Day 40 Port Huron MI to London Ontario Canada

Day 40

We are crossing into Canada this morning first thing. We are required to all wear our ABB jerseys(the red white and blue ones). Then they close the bridge for us and we cross. Customs clears us through after asking if anyone had any weapons. Yeah, I've got my Uzi in my bike bag...So we're off through the farmlands of southern Ontario and on to London, a small hamlet of 350,000 or so.

The weather is pleasant for the 88 miles. The ride was supposed to be 81 but a detour mistake early on cost us extra miles. oh well, they told us there would be no extra charge!

Here's our hero posing in front of the Welcome to Ontario sign. And the choatic group all trying to get pics of the sign at the same time. Its what we do...

The flags on the American side are a tribute to those lost in the 9/11 disaster. They are at half mast permanently.

An interesting display on somebody's driveway...

There isn't much to comment on today. The ride is flat, through unending miles of farm land, with little new or exciting. The dinner experience is one of the poorest on the trip. Some evenings it's a buffet and once in a while we odrder from a preselected list. Such was this evening. The food was so slow in coming...can you say 55 ravenous cyclists!

Day 39 Birch Run MI to Port Huron MI

Day 39
It's the dawn of another flawless day in Michigan! Cooler this morning, probably in the 60's. We have 87 miles to do so it's a 6 am breakfast and 7:30 load and we're off. The first SAG is at an artesian spring. The water runs 24/7. Some riders preferred the town water but I liked the artesian stuff. And then the small hamlet of Millington...a bit bigger than our Millington and this one has its own zip code.


Wisconsin planted these purple flowers along a lot of their roadways and I noticed this stretch of Michigan did the same. Not sure what they are but they are prolific...and pretty...

A lot of corn and soybean fields have signs indicating the type of seeds used in the fields and they are marked like ths field. This practice was noted in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well.

Ah, I'm so glad that once again that the brown stuff was adequately marked so as to preclude an inadvertant step in it...ah, humor...and here's the state highway department of Michigan doing their fine work identifying hazards for us...apparently there is a need...only in Michigan...

I wasn't sure what a Hogrun was, like maybe some local event with pigs? But no, it was for Harley riders...

And finally we spied Lake Huron off to the east of us. Really beautiful blue water...someone said it was the sand bottom that gave it the color...and the bridge over the canal...Tomorrow morning we ride over it...

Day 38 Mt Pleasant MI to Birch Run MI

Day 38

Today our ride is 75 miles and its very flat. Thunderstorms just blew through our path but have exited the area and gone south. Its 81 degrees with very high humidity and a fair breeze from the SSW. We end of going south for the first 25 miles much to everyone's dismay...I think some one is testing our mettle...or not...


We had a detour around some bridge replacement project that took us about 3 miles out on a dirt road. It was smooth and hard packed and here it is! Then some of us stopped at Nixon's little market and had chocolate milk...its supposed to be a good choice for during the ride and after. So here's a group having a break...its amazing what little things like this moment in time do to enrich the overall journey...carpe diem...

The on to Alma, MI which apparently has Scottish ties. They host some Highland games every year...a local event, but taken very seriously here...ah, more local lore...

Its interesting to see what local folks put in their yards...a cannon??? and old truck with flowers growing round it???

Just an interesting aside...the past two days in Michigan, I've noticed mobile homes in the countryside on small parcels and lots of rather working class homes...none of which were to be seen in Wisconsin or Minnesota. Yards are not kept as well here either...yet the roadsides are remarkably clear of rubbish...hmmm

Day 37 Ludington MI to Mt Pleasant MI

day 37
We're off at 6:30 today, for a delightful 113 miles through central Michigan. The sun is just breaking over the horizon as we start pedaling. Its cool but very comfortable for this Oregon boy! We pass several plantations of Christmas trees...makes me think of Western Oregon! And then there are lots of asparagus fields...which are apparently harvested in the spring. Interesting looking plants...


And here's a 1951 Packard for $6500. Drive it home!

This part of Michigan reminds me of home so much...Lots of green trees, pines, maples, etc. and this pic of trees overhanging the roadway..really sweet! The roads are very good today and we make excellent time over the rolling hills. I stop about 11:30 for a SAG and sandwich and then later at a highly recommended stop at a small ice cream store...mmm mint chocolate chip...mmm...enough sugar to make it the rest of the 113 miles into Mount Pleasant, where I find this wonderful street sign...hmmm, let's see...Crapo Street in Mt Pleasant....hmmm....ah, I digress...a good ride ending in a smile...sweet

Day 36 Manitowoc WI to Ludington MI

Day 36
We needed a day off and so here it is! We have to bike from the motel to the ferry landing, which is about 3 miles and we have 3 hours to get there! So its almost a day off! The weather is beautiful and so after a casual breakfast, I'm being juvenile again mocking a collision with this car in front of our breakfast stop...kids....


The Manitowoc Maritime Museum is our first(and only) stop.

When I worked at the Port, I procured some vessel name planks for the office and here are more of same from the Lake Michigan area. Curious that there is a LA Simpson here...just wonder if there is any connection to the Simpsons of our area????

The SS Badger is 410 feet long and can carry 180 cars and 600 passengers...and 55 bikes!

It is a coal burning steamship and makes the 60 mile crossing in under 4 hours...18 mph actually.

It sterns in and unloads neatly. Here are all of our bikes.


And I immediately found a lounge chair on the on the fore deck. Yeah, you know me....I napped all the way across in the sun... This is the Wisconsin side with a marina...

And the lighthouse on the breakwater on the Wisconsin side and then the Michigan side...

Just some shots of the Michigan side...nice marina facilities...(I wonder if they need a harbormaster?)....nah, probably not an old one anyway!

And here's a stud muffin...oh, no, its just me...illegally entering the state of Michigan...

All in all, a very fun and relaxing day. Ahoy...

Day 35 Fond du Lac WI to Manitowoc WI

Day 35

What a pleasnat day! A mere 57 miles and the end of the 4th leg of this journey! Tomorrow we ride the fery Badger across Lake Michigan to ...how about that, Michigan! Today I rode slower and really took in the scenery, the smells...and the companionship of several other riders.
The lake effect from Lake Michigan had the temperature in the 70's today, which is very pleasnat for late July. And the humidity was lower as well.
So here we are this morning in Fond du Lac, at the Ramada, loading our bags yet another day.


Here's Dan flexing for the camera!

After a few miles today, I came upon this sign...I wondered if this wasn't a bit discriminatory in a way...and I never did see this person either...hmmm

And then there was this wind farm? Or is it a crop of wind turbines? They appeared to be doing well...seemed healthy and all...and yes, they were all working...

In the small unincorporated town St Peter was this beautiful church on the hill.

And here's an oldy but goody. Don't know the vintage but it was in excellent shape.

And then there was the scenery of the day. Lush fields, flowers, hay, corn...everything but the purple mountain majesty...oh well, you'd had to have been there!

Day 34 Wisconsin Dells WI to Fond du Lac WI

Day 34
Nice weather, although we had thunderstorms through the night and woke up to wet roads. So 83 miles through very green hills and farms and small towns. Typical Americana. These pics are representative of the area.

This was a park which was along the route today. It was a slow news day.

And here's a pic of a sign in Ripon, WI...Interesting...

We are off to Manitowoc tomorrow...only 57 miles...we be smilin'