Mackinac Island - Part 2

The top photo shows the Grand Hotel as seen from our ferry on it's approach to the Island. It is VERY Grand! The second photo shows Gayle and I resting on the front porch of the Grand Hotel after arriving. And the third photo above shows my bike in the largest hotel parking lot on the Island. There are bike racks and bikes all over the Island. You better know where you left your bike or you might have to search through thousands of bikes to find it.

Trip to Mackinac Island

Gayle and I decided to attend a mini-class reunion of her Parchment (MI) High School class on Mackinac Island this past weekend. We stayed in the Grand Hotel for 2 nights, and of course, I brought my bike along, as there are only 3 means of transportation on the Island: walking, horse-drawn carriages and BIKES! The photos above show the Arnold ferry arriving at St. Ignace and my bike on the back of the ferry during the 15 minute crossing. I debated whether to rent an Island bike or bring my own. The Island bikes are either single-speed, 3-speed or mountain bikes. My last experience with a rental wasn't that great, so I decided that $8 for a round trip transportation of my bike was well worth it. Stay tuned for more photos and my commentary on bikes on Mackinac Island.

New Era Country Dairy

Here is a photo of me in front of the Country Dairy north of New Era. Notice that I am wearing last year's Colorburst T-shirt, one of my few long-sleeve cycling tee's. Colorburst was my first organized ride after moving from Nebraska to Michigan last year. It is also one of my favorites, so far. Hope to see everyone at Lowell again this year. Look for the guy wearing the bright red & white NEBRASKA cycling jersey. This weekend Gayle and I are traveling to Mackinac Island, so look for photos from the island soon.

Ride on the Hart-Montague Trail

Four of us from our company cycling group endured the cool, wet weather on Saturday morning to ride north from Montague on the Hart-Montague Trail. The photo above shows Pam and Jan stopping on the trail ahead of me between Montague and Rothbury. Three of us met Jamie in Rothbury and cycled farther north to the Country Dairy near New Era. We had a wonderful breakfast then headed back south again. Three of us put in about 23 miles of a very nice underused trail.

North Bank Trail meeting!!

There were actually 6 of us in attendance Tuesday evening at the Friends of the North Bank Trail meeting in Nunica. Lucas brought everyone up to date on the status of construction. Apparently there are still a few people and organizations that they are still negotiating with for the right-of-way. Lucas told us that construction to 130th Street will likely begin in late April next year.

North Bank Trail - dead end in Spring Lake

This is the current east end of the North Bank Trail in Spring Lake, MI. Apparently, there are grants and easements for the trail to extend a few miles farther east, but nothing is getting done. Perhaps the Friends of the North Bank Trail meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 can shed some light on this.

Time to sign up for Colorburst 2010

It is time to sign up for Colorburst 2010! This year's ride is on Saturday, October 9. Check in is from 8 am to 9:30 am in Fallasburg County Park, 2.5 miles north of Lowell, MI. There are 17, 30, 62 and 100 mile route options to choose from. I did 30 last year, but will may do 17 this year if people from work show up and ride. The breakfast is great and they usually have a good lunch afterwards also. Follow this link for more information.