MI way... again

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:22 pm

Well, one other "incident" was uploading the pictures from my main camera (not my iPhone). Either the camera or the memory card glitched, and the photos from that camera are gone. All I have are the few dozen photos on my phone.

It's not as bad as losing the pictures of my previous two trips would have been (those were the places I went to mainly for the scenery, not just the riding and camping). Just another object lesson in "you can't depend on anything". At least the Buddy hasn't let me down... yet (now just a grocery-run short of 11,300 miles).

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:24 pm

chloefpuff wrote:So sad.......

We'll have to get that ice cream cone some other time. Could've been a lot worse. This is just the normal level of crap that happens in my life from time to time.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:34 pm

For those who haven't been following along, and don't have the time to read the blog (which is at times entertaining and well-written, if I may say so), here's the really brief version:

On Sunday afternoon I rode from Grand Rapids to Fort Custer just NE of Kalamazoo, narrowly avoiding getting really wet. On Monday I rode from there thru various small towns and a bit of the Irish Hills region, which was OK, ending at Waterloo State Rec Area between Jackson and Ann Arbor, which was nice but didn't offer a lot of sightseeing. On Tuesday I did a little more rec-area riding, and met MB's Jason Davis and his wife for lunch in Ann Arbor. I then rode the rest of the way to the state park on Lake Erie, and... discovered that my tent had either fallen off or been pulled off the scooter sometime that afternoon. I "camped" at Motel 6 that night, then turned around and rode 210 miles straight home today (rather than the longer 2.5-day route I'd planned), because I didn't want to put up with whatever tent I could find at Target, and I figured that finishing a riding-and-camping trip with just riding-and-motelling wasn't worth bothering with.

Not the worst way to spend 3.5 days, but not what I hoped for. Better luck next trip, I suppose.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:38 am

Update: I managed to recover some of the files from the zapped card. Most of them have errors/garbage in the recovered files, so they aren't very usable, except for reminding me of what they were images of.

pugbuddy · Post by **pugbuddy** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:42 am

Great ride TVB! Fun to read!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:58 pm

It occurs to me... I could reasonably "complete" this aborted trip in a three-day weekend, perhaps next month. The area of the state that I missed by taking the direct route home on Wednesday is relatively close to here, so I could just do a 300-mile loop swinging through those counties, staying at the same places I planned to stay the last two nights. I'd have to wait until September to allow time to plan it and get the day off from work, but doing it after Labor Day would save me from any need to make reservations at the state parks.

I'm not committed to it... just thinking about it. I'd have to go shopping for a tent first, of course.

chloefpuff · Post by **chloefpuff** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 12:28 am

Maybe tents will be on sale then.

I took my ride to South Haven as planned, and thought of you when I passed Dairy Queen. It was a lovely ride. I saw a Porsche Boxster at Pier Cove.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:50 pm

I'm definitely going to postpone finishing "this year's" ride until next year. Between the cost of re-equipping (good tents don't come cheap), and the fact that my neck's been giving me some trouble again (which costs money to deal with too), putting it off until May is sounding like a good idea.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:41 pm

To ward off the depression brought on by the diminishing light and the imminent hibernation of my scooter, I've started planning next year's ride. Between surgery which required a relatively short trip this year, and a lost/stolen tent which cut the trip even shorter... this year was kind of a letdown. For 2012 I'm raising my sights a bit.

The first order of business is to finish my 2011 ride. A 3-day weekend is all I'll need to get to the two campsites I had to skip this year, one in NE Indiana, the other on Lake Michigan in SW Michigan. That will also be a good "shakedown cruise" for the new tent.

After that... I have two main options I'm considering:

One is to cross Lake Michigan and ride through Wisconsin to the western Upper Peninsula, make a loop through the territory I haven't visited (at least by scooter) and return the way I came. I'd want to park the scooter and spend at least a couple days on Isle Royale while I'm in the neighborhood, and I'd also like to take in a bit of Door County WI on the way there or back.

Option two is to do another ride up the "fingers" of the Lower Peninsula, cross the Straits to the UP (one way or another), visit Tahquamenon Falls (2nd biggest falls this side of the Mississippi) and the Soo Locks, then take another route down the fingers to home.

I think I'm going to do the latter. The main reason is that it's not as ambitious a route as the other, and can be done in less time. To do the western ride would take close to two weeks to do "right", and I gotta work my way back up to that.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 6:14 pm

I thought I'd figured out another way of getting across the Straits of Mackinac with my scooter - traveling as "freight" via one of the ferry companies that serve Mackinac Island. But the only one willing would charge an arm and a leg for it, because it'd involve making a special trip. 55 years ago, ferry service for passenger vehicles was the cornerstone of the Straits economy; now it's nonexistent. So it looks like I'll have to brave the Bridge again... this time in both directions.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:26 pm

TVB wrote:So it looks like I'll have to brave the Bridge again... this time in both directions.

Does the bridge authority offer escort service? Maybe the State Police or whoever authority it is can ride behind you to keep the cagers off if you make the right phone calls.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:03 pm

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:Does the bridge authority offer escort service?

Perhaps you have Mackinac confused with Amsterdam?

Maybe the State Police or whoever authority it is can ride behind you to keep the cagers off if you make the right phone calls.

The speed limit for semis on the Bridge is only 25mph, so all I have to do to safely keep up with traffic (even going over the hump) is slip into the slow lane behind one of them. The issue is that it's an Interstate, so Smokey ain't gonna help me ride a "moped" on it, no matter how nicely I ask.

The bridge authority does have a service to transport snowmobiles across the bridge, but I'm not sure if a) that can accommodate scooters, and b) it's available during the summer.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:08 pm

TVB wrote:The issue is that it's an Interstate, so Smokey ain't gonna help me ride a "moped" on it, no matter how nicely I ask.

I think that if there is no reasonable alternate route between two points it is legal to ride otherwise disallowed vehicles on the interstate. I see that in the west quite often, anyway.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:58 pm

Does "around Lake Michigan" count as a "reasonable alternate route"?

I pulled this off once a couple years ago, but that was only northbound, where the tollbooth is on the far side of the Bridge. The attendant started to question me about whether my scooter was Interstate-legal, so I... um... exaggerated the size of the engine, then zipped away and disappeared into the city of St Ignace before he could get a look at my "moped" sticker. I'm not sure I'd get away with that if I have to pass the tollbooth before crossing the Bridge (southbound).

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:30 pm

Have you asked? Maybe your concern (with the legality, anyway) could be quickly put to rest with a quick email. They do seem to provide many more services than any other bridge I've seen.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:47 pm

I sent the Bridge people an e-mail before my previous ride across and they just said "Mopeds aren't allowed on an Interstate". (I used an alias so I could feign ignorance if I was caught doing it.

)

If there are no-other-route exceptions in the West, that may be because of the development of new towns in otherwise isolated areas since the Interstates were built, or places where the existing route was converted to an Interstate. Michigan doesn't have that phenomenon; except for that pesky lake cutting it in two, it's pretty well-connected.

I've e-mailed a couple who crossed Mackinac north-to-south on a 50cc Yamaha C3 (yes, just one) on a crosscountry road trip, to find out what their experience was, but haven't heard back.

The good news I've discovered is that International Bridge in Sault Ste Marie even allows bicycles to cross (in traffic), so I'll be able to zip over to Ontario when I'm there.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:18 am

I've decided on a tentative itinerary for this summer's big ride:
Day 1: From Grand Rapids through Manistee National Forest to William Mitchell State Park near Cadillac.
Day 2: Maybe ride the Old Mission Peninsula (which I had to skip three years ago), then north to Petoskey S.P.
Day 3: The Tunnel of Trees on M119, across the Mackinac Bridge, then to DeTour at the tip of the UP.
Day 4: Sault Ste Marie, crossing the Soo Locks on International Bridge to Ontario and back, to Tahquamenon SP for an evening at the Falls.
Day 5: Morning at the Falls, maybe ride up to Lake Superior through Newberry State Forest, and south to either Brevort Lake or Straits SP.
Day 6: Maybe a few hours on Mackinac Island, sneak back over the Mighty Mack, south through Atlanta (MI) State Forest to Clear Lake SP.
Day 7: Rifle River SP, Huron National Forest, camping at Black Creek State Forest near Midland.
Day 8: Ride home, to the only hugs that will happen on the trip.

The route is about 1000 miles according to Google, probably working out to about 1250 in reality. (I'm planning to go in July, so Flash should have around 15,000 miles on him by the time I start.) There's a little bit of overlap between this ride and the first one in 2009, but that's largely because of a navigational bottleneck at the Straits... plus places being worth another visit. And I've been to Tahquamenon before, but that was 10 years ago, and not on a scooter.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:30 pm

Here's a map of the route:

theflash784 · Post by **theflash784** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:38 pm

TVB - I sent an email to the bridge authority to see if scooters with a 50 cc could cross the bridge. The answer I got was only those scooters that were highway legal (125 cc and up) could go across. They said they could transport the scooter scross the bridge. If you want to do it legally- you can contact them at 906 643 7600 to arange transport. Good luck on your trip. It sounds pretty impressive.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:56 pm

Looks like an amazing ride! Such a beautiful part of the country.

gr8dog · Post by **gr8dog** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:22 am

Damn TVB, you are a trooper. This is great inspiration for anybody who doubts the real world practicality of a scooter. Sounds like fun.

chloefpuff · Post by **chloefpuff** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 11:33 pm

Hey TVB, playing catch up here on the forum.......Love Old Mission Peninsula. It's a fantastic ride. I'd move there in a heartbeat. Your mention of the Tunnel of Trees caught my eye. I think that's the ride I read about a couple of years ago but couldn't remember exactly where it was. Definitely putting that on the ride bucket list.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 12:03 pm

I had to skip Old Mission Peninsula last time I was in the area because I broke my brake handle on the Leelanau Pensinsula, and had to go find a replacement. But I bicycled OM many years ago. I'll get back there if I don't find time for a detour this trip.

I've just cleared the last big hurdle that would've prevented me from this year's trip: I replaced the tent that went missing last year. It's the same tent I bought 10 years ago, but with some newfangled changes that may or may not be improvements. Not that I'm quite ready to ride out tomorrow – there are still preparations to be made (and months to wait) – but I'm now fully equipped again.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed May 02, 2012 5:56 pm

I'm coming up on my first biggish ride of 2012. Last summer I had to cut my trip off and take a shortcut home when my tent went AWOL from the back of my scooter, so I'm going to pick up about where I left my planned itinerary and finish that ride now.

From Grand Rapids it's going to be a three-day loop down to the NE corner of Indiana, camping at Pokagon State Park, cutting across through Amish country and The Other Sturgis, camping at VanBuren State Park in SW Michigan on the Lake, then riding the Lakeshore toward home. To avoid crowds at the campsites, I'll be leaving on the 20th (the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend) and getting home two days later. Not very far, and not very spectacular territory, but it'll give me closure on last year's plans, let me tick off the last three counties in southern Michigan, and give me a chance to test-drive my new tent.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Wed May 02, 2012 7:21 pm

That sounds fun!

I was born in Ann Arbor, have only been back to MI a handful of times since, but it is very pretty.

Heard that a ton of houses may be bulldozed to compress the lived in housing to feasible levels. Strange what major changes to an industry or two do to the landscape every 50-100 years.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Wed May 02, 2012 7:47 pm

Detroit and Flint have seen the biggest impact from the auto industry contraction; the job and housing markets on this side of the state have been "only" depressed, and the population fairly stable. I've been sort of looking for a place to buy in my part of GR, and not finding much in my price range. :/

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Wed May 02, 2012 8:18 pm

as a side note, you can use dropbox to backup the files. clears space if needed too, and you can access the same thing on your computer.

un_designer · Post by **un_designer** » Wed May 02, 2012 10:32 pm

skully93 wrote:as a side note, you can use dropbox to backup the files. clears space if needed too, and you can access the same thing on your computer.

Adding on to this... dropbox is running a promo right now, where for every 500MB of pictures you upload using their new camera upload tool, they'll give you an additional 500MB of space on Dropbox, up to 3GB max.

All you need to do is plug in a camera or smartphone and let dropbox does its thing, to get the free storage space.

https://www.dropbox.com/help/287

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu May 03, 2012 2:15 am

Nice trip! I love the Traverse City and Petoskey areas.

I rode a bit of your route on my MC trip around the lake, but I missed the Tunnel of Trees. Actually, I never heard of the Tunnel of Trees but I'll check it out the next time I'm up there.

I'm not sure if you're riding 37 through Baldwin (Manistee National Forest) or not. I've spent some time in that area riding ATV's. Anyway, if you're in that vicinity, stop at Club 37 (bar/restaurant) about 10 miles north of Baldwin. A very friendly and amorous waitress there by the name of Loretta. Also, she just might be the loudest person on earth ... but still worth the visit (a short one). And I hope my wife never reads this thread.

Rob

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu May 03, 2012 1:02 pm

I'm not particularly interested in amorous waitresses

but I should be passing by Club 37 on my way to Cadillac, so I'll try to remember to keep an eye out for it. We used to have a Club 67 here in GR, but this sounds like a somewhat different place. Unless Loretta's a drag queen.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Thu May 03, 2012 1:31 pm

skully93 wrote:as a side note, you can use dropbox to backup the files. clears space if needed too, and you can access the same thing on your computer.

I'm already a Dropbox user, but it wouldn't have helped me with my photo loss last year because I don't carry a computer when I ride, just my phone. iCloud can backup the photos on that, but until someone makes a "real" camera that can access the cell networks (or at least wifi), I'll still be dependent on the storage media inside it.

Which reminds me: I bought a new camera. Not just because of the glitch I had last year (that was really just a battery issue), but because I really wanted a better one. That camera was actually my old "backup" camera, which I pulled out of mothballs after my newer one was stolen a couple years ago. But I decided it was time to invest in a new one, especially for a visit to Tahquamenon.

Although my favoritest film camera ever is a Pentax, I've owned a couple nice Olympus film cameras over the years, and my digital cameras have all been Olympuses. Not necessarily out of brand loyalty; they've just been the models that I liked best. This time I've switched companies, to Fujifilm (a company that really needs to update their branding). It's the Finepix HS20 EXR, which is quite a bit bigger than any digital camera I've owned, almost DSLR sized. But it has a nice big 30X optical zoom, which is controlled mechanically by turning a ring around the lens, like God intended. It also has a manual focus ring, which is a little clunky in its implementation but still something I like to have available. So it's almost on par with a DSLR with a set of lenses, but a lot cheaper (especially used).

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu May 03, 2012 10:38 pm

TVB wrote:I'm not particularly interested in amorous waitresses but I should be passing by Club 37 on my way to Cadillac, so I'll try to remember to keep an eye out for it. We used to have a Club 67 here in GR, but this sounds like a somewhat different place. Unless Loretta's a drag queen.

Ha. Ask her ... but be prepared to site for awhile. She won't hesitate to tell you her life story.

My only other piece of advice. Avoid a nearby town by the name of Luther unless you're looking for fight or two to spice up your trip. We spent an hour in a small bar there and I don't believe I've ever seen so many flying fists and pool sticks in such a short period of time.

Rob

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:05 pm

We'll see what kind of mood I'm in at the time.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon May 21, 2012 1:20 pm

I had planned a ride of SW Michigan and N Indiana for yesterday/today/tomorrow, but decided to postpone it. The weather forecast predicted a headwind the whole day going south, and probable thundershowers last night and today, which just didn't sound like much fun. Combined with a huge pile of work that I can't afford to let sit for a couple extra days (especially with the guy I share job duties with about to go on his honeymoon), I cancelled. Maybe in a few weeks, after he gets back.

skully93 · Post by **skully93** » Mon May 21, 2012 1:56 pm

Eh, it can't be perfect weather all the time, but knowing that you would have a rough time, you are wise to postpone.

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Mon May 21, 2012 2:23 pm

Have you ever trekked from MI to Chicago? I would like to make a ride up into MI, but am not very excited about going trough the steel mill corridor around the bottom of lake michigan. Is there a decent way to go?

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon May 21, 2012 3:07 pm

skully93 wrote:Eh, it can't be perfect weather all the time, but knowing that you would have a rough time, you are wise to postpone.

I don't mind a day or two of bad-to-meh weather on a week-long trip. In fact, I pretty much expect it. But two nights and a day of it on a 2.5-day trip... not worth it for something I can reschedule pretty easily.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Mon May 21, 2012 3:52 pm

Maximus53 wrote:Have you ever trekked from MI to Chicago? I would like to make a ride up into MI, but am not very excited about going trough the steel mill corridor around the bottom of lake michigan. Is there a decent way to go?

I haven't taken the scooter very far south of the Indiana border, specifically to avoid the urban sprawl of Milwauchicagary.

So I can't give you any tips on how to get there, but once you pass Michigan City IN, just hop on the Red Arrow Highway (US12) and there's nothing but Pure Michigan ahead of you.

Alternatively, if you're starting in northern Chicagoland, you could catch the Lake Express ferry from Milwaukee to Muskegon.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:03 am

TVB wrote:I had planned a ride of SW Michigan and N Indiana for yesterday/today/tomorrow, but decided to postpone it. The weather forecast predicted a headwind the whole day going south, and probable thundershowers last night and today, which just didn't sound like much fun. Combined with a huge pile of work that I can't afford to let sit for a couple extra days (especially with the guy I share job duties with about to go on his honeymoon), I cancelled. Maybe in a few weeks, after he gets back.

Good luck on the trip when it happens. I've fairly routinely ridden in south and SW Michigan, so I'm familiar with much of this ... and of course the Amish areas in Indiana.

I think I mentioned this before, but if you'll be making your trek towards or through Indiana on a weekend and if you're up to a little detour, feel free to swing by a place called Bass Lake just south of Knox (and about 50 miles SW of South Bend). We're generally there on the weekends. And if the mood catches you, there is a very small 1 bedroom cabin in back that you're welcome to. We usually have several folks around for bonfires in the evenings, along with some sort of BBQ.

Rob

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:18 am

Maximus53 wrote:Have you ever trekked from MI to Chicago? I would like to make a ride up into MI, but am not very excited about going trough the steel mill corridor around the bottom of lake michigan. Is there a decent way to go?

TVB is correct about Route 12 eventually turning scenic, but yeah, not until you're through the steel corridor. Basically this road goes from nasty industrial to very scenic in a heartbeat, but you have to get to 12 and 49, the Indiana Dunes area.

My office is located right in the heart of the industrial area and I don't blame you for wanting to avoid it. You can always go south about another 10 miles to US 30 and take that to Route 49. Not scenic by any means and there are some business areas to get through, but better than the steel highway.

Rob

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Tue May 22, 2012 1:24 am

Rob wrote:
Maximus53 wrote:Have you ever trekked from MI to Chicago? I would like to make a ride up into MI, but am not very excited about going trough the steel mill corridor around the bottom of lake michigan. Is there a decent way to go?
TVB is correct about Route 12 eventually turning scenic, but yeah, not until you're through the steel corridor. Basically this road goes from nasty industrial to very scenic in a heartbeat, but you have to get to 12 and 49, the Indiana Dunes area.

My office is located right in the heart of the industrial area and I don't blame you for wanting to avoid it. You can always go south about another 10 miles to US 30 and take that to Route 49. Not scenic by any means and there are some business areas to get through, but better than the steel highway.

Rob

Thanks for the info both routes look quite doable. I've always wanted to try the ferry from Milwaukee

BlueMark · Post by **BlueMark** » Tue May 22, 2012 4:09 am

TVB wrote: I'm already a Dropbox user, but it wouldn't have helped me with my photo loss last year because I don't carry a computer when I ride, just my phone. iCloud can backup the photos on that, but until someone makes a "real" camera that can access the cell networks (or at least wifi), I'll still be dependent on the storage media inside it.

I have an Eye-Fi memory card in my camera - it is an SDHC card with wifi built into it. It will upload your photos via any unsecured wifi network (like many restaurants and coffee shops) or from secured networks that you pre-program it for. You program it in your computer at home, but on the road it works automatically when your camera is powered up. One of the nice features is that as long as you occasionally hit a wifi spot, your card is effectively infinite in size. Newer versions will also wirelessly upload via many cell phones and tablets, even when you aren't near public wifi.

A bit pricier than plain SDHC cards, but there are bargains out there. Google Also available at many Best Buys, Walmarts etc.

Sorry if this reads too much like an ad.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue May 22, 2012 12:56 pm

Rob wrote:I think I mentioned this before, but if you'll be making your trek towards or through Indiana on a weekend and if you're up to a little detour, feel free to swing by a place called Bass Lake just south of Knox (and about 50 miles SW of South Bend). We're generally there on the weekends.

That'd be a bit out of the way and not quite the right timing to include in this little jaunt (I'm trying to hit the state parks on weekdays), but thanks for the invite.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue May 22, 2012 11:29 pm

TVB wrote:
Rob wrote:I think I mentioned this before, but if you'll be making your trek towards or through Indiana on a weekend and if you're up to a little detour, feel free to swing by a place called Bass Lake just south of Knox (and about 50 miles SW of South Bend). We're generally there on the weekends.
That'd be a bit out of the way and not quite the right timing to include in this little jaunt (I'm trying to hit the state parks on weekdays), but thanks for the invite.

Your welcome. Sorry the timing won't work, but consider it an open invite.

For that matter, it's an open invite to any of the MB people that might happen to wander out that way.

Rob

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue May 29, 2012 1:10 am

Forest fires... touched off by lightning, empowered by an unusually warm winter with little snow (and thus dry vegetation), and further enabled by budget-constrained fire-fighting forces in territory with few roads (crews from Minnesota and the National Guard have been called in)... have been disrupting life at the northern end of my itinerary for this year's big ride. This holiday weekend, Tahquamenon Falls State Park (my northernmost camping site, also location of the last remaining old-growth forest in Michigan) was closed as a precaution. The falls lie under the plume of smoke in this picture:

My plans remain unchanged.

First, it'll be several weeks before I ride north. Even the worst-case scenario would be that current fires run out of fuel before then. Second, even if the worst happens, and the forests which inspired Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem of Hiawatha burn... I want to see what becomes of the place, and pay my respects, documenting the destruction if need be. Third, the Falls themselves will remain, regardless.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 1:59 pm

I've rescheduled the SW Michigan / N Indiana ride: leaving tomorrow morning, riding all day Monday, then returning home Tuesday evening. About 125 miles a day. The weather forecast doesn't look great (40% chance of rain Monday night), but it's good enough. Plus this time I have prepaid campsite reservations. And I'm not putting this off again. I'll be blogging if anyone's bored.

theflash784 · Post by **theflash784** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:22 pm

I hope you have a great ride and the weather holds for you.

xTomBx · Post by **xTomBx** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:13 pm

Dang, Wish I would have read this earier, I would have accompanied you for part of your ride... In Portage/Kzoo now, and from the 3 Rivers area.
I love riding down there. Next time you come through, let me know!

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:48 pm

Today I finally finished the ride that I started in August 2011... and boy is my scooter tired!

Reequipped after the loss of my tent, I went back and more or less picked up where I'd left my planned route, visiting six counties on both sides of the Michigan/Indiana border (and a few others getting there and back). Not a long trip, just a little over 48 hours, in fact. Not too many white-knuckle miles, and some rather nice riding in rural Michiana. Despite two storm systems coming through the area during that period, both missed me. Highlights included: exchanging friendly nods with a straw-hatted man fixing a fence as I putted past his farm, seeing a horse and black buggy hitched in the parking lot at a McDonald's as a woman and her three kids climbed out (I refrained from taking a photo because it'd be disrespectful of their religion... and a bit stalkery), snapping photos of the beach at VanBuren State Park with the nuclear power plant in the background, and...

...oh yeah:

I think I'm mostly ready to start this year's big ride, next month.

TVB · Post by **TVB** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 5:51 pm

xTomBx wrote:Dang, Wish I would have read this earier, I would have accompanied you for part of your ride... In Portage/Kzoo now, and from the 3 Rivers area.
I love riding down there. Next time you come through, let me know!

I tend to be a bit of a loner when I ride, and as much as I try to plan it out, my route always ends up a bit improvised, so it probably would've been tricky to connect with me even if you'd known I was in the area.

Modern Buddy

MI way... again

MI way.....again

Tunnel of Trees

MI way.....again