Alden, MI - Monday, July 24

Petoskey, MI - Sunday, July 23

Today's ride brings back a lot of memories of earlier rides I have done with Karen in the Mackinac area.

Today, we started as a group because of the complexities of crossing the Mackinaw bridge. We had to take a back route to the bridge toll entrance because bikes are not allowed on the regular roadway. I suspect we did not take the best back route, because we had to ride our bikes across a big lawn for about 100 yards; we should have been able to find the route the toll bridge employees take to work, but we just winged it. For those of you not familiar with the bridge, it is the worlds longest (maybe 2nd longest) suspension bridge. It is 4 lane toll bridge built in the 1950's, which connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas.

When we arrived at the entrance, we had to put our bikes in the back of two pick-up trucks, where they were hauled across. We rode as passengers in a car or in one of the trucks. There were only 5 of us, since Ann had crossed yesterday to meet her husband John, in Petosky. We met up with Ann that night in camp. Going through Mackinaw City, we found a Church, where Andy and I attended Mass.

One of the highlights of the bike ride was the "tunnel of trees": this is a section where we ride a narrow road through an old forrest, with trees that cover the road densely. Very pretty. We got lots of glimpses of Lake Michigan as we biked along expensive real estate.

We camped at the city park, which was right on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Alden, MI - Monday, July 24

We broke camp in the rain, had breakfast in the rain, and started riding in the rain. But the sky cleared about mid-morning and it was a nice day. The temperature got up into the 80's after we had enjoyed several days in the 70's.

Cherries are in season, and we are in the middle of Michigan's cherry growing region. I stopped and feasted on a hugh cherry tort at a road-side stand. Yum!

The ride was short, but we had a strong headwind, so it was an average day. We camped at a campground on Torch Lake. Ann and Hans cooked, and made corn on the cob. Yum. This was not local corn, but the first corn of the season always tastes great.