Gunflint Trail Northern MN

[Dads_FJ]

Although this ride was on my TDM850, some might appreciate it here...
Friday August 23 my youngest son Johnny (13) and I set out for an overnighter trip up Northern Minnesota and the North Shore of Lake Superior.  The weather is warm and sunny.   We met up at 7:00 with a friend on his wing and headed for Duluth 200 miles away.





First stop in Duluth was the Aerostich factory.  I picked up some deerskin gloves, a book and Mr.Happy.


My friend Dan bought an expensive chair (http://www.aerostich.com/the-kermit-chair.html).  Dan turned around to head back home and Johnny and I continued on.  Our next stop was a tour of the William A Irvin ore ship in the harbor of Duluth






then lunch at Uncle Louis' Café'


I make it a practice to avoid chain restaurants.

14:00 now and we leave for our next destination; it's an "outfitter" lodge in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area 200 miles away where we'll stay the night.  Hundred plus miles of riding up the shore, then 26 miles of the Gunflint trail, then 4 miles of nice dirt road.






We arrive before night which is good because there's quite a bit of wild life here; moose, deer, fox...  Day one, 407 miles logged, not bad.  Eat some chow and off to bed.






Day two wake up to this:




Chow down some muffins we bought at Uncle Louis' and head outta Dodge bright and early.  Ride, stop, photo take, ride, stop, photo take...








11:30 arrive Ely Minnesota and eat lunch at the Chocolate Moose.






Then off to tour an underground ore mine on Soudan MN.




More photos and fun on the way home and arrive at 10PM.




Total trip was 935 miles!

[FJ1100mjk]

John:

Nice write up and pics. Looks like a lot of good experiences that you and your son Johnny shared.

The Gunflint Trail is awesome. I've been on it from on end to the other, but only in my car. I'm sure that it is better on a bike. I've gone on several canoe trips in the BWCA with my son. A beautiful, rugged area.

Marty

[Bones]

Well Done Mate, It's good how you bought your son along with you to experience the joy of motorcycling. It WILL have an impact on him for the rest of his life.

My father was a biker back in the old days, who used to take me and my brother for rides when we were barely able to walk. It was a father/son bonding thing that I can STILL remember bits of to this day, and no doubt got me into motorcycling in the first place.

It's a Rite of passage for fathers to pass things on, and if motorcycling is one of them. then so be it.


                                                       Tony.

[X-Ray]

Love the story and pics, what a trip!. I even looked up and had a read about the William A Irvin, love this sort of history.

[fj johnnie]

 Well done!!! Awesome ride. Your son will remember this trip!!

[1tinindian]

My family have been on the William A Irvin two separate times, but many years ago.
Duluth is a lot of fun.
Split rock Lighthouse is another great stop.

Great trip report! Johnny looked like he enjoyed himself!

Leon

[Dads_FJ]

Thanks all, yes we both had a great time as you might tell from our smiles   I know I'm preaching to the choir, but bikes are such an awesome way to get out and explore.  I'm sad this will probably be his last year on the bike for extended rides because he's getting so tall, but... he just bought a dirt bike so now I'm thinking I might need to add to the fleet and get one for myself.  Riding dirt together for a couple years until he gets a street bike, win-win. 

[Dads_FJ]

And on another note, anyone looking to explore Minnesota might appreciate this link:

http://www.exploreminnesota.com/highways-byways-backroads/byways-overview/index.aspx

[Firehawk068]

Awesome stuff there with your son..........................He'll remember this stuff for the rest of his life, and he'll look back and think about how he has the coolest Dad ever!