9.4.2011, a set on Flickr.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Day 5
WE DID IT!!!
What a beautiful, fulfilling, emotional ride we had today. We left from Petoskey High School and out past the State Park where Kim, Barb and Jill got up early (after picking us up for dinner last night...awesome) and were out in front of the park to send us off. What a beautiful sunrise and beginning to our final day.
We went up through Harbor Springs and then out through Good Heart, the Tunnel of Trees, and through Cross Village. In Good Heart there was a General Store/Post Office/Real Estate Office that had us hooked up! They had grills going and fresh baked goods (coffee and donuts that were still warm...FAB). Overall, a pretty awesome stop.
The whole ride today followed the Lake Michigan shoreline and had some magnificent views. We went out through Wilderness State Park and along the way Becky, Tod and the kids connected with us. It was so great to see them, and it was at a point where the end was in sight and you just had this rush of emotion...Not sure about Randy, but for the three girls it was pretty overwhelming.
It was also pretty cool to be at the end of the ride at Mackinaw City High School and see all the people in their lawn chairs cheering you in...It starts to make you appreciate all the effort that went into the trip and what you had just accomplished. Not that it was ever about accomplishment; I'm not sure if it was even about anything but heading out to see the State on our bikes.
We rolled into the parking lot at almost the exact time Kathy arrived to pick Randy up, so it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with her as well. WHOOO HOOOO!!!!
You can always hop in your car in Lansing and be at the bridge within 4 hours (or less for some...) but we just spent over 25 hours on a bike touring our State. We saw a lot of things that most will never see when visiting Michigan. We were in towns you didn't know existed, places that went by so fast you didn't realize it was a town, and some towns that were no more. We live in a beautiful State, sometimes we just go too fast to appreciate all of it.
Well, thanks for letting us share our experience with you; we hope we brought some of the experience to you through the pictures and stories. Will have pictures up shortly, and more commentary later.
What a beautiful, fulfilling, emotional ride we had today. We left from Petoskey High School and out past the State Park where Kim, Barb and Jill got up early (after picking us up for dinner last night...awesome) and were out in front of the park to send us off. What a beautiful sunrise and beginning to our final day.
We went up through Harbor Springs and then out through Good Heart, the Tunnel of Trees, and through Cross Village. In Good Heart there was a General Store/Post Office/Real Estate Office that had us hooked up! They had grills going and fresh baked goods (coffee and donuts that were still warm...FAB). Overall, a pretty awesome stop.
The whole ride today followed the Lake Michigan shoreline and had some magnificent views. We went out through Wilderness State Park and along the way Becky, Tod and the kids connected with us. It was so great to see them, and it was at a point where the end was in sight and you just had this rush of emotion...Not sure about Randy, but for the three girls it was pretty overwhelming.
It was also pretty cool to be at the end of the ride at Mackinaw City High School and see all the people in their lawn chairs cheering you in...It starts to make you appreciate all the effort that went into the trip and what you had just accomplished. Not that it was ever about accomplishment; I'm not sure if it was even about anything but heading out to see the State on our bikes.
We rolled into the parking lot at almost the exact time Kathy arrived to pick Randy up, so it was pretty cool to be able to share that moment with her as well. WHOOO HOOOO!!!!
You can always hop in your car in Lansing and be at the bridge within 4 hours (or less for some...) but we just spent over 25 hours on a bike touring our State. We saw a lot of things that most will never see when visiting Michigan. We were in towns you didn't know existed, places that went by so fast you didn't realize it was a town, and some towns that were no more. We live in a beautiful State, sometimes we just go too fast to appreciate all of it.
Well, thanks for letting us share our experience with you; we hope we brought some of the experience to you through the pictures and stories. Will have pictures up shortly, and more commentary later.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Day 4
Holy Crap.
Whenever you meet someone who has riden the Dalmac before and they find out it is your first time, they tell lies. They always say you have done the hard part for today you've got the rest of the day made. Come to find out there is nothing but hill, after hill, after hill, after hill ahead you. But, the good news is we made it all the way thru to Petoskey.
We had a rain delay of at least one hour this morning. Where we met Derrick and Gordon a couple of guys from Ann Arbor. They rode with us for about 20 miles but they lost us on one of the biggest downhills we have seen. Shirley went down the hill at 41.9 miles per hour.
Then there were some more hills, hills and more hills. Shirley had a shoe issue and could not unclip from her bike, took a little tumble trying to get out. No injuries. Good thing for the mobile bike mechanic who travels with the Dalmac...He was on the job way quicker than the boys from Speedy, but he saved the day.
We then made it to East Jordan and the "Wall". The wall is a 2 mile up hill ride that turns into 2/10 of a mile up hill that is an 18% grade. Not many people ride up this hill. However, Kelly rocked the wall! She rode all the way to the top. We only saw two other people make it while we were there...NICE JOB KELLY!!!
As we continued thru Boyne City we hit a mile and a half up hill climb that was brutal. Then we went on to Walloon Lake (did not see Ernest Hemmingway) and more hills. We thought we were close to the end when we discovered road construction and our route was extended by another 3 miles of hills.
Today's ride and blog entry was all about hills. Just so you know we all "rocked" the hills.
We are looking forward to tomorrow's ride and completing our journey.
Whenever you meet someone who has riden the Dalmac before and they find out it is your first time, they tell lies. They always say you have done the hard part for today you've got the rest of the day made. Come to find out there is nothing but hill, after hill, after hill, after hill ahead you. But, the good news is we made it all the way thru to Petoskey.
We had a rain delay of at least one hour this morning. Where we met Derrick and Gordon a couple of guys from Ann Arbor. They rode with us for about 20 miles but they lost us on one of the biggest downhills we have seen. Shirley went down the hill at 41.9 miles per hour.
Then there were some more hills, hills and more hills. Shirley had a shoe issue and could not unclip from her bike, took a little tumble trying to get out. No injuries. Good thing for the mobile bike mechanic who travels with the Dalmac...He was on the job way quicker than the boys from Speedy, but he saved the day.
We then made it to East Jordan and the "Wall". The wall is a 2 mile up hill ride that turns into 2/10 of a mile up hill that is an 18% grade. Not many people ride up this hill. However, Kelly rocked the wall! She rode all the way to the top. We only saw two other people make it while we were there...NICE JOB KELLY!!!
As we continued thru Boyne City we hit a mile and a half up hill climb that was brutal. Then we went on to Walloon Lake (did not see Ernest Hemmingway) and more hills. We thought we were close to the end when we discovered road construction and our route was extended by another 3 miles of hills.
Today's ride and blog entry was all about hills. Just so you know we all "rocked" the hills.
We are looking forward to tomorrow's ride and completing our journey.
Friday, September 2, 2011
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