Unless I can't keep the new Jeep running and/or finish up the other, my wife and I are in (1 Jeep).
It would be great if you can make it this year. Plus that would mean that awesome Jeep of yours is done. Well, I'm hoping for that anyway. It still makes me want to take the day off to come and see it. You as well of course.
I sure hope so! There's going to be some large delays that I can't help such as sending the coilovers off to be tuned but thankfully it's not race season so the delays shouldn't be too bad. It looks like I'll be down your way later this month getting the tires balanced in Greenbay.
How back road are you talking? Once you get past somewhere between Escanaba and Green Bay the driving is relaxed and remote even on the main roads/highways and pass through small towns with small diners and stuff.
Let me know in advance. If I'm available that day I will buy you lunch while you wait.
I was thinking forest service roads, but that might take too long. I was planning on driving from Milwaukee to Drummond in one day.
The most difficult thing about even using Google maps is that if you're actually trying to get someplace and not just exploring, the entire area has lots of dead ends, gates, incorrectly mapped roads and trails, etc. You can be 30 minutes down even a paved road and find that it doesn't connect how you thought it would or a berm has been placed so you can see the road but you don't drive over the berm to get to the road. Most of the mapping was done in the 80s and some future road plans somehow got into the maps. Those plans fell through and new roads have been added so the maps aren't great. Also, don't use snowmobile trails (sometimes also listed as forest roads on some maps) as any indication of being able to pass through. Many go through wet areas that freeze in the winter and are either too deep to cross or protected wetlands.
Depending on how deep I am into my build, I might be interested in joining you for a day if you're still looking for people. My replacement locker pump is still on back order so I'm probably more interested in taking in the sights and relaxing than bombing across the island. If that fits your wheeling style, let me know and we can keep in touch as things get closer.
