Today was a rainy but beautiful 60-mile ride from St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula to Petosky in the Lower Peninsula. Much of the ride was south on M 119, which runs along a bluff line, mostly rolling but with several steep climbs. Both Gary and I think, regardless of the rain, that today was the best day of riding so far. Rolling terrain. Isolation. Tree tunnels. Spectacular views of the lake. The landscape was much of what we expected along HWY 2 in the UP, which was mostly flat and well serviced with stations and country grocery stores. Maybe the the road on the north side of the UP, the road that runs along Lake Superior--maybe a more northern route across the UP would be more of what we expected. More like M119 along the eastern shore of the lake.
Gary and I got wet today! The weather turned rainy right when the shuttle dropped us off on the south side of the Mackinaw Straits, and it was still raining, in fact beginning to pour, when we pedaled in to Petoskey. Rather than making camp in the rain--and sleeping in our tents with severe storm and tornado warnings--we checked into the Hampton Inn, dried our gear, did laundry, and crawled into dry, warm beds. Luxury!
I haven't mentioned Chris. Sunday morning in Manistique, Gary and I were using the WiFinat Hardee's, when Chris walked in and asked if we were the BALMers that she had been hearing about from our past tops. She was also biking around the lake and had been chasing us for the last several days. Chris road with us until we stopped at Hog Island Point. She was pushing on for St. Ignace. She was biking in one day what Gary and I bike in two.
Such is youth.
Follow the BALM.
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| At the Mackinaw Bridge |
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| Bikes and gear on truck shuttle |
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| Crossing the bridge |
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| Dropped off in Mackinaw City |
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| Still riding into spring |
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| Legs Inn |
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| Looking down over trees at Lake Michigan |
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| Harbor Springs |
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| 20 miles of tree tunnel |
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| View of Little Traverse Bay from Hampton Inn Rain Shelter |
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