SS Badger - Lake Michigan Ferry

If you're headed to the VBR II from the east or east-central part of the U.S., once your planned route aims you towards Chicago you'll have another, much more interesting option than slogging through Chicago rush-hour traffic.

Consider instead riding north in Michigan along the eastern side of Lake Michigan to the town of Ludington. There you can catch a trans-lake ferry -- the SS Badger -- across the lake to the western terminus at Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

I've taken this ferry on four previous bike trips, and it's a wonderful break in the riding routine and pretty interesting to boot. The distance is about 85 miles across, and it takes about four hours either direction (maybe a little faster eastbound). You'll be riding on a real classic, too -- a 50-year old, coal-fired, steam-driven ship!

You pay separately for yourself and your vehicle for your passage. An option to consider is renting one of their small staterooms for the trip across. You'll get a key to a small stateroom, which contains a bed, a private toilet, and a sink/mirror unit. It's a great place to stow your riding gear while you wander around the ship, let's you skip the line to the public bathrooms, and let's you crash for a brief nap if you like. (I always rent one when I take the ferry).

The one-way rates for this summer are as follows:

Adults: $62; Seniors: $57; Children (5-15): $27; kids under 5 are free.

You'll pay $34 for your motorcycle, and $44 if you rent a private stateroom.

While they provide a pair of tie-downs to fix your bike to the lower deck, I always take a pair of soft-ties and a second pair of friction tie-downs to make sure my bike doesn't get rocking and rolling if the ship does. (BTW, all of my voyages on the Badger have been smooth and event-free, but eventually I'll probably get a rough trip across. Oh, well -- I'm still going!)

The Badger makes several round-trips across the lake each day during the summer season. You do have to make a reservation ahead, though, and the private staterooms fill up fast so don't delay.

Visit their website at www.ssbadger.com to learn more and make your reservations. My advice: Skip Chicago, and take a "sea" voyage instead!

Mike Pandzik