TCG Tour 2022 Planning

SpeedSpeak2me

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Pulled from my post in the 2021 thread:


For a Lake Superior Loop into Canadaland, I can provide about 75% of a route (which was handed out to us), as I did a group ride of that in 2014 (see attached). It's less highway and more back roads as we were on motorcycles/cruisers, but it still works the same. The starting point is based on St. Charles, IL. Just need to add some scenic stops in. Once you get past Duluth you're on two roads the whole way through the Ontario Province (61 and 17). Keep in mind, it's about 630 miles from Duluth to Sault Ste Marie.

For hotels in Canada there are roadside ones scattered throughout the route. So trying to plan ahead for a dozen or more people will be hard. There are a few hotels (one is a Casino/Resort) in Brimley, MI that are on the lake, right as you get back into the US. Miners Castle Point in Munising, MI is a nice stop, similar to the Caves, but only a hundred yards or so from the parking lot. I would have to dig through my old stuff to see what other attractions were along the way.

Problem with that route is Canada doesn't take kindly to high speed hi-jinks. When they say 90kph or 100kph they mean it. From Duluth to Thunder Bay there isn't a whole of attractions other than lighthouses and museums. Thunder Bay to Sault Ste Marie, even less. It's nice and scenic if you're going for a leisurely drive/ride, but keep expectations low if you want to hoon it up or do high speed runs. Need to save that for the US side so there are no international incidents.


*Notes, in Canada expect low octane fuel in rural areas, some places peaked at 86 or 88.
 

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FESTER665

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Black Hills area is beautiful for sure, but its a drive. I think that would be a 5 day trip minimum.

Not sure how many hours you put in on the most recent tour, but its a good two day drive to the Black Hills if youre going to go see anything or stop a few times.

First day you can make it to Sioux Falls or so, then the following day is a boring ass drive across I90, maybe stop at the Corn Palace or Badlands. One day doing the sights around the Black Hills, spearfish canyon, etc. then two days back with a night in the middle of Minnesota.
 

SpeedSpeak2me

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Black Hills area is beautiful for sure, but its a drive. I think that would be a 5 day trip minimum.

Not sure how many hours you put in on the most recent tour, but its a good two day drive to the Black Hills if youre going to go see anything or stop a few times.

First day you can make it to Sioux Falls or so, then the following day is a boring ass drive across I90, maybe stop at the Corn Palace or Badlands. One day doing the sights around the Black Hills, spearfish canyon, etc. then two days back with a night in the middle of Minnesota.
Cannonball it dude, LOL. Well, seriously, I did. I left on a Friday night and rolled into the Black Hills Saturday morning. Then drove on the ring road to Creston, up to Rapid City and Sturigs, down through Deadwood to Lead, up through Spearfish Canyon to get to Devil's tower, then back down to Custer. That was Day 1, I think it was about 1200 miles and I was up for 32+ hours (worked on the Friday we left).

I did Custer State Park and Iron Mountain Rd on a Monday, so minimal traffic and it was fantastic. Needles Highway was a rip too.
 

FESTER665

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Cannonball it dude, LOL. Well, seriously, I did. I left on a Friday night and rolled into the Black Hills Saturday morning. Then drove on the ring road to Creston, up to Rapid City and Sturigs, down through Deadwood to Lead, up through Spearfish Canyon to get to Devil's tower, then back down to Custer. That was Day 1, I think it was about 1200 miles and I was up for 32+ hours (worked on the Friday we left).

I did Custer State Park and Iron Mountain Rd on a Monday, so minimal traffic and it was fantastic. Needles Highway was a rip too.

Been there, done that, two days is much more feasible, especially if you're in a large group or with people who need breaks or want to see stuff along the way.

No way you're going to get 13+ cars to all drive a solid 13 hours there and back IMO.
 
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SpeedSpeak2me

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Been there, done that, two days is much more feasible, especially if you're in a large group or with people who need breaks or want to see stuff along the way.

No way you're going to get 13+ cars to all drive a solid 13 hours there and back IMO.
And no way they're all going to do it overnight like I did. I wanted to get a jump on the vacation, and my passenger slept most of the night while I drove.


For anyone thinking of going out that way, I recommend staying Custer instead of Keystone. Hotels were nicer quality for waaaaayyyyyy less money since it was a few miles further from Mt. Rushmore.
 
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FESTER665

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And no way they're all going to do it overnight like I did. I wanted to get a jump on the vacation, and my passenger slept most of the night while I drove.


For anyone thinking of going out that way, I recommend staying Custer instead of Keystone. Hotels were nicer quality for waaaaayyyyyy less money since it was a few miles further from Mt. Rushmore.

The state park is a great time as well. Just bring food for the burros. :rofl:

Last trip out there a few months ago I stayed at an AIRBNB in Hermosa that was nice as well, but I imagine hotels are much easier for the group setting.
 

EmersonHart13

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I think Tail of the Dragon isn't a good TCG Tour trip. I think we could make it a TCG trip but it isn't the same thing as Tour.

I think we could do the Lake Michigan Circle Tour again easily.

4 Days, yes!


I think Panda mentioned this in the other thread that just because he organized doesn't mean he should be responsible for rounding up everyone before we leave a destination. I agree and I think NCCstud suggested we have small groups, like teams, which we could have them back sure everyone is ready to go and report back to the leader to hold up if someone is missing. I know it sounds like a kindergarten field trip but its simple and it would work.


I also think this is easy to offer up when you aren't the one planning but a spring and fall tour would be great... To expand on that so I don't get shot... In the spring we should do a 1 or 2 day to wet the appetite for new people or those who just aren't sure on the commitment or even unable to go for 3-4 days. Something like a run to Galena or Petoskey. I keep hearing about the trip to Galena that I was unable to attend being amazing.
 

Drago

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Has any thought been given to Door County.

Get to Sturgeon Bay then go up the Green bay side of the peninsula, then come back down the Lake Michigan side.
Been there a bunch, as it’s less than an hour from me, but I don’t really know if there’s enough road to make a tour out of it. Anybody here have jetskis? My boss does this trip almost weekly on his jetski or boat, and I went with him a few weeks back. One hell of a trip on the skis

96EBC56D-7D2C-4C8D-BB0D-4CF3E99CA26C.jpeg
 

PANDA

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There really isnt much to see on the ride out to the Black Hills unless you are interested in some real tourist shit like Corn Palace or Wall Drug. You get some nice hills around LaCrosse like we saw over the weekend but the rest of the drive is boring as fuck until you get to the Badlands. Girlfriends family has property in Hill City and I make the drive a few times a year. We go-to bed early, leave at 2 or 3AM and arrive early to mid afternoon with the time change and a few gas stops. It is really not that bad. Like others have said going somewhere like the Smokies or Black Hills we should set a date to meet and cruise. Drive out at your own pace.
 

SpeedSpeak2me

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I was thinking about a Lake of the Ozarks Tour last night. Its about 7.5 hours away. Drive straight or overnight in St. Louis. We could stay at a nice waterfront hotel. Rent a boat, goto absolutely insane bars. Im sure there is decent driving in that area also.
That is a good idea. I've never been down that way and have been wanting to. Good call.

For Black Hills, yeah, it's a boring drive until you cross over the Missouri River, then at least the scenery changes up a bit.
 

Lead Pipe

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I think we should do a Tail trip next spring. Meet out there and drive the roads for a couple days then drive back. I stayed at an air BNB when I went with my GF last year. It's a 3 bedroom and has a ton of parking. I'd rent it again. Could be a cool place to grill out for dinner the first night.
 
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SpeedSpeak2me

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I think we should do a Tail trip next spring. Meet out there and drive the roads for a couple days then drive back. I stayed at an air BNB when I went with my GF last year. It's a 3 bedroom and has a ton of parking. I'd rent it again. Could be a cool place to grill out for dinner the first night.
Would be best to aim for a weekday to do the tail though. The weekend traffic and patroling is just redonkulous. I did it on a Friday, like January 2nd, and it was drizzling with fog. I think I saw five oncoming cars for the whole drive through there. It was glorious, except for the g/f's heaving from motion sickness. I've been wanting to go back to do it again "at speed". And by that, I mean even the posted limit would be fine. Most of the corners I had to take at 50% of the posted sign to keep her from wretching all over my seat and floormat.
 

Lead Pipe

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Would be best to aim for a weekday to do the tail though. The weekend traffic and patroling is just redonkulous. I did it on a Friday, like January 2nd, and it was drizzling with fog. I think I saw five oncoming cars for the whole drive through there. It was glorious, except for the g/f's heaving from motion sickness. I've been wanting to go back to do it again "at speed". And by that, I mean even the posted limit would be fine. Most of the corners I had to take at 50% of the posted sign to keep her from wretching all over my seat and floormat.
Drive out on Saturday, hit the roads Sunday/Monday and drive back Tuesday.
 

DEEZUZ

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Every. Damn. Time.


You know why?


It's our staple. Bread and butter.

We've done it a couple times and guess what? Have not even seen or done an 1/8th of what it has to offer.

As for the teams things.

I agree there should be 2-3 teams.

That way we don't have 20 cars plugging up a gas station/bathrooms
 

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