2004 Great White North Tour

Ride Coordinator: Cliff Hick (cliffhick)

Ride Host: Neil Dolson (Dylien)



Sunday, August 15th – Saturday, August 21st, 2004

History of the GWN Tour: The initial GWN Tour was developed in 2003 from conversations on the Motorcycle Tourers Forum. The 2003 ride started at Niagara Falls, Ontario, CANADA on Sunday June 15, 2003. It was a five day journey through Southern Ontario passing north of Lake Superior to Duluth, Minnesota, and ending in Mackinaw City, Michigan. The ride made it's way through some of the most scenic areas Ontario has to offer as well as parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. See MTF's GWN2003 Tour for details.

Join the 2004 GWN Tour: The daily routes for the 2004 GWN tour are listed below, however the riders are not required to ride together. This allows for flexibility of riding styles and individual reasons for stopping. Evening stops are planned to allow for group socializing. The riders will gather for BBQ and pre-ride discussions on Sunday evening, August 15th with Day 1 of the riding trip being Monday, August 16th.

For Endurance Riders only: Click this PRFH logo for details on the . Alan Leduc is hosting the 2004 MTF Poker Run from Hell. The 2004 PRFH involves up to five 1,000 mile days riding around the Great Lakes. The ride ends in Sault Sainte Marie to celebrate with the GWN2004 folks on Saturday, August 21, 2004. Riders who register for part of the PRFH and part of the GWN tour are responsible for joining the second event on their own.

Join the 2004 GWN/PRFH Banquet at 11:30am on Saturday, August 21st at Best Western, Sault Sainte Marie. Details near bottom of this page.


The following riders registered for GWN 2004 tour:
(Note: Official registration list is maintained on Ride Master - Click here)

  • Neil Dolson, (Dylien), Norwich, ON
  • Cliff Hick, (cliffhick), Norwich, ON
  • Don and Deb Wesenberg, Duesy, Mnnetonka, MN
  • John Wynes, XGMan, Hendersonville, NC
  • Pamela and Doug Sholund, Pamela7453, Mequon, WI
  • Joe & Donna McQuade
  • Richard & Irene Merrill, (ldpenguin), Hudson, NH
  • Larry & Martha McCoy, Grand Prairie, TX
  • Luis Santiago Cincinnati, OH
  • Don and Barb Kime, SAFTNUT (dkime2), Dayton, OH

 
 
 

Registration is in Progress
for the GWN, PRFH and Joint Banquet
now through July 31, 2004
at
Jason Jonas' Ride Master


 


 

Other events of interest being held nearby:
Friday, August 13th, 2004 = Friday the 13th in Port Dover, Ontario It's a local tradition to ride to Port Dover every Friday the 13th. Port Dover is a small fishing community/tourist town on the North shore of Lake Erie. Some of the GWN2004 riders plan to visit Port Dover on Friday, August 13th, 2004.

  • From Detroit, see these Mapquest directions.
  • From I69 at Port Huron, see these Mapquest directions.
  • From Niagra Falls, see these Mapquest directions.
  • The Niagra Family Inn offers nice lodging near the Niagra Falls.
    and on
    Friday, August 20th, 2004 = Midnight Ride from Grand Rapids to the Mackinac Bridge and St. Ignace to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

    Notes regarding GWN2004:
    I have included a daily link showing typical August weather.
    The Streets & Trips link is also included for each day.
    The Canadian links are in Celcius. (Temp conversion is (C*9/5)+32=F).
    Rainfall conversion is (mm*0.03937)=inches.
    Don't worry about snowfall. It won't snow.................... I hope.

    View March, 2004, photos of proposed route.


    Click on map for expanded view:

    Right click on the underlined link to download files and/or links:


    GWN2004 Tour Overview
    2004 GWN Tour Area Overview


    Pre-ride meeting at Norwich, Ontario, on Sunday evening, August 15th.
    Norwich Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics
    and lodging in Norwich, Ontario, area.


    gwn-2004-day-1.jpg
    Day 1 Route Map

    Day 1 = Monday, August 16th.
    332 miles from Norwich to Minden.
    Click for Day 1 S&T file.
    Minden Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics
    Day 1 Lodging at Hotel Minden 705-286-6900


    gwn-2004-day-1.jpg
    Day 2 Route Map

    Day 2 = Tuesday, August 17th.
    297 miles from Minden to Bigwood (near Noelville).
    Visit Algonquin Provincial Park. Click for Day 2 S&T file.
    Noelville Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics
    Day 2 Lodging at TBD


    gwn-2004-day-1.jpg
    Day 3 Route Map

    Day 3 = Wednesday, August 18th.
    354 miles from Bigwood to Chapleau.
    Click for Day 3 S&T file.
    Chapleau Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics
    Day 3 Lodging at Riverside Motel, Chapleau, 705-864-0440


    gwn-2004-day-4.gif
    Day 4 Route Map

    Day 4 = Thursday, August 19th.
    230 miles from Chapleau to Sault Ste. Marie via Wawa.
    Click for Day 4 S&T file.
    Sault Ste. Marie Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics
    Day 4 Lodging at Best Western Sault Sainte Marie, MI 906-632-2170 or 800-297-2858


    TBD
    Day 5A Route Map

    Day 5 Option A = Friday, August 20th.
    ??? miles from Sault Ste. Marie to explore east shore of lake Superior.
    Click for Day 5 S&T file.
    Sault Ste. Marie Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics
    Day 5 Lodging at Best Western Sault Sainte Marie, MI 906-632-2170 or 800-297-2858


    GWN_M119.jpg
    Day 5B Route Map


    Day 5 Option B = Friday, August 20th.
    305 miles from Sault Ste. Marie to Petoskey, MI, via M-119 and return to SSM.
    Petoskey Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics


    GWN Mackinac Island
    Day 5C Route Map


    Day 5 Option C = Friday, August 20th. Ride with group to/from Mackinaw City but visit Mackinac Island.
    115 miles from Sault Ste. Marie to Mackinac Island Ferry and return to SSM.
    Mackinaw City Weather Current and Seasonal Statistics



    View March, 2004, photos of proposed route.

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