August 20, 2013

"Oh Canada..la la la la la la..."

August 20, 2013 Port Huron, MI --> London, Ontario - 70 miles
Our cross-over into Canada could not have gone more smoothly. We rode our bikes to the US Administration building and called for someone to take us across the Blue Bay Bridge. A nice lady named Annette showed up in less than 5 minutes and we loaded the bikes into the back of the truck for the 5 minute ride over the bridge. Once there, we went through Canadian customs in less than 5 minutes, exchanged some money, and stopped by the nearby Visitors Center for maps. With that, we were well on our way towards Strathroy, Ontario by 10:00 a.m.







Randy and I had thought it might take most of the morning to negotiate the crossing into Canada, but it was a breeze. I started humming and singing Oh Canada - all right, I mostly hummed since I don't any words beyond Oh Canada. About thirty minutes into the ride, Randy came up alongside and said, "Thanks a lot - now I can't get that song out of my head and I only know the first two words. It's driving me crazy."

My biggest fear heading into Canada was the unknown regarding the condition of the roads. Since we decided to ditch the AC maps again and venture towards Toronto, there was no way to know whether the roads would be good, bad or horrible. We selected Hwy 39, a two lane road that was a direct route to Strathroy, our initial destination town. Wow - I could not have imagined a better road for the 45 miles to Strathroy. There were a few places in need of repair, but for the most part it was flat, smooth and straight. Light to occasionally moderate traffic, but not a real factor. Add to that a really nice tailwind and we were cruising 15-20 mph the whole way through beautiful farmland. The corn fields and other crops went on forever as far as you could see. But what differentiated this scenery from previous farmland we have ridden through so far were the very interesting variations in the style, composition and construction of houses, sprawling barns, silos and barnyards. I never got bored during today's ride looking at these houses, massive fields and complexes. There were also some interesting and engaged cows and horses, many of whom would move towards us and look us straight in the eye. A soul connection of sorts. One group of cow "teenagers" even showed a brief interest as cow racers, taking a few spirited trots before thinking better of it. During the ride, we even saw a few wind turbines in the distance, as well as some signs posted in yards indicating the owners' concerns with health hazards of wind turbines. Randy and I discussed what those could be.







About halfway to Strathroy, Randy and I agreed that we would consider going an additional 20 miles to London, since we had breezed through the border crossing and were well ahead of schedule due to the optimal riding conditions. After lunch at a small cafe in Strathroy, we continued on and arrived in London in the late afternoon.

Before I end today's post, I am making a confession I never thought I would make - I am becoming a fan of HGTV. For years I flatly resisted and rejected efforts by my mother and sister to get me to watch HGTV. Now I find watching HGTV the perfect escape and relaxation after a long day of bike riding. I especially enjoy the international house hunting shows, probably because they often involve people stepping beyond their fears to risk a move outside their comfort zone to a different land and engage with people of other cultures. My whole life the past couple of years has been about stepping outside my comfort zone and moving beyond my fears. So I can relate. Plus, I no longer have much tolerance for cable news with all the mean-spirited and hateful people of all persuasions shouting over each other. The constant negativity. The lack of any effort to suggest real solutions. And I find it difficult to focus and follow a movie or show, since I usually fall asleep within the first 10 minutes or so. HGTV is the perfect entertainment and sleep inducing show.

I received a sweet and very supportive voice message from Del tonight, who is following the blog. It was great to hear from him, and I was again reminded of my primary purpose for doing this ride - to honor Del and raise awareness of ALS. Just about every person I meet and talk with has had some experience with someone diagnosed with ALS.

August 19, 2013

August 19, 2013 Rest Day in Port Huron, MI -- 22 miles

We decided to move to a motel in Port Huron closer to the bridge to Canada, and take a rest day. However, before checking out I rode to the closest Starbucks about 4 miles away to stock up on Via for my morning coffee fix. My usual morning routine of study and prayer is greatly enhanced by a good cup of coffee. Or two. I confess that a good cup of coffee is my drug of choice. However, I don't consider myself an addict because if it is bad coffee don't bother.

I returned from the coffee run and Randy and I made the 6 mile ride over to the Best Western by the bridge in Port Huron. the ride was a breeze - literally. Had a nice tail wind. In fact, I realized that I had appropriately named my bike blog Biking with the Tailwind for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that we have had mostly tailwinds throughout the bike trip. The front desk lady at Best Western was very helpful and accommodating, allowing us to check in early. Very nice rooms. They even gave Randy an upgrade to a beautiful business suite with a jacuzzi for no extra charge. This thrilled him to no end, and I think helped soothe the memory of the Saginaw Motel 6 experience.

There was an excellent bike path almost all the way from the motel to the waterfront just under the bridge to Canada. we stopped and took pictures of the bridge, Thomas Edison park and trail. A beautiful waterfront bike trail wound to a lovely downtown area. Along the way there were many people fishing, biking, walking or just sitting and having lunch.











We found a delightful restaurant on Main Street and had a terrific lunch. Mine was a lunch combo of 1/2 Philly cheesesteak and 1/2 Traverse City Salad that was to die for. And the food was pretty to boot.

After lunch we returned to the motel for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. I took a nap and started looking again at the maps for tomorrow as we begin the Canada leg of the journey. Randy has called ahead and arranged for transportation across the bridge into Sarnia, Ontario tomorrow morning. Then we will begin biking in the direction of Toronto. We think there may be a really nice bike trail from Hamilton to Toronto, then beyond along the St Lawrence River and Lake Ontario towards New York. But, truthfully, we are somewhat playing all this by ear at this point.

August 18, 2013

Happy 60th Birthday to cousin Randy Moore!

August 18, 2013 Imlay City --> Port Huron, MI - 40 miles

The plan was for a short ride to Port Huron, then spend most of the afternoon as a rest day. However, we got off to a rough start again as we started encountering dirt roads within the first couple of miles following the Google lady's bike directions. That's it - we are divorcing Google lady. Or at least making further inquiry on type of road before setting out. So, we backtracked into Imlay City and picked up the Imlay City Highway (Hwy 21) towards Port Huron.

The two lane road had a pretty good shoulder and was okay. Ran again mostly through farmland. Lots of interesting barns, silos and houses. Traffic was intermittently heavy and light. It was sunny and the temperature was quite warm. One feature I have noticed in this part of the country is that many of the homes have rock/flower/tree gardens in the middle of large front yards. Some are quite extensive, and some have a theme. For example, one house had two such gardens - one a rock/flower/tree garden and one a rock garden with an old wooden boat in which there was a "person" lying face down. That was a strange variation on the theme. Most were really just gardens.



About halfway to Port Huron, we came up on two touring bikers - a French Canadian father-son team who started in Vancouver and were headed for Quebec City. They had deviated south into the US to traverse the Great Lakes rather than follow a route "on top" of the Great Lakes through Canada. We had a nice visit with them, and saw them a couple of times throughout the day at various stops.









During the ride my mind started wandering again - as it often does. I started thinking about the fact that yesterday's blog discussed my fascination with the rogue corn stalks, and how my thinking/life has become increasingly centered and dominated by simplicity. An awareness of the little things. My life feels less and less "cluttered" in every way, and I like that feeling of a simple life. I like meeting someone on the road and being fully present to their story or what they are telling me at the moment. I guess the other interpretation of what is going on with me is that I am losing my mind. I'll let you be the judge of that. People increasingly ask what I plan to do with my life after I finish this ride, and I can honestly say I am still committed to doing something I am passionate about. Determined not to get caught up in mere "existing." Praying and being open to a revelation as to the next step, whether that is personal training or whatever. Praying for the courage to move beyond fear of the unknown and uncertainty and to progress 1 step at a time towards the path as it unfolds. Praying for continued patience. This is not always easy for me - a person who is generally impatient and likes to be in control. But so far the past 3 years or so have been a constant adventure in not knowing and I have reaped the joy and benefits of life surprises as they are revealed. One of the biggest benefits has been the ability to share these adventures with my family and friends. Reconnecting. I still believe that my life as it is continues to be revealed will be better than I could hope or dream for myself.

As we approached Port Huron, we were again treated to the unexpected surprise of the Wadhams to Avocado bike trail for the last 5 miles or so. Another one of those flat, smoothly paved bike trails. We ended up at our motel in mid-afternoon, and after lunch spent several hours planning the next phase of our route (looks like Toronto), arranging for cell service in Canada, getting info on money exchange, finding a motel for tomorrow, connecting with family, etc. We decided to make tomorrow a "real" rest day for the most part before venturing into Canada on Tuesday.

August 17, 2013

At the Southern Links Trail Head

August 17, 2013 Saginaw --> Imlay City, MI - 67 miles

The bike ride today was a nice mixture of beautifully paved bike trails and nicely maintained roads. There was a nice balance between the two as far as distances were concerned, so it kept my interest up as we were continually looking ahead to the next segment. Our route today essentially followed the AC route as far as North Branch, then headed south to Imlay City.

We were treated to an unexpected surprise at the outset when we picked up the Harger Line Trail just outside Saginaw. This smoothly paved, flat trail ran for approximately 10 miles through farmland. Saw a little wildlife, including one rabbit we surprised that was sunning himself on the warm pavement. Another thing I started regularly noticing were "rogue" corn stalks poking up at places above some of the other crops. I am assuming it had something to do with a few corn stalks left over after crop rotation or such. For whatever reason, those independent rogue corn stalks somehow amused me throughout the ride. Funny how something like that affects us.




The next 15 miles followed Hwy 15 for about 7 miles to Vassar, a lovely town with a population of approximately 3000. Like Charlevoix, the road entering town was bordered on both sides for almost a mile with dense beds of brightly colored pansies. The effect was stunning.




From Vassar, we rode another 7 miles to Millington, where we picked up the Southern Lines Trail for 6 miles. Again, another beautifully paved trail. The scenery changed to more of a tree-lined trail bordered by yellowish swamps. What I noticed most was that the trees and bushes definitely showed signs of imminent color change with the coming of fall. Still, it was unseasonably warm for this time of year, reaching the 80's.




At Otter Lake, we resumed riding on the highway. As we were stopped looking at the maps, a man in a truck with an Army Insignia on his baseball hat asked if we were lost and needed help. We told him we were deciding whether to go back a block or two to a store for something to drink, or move on. He began telling us about the area and trying to be helpful. Asked if there was anything he could help us with. Randy quipped that we might throw the bikes in the back of the truck, and the man actually offered to take us wherever we wanted/needed to go. He just kept chatting and chatting. Finally, we were able to thank him for his advice and move on. Again, people out here are almost desperate sometimes to want to help. It is amazing.

As I was riding along, I thought about my favorite rides. The ride through Oregon and Idaho last summer wins hands down. The stunning views and constantly changing vistas were mesmerizing. And the physical challenge riding the various passes and mountains was so satisfying. This ride from Minneapolis has been the easiest bike riding imaginable with flat, smoothly paved surfaces almost the whole way along consistently pretty terrain. Very few stunning views that just take your breath away. But very pleasant riding nonetheless.

After another 13 miles or so, we stopped at a small cafe in North Branch for lunch - grilled cheese sandwiches. I have received a few inquiries from folks reading the blog about why we seem to have eaten at Subway so much. The fact is that we prefer to try and find local cafes, but sometimes they are not available. Or the motels where we end up staying don't have much in the way of restaurants, but there will almost always be a Subway near. Also, with Subway you can always get healthy veggies as an alternative to standard burgers and fries.

Leaving North Branch, we initially rode along a large canal-like ditch which ran close to the road. I saw a gorgeous blue heron sitting in the canal so close I could see its face. Could not get off the bike quick enough to get a picture - a lost opportunity.

The route from North Branch to Imlay City was supposed to have taken us along another 10 mile bike trail called the Polly Ann Trail. After the trails we had already ridden, we were envisioning another smooth coast into our destination city. However, Google lady intervened once again with her wicked sense of humor. First, she again sent us down some dirt roads for several miles. Then, when we reached the point that we were supposed to access the trail, it turned out to be nothing more than a trampled down mass of grass and weeds, with a few fallen trees obstructing the path in places. So, after consulting with another helpful local who happened to be nearby, we continued on the highway we were on and eventually got to Imlay City.




There were a number of restaurant choices near the motel, so we opted for a real dinner. Mine was fabulous. Had a baked sweet potato with steamed veggies with garlic bread. The potato and veggies were cooked just right. My eating sweet potatoes just started last summer on the cross-country ride when I discovered sweet potato fries. I have since added baked sweet potatoes to my repertoire. Before, I could not stand sweet potatoes. Funny how tastes change if you give it a try. At any rate, sweet potato fries have been hard to find on this ride so far.

After a terrific day of riding and a good meal, I settled in for an episode of House Hunters International in New Zealand (I love New Zealand) and a good night's sleep.

August 16, 2013

August 16, 2013 Midland --> Saginaw, MI -- 46 miles

From the motel we wound through tree-lined and beautifully landscaped neighborhoods back to the Pere Marquette Trail. This took us to the downtown Midland area. Along the way we were greeted by several locals on the trail who stopped to ask questions about the ride. One such local was a retired Dow Chemical worker named Steve, who said he would love to do some touring. Steve took our picture near a beautiful rustic bridge located near the trailhead.




After leaving the trail, we started following US Bike Route 20 through town. At this point, we were still following the AC maps, which led by Ray's Bike Shop. We often stop by local bike shops to ask advice regarding the best roads to follow, or other suggestions regarding cafes, local culture, etc.





We continued to follow US Bike Route 20 approximately 17 miles through lush farmlands. The road was flat, although narrow, and it was a fairly easy ride. Just outside Bay City, we accessed the Bay City Loop Trail which took us to town.




The trail started off as a smoothly paved well-marked path, but all of a sudden it seemed to dump us out on a street with no guidance as to where it was going. We pulled out the maps and Google. Then somewhat floundered our way along the river paths through town, eventually ending up south of town where we stopped for lunch and to re-assess. The AC maps listed the next "main" town (loosely used here) as Frankenmuth. However, there were limited motel options and all were pricey. So, we decided to head for Saginaw some 13 miles away, where there were more reasonable motel options.

The ride to Saginaw started a little shaky. There was a lot of gravel along the shoulder as it appears to have been preparing to undergo some sort of road work. We were literally "riding the white line" (name of Randy's blog) the first few miles. Luckily, the road opened up and there was a fairly broad shoulder the rest of the way to the edge of Saginaw.

The motel situation in Saginaw was iffy. We found the road where most middle of the road motels were located, and were a little dismayed to find that they were almost all run-down looking and, in some cases, a little creepy. To go to the nicer motels would mean back tracking approximately 4 miles or so and paying twice as much. So, we decided to gut it up for 1 night and checked in to a Motel 6 that looked the least creepy. The desk lady was very nice and I felt somewhat reassured by her demeanor. Plus, there were apple trees along the road into the parking lot teaming with pretty apples and that made me feel better as well. Although the rooms were somewhat dumpy, the shower was clean and had hot water. When I met Randy for dinner, he was more than underwhelmed by the motel and had a kind of desperate look in his eye. Randy likes comfort; hence his aversion to camping at all costs. However, I could see this motel was barely 1 step above camping in his eyes.




After dinner, I resolved to find a better motel situation for tomorrow night. What I learned was that there much be some sort of event going on because many of the reasonably priced motels down the road were booked up. I finally located a Days Inn with pretty good reviews some 61 miles away and went ahead and reserved the rooms so we would not have to undergo the trauma of having to find a decent place to stay at the end of a long ride tomorrow.

So...the plan is to ride 61 miles to Imlay City tomorrow and re-group. Will probably aim for Port Huron on Sunday.

August 15, 2013

August 15, 2013 Cadillac --> Midland, MI - 84 miles

The condition of highway 115 for the first 15 miles or so was the least desirable to date. Heavy traffic and in many places in need of repair. Did see some nice wind turbines in the distance.




After approximately 20 miles, we veered off onto a county highway for 10 miles where we planned to pick up the Pere Marquette Rail Trail to Clare, our destination town for the day. At the point where we were to access the trail, we once again ran into the antics of the Google lady. She instructed us to turn right for approximately .5 of a mile, then go down a dirt road for .3 of a mile. At this point, she said "turn left onto the Pere Marquette trail." The only problem was that the trail was some 30 feet or more below us down an embankment with no obvious on-ramp. Just as we were about to back track and find our own way somewhere up the road to access the trail, I noticed a little clearing further down the dirt road. There was a small steep winding path down to the trail. Randy and I carried each bike together down the path - no small feat and a pretty good workout for him since he was on the back end carrying the bikes. However, our efforts were rewarded as we successfully navigated the embankment and got on the trail.











After riding on the trail for a couple of miles, we came upon an intersection of the trail with the road we had originally been on and realized the Google lady had once again played a cruel joke on us, as there was no need for the whole dirt road/hike down the embankment episode. We could have easily biked on at this point had we known about it. We are doubting Google lady's veracity more and more.

For the next 17 miles or so, we cruised along one of the best bike trails we have ever ridden. Flat, wide, smooth asphalt and with a little tailwind to boot. The surrounding terrain was pretty marshy at first, but gradually evolved into farmland. We saw many old interesting- looking barns and fields of corn and other crops. It was also nice to see a number of bikers out for day rides.

Originally we had planned to stop after 50 miles in Clare, MI. However, we arrived so early in the day and the riding conditions were so perfect that we decided to continue on the Pere Marquette trail another 30 miles to Midland. While there were some clouds, the sun was quite bright and it warmed up to probably the high 70's. Simply, a beautiful day with perfect bike riding. Because there were no traffic concerns, you could just drift along with your thoughts and the scenery.



A couple of miles before Midland, Randy and I were talking about how we had not seen hardly any other touring bikers and had had very few real interactions with people during this ride, which was very different from last years' ride. Not five minutes later, we came upon a gentleman with a loaded touring bike coming from the other direction. We stopped to chat, and he told us his name was Larry. He was on his way back to Ludington, MI after biking across Michigan primarily on the Pere Marquette. It appears that Larry is retired and just really started getting into the bike touring gig. He was very enthusiastic and told us about a couple of other riders a couple of hours ahead of us that are touring. We told Larry a little about our rides, and as we prepared to leave I gave him one of my bike ride "business cards" with the blog cite. Larry then gave me $5 towards the ALS cause, saying that it came out of some money his wife had given him to spend on the trip. I was touched to say the least.


We found a nice motel in Midland and after checking in Randy biked to a convenience store for some purchases. When he returned to the motel, he was met in the lobby by a man who said he had seen Randy on his bike at the convenience store. After asking a few questions about the ride, this man told Randy that he did not have to be anywhere for a while and offered Randy the use of his car for a few hours if he wanted. Randy declined, but this was just another example of the kindness of strangers. I never quite get over how amazing and kind people are to us.

Tomorrow we push on. Unfortunately, I believe we have run out of the Pere Marquette Trail. However, at least the forecast is for continued good weather.

August 14, 2013

                                               Photo from Monday's ride

August 14, 2013 Traverse City --> Cadillac, MI - 50 miles

We decided to go off the ACA route maps again and head for Cadillac MI approximately 50 miles away. There was a bike shop just a few blocks from our motel, so we stopped in to get advice regarding the best roads to take, and to ask if there were any bike trails. Randy had not slept well last night and was already tired. What became apparent soon after we left the bike shop was that Randy was asking for something totally different than the guy was answering and/or Randy was hearing something different than the guy was saying. Because we were only a mile or so away before already feeling lost. We pulled out our iPhones and Google maps to plug in Cadillac. My Google lady immediately chimed in and "took control" of the situation. She has a very commanding voice. At her insistence, we ended up on a dirt road for a few miles. Then, Google lady apparently changed her mind because she started instructing us to backtrack from where we had come. At that point, we rebelled and took another road. Google lady recovered quickly and got back on board. Now that I think about it, I must have looked pretty funny bending my head down towards my handlebar bag to hear the Google lady speak. Shaking my head and talking back at the bag when I disagreed. At any rate, we did finally end up on a road we recognized as crucial. The truth of the matter is that we felt lost, but really weren't when all was said and done. Sort of a metaphor for life sometimes.

The first 20 miles of the day were on probably the worst roads so far. Narrow and very little shoulder with many cracks and potholes. Traffic was pretty heavy. Finally, we turned on to a state highway with broad, smoothly paved shoulders and for the next 17 miles or so pretty much cruised. Stopped at a Subway in Manton for lunch, then rode the final 10 miles to Cadillac.

Our motel was located on the other side of Lake Cadillac from town and somehow it seems we ended up riding 3-4 miles all the way around the lake, rather than going directly to the motel. Seemed like the theme of the day - hard time following directions. Lost Randy shortly after checking in as he was desperate for a nap after having a rough night sleeping. So, I went for a short walk to take a few pictures for the blog, had a nice long soak in the tub, then headed for Subway for my now favorite chopped chicken salad.









I feel good and think I will sleep well tonight.

August 13, 2013

My Rest Wood Motel room

August 13, 2013 --> Rest day in Traverse City, MI

Woke up this morning to cloudy, overcast skies and temperatures in the 50's. Gusty winds. The forecast is for possible thunderstorms in the early afternoon. Tomorrow the weather is supposed to clear up with sunny skies. Randy and I met for breakfast and agreed that we would stay in Traverse City for another night. I had scoped out a little motel named Rest Wood right next door to the Motel 6. It was $12 cheaper (pays for dinner), so we moved over there. I have stayed in a wide variety of accommodations over the years, but I have to say this may be the first "shed". All in all, it met the requirements of clean, safe and reasonably priced.

We were situated on the east shore of the bay, and I went for a nice walk down to a beach across from the state park. I believe the more popular part of Traverse City that I have always heard about is on the west shore. Randy and I discussed biking there on our way out tomorrow morning. I spent a little time sitting on a bench and watching the sea gulls.











After returning to the motel, I did a little re-organizing and took nap. Later met Randy and we walked to a little Italian restaurant for dinner. I had penne pasta with steamed veggies in Alfredo sauce. Fueled for the ride to Mesick or Cadillac tomorrow. Back to the motel for a low-keyed rest of the evening. I really enjoyed this quiet day off.

August 12, 2013

August 12, 2013 Petoskey --> Traverse City, MI - 65 miles

We decided to push ahead toward Traverse City since there were not many motel options at the small towns along the way. Fortunately, the Little Traverse Wheelway bike trail ran the first 15 miles or so to Charlevoix, MI. This is a beautifully paved bike path that runs through many shaded tree-lined areas and fields of wild flowers. Occasionally, there are breakthroughs with stunning views of Lake Michigan. At points where the bike path crosses streets, there are often beautifully manicured flower beds. We could not have asked for more perfect weather - blue skies and moderate temperature.












We cruised along at a leisurely 8-10 mph, stopping frequently to take pictures. At one point along the way, there was an apple tree right next to the bike path. I stopped to pick a few apples and Randy snapped a picture.




The path ended in Charlevoix, a beautiful lakeside town bustling full of tourists. There was one tree-lined street leading into town with the most gorgeous large old homes situated right on the water, many of which sported large wrap-around porches. The lawns were immaculate with large flower beds in full bloom. For the last 1/2 mile or so of the road leading into and out of Charlevoix, the sidewalks on both sides of the road were bordered with a solid line of colorful pansies. The feel was festive.




Alas, the scenery and festive feel ended quite abruptly as we followed Hwy 31 S towards Traverse City. While the shoulder was adequate and the road conditions were okay, we started running into a series of moderate headwinds and rolling hills that slowed our progress somewhat. Plus, no more stunning scenery. We trudged along a good 20 miles or so and were starting to wear down, so found a little cafe near Torch Lake to re-fuel for the remaining 20-30 miles. The waitress was friendly and bustling around at warp speed, but it soon became apparent that she was not that efficient despite all the motion. We had to constantly repeat things, and when it became time to leave we asked that she divide the ticket so we could pay for our meals separately. When she came back she had divided the ticket literally in half, rather than according to what we had ordered. As if we weren't able to divide by two. The look on Randy's face was priceless. There is another story in connection with this lunch that I will remember forever, but will not re-count here. Something to do with apple pie a la mode. Let's just say Randy and I will be laughing about that story and its lesson for me the remainder of the Tour of the Leaves ride.

We continued on towards Traverse City. Rode up and down hills, had a few little tailwinds along the way that were appreciated, starting passing by many orchard farms and fruit stands.
Then I saw one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen anywhere in all my travels- acres and acres and acres of sunflowers in full bloom as far as you could see. All sizes of sunflowers densely packed together, with the largest size bigger than my head. There is no way to begin to describe the joy and wonder I felt looking at those sunflowers. The sunflower is my favorite flower anyway, and this just blew me away. I think even Randy was a little in awe. I told Randy "this is a sign." Of what, I don't know - it just felt so special. Made me feel special. My own very special blessing. I'll never forget it.

After tearing myself away from the sunflowers, we continued on to Acme, where we stopped at the McDonalds to use the wi-fi to locate a place to stay for the night. It took some effort, but we finally found a Motel 6 near Traverse City that was more reasonable than most motels in the area. There was another paved bike trail called the TART Trail that would take us the remaining 3 miles or so to the motel. As we were floundering about a little looking for the trailhead, we pulled over into a parking lot and started pulling out our phones with the google maps. A man pulled in behind and asked if we were looking for the trail. He enthusiastically directed us across the street and behind some trees where we could access the trail. Started telling us about some of his own touring experiences and seemed genuinely blessed to have the opportunity to help us out. We thanked him and crossed the busy highway to access the trail. As we reached the other side, another man came up and asked if we were looking for the trail. He threw in his two cents and we finally actually got on the trail. More examples of the kindness of strangers we often encounter during these rides. People really do love to be helpful. 

We arrived at the Motel 6 and gratefully checked in around 6 pm or so. I was really tired, and am still looking for a good half day or so to just rest somewhere and do nothing. Plus, the weather forecast for Tuesday is 20-30 mile gusty winds and possible thunder storms in the afternoon. Randy and I will meet later and decide on a plan of action for tomorrow.

August 11, 2013

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RANDY !! 65 yrs old - another milestone met

August 11, 2013 St. Ignace --> Petoskey, MI - 55 miles




Awoke to a beautiful sunrise over Lake Huron. One thing I had not realized was that Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are connected - the separation of the two lakes is the Mackinac Bridge, a five mile span connecting St. Ignace and Mackinac City.




We rode the 1/2 mile from the Cedar Hill Motel to the Mackinac Bridge. Bikers are not allowed to ride across the bridge, and we contacted the bridge authority to arrange for transportation across the bridge. The cost is $5.00 per bike and they take you over in a pickup truck. The lady driver told us that she had transported probably 20 touring bikers over the past few weeks. I again felt like this confirmed we are probably a couple of weeks behind most riders who started a cross-country ride from the west coast along the Northern Tier.







From Mackinac City, we rode along the shores of Lake Michigan to Petoskey. What struck me most was the hodge lodge of different terrains we rode throughout the day. Started with terrain similar to what we had experienced through Wisconsin along small, mostly flat county roads. However, we then came upon roads that ran alongside the shore with beautiful views of Lake Michigan, and many beaches and places you could stop along the way. At that point, we began encountering more hills and inclines, and even arrived at the top of one hill to find sand dunes all around. There were sand dune "sledders" going down one hill. The route then turned somewhat inland onto more undulating county roads. A number of road bikers passed us coming and going and cheerfully waved. It was nice to see people out enjoying the lovely day and riding bikes.




We stopped at Cross Village and lunched at a convenience store, which was pretty much all there was. Then, proceeded up and down hills to Harbor Springs, a lovely town where we picked up a paved bicycle trail all the way to Petoskey, our destination town for the night. The disadvantage of the bike trail was that we were off road and if there were any available small motels we could not see them. When we arrived in town late in the afternoon, we had a hard time finding reasonably priced lodging. Plus, we were tired and hungry at that point and not thinking all that clear. We finally located a Days Inn, and were delighted to find that they had a special "biker's rate." Plus, they had a special Cafe Internet with all sorts of food available for free, as long as you ate it there. For example, they had 6 different kinds of soup; TV dinners; frozen pizza; several choices of cereal; chips; ice cream; breads for sandwiches; jello...on and on. Admittedly mostly unhealthy stuff, but you could find some relatively healthy items as well. I mostly filled up on various soups. It was nice not to have to venture out to find dinner. Another big plus was the popcorn machine in the lobby that popped popcorn like at the movies. You could take that back to the room.

My "neighbors" at the motel were this middle-aged couple from Ontario who had just completed their first 40 mile ride in the area and looked exhausted. They are just getting into biking and were especially intrigued when they saw me come in on my bike. Had a million questions about bike touring and biking in general. It was fun talking to them. Later, as I was returning from dinner, I found the man smoking outside the room and I commented "that's the first thing that has to go.." He took it well and sheepishly smiled - a cheerful fellow. When I returned again later after a popcorn run, he was out there again and sheepishly hid his hand behind his back - I laughed and told him no worries.

Tomorrow we head on towards Traverse City.