String of Friends

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 ...

Static Map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/412012250?privacy_code=i19kxCn1FeMtyNsObSLxAvQIfbcjrIc3 Animated Map: https://www.relive.com/view/vQvx714Xj9q I worried the cabin mosquitoes and the scratching skunk would keep me up, but we reached an agreement. The mosquitoes would get their fill before bedtime then chill. The skunk left to do skunky things during the night and I woke refreshed. The weather had cleared to partly cloudy with little chance of rain. (Morning at camp) I lingered until after 8:00 then headed the 11 miles to Battle Creek. The morning light shone in streamers through the trees. I listened to John Field’s solo piano nocturnes on the way. The route seemed very rural, but looking at the Relive map linked above, I see the trees hid a lot of industrial buildings. The rural road became a path along the river.  (Pretty morning light) In town I diverted to look at the Federal office building that once was the Battle Creek Sanitarium r...

Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/411778873?privacy_code=7ZPm1zwfsnsboCCL7lJPgfJOBewOd0qe Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/vr63zykR8dO It was a rainy night. No way to pretend. I woke up at 6:45 after hearing rain drops on the tent most of the night. Thankfully, there weren’t when my eyes popped open. Checking my Windy app, I saw a second band of rain was on its way. I quickly got dressed and packed up my tent, strapping the wet rain fly to the back rack. Breakfast would be in South Haven just a few miles up the road.  (Drizzle on the way to South Haven) On my way to one of Michigan Parks’ well built shower/restroom building, I noticed a huge gob of bikes said “hi” then headed in. A guy in a bike cap was drying his rain fly with the hand drier. Good tip. I learned they are with a Chicago non-profit called Out Our Front Door (OOFD) (Just say it out loud!). They introduce people to bike camping. This was a special trip for all the 15 vo...