My daughter Maria (now 13) and I rode from Ann Arbor, to the Lake Michigan shoreline at Grand Haven, and then north along the shore (as best we could) to Mackinaw City. The highs started at 85F the first day, and then went to 90-95F+ every day thereafter...very brutal conditions for riding. But at least there was no rain this year (until the afternoon after we arrived in Mackinaw City).
We start from Ann Arbor, going to gramma's house in Grand Haven...
...a favorite stop, the Mill Pond Bakery in Munith.
...We made it, 176 miles in one day (into 10mph wind at 85F+, carrying 2 full packs).
(We had done this twice before in previous years, but never carrying packs.)
Second night in downtown Manistee, after about 130 miles riding along Lake Michigan.
It was another hot, hot, day.
Next dawn, the police are out in force right in front of our motel window...
What are they doing? Note the cable in the upper left next to the tree. That is hanging
from a huge crane. They are about to lift a jeep out of the river, which had been
there for over 30 years, and there was a skeleton in it!! No kidding.
The day before some divers had accidently found this jeep and the driver
who disappeared 30 years ago. No one knew then that he had driven into the river.
Forested hills near Arcadia, MI
Looking off the shoreline hills out into Lake Michigan -- Manitou Island maybe.
Gramma told us to watch out for the bears!
Sleeping Bear dunes (weird colors)
About to go down a big hill near Glen Arbor
Where we stayed in downtown Glen Arbor, 3rd night out.
Folgarelli's in Traverse City...why we rode all this way...
to eat some of their great sandwiches! (That's maria under the umbrella to the left of the bike.)
It was noon and about 95F this day.
Later the same afternoon---the Cairn---this is supposed to be at 45th parallel. It has one
stone from each county in Michigan.
(Another
cairn pic its right on the edge of a huge cherry orchard!
Late evening view from Northwind Resort on south Torch Lake, our 4th night out.
Big Rock Nuclear Power plant.
Note the low water level in Lake Michigan -- that grass/rock field is usually under water!
another view...
We're getting close now!
Relaxing in Harbor Springs after a short, but very hot, fifth day!
North and west of Harbor Springs -- not many people, lots of bears.
I haven't seen one of the old commercial fishing boats for years.
Typical Lk Michigan dune/forest.
That is the end of the Mackinaw bridge off in the distance, over the road.
Its a hot, humid, hazy morning (again).
There it is, from the south shore.
We arrive in Mackinaw!
(wait a minute, whose taking this picture!)
Tourist trap motels can do some strange things.
Mackinaw Island -- no motorized vehicles.
Note the rain -- the heat finally broke in heavy t-storms just after we arrived at noon.
Mackinaw Island -- note the lilacs are in bloom.
...under construction...
