Chris Kvale only makes about six frames a year. At this point in his life he doesn't like to be hurried and enjoys spending a little time visiting with friends who drop by. In between frames he also does a number of resprays and restorations of vintage frames. When I picked up #1103, I noticed there was a boxed up frame with an address in England. I suspect this kind of work is what actually keeps the doors open and supports his frame building habit.
What does this have to do with the Lake Breeze Inn? The inn goes back in the Raley family to 1859 and Chris's wife Marcia inherited it. So for two months in the summer, when you want Chris to be cutting, grinding and filing your frame, he's riding his bike and living the good life on the Keweenaw Peninsula. You want to spend some time up in the U.P. and take a ride with Chris? Call 612-721-5891 or 906-289-4514 for reservations.
Photos used with permission.
2 comments:
I think the man manages his "habit" pretty well;)
If you want to stay there next year, better make your reservations now. When we were there we met a couple who were celebrating their 50th anniversary. They had been at the lodge for 47 of their 50. You can't see it in the photos but the lodge is right behind the Eagle Harbor lighthouse.
Accomodations are rather spartan by today's standards. Which IMHO suits most cyclists just fine.
The lodge had originally been a warehouse back in the days of the Whaleback steamers.
The ride from Eagle Harbor to Copper Harbor via Brockway Mountain Drive and returning on 26 along the shore is one you won't forget. Even if you do it in a car. The Copper Harbor end of Brockway is VERY steep so doing the ride the other way would be quite a challenge on a bike.
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