2008 Fall Color Tour - Tunnel of Trees - Sat. Oct. 4th, 2008

[rlhammon]

This is the second (annual) MKC Fall Color Tour. The ride starts out in Traverse City, MI and heads north around the bay, through the Tunnel of Trees, and on up towards Mackinaw City. The group will stop for lunch (Petosky area), and cruise on up through some of the best color touring areas in the lower penninsula. A dinner back in Traverse City is planned, though individuals are free to stay in Mackinaw City, or anywhere they wish for dinner.

I do realize that this is the weekend *after* the WI Dells run.. but this is close to peak color time, and the only weekend I have open that time of the year to get this planned and put together.

For those not familiar with the tunnel of trees:

Tunnel of Trees Cruise


I will attempt to keep a list of those who have indicated they are attending:

1. rlhammon (and g/f)
2. jlw (and g/f)
3. Darkwing
4. pjsquire
5. Geezer (and wife)
6. Mark in INdiana (and wife)
7. WickedMike
8. WickedMike's friends w/ the Pure Sol

Meeting information:

Start location: Grand Traverse Mall parking lot. I will park out towards the main road in front of the food court entrance. For those using GPS, the address is:

Grand Traverse Mall
3200 South Airport Road West
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
231.922.0077

Meet in the parking lot (as indicated above) at 10:00 AM. We will be leaving at 10:30. This should give us time to talk to each other and such prior to leaving. Please arrive with a full tank of gas. There is a shell station across the street from the mall, so Tier-I gas is available.

The route:

2008 Tunnel of Trees Route

We will be stopping around Noon for lunch. It will depend on the final route as to where... but we'll stop for lunch and a break before we hit the Tunnel of Trees, and then a stop after that at Leg's Inn for a break / drink as people see fit. We won't run to a schedule... this is all for fun.

(Lunch ideas) Google Maps

The loop last year worked out great. Lots of great folks, a little bit of rain here and there.. but the sun came out and it was a great weekend. I hope many of you can attend.

Hotel information:

If we have a group of folks, I'm willing to get a hotel and block of some rooms and get a discounted rate for those coming. I set up the departure time late enough (10 AM meeting, 10:30 leaving) so that those who want to drive up on Saturday have a chance. I will be staying up in the area Friday and Saturday night, driving back home on Sunday.

If you have questions, just post in the thread and I'll get to answering them!

Who's in?

[JLW]

I'll be there with the g/f. I just did the tunnel a few weeks ago and can't wait to do it again.

Have you thought about lunch at the Legs Inn? Legs Inn - Cross Village, Michigan

[rlhammon]

Originally Posted by JLW I'll be there with the g/f. I just did the tunnel a few weeks ago and can't wait to do it again. Have you thought about lunch at the Legs Inn? Legs Inn - Cross Village, Michigan

We did think about it last year, but it was just too far down the route for folks to eat lunch at as it just got late in the day.

However.. we did stop, enjoy a few brews and some even had some snacks. If everyone decides to head up on Friday night and we can start earlier in the morning (8:30 - 9:00) Legs Inn for lunch would work perfectly.

We won't have set plans (location) for lunch, so if we decide we want to push on we will.. but without a doubt there will be a stop at Legs Inn on the route.

[JLW]

I can't get your map links to work. Are you planning to run up 31 to M119?
I can suggest another route that takes us up around Torch lake, Central lake and Lake Charlevoix.

[rlhammon]

Originally Posted by JLW I can't get your map links to work. Are you planning to run up 31 to M119? I can suggest another route that takes us up around Torch lake, Central lake and Lake Charlevoix.

Hmm.. they worked last night, but you are correct they aren't working now. I'll check back later and see, as the URL hasn't changed so I'm hoping it their issue.

Suggest a route, that's fine. Last year we headed right up 31 and across on 119, looped all they way around to the Mackinaw Bridge, and came back on 31.

Draw something up, or list it out via roads.. either will work.

[JLW]

Something like this:

Driving Directions from Traverse City, MI to Cross Village, MI

I took this route this summer and it is a little more interesting than the long straightaways on 31.

We could make it really interesting and take the Ironton ferry across Lake Charlevoix. I will be up there next weekend and can do a little more scouting.

[Darkwing]

Originally Posted by JLW Something like this: Driving Directions from Traverse City, MI to Cross Village, MI I took this route this summer and it is a little more interesting than the long straightaways on 31. We could make it really interesting and take the Ironton ferry across Lake Charlevoix. I will be up there next weekend and can do a little more scouting.

Good route. I have taken about all of these roads at least once and it is a better run than 31 IMO. I will be up at my family's property in the area in 2 weeks so I can do some scouting also, if anyone has any particulars they want me to check out let me know. There may be a clearance issue on the ferry, however, I have never tried it with my Sky.

[JLW]

Originally Posted by Darkwing There may be a clearance issue on the ferry, however, I have never tried it with my Sky.

Yeah I thought about that. The ramps are pretty steep right now with the water level being so low. I have never tried it with the Sol either. Better we go up 66 anyway, maybe with a stop in Charlevoix.

[rlhammon]

I put together a new route based on what JLW posted. I've been up in that area a lot, but don't know many of the back roads. I tried to put together an interesting route back from Mackinaw City... someone want to check it out and chime in with suggestions?

2008 Tunnel of Trees Route

Total time is listed as 6 1/2 hours for the entire loop. So, leaving at 10:30, that 5 PM without stops... some time for lunch, and Leg's Inn maybe 7 or so back in town I'm thinking.

For anyone wanting to get back from Mackinaw quicker, a trip down 31 or using 131 would provide for that as well. If you follow 131 south you can still pick up Supply Road and come in the back roads into Traverse City. I've done Supply Road in the past, but not in the Solstice.. should be fun to drive, and tons of trees lining the roadway.

[Darkwing]

The new route looks great. Not sure of Supply Rd. I know I have been down it but don't recall the condition. I'm wondering if we might be able to get a dealer to participate somehow. The Saturn dealer where I bought my car is just a short distance away from the mall on 31. I think in order to take a more scenic way back from "Fudge City" would entail heading east and adding more miles to the trip.
A suggestion for an after run dinner might be Boones Long Lake Inn which is just a short distance west of the mall. Excellent prime rib there, and the dining room is rather large.

[rlhammon]

Originally Posted by Darkwing The new route looks great. Not sure of Supply Rd. I know I have been down it but don't recall the condition. I'm wondering if we might be able to get a dealer to participate somehow. The Saturn dealer where I bought my car is just a short distance away from the mall on 31. I think in order to take a more scenic way back from "Fudge City" would entail heading east and adding more miles to the trip. A suggestion for an after run dinner might be Boones Long Lake Inn which is just a short distance west of the mall. Excellent prime rib there, and the dining room is rather large.

I'm all up for people adding in to this and coming up with ideas. I only posted what we did last year.. because it was all I had! I took over the run last year about two weeks before it was to happen as the original organizer had to bail out.

I haven't been to Boone's Long Lake before... sounds good. Let's see what others suggest (if anything) and get a consensus then.

I could go for a good martini bar at the end of the night.. and I know I've been to one. We tried finding one last year, but it was downtown and not great.. and I know the place I was at before had the whole leather couches and the drinks were all named after people "Brando", "Bond", etc.

I haven't been down Supply road in a few years, but it was a up and down twisty road.. the condition of the pavement wasn't perfect, but I ran it fast in my old car with no issues any time of season. You are correct in that heading east would be a nice way back.. but 6 hours of driving, plus stops is a lot for the day as it is. Granted it won't really be 6 hours of driving.. we will be a little quicker than the map is saying.

[Darkwing]

Downtown TC has some nice places, but depending on the size of the group, parking may be a problem. How many people attended last year? Is there an idea at this point how many may attend this year?

[rlhammon]

Originally Posted by Darkwing Downtown TC has some nice places, but depending on the size of the group, parking may be a problem. How many people attended last year? Is there an idea at this point how many may attend this year?

Well.. the list of people who said they will attend is in the first post.. myself and my girlfriend, jlw and his girlfriend.. and I'm guessing maybe you?

So far that's it. Last year I think we had around 8 cars or so.. but it was really short notice and up in the air the whole time.. so I was surprised to get that many actually.

I'd guess 10 - 15 cars would show up for this one. If I can get some commitments from people I'll get a group rate on a hotel or we can all priceline it or something.

[Darkwing]

You can count me in as a single at this point. I'm heading to Ludington to do some Salmon fishing next Friday then heading up to Mancelona to visit my parents. I can make a preliminary run of the route to check things out, but the map so far looks like a winner. If the route plan and date are solid at this point, a similar post on the Sky side might help to generate more interest. I have a place to stay in the area. Regarding a hotel for the night, as you know, there are many options in TC and along the run area with varying prices.
Three cars will make a run, but the more the merrier!


I just checked prices for those interested in doing Friday and Saturday night on the cheap, there is a Motel in Mancelona (Mancelona Motel, Northern Michigan Lodging) that has rates starting at around $ 60 a night. There isn't a lot to see in town other than a couple of 'watering holes', but it is about a mile from the small farm where my parents live in the summer and I'd be willing to put together a cookout for Fri. night if anyone is willing. Mancelona is about a 40 minute drive to TC.

[JLW]

The route looks great to me. I also have parents living near Charlevoix so that is most likely where I will crash for the weekend. I'll be up there the weekend of Sept 6th and have to run to Grayling from Charlevoix so I will check out the route thru Central/Torch lake area.