August 8, 2013 Escanaba ---> Manistique, MI - 53.2 miles
The ride today along and around the shores of Lake Michigan was a delightful change in scenery. Lake Michigan is huge and has more of the feel of the ocean than of a lake.
We rode through a few quaint towns before getting back on state highway 2 the remainder of the way to Manistique. One such town was Gladstone. There was a lovely park on the water with gorgeous views. And several trees with leaves beginning to turn colors. Randy stopped and spoke with a couple of park workers who were on bicycles pulling carts with their tools. They indicated that they loved the work and town.
Most of the remaining ride to Manistique was more of the flat, well-paved variety and we cruised quite easily. The sun came out, and it warmed to the 70's. We arrived in Manistique at approximately 2:30 pm and checked into the Northshore Motel, a lovely locally owned little motel located just outside town and across the street from the water and boardwalk. We biked into town to find an ATM, then parted ways for the afternoon. I stopped by a little coffee shop and had a good strong cappuccino - the first since the start of the ride. Good coffee has been hard to find and I often have to supplement with a little Starbucks Via. This cappuccino hit the spot. I then headed to Subway because I was starving. Back to the motel.
I decided that if I were going to walk to the shore and see any of the boardwalk I had better do it right away, because if I showered or sat down I would be finished. Randy was already perched on the bench outside his room and had that "I'm done for the day" look. So, off I went for a walk on the boardwalk toward town. What a beautiful path. Saw lots of gulls and the flora alongside the path was interesting to look at. But mostly what caught my eye was the red lighthouse in the distance. I made the lighthouse my goal destination. Meanwhile, dark clouds moved in and out. No rain, but cool, windy and moving clouds. I stopped to take various pictures of the lighthouse from different angles, but could never seem to get good light. Eventually, I arrived at the lighthouse after hiking out on the quay. I spent a few moments just listening to the water and wind, and said a quiet prayer of thanks for the opportunity to ride as well as the many blessings in my life. Also re-committed myself to stay the course with regard to my quest to discover what God has in store for my second-half-of-life vocation.
I spent the remainder of the evening quietly resting at the motel and looking for places to stay the next couple of nights. Unfortunately, doesn't look good between here and St. Ignace, and camping may be in our immediate future - unless, of course, one of those unadvertised "mirage motels" appears out of nowhere. I am praying that the weather remains good and no rain.
We are now 1 week into the ride. Seems like a lot longer than a week since I left Atlanta to fly to Minneapolis. Not in a bad way, just a little strange. This ride has a whole different feel than the TRANSAMERICA last summer. Again, not bad, just different. I guess the best way to describe it is a continual sense of quiet contemplation. Maybe it has something to do with the reduced stress from knowing more of what to expect from the ride standpoint rather than the unknown from last year. Or maybe because the riding conditions themselves have been so easy - flat, smoothly paved, wide-shouldered roads. Very nice and clean motels in each stop. Good food. For whatever reasons, there is a discernible difference in the character of the ride. Not bad, just different.
Tomorrow we ride on towards St. Ignace, probably stopping to camp somewhere near Daubinway.
