String of Friends

Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/413237562?privacy_code=tW2o6OszbZurHfddMXkQ7Y1LCOTVldWO Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/vrqo7ke4JKq I woke with the pleasant feeling that I don't have to hurry out of camp. Yesterday had been one of my highest mileage days at 83, but also my highest average riding speed, a whopping 12.2 mph! Today was half the distance. I woke up to the sound of a flapping tent fly. This was the forecasted wind. I was actually surprised how well the trees in this flat area blocked the wind. The fly was just fluttering. I hung out and did the 21st century things one does in their tent: Wordle, Connections, checked emails, the usual. When I got out the wind was pretty mild. I was assuming to be at a coffee shop and bookstore at 9 when it opened. I opted to eat at camp since I didn't have other plans. I was flying dark because cell reception was so poor, Google search wasn’t working. Jesse was my phone-a-friend to find a place that mi...

Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/412999088?privacy_code=y4U1RI5TG7BZCi3BqcIK43hfsAo8Beqm Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/vXvLD2Kpg7v This morning as I sit at my windy, secluded campsite, eating instant oatmeal, Detroit seems far away. Still, it was yesterday that I left my Warmshowers host. She was leaving for work at the same time I was leaving so we biked 4 miles through the city together. Detroit has a strange vibe with lots of empty land next to a revived downtown filled with megaprojects that previously failed to revive the downtown. I passed into an industry area along the river that seems to be doing well.  (The Gordie Howe Bridge and Fort Wayne ( After a short journey I spotted the Gordie Howe bridge. Immediately before you get to it you reach Fort Wayne, an old Fort Lawton-ish post. I wheeled around in a drive by sightsee, then it was on to the bridge. A long, covered tunnel for bikes and pedestrians led to the bridge. Trucks queu...

Here are some pictures from Detroit 

Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/412236878?privacy_code=hOGUlDcUrxNkV9oyPKq6bGBcMy7U9Bxk Animated map:  https://www.relive.com/view/v26MDX4D13O Restful, but drippy. That was the night. The cooler temps meant more condensation on the inside of the tent’s rainfly. Occasionally, I’d hear a ‘plink’ as a drop fell off. Thankfully, there wasn’t a lot of plinking, but I had to be careful not to shake the tent. (Morning mist) This day was going to be even longer and I wanted to get to my Warmshowers’ host’s place at a reasonable hour. I woke before dawn and got ready to ride just after sunrise. I’d managed to forget breakfast stuff at yesterday’s resupply, but I had purchased some bars. That was breakfast #1. The tent was wet, especially the fly which was soaked and got strapped to the rack.  It was 14 miles to Chelsea and breakfast #2. The road was lightly travelled making me feel safe and relaxed. The houses near Portage Lake were modest and one had ...