mini drone for cool aerial shots. And of course my phone has a nice camera. I stay in hotels along. So keeping things charged is no problem. When camping, sometimes there's an outlet to charge things and sometimes there's not. I haven't run out of power yet, but I carry an extra battery to keep the phone charged. Just in case. I edit video when I get home. That takes a lot of time. But its creative. Thanks again.

[@freddixon]

Hi Paul, I just came across your video, I enjoyed it very much. I am doing some research for a similar bicycle journey this Spring 2020. I plan on going clockwise around the lake and I am wondering why you decided to go CCW? I love to travel by bicycle. Thanks for sharing your journey ;

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I rode CCW around Lake Michigan because I wanted to go through Chicago first and get the heavy city riding over with on the front end. The Great Lakes are truly a National treasure and they're great for bike touring. To me they are almost as spectacular as the Rocky mountains. If you go in the spring, dress for cold weather especially up in the UP, eh. But, should be less bugs. Enjoy!

[@freddixon]

Great advice. I think I want to go in the spring because I am chomping at the bite to go for a long bicycle journey after this winter's cold and down (non-riding) time. I loved that you camped all the way around, I believe, but I'll do a motel if needed because it is too cold to camp ;

[@bozoldier]

Did yiu ride on the us 12/20 from gary to michigan city?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

I started in the NW Suburbs of Chicago and road south. I stayed the first night in Markham at a motel. From Markham, I rode east into Indiana and found Ridge road. It took me around Gary. I was pretty pleased with Ridge road. I tried to stay out of the worst part of Chicago and Gary. I rode through Portage, Ind. and found 12 on my way past the Indiana dunes. Then through Michigan City. I hope that helps. Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Stay safe and ride on!

[@brendapams3413]

An amazing adventure! Thank you for sharing! I wish I had someone to enjoy that with me. I’ve given up and decided to go solo this (late) Spring. I’m going to start at Wilderness State Park and end at Ludington for my first trip. What type of navigation did you use? Also, any mechanical issues? Thank you again!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching! Solo touring isn't that bad. I always ride too slow for other people, plus I like to stop alot. Check out Adventure Cycling Association. They have many group tours all over the country. I love Michigan. The U.P. is awesome and the west coast of Michigan has some of the best beaches anywhere. As far as navigation, I'm kinda "old school". I like my Rand McNally paper maps. I would rely on internet, but in some very remote areas it's not always reliable. But my smart phone has bailed me out of some jams as well. Mechanical issues? Normal stuff, flat tires, broken cables at inconvenient times. But I carry spares. I try to make sure my bike is all tuned up and ready before I go touring. Saves trouble down the road. Sometimes major breakdowns happen that you just can't plan for. Once (before cell phones) I broke a crank right in half in the middle of nowhere. The bike was un-rideable and I had no choice but to hitch hike to the nearest bike shop. But I guess that's all part of the adventure. Have a great trip and Thanks Again!

[@brendapams3413]

@@paulsuchecki3985 Thank you for responding. 😃. I live in Michigan, love to bike and swim, have almost all gear (except panniers), including new bike (Trek hybrid). Still have my 25 yo Diamondback mountain bike, which I still love. I’m a big fan of maps too, have printed off all trails maps I can find for MI. I think my biggest fear is breaking down and not being able to make repairs myself. Thank you again for all info. Happy trails. ✌🏼☮️

[@shirleeberman9131]

Great video, and a great route. So what do you do about the mosquitos? Particularly since it seems you're camping, what do you do when you're done with biking for the day, and can't bike away from them? (Lastly, I was hoping some friends or family would be there greeting you when you got home, but I'm a softie that way. Well done.)

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Is the mosquito still the Michigan state bird? I may have up-played the mosquito threat a bit, you know, for dramatic effect. Seriously though, any kind of repellent with DEET usually works, but I hate using that stuff, so I just suffer and whine. When its windy the mosquitoes can't find you to bother you. When its not windy sometimes a smoky campfire helps. Or just resign yourself to the fact that we're not always the top carnivore and sometimes we too are just another link in the food chain, and give up some blood ... reluctantly. BTW Thanks for watching my video and leaving a comment. I appreciate it!!

[@flinstone1185]

What was your route through Indiana to New Buffalo? I am planning a similar bike trip to Michigan from Chicago. Did you take US-12 straight through or did you go a bit further south to get on the bike trails?

[@paulsuchecki3985]

On day 2 I left my hotel in Markham, IL. It was Sunday morning very early with little traffic. I went east through Thornton and Lansing, IL and crossed the state line at Munster, IN. I wanted to stay on the outside edge of Gary, so I followed Ridge Rd. east through New Chicago. I turned north somewhere around Portage and made my way to the Indiana Dunes. Then I followed 12 to New Buffalo. I wanted to stay as close to the Lake as possible without going through Gary. I like bike trails, especially in urban/suburban areas and had I known about bike trails I would have taken them, as long as they don't take me out of the way. I hope that helps. Have a great trip!

[@russellmilam5686]

I wish I was retired so I could do this

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Keep wishing, one day it will come true. Hope to see you down the road. Stay safe and ride on!!

[@regiseven8278]

it makes me dreeeeaaaammmmmm!

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Dream on. Hope to see you down the trail. Stay safe and ride on! (Sorry for the slow response).

[@tubesockets120v]

Now we're talking 🗣

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Love the Great Lakes!! Thanks for watching. I really appreciate it. Stay safe and ride on!!😎

[@Yooperman-b9z]

Pronounced Macanaw,french.

[@paulsuchecki3985]

Thanks. 😎