Lake Shore Drive: Chicago to Michigan

We did a little something different today for a ride - we went to Indiana. The plan was to join in the tail gate festivities for the Notre Dame and U Michigan football game in South Bend. With the destination set, Andy figured out a nice scenic route following Lake Michigan through the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and going through some real nice neighborhoods in Long Beach, IN.

No real twisties today, but fun nonetheless.

[Click to enlarge any of the pictures]


Overall route from meet point to South Bend, IN. We did I-80 to skip Gary and it was actually nice and empty where we were. Empty as in - traffic moving at speed and enough space for zip through traffic... that Dan I tell you...


Lake Shore Drive through Long Beach, IN and New Buffalo, MI.


Summer house in Long Beach.The whole area resembled something like Malibu or a French coastal town. Lots of nice houses with unique character and expensive cars. Did I mention private beach access...


The crew: Aileen, Andy, Dan and moi, parked in someone's private parking area.


The harbor at New Buffalo Beach just across the border in Michigan.


The beach, which had enough beachgoers to actually be called a beach.


Aren't we dressed appropriately...


No Swimming Allowed, only tanning.


The bikes with some seagulls - Myra, Dan's Honduh, Aileen's GS and Eris.


Anna should be proud of this one. She's got a thing for lighthouses...




Picture with Herbie and some bride. A wedding party had a Herbie replica at the beach and were taking pictures of the happy couple. I wanted a picture with the car (The Love Bug was very influential in my younger days, I mean like 12) and I guess she came with the package. Note, it's got Ontario plates...


South Bend itself wasn't that great, but we got a little exposure for college spirit again.

I think now we really need to do the complete Lake Michigan tour. Riding beside the lake was very enjoyable and soothing.