Day 8
Thursday, 4 Jun 2009
Munising, MI to St. Ignace, MI
124.6 miles, 9h29m, 13.1 mph
Elapsed Time: 11h47m, Max speed: 31.1mph
Total Climbing: 3386ft, Max elevation: 895ft
Total mileage: 504.1
The map says it all. I had a basic plan to
ride as far as Naubinway, which would have been about 80 miles. I
got
there about 2:30 and decided to ride until 5pm and make another
decision. I bought some groceries in Naubinway because I figured I'd
probably have to camp (wrong, there were many little motels along
the
route) and that there wouldn't be other stores or restaurants
(wrong,
there were several--although many were closed or out business--times
are tough on the UP). Anyway, Linda called me a little after five,
and
I asked her to book me a room in St. Ignace--so I had to ride to the
end. She booked the hell out of this room, by the way. It has a
jacuzzi
tub that I just got out of. My poor, tired legs really appreciated
the
power soaking.
The morning started with an unexpectedly steep climb out of Munising
into a stiff southwesterly wind. Soon, however, the road turned east
and the wind helped me along nicely. Then came the 20 mile perfectly
flat straightaway. It just went on and on. I started to think I was
in
one of those Hanna-Barbera cartoons were the same scenery keeps
passing
by in the background. I would watch a truck pass me and slowly
disappear in the distance...hoping it would turn one way or the
other
before it became too small to see...and being disappointed every
time.
I just turned up the Marvin Gaye tune that was playing inside my
head
(which is much better than the freecreditreport.com jingle that was
stuck in there the other day).
Straight, flat, forever.
There is one rest area along the
straightaway. I stopped there and was
immediately set upon by hoards of hungry mosquitoes. Needless to
say,
my break was not very relaxing. And I was soon back on my way.
Within a
couple of miles, the straight ended, and I turned south into the
wind.
This is the curve that ends the straightaway.
I'd never been so happy to see a nondescript bend in the road.
I worked my way south, stopping for lunch in a place called
Germfask,
and eventually reached US 2. I turned left and was soon in the
presence
of Lake Michigan. At the first opportunity I bagged lake #2.
When you touch Lake Michigan, it touches you. Yes, it does.
The lake was a little choppy from that SW wind.
I pedaled happily along US 2 for a few hours. The going was slow
when I
was exposed to the wind, and faster when the road turned inland.
There
was a nasty detour in Epoufette where there was no shoulder for a
while. The view was nice though.
The road is right down on the lake in many places.
Under normal circumstances I would never pass by a Mystery Spot
without
stopping.
But this was, like, 115 miles in.
The big annoyance over the last few dozen miles was this gnat-like
bug
that swarmed over the shoulder, right at bicyclist height. I was
riding
through clouds of these things. It sounded like rain hitting my
jacket.
They were all over me.
If you look closely you can see a freighter heading toward the
bridge.
If you look even more closely you can see lots of little black
dots.
Those are bugs.
I lurched into St. Ignace at about
8pm,
and found the Holiday Inn Express. I did laundry and ordered a
pizza.
Tomorrow I plan a much easier day, including a trip to Mackinac
Island.
Next
"Great Lakes Tour 2009" Copyright © 2009 By
Bob
Clemons. All rights reserved.