Day 39 (Thurs, July 28th) - Birch Run to Port Huron, MI (87 Miles)

Today we woke up at 6:00 am to torrential rains.   After checking all the weather channels, it was decided that we would delay our start to 7:30 am.   And of course a miracle happened.  At 7:30 am, it stopped raining.   So we started our ride in overcast but cool skies with a nice tailwind.   It turned out to be a great, wind-aided ride into Port Huron on the edge of Lake Huron.

Here are a few pictures from my I-Phone that capture portions of the day:

The Happy Water Tower - A nice way to start the day

An artesian well at our first rest stop (the water tasted like sulphur)


Blythe and Mary wanted a pic in the wheat field (like the other day).  I said "It's wet and muddy out there, would you settle for wheat field in the background?"  So this is what we came up with.


This is our sunshine flower.   Lucy is using this to appease the Rain Gods.   So far it has worked!


Blythe and Mary still want a picture in the Wheat Field.   Colin and Phyllis join them in this pose.


Here's Barry trying to photograph horse and buggy (and a car gets in the way)


The traffic didn't seem to phase this horse one bit.   Central Michigan is Amish Country and this horse is no stranger to cars!


After 75 miles, we reach Lake Huron.   You can't see the other side from the shore.


This is Nancy Andreae's former home on the western shore of Lake Huron (some years ago).   We joined Nancy and daughter Adrienne for a short visit and a peek at the Lake.


Nancy and Adrienne getting their feet wet.   The water is 65 degrees (about as warm as it will get)


Here's the house (in case you are interested in Lakefront property


Here is the map of our trip thru the Great Lakes.   On Monday, we traversed Lake Michigan by Ferry from Manitowoc to Ludington.   On Tuesday, we went from Ludington to Mt Pleasant.   On Weds we went from Mt Pleasant to Birch Run.   Today (Thursday) we went from Birch Run to Port Huron, just on the edge of Lake Huron.   So, tonight we are at the Southern Edge of Lake Huron.   Tomorrow, we will cross over the St Clair River Bridge into Canada where we will spend Friday at London, just north of Lake Erie.  We then go to Brantford (near Hamilton) on Sunday, and then to Niagara Falls on Monday.

As you can see, we are moving at about 75-90 miles a day along a line that will carry us to Portmouth New Hampshire by August 8th, just 10 riding days from now.  So we are pretty excited about seeing Canada, parts of New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire before were done.

More later as we near Niagara Falls,
Love to All,
ME

Day 38 (Weds, 27 July) - Mt Pleasant to Birch Run, MI (74 miles)

Today was a relatively short day from Mt Pleasant, MI to Birch Run (only 74 miles), but it turned out to be one of our more difficult days because of dead-on head winds from the East and also the fact that most of us are recovering from a long 114 mile ride yesterday.   So we are all pretty weary tonight.

We did get some pictures from the day.  Here they are:


Morning RAP (Mike Munk discussing today's route at 7 am)


Bag's are out front and ready for pick-up.


On the Road to Birch Run.   Here is the classic Mail Pouch Tobacco barn, once a familiar site in farm country


Our First SAG stop at an ABB Alumni's home


Hanna and Brett Ryder (our hosts at the SAG Stop) show us how to drive an old Allis Chalmers tractor

Barry checking out the fresh corn (it's nearly ready)

Yep, we'll be having corn on the cob in a few days

A near miss between our ABB Staff car and a large tractor

This tractor could go right over the car

Barry following the SAG wagon

Stopping at Bishop's Grocery for Gatorade

These Michigan back roads are a little rough

Now were on some better road, moving along at 18 mph

And now for the long pull into Birch Run!

Wildflowers decorate the central Michigan landscape

Up close to a Black Swallowtail Butterfly in wildflowers

So, these are the pics we gleaned during a hard day's ride.   We actually welcomed the chance to get off the bike.   Biking is like our daily life, there are ups and downs, good days, great days and some tough days.   The headwind today made this one of the tougher days.  But every day we are making progress, inch by inch.   Today we are 75 miles closer to home.

More tomorrow when we ride to Port Huron and get a glimpse of Lake Huron.  Friday we cross into Canada for two days prior to a rest day in Niagara Falls.   The days are ticking by right now.   We will be home soon.

Love to All,

ME

Day 37 (Tuesday, July 26th) - Ludington to Mt. Pleasant, MI (114 Miles)

We got in late last night from the ferry ride (about 8:30 pm).   We had great bar food in the Ramada Inn Bar, but we didn't get to bed until about 10 pm.   Today we arose for an early 6:30 am start as we had one of our longest days (114 miles) thru central Michigan.   We had a nice tailwind and cool temperatures for most of the ride which was delightful after the heat wave we have been thru.    We also saw some new scenery in the pine forests and hardwoods that encroach on the farmland in the upper Michigan landscape.

Here are some pics of the day:


Wildflowers and "trees" in the Michigan Landscape


Clear Lake just outside of Big Rapids, MI (looks like Minnesota)


A modern Michigan farm (tidy and always a flag flying)

More Tree's in Michigan than Wisconsin

....and tree-lined roads (we like riding in the shade)

Numerous wheat fields......harvested in the last week

And a little "off-road" riding (ME heading East)

Plenty of Hay in Michigan

And then some more hay...

Nancy and Adrienne having a little fun in the hay

Barry and I join in the fun (look at those clouds)

World re-nowned surfer, America By Bicycle "King of the Mountains" Champ and all around great guy! (Barry Lucas)

As you can see, we had some fun this afternoon with the camera.   As the day wore on, we had to get moving and finish our long ride 114 mile ride to Mt. Pleasant (home of Central Michigan University).   We stayed in the Baymont Inn and had a great dinner at the Lone Star Steakhouse.   Then early to bed for next day's ride to Birch Run, MI.   

More tomorrow,

Love to All,

ME

Day 36 - (Mon July 25th) - Ferry Across Lake Michigan

Good morning everyone.   Hope you all had a great weekend.

Guess who I dreamed of last night?   I dreamed of Lila Holiday Buttrick knocking on my front door.   She said "Knock, Knock!"  I said "Who's there?"


She said "Lila"!Lila knocking at my front door



So, I said "Lila, how old are you today?"  She said "Two!"  So I said "Happy Birthday!" This was the day I left, 17 June.

So, here we are 5 weeks later ready to start the final leg of our journey.   We have come nearly 2700 miles so far.   We have another 1000 miles and 13 days of riding before arriving in Portsmouth, NH on 8 August.   So what's another thousand miles.   We are getting close to home and we know it.

Today we crossed Lake Michigan on the USS Badger, a coal burning ferry boat commissioned in 1953.   We departed from Manitowic, Wisconsin at 2:15 pm and arrived at Ludington, Michigan at 7:15 pm EDT (note we are now in Eastern Time).   It was about 75 miles of ferry ride and 7 miles of cycling.   This includes three miles from the Holiday Inn in Manitowic, WI to the ferry and four Miles from the port in Ludington, MI, to our lodging in the Ramada Inn.   So, you could call this a rest day of sorts.   Tomorrow we begin the final leg of our journey tomorrow that will take us across Michigan, Ontario, New York, Vermont, then to the Atlantic Ocean in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.   We are nearly home.

Here are some pics of the Ferry Ride across Lake Michigan:


The SS Badger (our ferry boat) arriving at Manitowoc, WI for  a 1:55 pm departure for Ludington, MI


The USS Badger Unloading Passengers in Manitowoc (Look at this classic old Ford Fairlane)


We are anxious to board the Badger  (Barry, ME, Damien Dempster)


Doyle and Lucy are really excited about boarding


We have now been called for boarding (what a motley crew)


The bikes are stowed (can you see the Black Rocket?


The early bird bikers got deck lounges on the bow (how cool)


Here we are leaving Mantowic, WI


Here's ME applying for my Captains License (would you let this guy pilot the ferry?)

Almost across Lake Michigan - here's a mellow fellow!

Mike Munk and Karen, our trip leaders at the stern.

Land Ho!   After 75 miles, we can finally see the Sand Cliffs of Ludington, MI


Sailboats decorate the Eastern Shore of Lake Michigan


We are targeting our arrival in the Port of Ludington


Here is the Lighthouse on Ludington Point


Here is the mooring in Ludington.  Our Biker ladies (Lucy, Connie, Phyllis) are anxious to get their bike

Our ABB Gang's welcome to Michigan!

So here are Barry and I at the Welcome to the State of Michigan

Now we can begin our final leg of the trip starting in Michigan.   Tonight is early to bed.   We have a 114 mile ride tomorrow from Ludington to Mt St Pleasant and we will be loading at 6 am.   Stay Tuned

More later....

Love to All, 

ME