Road Report


We had the chance, we thought we would give an update from the road.

Wes and I have made it to Alpena, Michigan. We are two days shy of rounding the top of the mitten. We both feel that we have been very fortunate so far. The one time the sky really opened up, we were in a restaurant eating. Other times we made it to camp before the rain started. We did not experience the big storm of last week. The roads have been good. On days of busy and or fast traffic we have had plenty of shoulder to use. The state park rule about accommodating bicyclists who roll into a full camp works. Our wives are with us for this leg of the trip. We had a great send off. We are truly blessed on this trip, so far.

We have discovered a little Michigan secret. The thumb is pretty cool! It has nice scenery and nice roads. The state parks and county parks are great. It isn't very crowded. It has been one of many pleasant surprises of the trip.

The last couple of days we have ridden parts of the old Shore Line East route. Very little has really changed. In some parts the road is a little better, others a little worse. Some of the old eating spots are still there and still good. The two big climbs out of Black River are still there and still big.

We are having a great time, and do we have the stories!

bc

Dispatch From the Road

We are on our way! The most difficult aspect of this type of endeavor is to
actually get going. Our first day ended in Algonac State Park. A great tail
wind, the excitement of embarking on the tour, and club members insuring that
we actually left town made the 71 miles seem easier than expected. We
celebrated the end of the first day with a meal in a good restaurant. Camp
cooking would have to wait until tomorrow.

We started out the day with oatmeal and coffee in camp. Coffee was made with
the French Press coffee makers that Brian bought us. These little things make
a really good cup of coffee. A perfectly good tour can be ruined by bad
coffee. That and bad food.

It is surprising to me how quickly Brian and I have resumed the rhythm of our
trip to Maine. We have found that we get up about the same time in the
morning. It takes us about the same amount of time to pack. We ride at the
same pace. We need to take breaks at about the same time. What is really
eerie is that we will end up ordering the same things in a restaurant.

We are following some of the precedents set on our trip to Maine. We have
pledged to avoid factory food. We don't stop at the first restaurant because
there is usually a more interesting place towards the center of town. (We
have already violated this once on the trip and have regretted it.)

We are making an effort to get off of the road relatively early, about 2 or 3
o'clock. This makes every thing easier. We are not rushing to set up camp
and eat before it gets dark. It gives us plenty of time to “"do the numbers"”
and write in our journals. And when we find a good bakery during the day, it
gives us a chance to have a cup of coffee and eat the pastry that we put into
our panniers.


Life is good.


Posted: Mon - June 26, 2006 at 09:25 PM      

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