Goodbye Dave and Elie- Holland State Park

This morning we said good bye to Dave and Elie. Responsibility beckons and they must go. We will miss the support and company they provided. Dave is an excellent cook and camp host. For last night’s supper  he fetched fresh corn on the cob, tomatoes, delicious peaches and locally baked cherry pie from fruit and veggie stands he found along the way as he drove the support sprinter from one camp to another. Then he cooked up some amazing jambalaya.  The breeze off the water was cool so we sat around a camp fire as we watched the day disappear. 

Elie was fun to visit with. We share way too much bike enthusiasm. Probably good we don’t live close. It would be a contest as to who has the most recent gear and gadgets. You two have a safe drive back to Texas. 

Loaded up, Laura, Rhonda and I pedaled off out of camp. It was cool and we each needed an extra layer to start out. We rode the same trail we finished on yesterday for a few miles. Rails to trails are so comfortable to ride on. Not long after we left the trail, back roads took us past a church offering a post 5K run blueberry pancake breakfast. We were invited in. However, the line was long and we still had over 50 miles to ride. They said we could come back next year. 

We pedaled into Muskegon, the largest metropolis we’ve seen in a while. A bike path/trail took us around the bay. We eventually found the Lakeside Cafe, on, you guessed it, Lakeside Ave for second breakfast . Another winner. Fine food and fine service. Worth another visit. Maybe next year when we return for blueberry pancakes. 

Grand Haven was next with its maze of water ways and bridges and under passes to navigate. Then it was a relatively straight shot to Holland and it’s state park. The park was full. I mean they pack the campers in. But they also had no available sites. A policy, rule, law(depending on who you talk to) says Michigan state parks will not turn away human powered visitors  (e.g. hikers and bikers) away. The kid at the gate hadn’t read that far in his summer manual. But a radio call later and we were offered an auxiliary site (e.g. bare spot of ground). Actually it sure beats being pressed in between large motor homes. 

Tomorrow is a much needed rest day; laundry, grocery store, a bike shop, and most importantly, a motel room across town. 

Elberta to Ludington to Rothbury

The last two days blended into one… I have to ask Jon which campground was which? Thursday we rode from Elberta to Ludington. The first part had a few climbs to shock us awake. We climbed and rolled for the first 25 miles. We ate our second breakfast in Onekama, MI. Cute, coastal town but not many breakfast choices as they are suffering a worker shortage also. Took awhile (1 1/2 hours for breakfast) and then it was almost 1:00pm. We still had 40 miles to go, uff da.

The best part of the day, was when we left Manistee and had a great tailwind which took us into Ludington. We finally got to put it in cruise mode. Then we had about 4 miles of a headwind into our camp at Ludington State Park. We showered & headed to town for dinner. All slept well. 

Up this morning for an earlier start, but first we had a solid breakfast that Dave made us to get us on the road. He made bacon, eggs & coffee. Everyone got a good meal so we could cruise for longer before our first stop. Not as much climbing right off the bat & another tail wind. Made the miles click by, whenever you are on a road called Lakeshore, the scenery is good. We neared the bike path in Hart and had 20 miles of smooth sailing on the Rails to Tails bike way. Our friends, Dan & Tom, told us to check out Deb’s Cafe in Shelby. We had lunch there and it was very good. From Shelby to Rothbury was only 10 miles, so it was a nice ride to camp even on a full belly. 

We are settled for the night on Lucky Lake.

I’m Officially a Senior

It was a pleasant place to pitch a tent. Page and Adele are gracious Warm Shower Hosts. They have a 100 year old family vacation home on the shore of Lake Michigan near Leland.  They host when they are home. They allowed us to pitch tents on their spacious lawn and access the beach behind the house. They also gave us vital intel on the local bike trails that are not part of our route maps. 

We left at 8:30 and pedaled down the highway a few miles before we diverged around Little Traverse looking for the bike path. Soon we found we found the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail that followed the coast and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. More awesome bike trails, some of which was gravel. Being part of the NPS, we were warned numerous times of steep ascents and descents. Basically announcing the next challenge and reward. 

We entered Glen Arbor just in time for delicious second breakfast at Art’s Tarvern. Thanks Mark and Karen for the tip. 

Back on the trail we passed through old farms now part of Sleeping Bear. Then we came across actual dunes. 

In the town of Empire, the moment arrived. I became a made man. I am now officially a senior! At the NPS Sleeping Bear Visitor Center I announced to the clerk at the window that I travelled half way across the country on my bike to purchase my National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Senior Lifetime Pass! She didn’t believe me! But after producing sufficient proof that I am me and a resident US citizen, I was awarded my pass. 

The trails ended and we were back on the road working our way south along the shore passing Little and the larger just plane Platte Lake. After a couple or three sharp pulls up and over we rolled into Frankfort and then just a few miles to our camp at Betsie River Campsites. 

Clean, rekaxed, steaks on the grill, we ready ourselves fir the rain and stormed forecasted fir the night. 

Ok, ok, they just called a second time that my steak is ready….,

Cruisin’ Into Leland

Here are some views of today’s relaxing cruise on mostly bike trails through the towns of Acme(I’m not kidding, road runner), Traverse City, Sutton’s Bay, landing at a lovely Warm Shower hosts home on the shore of Lake Michigan in Leland. 

Rollin’ On Down the Road

Last night Rhonda’s sister Laura, her husband Dave and their friend Eli rolled into our Petroskey State Park camp around 7 last night. They drove two days from Houston in a van loaded with bikes and camping gear. Once camp was set, we ate a late dinner and returned to camp. 

Even after a long drive, Dave awoke and treated us to a fine camp breakfast and camp coffee on his white gas Coleman stove. While digesting we broke camp, set up the bikes, and loaded our gear. Dave would spend the day exploring northern Michigan in the van. Laura, Eli, Rhonda and I started pedaling out of camp and rode a bike trail that traveled through Petroskey along the shore towards Bay Harbor.  At one point the trail turned into a wooden boardwalk. After 20 miles we entered the popular village of Charlevoix where we found lunch. After Dave’s breakfast we all opted for 1/2 sandwiches. Something we all would regret 30 miles later. Escaping the traffic we left town and our route took us inland along farm roads. The roads undulated up and down reminding me of Wisconsin a week ago. We also lost some of the tree canopy that protected us from the sun’s direct heat. The route finally turned west back towards the lake’s shoreline as we neared Eastport. We found a market that provided us with needed food and some Gatorade. By now we were wishing we each had a full sandwich at lunch. And we still had 30 miles to go. The road continued its undulations and at times the grade jumped above 12%. It was turning out to be a banner first day for our newest riders. There was a nice easy ride along Torch Lake that had one rude climb out as we made it into Elk Rapids where Dave,who's smile indicated he enjoyed his drive over Mackinaw bridge, met us for dinner and shuttled us to camp.