96 BIKE MICHIGAN

January 29 - February 21, 1998

August 2, 1996 Friday

Got up at 5:34 and ran 5.1 miles. Shaved and showered and left at 7:12. Picked up Nelsons and out MD32 to I70 west where we met the Frains at the rest stop before Hagerstown. Stopped at Pennsylvania welcome center for a map. Took Pennsylvania Turnpike with a stop at the Perry Highway stop. The right front power window stopped working in the down position when I stopped for the Pennsylvania Turnpike ticket. Stopped at McDonalds in Youngstown, Ohio for McChicken dinner and vanilla shake for $4.31. Car stalled when we left McDonalds but I finally got it restarted. Stopped at Nashbars but didn't buy anything. Stopped at a body shop and they blocked the window shut for free. Took I80 and Ohio Turnpike west to Toledo, Ohio. Car started to stall coming out of a rest stop but I managed to keep it going and it finally smoothed out. Stopped at Motel 6 at 5:55 in Room 140 for $39.23. Had a cool homebrew and then to E. Chicago pizza for dinner of pizza, subs, and salad for $8. Watched Olympics on TV.

August 3, 1996 Saturday

Got up at 5:38 and ran 5.1 miles with Barry Nelson. Had OJ, showered and got underway about 8:00. Drove north on US23 to I96 through Anne Arbor, Lansing and Grand Rapids. Took I195 to Holland arriving about noon. Had lunch at the 8th Avenue Grill $11 of cod, fries and cole slaw. Went to the high school and registered and set up tents. Drove to Jose Babuskas for chicken and steak fajitas for $13.87. Met Jane Schnell, Slim Kauczka and Ed and Eileen Corruthers from the Coast to Coast ride.

August 4, 1996 Sunday

Got up at 5:40, dressed and packed up. Went to breakfast of bagel, blueberry yogurt, frosted mini wheats, scrambled eggs with sausage, orange juice and banana. Got underway at about 8:00. Took our time. Very flat with only an occasional hill. Could see Lake Michigan on the left a lot and several lakes with inlets to Lake Michigan. Hills were sand dunes that trees grew on. Stopped at Bear Lake Inn for lunch of chicken salad for $7.87. Stopped for swim in Duck Lake. Made a side trip to a scenic lighthouse. Stopped for a $2 root beer float in Montegue. Got into the high school at 5:43 after 71.8 miles. Supper was BBQ chicken, roll, baked potato, salad, ice tea and strawberry shortcake. Cold shower. Rode to gas station for 6 pack of beer.

August 5, 1996 Monday

Got up at 5:42 and packed up. Breakfast of milk, orange juice, banana and bagel. Got underway at 7:30. We all started together but I quickly left them and rode alone. Found a great patch of black raspberries. Barry joined me and the rest caught up. Rode into Pentwater for lunch of reuben and lemonade for $8.95 at Gull Landing. Saw some turkeys in a pen. Passed some large sand dunes along an inlet of water. Stopped at cherry stop and bought a cup of sweet black cherries for 75 cents. Got into Ludington High School about 2:00. Very windy. Set up tent and showered. Tent pole broke off so I sawed it off and moved collapsed tent behind school building out of the wind. Barry and I biked to a sports bar and had a large draft for $3. Went to supper of spaghetti with meat, garlic bread, salad, blueberry shortcake, green beans, milk, lemonade, grapes and watermelon. Went swimming in the indoor pool. Very hot. Went to bed about 10:00. Strong wind from a 90 degree angle from afternoon wind with heavy rain came through about 11:00 pm and blew my tent down. I got out in a heavy rain and pulled the tent fly back over the tent and there was just enough room for me under the tent. It rained off and on all night but I stayed dry except for the air mattress that got wet at the feet . Very fortunate.

August 6, 1996 Tuesday

Got up about 6:00 am. Slow packing up because everything was buried under the tent. Went to breakfast of eggs, potatoes, sausage, orange juice, milk, watermelon and muffins. Carol and Kathleen left about 7:30 and we three got underway about 8:15. Moved pretty fast until we caught Kathleen and then Carol just before the first rest stop where I got orange juice. Barry and I caught and passed everyone after the rest stop. Rode through country away from the lake. Continued until the 29 mile mark when I had another orange juice. Rode with Kay McNab of Emporia, Kansas but eventually dropped her on a big hill. Had a Squirt and ice cream bar then lunch of grilled chicken sandwich and ice tea for $4.92 at the Emporia Cafe. Riding along the lake shore we crossed 3 hills one called Killer Hill where they had a watermelon stop near the top and a great view of the lake. Barry and I got in about 2:10 and found a nice site sheltered from the wind from virtually all directions. I carefully set up tent making sure to tie down everything and use the guy lines on the fly. Lew, Barry and I rode down to the Marina Bar for 2 Sam Adams drafts for $6. Barry and I rode down to the lighthouse and went out a causeway to it. Nice hot showers. Supper was salad, pasta salad, ice tea, baked potato, beans, BBQ pork, roll and strawberry shortcake. Shaved and then called Anne at 7:15. No answer so I left a message of the emergency number, our daily locations and that I would call on Friday.

August 7, 1996 Wednesday

Woke up at 5:40 to thunder and lightening in the distance over the lake. Packed up and went to breakfast of puffed wheat and blueberries, pancakes, sausage, OJ, milk, banana and muffin. Got underway at 7:04 with Lew and Kathleen. Rode all day by myself. Rode through light rain and then it got very dark with close thunder and lightening. Pulled under the canopy at the Montou Restaurant just as it let go. I waited 15-20 minutes and it quit raining. The skies cleared and it was nice weather the rest of the day. I never got wet. Kept moving until I turned off on a 7.4 mile Pearce Stocking drive which took me through huge sand dunes like mountains with 2 killer hills. Great overlooks of the dunes and lakes. One was 450 foot drop to Lake Michigan. Highlight of the trip. Stopped at dune along the road and hiked to the top until I could see Lake Michigan. Stopped in Glen Arbor for lunch of beer and grilled chicken for $10.70. Rolled into Suttons Bay for 20 miles at about 20 mph. Arrived after 65.4 miles at 1:40 and set up tent. Went to pub with Lew and Kathleen $5.50. Got message that Kelsey Anne McQueen was born on August 4, 1996 at 12:08 pm weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19.5 inches long. Supper of tacos etc. Went to Village Inn with Frains and Nelsons for a pitcher of beer.

August 8, 1996 Thursday

Got up at 5:42 and packed up. There was a light dew. Went to breakfast of OJ, strawberry yogurt, oatmeal, milk, danish, bagel & muffin. Left at 7:45 and was in Traverse City by 9:00. Decided to take the peninsula ride so headed north counter clockwise around the peninsula. It was windy and cool so it was nice riding. Stopped in country store in Old Mission for OJ and saw the lighthouse at the end of the peninsula. Stopped at the Boathouse for a club sandwich and ice tea for $8.66. Great view of the harbor during lunch. Not too hilly until I headed out from Traverse City to Elk Rapids. Also ran into a head wind so I got in about 3:00 pm after 86.8 miles. Elk Rapids is a nice town with marina right in town. Took a dip in Elk Lake and showered. Water was nice. Supper was pasta, bread, salad, chocolate cake, milk and ice tea. Rode to town for a beer at Town Tavern $3 and a root beer float at the Ice Cream Parlour $2.

August 9, 1996 Friday

Got up and packed up. Breakfast of egg, sausage, potatoes, milk and OJ. Rode along the coast until the last 15 miles where we turned inland and the hills with some headwind. Ate lunch in Charlevoix at the Harbor Vista Cafe for $7.93 with the Frains. Had a chicken burrito and ice tea. Great view and the town is very pretty. Very nice ride. Got in to Petosky HS about 3:30 after 66.6 miles. Rode up to a store with Lew and Barry and had 2 beers. Showered and went to supper of meat and vegetarian lasagna, milk, ice tea and chocolate pudding. Listened to Sean Ryan and a fellow biker sing on the lawn until 8:00. Went to meeting and then watched slide show of our trip.

August 10, 1996 Saturday

Woke up at 6:00. Packed up and had breakfast of OJ, milk, shredded wheat, cantaloupe, grapes and egg souffle. Got underway about 8:00. Very cool so I wore my rain jacket. Stopped at Harbor Springs which was really nice. Rode along coast and through tree tunnels. Stopped in Cross Village for a sub, Squirt and potato chips for $5.45. Replaced broken spoke on rear drive side of Kathleen's bike. Walked through Legs Inn which was really unique. Rode into Mackinaw City Park for the finish line and some snacks at 2:10. Rode over to KOA campground and set up. Caught shuttle to Sheplers Ferry $11.50 to Mackinac Island arriving just about 5:00 pm. Biked to the Grand Hotel and the golf course clubhouse where we had a Sam Adams draft for $5. Ate chili fries, corn dog and lemonade at the Cannonball in British Landing for $4.75. Rode on around the island and back to town where we strolled around and had ice cream. Caught the 8:00 pm ferry back and was shuttled back to KOA. We had biked 64.3 miles total for the day. Showered and shaved.

August 11, 1996 Sunday

Got up at 7:00. Lew and I biked to Bob's Big Boy for Belgian strawberry waffle and OJ for $9.21. Saw 4 guys from Indiana there. Rode back to KOA for a round trip of 4.4 miles and packed up. Reversed pedals and loosened handlebars on bike and then loaded it on truck about 8:30. Buses arrived about 9:00 so I loaded luggage and reserved a seat. Buses left about 10:00 am. We stopped at Wendy's in Cadillac, Michigan for pasta, Mexican and salad bars plus ice tea for $5.23. Arrived in Holland about 3:40 and our bikes were there. Packed up the car and Lew's van and got underway at 4:05. Drove down MI40 to US191 by Kalamazoo to I94 east to I89 south to Indiana Turnpike to Ohio Turnpike to Toledo Ohio. We passed exit so had to backtrack to Exit 4 and Motel 6 arriving at 7:55. Shared room 237 with Carol and Barry for $44.39. My share was $14.81. Went to E Chicago Pizza for pizza sub, salad and ice tea for $9.28. Showered and to bed before 11:00.

August 12, 1996 Monday

Up at 6:24. Packed up and underway by 7:00. Drove Ohio Turnpike $6.50 to Pennsylvania Turnpike to Breezewood Exit. Raining most of the way. Stopped at Wendy's for pasta, Mexican and salad bars with ice tea for $5.28. Followed I70 to MD32 to Barry's where we unloaded. Drove home arriving about 3:45 pm.