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Itinerary (The Old One - New One Coming Soon)

Day 1 - 48 miles: Mackinaw City to Petosky

Day 2 - 32 miles: Petosky to Ellsworth

Day 3 - 41 miles: Ellsworth to Williamsburg

Day 4 - 27 miles: Williamsburg to Interlochen

Day 5 - 57 miles! Interlochen to Luther

Day 6 - 55 miles: Luther to Hardy Dam

Day 7 - 50 miles: Hardy Dam to Belding

Day 8 - 0 miles: Rest!!!

Day 9 - 50 miles: Belding to Yankee Springs

Day 10 - 48 miles: Yankee Springs to Oak Shores Resort (close to Mendon)

Day 11 - 34 miles: Oak Shores Res. to Potawatomie Rec. Area (between Union City and Coldwater)

Day 12 - 34 miles: Potawatomie... to Osseo...home, sweet home!

OR

Day 11 - 68 miles: Oak Shores... to Osseo...home, sweet home!

That's 476 miles, only 173 more miles than
you would drive in a car on major highways!

Equipment

ACQUIRED
bikes
riding clothing
bike map (from Adventure Cycling)
bike maintenance/repair book
bike tools
air pump

riding gloves

trailer - Burley Cargo (Ebay!!!)
tent

sleeping bags
water bottles

rain gear

spare inner-tubes

inner-tube patch kit

foam sleeping pad

rack with bags

cyclometer

map holder

mess kit

first-aid

pepper spray

propane stove

lantern/flashlight

sun block

Riding Log

4-12-09 about 10 miles 52 degrees, windy, sunny

I am out of shape, Alex was great on his first ride on the new bike.

4-15-09 about 10 miles 56 degrees, sunny

The same route as the 12th, but felt much easier. Alex is getting more confident on his new bike.

4-17-09 20 miles 70 degrees, sunny, headwind for the 1st 10 miles, tailwind last 10

We rode to Wal-mart & then ate at the Chinese buffet before returning home. Alex's longest ride!

4-18-09 Took my bike to the shop for a tune-up...no bike until Friday...cold, wet week anyway.

4-24-09 7 miles - got the bike back from the shop, put the racks and packs on each bike and had just enough time before sunown for a short ride. Bought lots of equipment today. $$$ - Yikes!

4-25-09 10 miles - very windy, but great morning temperatures.

4-30-09 I wish the weather would improve...rainy & cold all week. Trailer arrives tomorrow!

5-1-09 15 miles in the rain, and we both feel great! Trailer is here and in the box.

5-2-09 13.6 miles (someone got a cyclometer), windy, hilly, Alex was pulling ahead today!

5-3-09 10 miles busy day...wished we had time to ride further.

5-5-09 15 miles...did not feel difficult at all for either of us. We are getting closer to where we need to be for this ride!

5-8-09 23 miles...our longest ride without a significant rest time in the middle. We both feel great!

5-11-09 10.6 miles...a little cool at first, but it's still a nice night

5-12-09 25 miles... beautiful day with some strong head winds

5-19-09 14 miles...very hilly route today. Alex was whipped for the last 4 miles.

5-20-09 20 miles felt good, nice and warm out too!

5-21-09 27.5 mile solos ride. Alex had soccer. Stopped at some friends' house in Reading for a visit. Good time, good times. I have decide the trip will be reversed. We are headed north instead.

5-22-09 12 miles on bike, 3/4 mile walking the bike (See "Robin, Come Get Me" post")

5-23-09 34 miles. Best bike ride we've had. Went to Pioneer, OH, had lunch, and meandered back through several roads in Hillsdale County.

5-25-09 16 miles...alittle cool this morning, but nice and sunny.

5-29 & 30-09 83.5 miles...Pokagon trip!

6-03-09 12.5 miles...Alex is still getting over his bug..cough, cough...

6-05-09 18 miles...T minus 10 days!

6-07-09 14 miles...would have been 18, but Alex had a flat. It was getting dark, so Robin saved us!

6-09-09 21 miles..wow, was it nice out for this ride! Big ride is gettin' close!

6-12-09 12 miles

6-13-09  17 miles - almost fell off the bike when both feet got stuck in the stirrups while I was stopping. 

6-14-09  10.5 miles - nice and easy for today. Tomorrow it gets interesting!

Our Bikes

I have a 24-speed Specialized Sirrus Road Bike. I don't know much about the brand or other brands for that matter. It was a Christmas/Birthday gift from the family in 2006. There was a lot sneakiness going on to keep it a secret. With help from the neighbors, I had no idea until Christmas morning! The first few times I road it, I had no idea how to downshift. It is definitely not the kind of bike we all grew up with. It is amazingly light. I love riding it.

It was fun getting Alex's bike. It was also a surprise, but at spring break of this year (2009). It was hidden in the shed. I asked him to get some tools for me and he found it. His bike is very similar in appearance to mine, but is a 24 speed Trek. Fitting him for this bike was a challenge, and he will probably outgrow the thing in a couple years. It should fit Robin nicely though. Can we get her hooked?