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