Day 23

Last post on the blog site. Had another spectacular day on the island. Comin' home tomorrow to arrive on Tuesday. 

Day 22

Amazing day on Mackinac. Rode around island and up and down the trails to see these beautiful sights:

And the Grand Hotel...

Day 21

Enjoyed a stunning ride along the coast of Lake Michigan today. 

Arrived on Mackinac Island for a 3 day stay. Having bike trouble so will be coming home after our relaxing weekend  on the island. Staying in a quiet little spot far away from the center of town. 

Day 20

Happy 4th of July!!

Turned over our 1000th mile today. 

See Gary's bike art:

Symbolic of our many tire repairs. 

Rode to Bay View to spend the 4th with the Solms family at their lovely family cottage. 

Day 19

Had a gorgeous ride along Torch Lake and then the hills came back again to take us to Ellsworth and the House on the Hill for the night. 

View from front porch. 

Day 18

Moving west through Interlochen where brother George went to music camp a long time ago.  

Then through Traverse City in time for the Cherry Festival...

and ended day in Acme. 

Day 17

Mesick, Michigan. Mushroom capital of Michigan! Famous for their morel mushrooms. And we're staying at the Mushroom Cap Motel. No lie. 

Day 16

Heaven! Rode another section of the trail today to end in Reed City. Staying at The Little House on a farm a couple of miles off the path. Truly gorgeous!

Day 15

Half the day spent figuring out bike tire problems. Getting to know nice guys at Jack's Bike Shop in Bay City well. Got back on the road in the afternoon and had a beautiful ride to Clare. 30 miles of it put us on the Pere Marquette bike path. Best rail trail  we've ever ridden. 

Day 14

Bike fix day!  We're in Bay City, Michigan getting a bike overhaul. Tires were giving out on us. New day tomorrow and back to riding. 

Day 13

Back in the USA via another ferry to Marine City, Michigan. 

Moved along the St. Claire River on a lovely bike route today. Connected to a bike trail that crossed a trestle and took pictures from the overlook. 

Days 11 and 12

Oh Canada! We took a ferry to Pelee Island and then another to Leamington, Ontario, home of some ugly fish flies. 

Yesterday we biked the farmlands of Ontario to Wallaceburg. 

Day 10

Pulled in to the west side of Cleveland today after 77 miles of pedaling. Glad to be here and close to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

Day 9

Entered Ohio today riding from Meadville, PA to Conneaut, Ohio. Staying at Lakefront Motel on Lake Erie. 

Day 8

Nice easy day of riding. Rode 45 miles from Mercer to Meadville, PA. Tomorrow we see Lake Erie. 

Day 7

Traveled up and down the hills of PA.

Beautiful Amish countryside. 

Ended day in Mercer in time to hear a concert at the court house. 

Day 6

Went through Pittsburgh today. Really lovely area near the Point and stadiums. Crossed the Ohio River at least 4 times. 

Day 5

Long day of riding to find a place to stay tonight. 71 miles and ended up in Homestead, PA just outside of Pittsburgh. Lovely spot along the river. 

Day 4

Traveled to Ohiopyle,PA. Crossed the Mason-Dixon line and continental divide on the GAP. 

Day 3

Made it to Frostburg, MD. Two new tires in Cumberland after a rough but interesting  day on the C&O. 

Caught Greater Allegheny Passage in Cumberland.

Happy to see the Trail Inn at end of day. 

Day 2

Rode the C&O and Western Maryland Rail Trail to get to Little Orleans. 

Stayed at quaint B&B. 

Ate at Bill's. Check out the dollar bill ceiling. 

Day 1

Left the house with lots of help from our friends. Signs all the way down the road. 

 

Went 58 miles today to Kearneysville. Beautiful countryside and entered WV. 

Route Information so you can tag along!

Lise and I plan to pedal right out of the side yard and down the lane on Saturday morning June 15. Heading north we will intersect the C&O canal at Hancock, Maryland which connects to the Great Alleghany Passage rail trail to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From there we take the Erie Connector route skirting along Lake Erie to Sandusky,Ohio. We will catch a ferry to the other side of Lake Erie and pedal a couple of days in Canada before entering back into the US. From there straight up through Michigan to Mackinac Island and the Upper Pennisula. Then it is all down hill through Wisconsin and Minnesota to Minneapolis. At that point or the completion of 36 days we will rent a car and drive back to Virginia.

BOB

Giving BOB a trial run. 

Gathering Gear!

Tent setting practice. 

Getting Started!

Running a test to see if this works!