Planning for RALPH


A tale of two trips?

Two years ago, at this time of the year, Wes and I were dreaming of, and planning for, our Maine trip. Neither of us had ever done any self contained touring. Both of us had been to Bar Harbor, Maine and to the Niagara Falls, but not to many of the other places we had planned to pass through. Mountains? Nope, never rode our bikes over one, We were truly venturing out into the unknown for both of us. We did not know where we were going, but we had the Adventure Cycling maps to guide our way.

This year, Wes and I are dreaming of and planning for Riding Around the Lower Peninsula H....(you supply the appropriate H, humorously, hopefully, hilariously)or as we call it RALPH, the tour. Curiously enough we are planning to start at Wes' house in Trenton and end at mine in Flat Rock. We are not pros at it, but both of us have completed an extended self contained tour. We have been to just about every point on the route. Chances are high we have even ridden our bikes on about 3/4 of the roads we are going to take. We have ridden over every type of terrain the lower peninsula has to offer. We are not using any Adventure Cycling Maps, as there are none available. We both have been studying state and county maps.

The trips are working out to be about the same in mileage, RALPH the tour, being possibly a little longer. We may spend a longer time on RALPH. Our brides will be able to visit us along the way. Rumor has it that they BOTH might ride with us a day or two as well. With this long distance trip, we will never really be very far from home. We will never be more than five hours by car.

Besides our wives, various Downriver Cycling Club members have inquired about riding part of the trip with us. My personal fantasy is that we meet up with the club at Willow Metro Park early on the last day and ride the last 8 miles back to my house.

This trip is going to be fun!

Posted: Fri - November 18, 2005 at 05:56 AM      

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