Tuesday, July 28. 55 miles
Route: Ludington - Carrieville State Forest near Luther:
We took our time leaving the Ramada Inn in Ludington the next morning, after buying needed supplies, blogging and doing laundry. We left via US 10 for a short way heading for a county road and met up with the friendly Michigan drivers who like to keep it close to the shoulder. We rode about 55 miles that day to camp at Carrieville State Forest near to Luther, breaking a spoke on 
the way. It was a rather rustic camping experience: pumping our water for cooking and gathering wood to cook over since we were out of propane. We had the entire campground to ourselves. Reuben had such great fun sawing the wood into usable pieces with his Leatherman while I tried to rinse off by pumping and quickly sticking body parts under the water before it ran out. Hot chocolate and watching Reuben's great campfire (our first of this whole trip!) finished off our evening in a lovely way.
the way. It was a rather rustic camping experience: pumping our water for cooking and gathering wood to cook over since we were out of propane. We had the entire campground to ourselves. Reuben had such great fun sawing the wood into usable pieces with his Leatherman while I tried to rinse off by pumping and quickly sticking body parts under the water before it ran out. Hot chocolate and watching Reuben's great campfire (our first of this whole trip!) finished off our evening in a lovely way.Wednesday, July 29. 74 miles
Route: Luther to Cedar Springs: Old 63 - Hawkins - Mackinac Trail (210) - White Pine Bike Trail.
After fixing the spoke with the trusty kevlar string again and eating what ever we could find in the packs, we headed out to find a 
quicker way to go south than indicated by the Adventure Cycling maps. Using a combo of GPS and state maps, Reuben devised a plan. We decided that Reed City (really cute downtown) looked big enough for a proper '2nd breakfast' place. When we arrived there, we happened upon a bike trail with a sign for trail maps at a deli nearby. The lady at the deli was very helpful, giving us the White Pine Bike Trail info, telling us where it was paved and gravel, as well as the best place in town for a full breakfast, the Nestle Inn Cafe - just 2 blocks away. As we headed out another lady stopped us, having overheard our breakfast question and asked us where we had been sent. When we told her, she confirmed that 
that was right as she had just left there and it was excellent. Another example of people trying to help us out. The trail was fantastic where it was paved, a little rough otherwise. We camped at the Lakewood Camp Park in Cedar Springs. It was a really nice place, just a mile or so from the trail. Our 'tenting neighbor', Kim was from Royal Oak/Kimball and was quite interested in our journey. We spent some time trying to find if we knew some people in common. I'm afraid her memory was much better than mine.
quicker way to go south than indicated by the Adventure Cycling maps. Using a combo of GPS and state maps, Reuben devised a plan. We decided that Reed City (really cute downtown) looked big enough for a proper '2nd breakfast' place. When we arrived there, we happened upon a bike trail with a sign for trail maps at a deli nearby. The lady at the deli was very helpful, giving us the White Pine Bike Trail info, telling us where it was paved and gravel, as well as the best place in town for a full breakfast, the Nestle Inn Cafe - just 2 blocks away. As we headed out another lady stopped us, having overheard our breakfast question and asked us where we had been sent. When we told her, she confirmed that 
that was right as she had just left there and it was excellent. Another example of people trying to help us out. The trail was fantastic where it was paved, a little rough otherwise. We camped at the Lakewood Camp Park in Cedar Springs. It was a really nice place, just a mile or so from the trail. Our 'tenting neighbor', Kim was from Royal Oak/Kimball and was quite interested in our journey. We spent some time trying to find if we knew some people in common. I'm afraid her memory was much better than mine. Thursday, July 30. 46 miles
Route: Cedar Springs - Dorr
We headed out on the bike trail and didn't get too far before we found a nice looking town called Rockford and smelled food. We asked some local cyclists starting out on a day ride and were directed to the Peppermill Cafe. They also gave us some ideas on how to get around Grand 
Rapids at the end of the White Pine Trail. After breakfast further down the trail, we met a group of ladies on a multi-day ride together. We had a great time visiting with them. They were pretty jazzed about our journey. After talking with them, we decided to go to the visitors center in downtown Grand Rapids to get some bicycle maps of Michigan. In the meantime, the ladies who directed us to breakfast in Rockford were waiting for us "where the trail ends" concerned about the way they had sent us! We assured them that we had changed our minds and were heading downtown. The downtown was easier to negotiate than we anticipated and while Reuben got maps, I talked with a young man, Andrew, and his friend about biking. He had biked in Asia and we shared blog sites. His is http://www.fueledbyrice.org/. The rest of the day we monkeyed around with a couple bike trails that were a little confusing and finally found 
our way to another real nice family campground in Dorr, MI called The Hungry Horse. We always strap our walking sandals to the front panniers and when unloading Reuben came up with just one. I was the sandal strapper and evidently not worthy of the task as somewhere that day it came loose. Sorrryy! The campground was full of young families with lots of children and news of our arrival spread. Some stopped by to see our set up and asked lots of questions. What fun! Let me tell you what I know about Dorr: A town that likes their old cars and loves!!! ice cream. We rode the bike about 1 mile to the Dairy Barn where we had been assured we would find food and ice cream for dinner. We sure did - plus a car show happening behind the Dairy Barn. People drove in, parked their cars, waited in line for ice cream and walked around looking at everyone's cars while enjoying ice cream. We ordered burgers and sausages, talked with some folks who disbelieved our tall tail of riding a bike from California, and sat down to watch the action. For about 1 1/2 hours, there was an ice cream line at this place. We left room for ice cream and joined the line once again.
Rapids at the end of the White Pine Trail. After breakfast further down the trail, we met a group of ladies on a multi-day ride together. We had a great time visiting with them. They were pretty jazzed about our journey. After talking with them, we decided to go to the visitors center in downtown Grand Rapids to get some bicycle maps of Michigan. In the meantime, the ladies who directed us to breakfast in Rockford were waiting for us "where the trail ends" concerned about the way they had sent us! We assured them that we had changed our minds and were heading downtown. The downtown was easier to negotiate than we anticipated and while Reuben got maps, I talked with a young man, Andrew, and his friend about biking. He had biked in Asia and we shared blog sites. His is http://www.fueledbyrice.org/. The rest of the day we monkeyed around with a couple bike trails that were a little confusing and finally found 
our way to another real nice family campground in Dorr, MI called The Hungry Horse. We always strap our walking sandals to the front panniers and when unloading Reuben came up with just one. I was the sandal strapper and evidently not worthy of the task as somewhere that day it came loose. Sorrryy! The campground was full of young families with lots of children and news of our arrival spread. Some stopped by to see our set up and asked lots of questions. What fun! Let me tell you what I know about Dorr: A town that likes their old cars and loves!!! ice cream. We rode the bike about 1 mile to the Dairy Barn where we had been assured we would find food and ice cream for dinner. We sure did - plus a car show happening behind the Dairy Barn. People drove in, parked their cars, waited in line for ice cream and walked around looking at everyone's cars while enjoying ice cream. We ordered burgers and sausages, talked with some folks who disbelieved our tall tail of riding a bike from California, and sat down to watch the action. For about 1 1/2 hours, there was an ice cream line at this place. We left room for ice cream and joined the line once again.Friday, July 31
Route: Dorr - Kalamazoo
The next morning, we thought that the Colonial Kitchen in Dorr looked like the local breakfast place and we were right, making an entrance as usual in our full cycling attire. We have noticed a difference between the people of the Midwest and west in that the westerners come right up and ask questions unabashedly while in the Midwest, people look but don't ask. This morning was no exception: everyone stopped and looked for a long moment but no one talked. I did notice a group in the corner though - all adults and one young lady obviously very interested. We got our coffee and ordered and before long, Erica (about ten, we think) was silently standing between us with a huge smile on her face and big eyes. I asked her if she had questions for us and she nodded yes so we invited her to sit down with us. 
When asked if she had a list she nodded no. So we invited her to go back for paper and pencil and back she came with a notebook: a budding author, journalist. We continued with a very enjoyable discussion until the questions were depleted and Erica rejoined her table. A short while later she was back again, standing between us with her big smile. When asked if she had more questions, she nodded and answered "What do you do for a living?" Reuben and I laughed and I said, "these are questions from the adults at the table, aren't they?" She admitted such and we all laughed. A few more questions and then either grandma or auntie, I'm not sure, asked if she could take our picture with Erica. After breakfast we went out to the bike and had a photo session and more fun discussion.
We arrived in Kalamazoo in early afternoon looking for a lunch place and good coffee and found both at 'Totally Brewed'. Plus a table of customers seated outside clapped for us as we pulled in. My kind of place since I'm just doing this for the attention.
When asked if she had a list she nodded no. So we invited her to go back for paper and pencil and back she came with a notebook: a budding author, journalist. We continued with a very enjoyable discussion until the questions were depleted and Erica rejoined her table. A short while later she was back again, standing between us with her big smile. When asked if she had more questions, she nodded and answered "What do you do for a living?" Reuben and I laughed and I said, "these are questions from the adults at the table, aren't they?" She admitted such and we all laughed. A few more questions and then either grandma or auntie, I'm not sure, asked if she could take our picture with Erica. After breakfast we went out to the bike and had a photo session and more fun discussion.
We arrived in Kalamazoo in early afternoon looking for a lunch place and good coffee and found both at 'Totally Brewed'. Plus a table of customers seated outside clapped for us as we pulled in. My kind of place since I'm just doing this for the attention.The bike needed some work so we stopped at a great shop called Alfred E. Bike. They took us right in, glad to help some cross-country cyclists. They even sold co-motion bikes! We dropped some big bucks in kazoo that day both at the bike 
shop, replacing our gloves and my favorite electrolyte replacement product, elete, and at the sport shop for sandals and swim wear. Later that afternoon we headed onto Reuben's brother John's home and were welcomed by his wife Melissa and son Matt (5). We enjoyed a wonderful family dinner with them and Reuben's other brother Greg: our first visit with family since the beginning of our trip. Yeah!!!
shop, replacing our gloves and my favorite electrolyte replacement product, elete, and at the sport shop for sandals and swim wear. Later that afternoon we headed onto Reuben's brother John's home and were welcomed by his wife Melissa and son Matt (5). We enjoyed a wonderful family dinner with them and Reuben's other brother Greg: our first visit with family since the beginning of our trip. Yeah!!!
Saturday, August 1
Day off
We joined John and Matt for their monthly haircut with barber Jeff. Then off to breakfast and errands, laundry, more errands, nap, pool time in the rain, a delicious family dinner and a campfire out on the patio. A perfectly wonderful day off!Sunday, August 2. 17 miles (felt like a day off)
Kalamazoo to Climax
Sunday morning was nice and slow: "Are we on vacation or something?" We attended Mass at St. Catherine of Sienna, a beautiful modern church where the music was great even at 7:30 in the morning. We waited with anticipation for Mom and Dad Peterson to arrive for a brunch together at Cosmo's. Enjoyed some great food, catching up with each other, telling tales. They all saw us off at about 2:30, very interested in how and where everything was packed. We arrived at the farm of our college friends, Kathy and Gary, later that afternoon, in Climax, MI....... to be continued.
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