Three Michigan Rail-Trail Highlights

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After leaving Mackinac Island, we drove across the Mackinaw Bridge to start our brief tour of selected down-state rail-trails.

On July 5th, Lissa and I rode the North East State Trail from Mackinaw City to Aloha State Park.
We stopped on a trestle to take in the scenery and the watercraft below.
The brisk “Aloha” morning of July 6th had us lingering over breakfast discussing who wanted to ride and how far.
After the weather warmed we drove to a trailhead to “tag-team” ride a portion of the North Central State Trail. Lissa and Jude began riding while I drove the RV to the next trailhead.
Then Lissa and I rode on to Otsego Lake State Park, while Jude drove ahead to check in to our campsite.
July 7th would be our final opportunity to ride together, so we decided to sample the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail. Jude and I started riding from Sand Lake, while Lissa drove to its terminus in Grand Rapids.
Lissa then parked the RV and rode back to join us in finishing the segment.
Pleased with our pleasant rides together, we drove to our final campsite at Hoffmaster State Park.
Before we left Hoffmaster SP, we visited their excellent sand dunes interpretive center and climbed to the top for a dramatic view.
Having reached Lake Michigan, Papa E couldn’t resist the opportunity to take a ceremonial plunge! The Great Lakes all connect, so a plunge in one is a plunge in all!

Tour Da Yoop, Eh!

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Manistique to St Ignace

Due to time constraints, we drove 80% of the planned route, riding only the final 23 miles. It was a truly magical ride!

Lissa and Jude Join the Journey

Lissa and Jude arrived during the night! They’d flown from Austin to Milwaukee early Friday, picked up their new RV, and then driven it to Manistique.

We visited over a lazy, late breakfast.
Then we worked all afternoon prepping the van for our trip.
Lissa worked on the van’s interior while I puzzled through a way to securely carry three bikes on it’s front end.
It was early evening by the time we found lunch at a delightful Independence Day Festival in Manistique.
At last, we set out on a shakedown drive to St Ignace.

Honoring the Route

Even though we’d blown our chance to ride all of my concluding TDY segment, I suggested we drive the intended route to see what we’d missed.

As we neared St Ignace we looked for a good place for Jude and me to start riding the final leg of my Tour Da Yoop route.
Lissa drove our support van.
It was a sunset ride with a spectacular finish at Mackinac Bridge that capped off a wonderful day of teamwork!

Tour Da Yoop, Eh!

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Marquette to Munising

Already on a tight timetable for catching an afternoon ferry to Grand Island, I added 10 miles to the day’s ride by missing a turn.

Check out my Ride on Strava.

https://strava.app.link/uasRfdB7jrb

I caught the day’s last ferry! And I camped in solitude at a site named Road’s End.
Slowly walking a path gradually revealed, moment-by-moment, glimpses of the deeper walkabout hidden within my larger journey.
The profound significance of PLACE… and the immeasurable variety of beings that LIVE there.
The choreography between water and air… two vast, global fluid bodies that interact with flows and forces complex and dynamic. And the flows and forces of my own being take part in the dance!
Might the surviving tree grieve the loss of it’s beloved, which it lovingly embraced over so many years? Might it have felt empathy and compassion throughout it’s partner’s decline?
Might not all creation be connected in mysterious, miraculous ways we rarely perceive?
Grand Island and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore… both places of wonder, beauty and timeless wisdom.

Tour Da Yoop, Eh!

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Houghton to Marquette

Route included 30 miles of gravel and sand!

Check out my ride on Strava.

https://strava.app.link/I81P11Hydrb

Stiff headwinds and crosswinds made riding difficult. Steep hill in Houghton brought me to this splended Victorian courthouse.
After L’Anse wind became a tailwind, which aided me in getting to my campsite at “Big Erick’s Bridge” across the Huron River.
Riding on gravel with a loaded bike on skinny tires is really challenging. Especially when the road was more sand than gravel!