OK, this isn't finished (yet), but here's a small
start!
The most immediate questions might be:
How do bicycles get across the Mackinac
Bridge (Lower Peninsula - Upper Peninsula)? Answer: you pay a nominal amount, and they
shuttle you and your bike across! $5 as of April 2015
(cheaper than a taxi ride of same distance). More here from the Bridge
Authority. And here from the Michigan DOT.
How do bicycles get across the International
Bridge (Sault Ste. Marie Ontario to Sault Ste.
Marie Michigan? Answer: You can ride across on your bike! The
toll, I believe, is the same as for autos, though
oddly I can't find the information on
the website. More here from the Michigan DOT.
Where can one fly to in the UP? Answer: The main commercial airports are at
Sault Ste Marie (CIU), Marquette (MQT), Calumet/Hancock
(CMX), Ironwood (IWD), Escanaba (ESC), & Iron Mtn.
Ford (IMT). These are the ones with commercial airline
connectors as of July 2015; most connect to Detroit,
Minneapolis, or Chicago. More on the wikipedia page. Of
course it always makes sense to search 'nearby
airports' on air ticket websites if you are flexible
(for instance, this fall I was thinking I'd fly to
Calumet again then take the bus to Ishpeming where my
bike is, but it turns out that it's cheaper - and more
convenient - to fly to Marquette.
Where can one travel by bus in the UP? Answer: There is one bus company operating
'coach' routes in the UP - Indian
Trails. It was impossible to just see a bus route
map on their website without going through the process
of starting to 'buy' a ticket, so I prodded them and
almost immediately they added them back! As for their
bicycle carriage policy, I didn't see that either so
asked and they added that (link is to a PDF
on general policies). They state:
"A bicycle must be contained in wood, leather, canvas,
bicycle box, or other substantial carrying case. No
bicycles will be transported unless enclosed in any
such container. Bicycles transported will be considered
one piece of checked baggage. If you have another piece
of checked baggage, checking the bicycle will be
considered a second checked bag at a cost of
$15.00."
I have taken the Indian Trails bus, at least from
Marquette to Hancock (in fall 2014, without bicycle),
and found it to be great - much superior
to the grim, authoritarian, cattle-car experience of
modern air transport!
I may try the same route this fall (2015) with my bike
and panniers as luggage to save a couple days and the
maybe too busy 41/28 route.
According to this map, dated May 2014, and the
Indian Trails website there are several lines in the LP
as well. Here's a little more on John
December's website.
Where do passenger trains go in the
UP? Answer: Disappointment here - there is no
passenger rail in the UP (though Amtrak or whatever
might claim a 'route' by linking to bus or air travel
routes...)
Whats the best time of year for biking in
the UP? Answer: May-October in general; in early May
there's still some snow in the woods here and there,
esp. on the Lake Superior side, but the roads are fine.
Leaves start coming out early May, and there's a
profusion of flowers in the woods mid-May to July. Fall
colors are on from late September-early October in
general. I've camped and poked around in the woods
(without snowshoes) early April to late November some
years, but best bet is mid-May to Mid-October. The
earlier and later times in the year are my preference,
because the bugs and tourists are less to none. Summer
is busier, hotter, and more with more crowded and
expensive motels.
Where .. what .. how .. ?? Answer: I should have some more information of
interest to potential or on-tour cyclotourists here
after a while...
What am I forgetting?