Bill and I in the Tunnel of Trees

Day 13 - Mackinac City to Petosky

Ride through "tunnel of trees" was spectacular!  Started out from Mackinac Bridge and headed west to the shore of Lake Michigan and enjoyed the dunes of Wilderness Park.  Had lunch at Legs Inn, which is historic lodge built in 1923. The ride through to Harbor Springs was truly enjoyable.  Had a quick snack as HS and then pedaled along the shore to Petoskey.  Having diner at Bay Harbor which is 1 mile from the motel but a hugh thunder storm is preventing any thought of head back to the motel!! I might have to order another beer!

Tunnel of Trees

Legs Lodge interior

Day 12. - Long Lake to Mackinaw City

The ride around Lake Huron is DONE!  12 days and 1,015 miles.  The last day was perfect for riding 95 miles along the eastern coast of Michigan.  The eastern shoreline is mostly long expanses of sandy beaches and summer cottages.  The miring ride through Presque Isle was beautiful and the towns of Roger City and Cheboygon  were great.  Tomorrow I bike with Bill Frey back to Torch Lake - 2 day ride.

Mackinac Bridge at the Straits 

Final word on Lake Huron

Meet Tom Barrett

Tom is 66 yrs old and cycling the coast of Michigan (less the UP).  It's his first bike tour and he has only been biking for 4 yrs.  He only covers 40 miles a day and walks the big hills.  He  is on day 34 and is pedaling to Warren (just outside Detroit).  I hope he makes it before the snow starts flying!   As you can see he is all smiles.  Amazing fact is I'm the 1st bike tourer he has seen.

1,000 mile milestone

On the bike trail from Cheboygon Tom Mackinac 

Long night at Long Lake

Neil my fellow biker and camper had to move his tent all the way to the other end of the campground due to adjacent camper noise! He said they were chopping wood at 11:30 ( I was probably sawing logs), dog was barking, they were loud Nd shouting T each other - trying to set up camp.  ME - I sleep right through it. After of fact I was trying to quietly break camp at 7:00am but Neil came over from across the campground and made sure we made some noise!  I think I like this guy Neil who teach 6th grade English and run ultra marathons.

Day 11-Tawas Point to Long Lake

Today was 80 miles - short of the 95 miles I was planning, since the Thompson State Park did not have campsites.  Will easily make it up tomorrow, since the original distance to  Cheboygan was only 55 miles.  Today was on and off showers and a few steep hill climbs but still a good day.  Went through the town of Au Sable where they were having a large canoe festival. They paddled from Gaylord to Au Sable in 14 hours!  Also pedaled through  the small towns of Harrisville, Alpena, Greenbush and Black River where all very picturesque.

Tonight in camp I have other bikers - so we are exchanging stories.

Au Sable River

Day 10 Bay City to Tawas Point

Rain, Rain and more Rain that was the order of the day!  Started  in the rain, rode 70 miles (in the rain) at 13 mph average, set up camp and took a nap in the (in the rain), had supper (in the rain)

All and all "A Great Day".  

Had to take two detours because of bridge closures - both detours were nice alternate roads with small farms and marines.

Lighthouse at Point Tawas

I think I might make one of these, when I get home!

 Saginaw Bay

Pedaling and pedaling

How many times do I turn the pedals?

If my average speed is 12 mph and the distance is 1200 miles - that is 100 hrs of pedaling.  If my cadence (turn of the pedals) is 85 RPM - then the answer is - 100x60x85=510,000.

See the link:

https://vine.co/v/hAwnpF7xbvT

Day 9- tip of thumb to Bay City

Today was a 70 mile day at an easy pace of 13mph. It rained last night but let up by morning. The day was cloudy and cool with slight headwind.  Luckily I got into camp by 3:45, because by 4:00 pm the sky opened up and it is raining hard with lots of thunder. Might have to cook my emergency provisions tonight, since I was planning on getting food  after I got camp setup to get food.

Bay city harbor

At the tip of the Thumb

Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse and Lifesaving Station.  Not only was this a beckon for ships but the strong west wind made it a perilous journey for ships leaving the St Clair waterway and heading westerly to transport minerals and timber.  Station built in 1847 and decommissioned in 1934.

Stairs to the top!

Day 7 Grand Bend to Port Huron

Back in the USA.  Ride 45 miles into Sardina Canada and met my Brother-in-law and nephew (Bill and Chris Frey). We rode down the St. ClairRiver and took the ferry across to the Marine City on the US side.  Bill returned up the Canadian side to retrieve his car, while Chris and I biked up the US side to Port Huron.  We quickly found the Quay Brew Pub and had a few cold ones and Bill bought diner!  

Camping just north of Port Huron at Lakeport  State park.  Today was another 100 mile plus day but having Chris and Bill along made it seem short.

Bypassed the Bluewater Bridge and took the ferry.

All smiles after diner

Back in the USA!

Day 6- MacGregor Pt. to Grand Bend

Over 100 miles today! Got an early start 7:30am and had favorable winds out of the NW.  The temperature was 19c -( you figure out Fahrenheit) so I had a light jacket on most the day.  Averaged a little over 14 mph. Did run into some road construction on hwy 21 but I was able to bypass it by using a side road. Spending the night camping in The Pinery Provincial Park.

Rode through the towns of Goderich and Bayfield which are very nice little towns.  The later half of the ride has been through farm land and you can see how the farming community really utilizes these town centers.  The 1st half of the ride was small towns who's inhabitants were hunters and fisherman, with no sense of community.  Very different economies and different results as to how community is developed.  Other interesting note - 1st part of the rise was all Scottish influence, while the second half was German influence.  Lots of farm land in these parts -  corn, wheat, soy beans.

Salt memorial in Goderich - salt mine is main employer. 

Sunset over Lake Huron at The Pinery

Join up with Bill and Chris Frey for a day ride from Sardinia to Marine City to Port Huron.  I Leave Canada tomorrow ! 

Day 5 - Tobermory to MacGregor Point

Today was 85 miles at 13 mph pace.  How it ended up at 85 miles I don't know - it was suppose to be 72 miles!  Anyway the day threatened rain all day but only ended up with a light mist around 2pm.  I got to enjoy lunch at Sauble Falls and a nice roll through Sauble Beach, Southampton and Port Elgin.  Spending the night in a Provincial Park - expensive compared to the states but a hot shower is always welcome.  A lot the bikers I met on the ferry yesterday honked as they went by in the early morning - I was on the road by seven.  All and a good day - and no flats! 

Sauble Falls

What about brake for bikes!

Bear sighting

Ok now!  Saw my first black bear of the trip, when it ran across the road about 100 yds in front of me.  It was pretty big - on all fours he/she  was over 4ft tall- so standing 10ft.  Obviously I stopped short to make sure no cubs were tagging along.  Right now cloudy and cool with threat of rain.

On the Chi-Cheemaun ferry

Fellow bikers (with motors) - I offered to race them to the top of the ramp - of course I was 1st off!

Day 4- Espanola to South Baymouth

Today was 72 miles at 12mph pace.  Road was a mix of great shoulder and zero shoulder with rolling hills.  Biggest ride factor was steady breeze out of the south.  I'm catching the ferry to Tobermory at 6:00pm (currently 3:00 pm), so I have lots if time to drink, eat and nap.  Ferry ride is 1hr 45mim.  Should be able to camp in Tobermory.

Best morning movement 

Day 3- Lake Huron

Today was head down into the wind with lots of up and down.  Total distance today was 74 miles at 13 mph.  Hardest part of ride was the narrow shoulder and traffic- don't people stay home on the Sabbath? I'm finally off Trans Canada Highway (17) an start heading south on HWY 6.

The ride was mostly inland almond the North Channel which separates the mainland from the Manitoulin Islands.  Lots of fishing up here in the "True North".  Heard story from local that a fisherman got run over by his own trailer and broke both legs.  Forgot to set parking brake.

Spending the night camping at Astral Lake - mostly long term camping which means they bring all the comforts of home- patio furniture, AC units and even full size frigs!  This lake has 17 to 21 inch bass and their "fat" - at least that is what the campers say.

My goal was to stay right of the white line.

Lake Huron

View from my motel looking out to Lake Huron and Blind River

Lake Huron -day 2

Total miles today 84 miles and averaged 14.3 mph. Great day for riding!  Wind at my back again and sunny (but not too hot).  Most of the day was spent along Hwy 17 and 17B since most of my planned route turned out to be gravel!  Ride for a couple of hours with two brother's from Everett, WA.  Both attend UW and are in engineering.  Fun to here there stories of their trip cross-country.  Also had another recumbent rider stop, he was heading west and started in Toronto with a final destination of Costa Rica- he is planning to take 12 months! 

Alot of Amish, working the fields and riding along hwy 17.  Had another flat today but got to sit in the shade and change the tube.  

Motel-ing it tonight in Blind River at the Old Mill Motel- room is at the base of a dam outfall - so my snoring should be drowned out by the pleasant sound of the falls.  

Amish kids with pony pulling cart.

Two UW (fuskies ) -riding from Seattle to NYC.

Day 1 -Lake Huron

Day started kind of crappy, there is always a silver lining.  Had a great evening wit Jeannie and Jessica. The downpour that evening was really intense and the weather forecast showed the same for today.  The thought of riding on high winds, heavy rain, lightning and thunder - was a little worrisome.  Rolled from the Harbor View Inn with coffee in hand to catch the 7:00am ferry- but delayed until 8:00am due to weather- great now I'm really worried!!!  But the silver lung allowed me coffee and Muffin at Starbucks.  Got off the ferry and headed north with dark heavy clouds all around and wet pavement from some earlier rain.  Alas a FLAT and I'm only 4 miles into the ride- ugh - I think this might  be a really bad day.  Pulled over into a private drive to get out of traffic.  In my repair a wet-wet-wet brown shaggy dog comes around the corner of the house.  But he was friendly and licked my hands legs and arms as I worked  changed the tire.  Clouds and thunder were building but found shelter before the sky's opened up.  Say for 45 minutes but once it cleared up around 10:30 - it was clear and wind at my back all the way the Echo Bay!

Camp at Belles Point Beach on St Mary's River

Re-post of rain in Mackinac!

https://vine.co/v/hmwguLDn062

Oops no car!

https://vine.co/v/hmwguLDn062/embed

In the streets of Mackinac

Smell of fudge and horse shit.  At least there is no diesel fumes!

Getting ready for the ride

Mackinaw bridge across the Mackinaw Strait that separated Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.  Spending the night on Mackinaw Island.  Fitting since no motorized vehicles are allowed.  Weather forecast is 80% chance of rain and 2ph winds in my face - not a good start!  But probably better than the 95 degree day like we had today!!

Bike Trip Maps

I will hopefully be adding detailed maps of my trip which will show the daily route and elevation profile. Starting to get into the detail!