More photos from last weekend

Here are more photos from last weekends ride. There was still snow on the ground then but it is all melted now!

Snow covered trails

Here are a couple photos of the trail conditions in Grand Haven. The top photo is near Chinook Pier in the downtown area of Grand Haven. It looks like whoever plowed this trail was drunk or just not very observant. You can see that the trail curves to the right, while the plow went straight through on the grass. The lower photo is on Harbor Island and shows much better conditions.

Spring bike riding weather arrives!

Yes, there is still snow on the ground, but the roads are clear and "most" of the bike trails are also clear. By most, I mean that some of the trails and sidewalks in the city limits have been plowed - sort of. The trail/sidewalks in Grand Haven township are another story altogether. There is probably 6 to 8 inches of snow still on the E-W sidewalk/trail along Comstock St. in south Grand Haven (in the township, not the city). Michigan is sorta weird about townships. All they were good for back in Nebraska was a place to vote. Up here they have different zoning laws and elected officials in each township. They also have counties, but it doesn't seem like counties are as important as townships.

The photo above was taken in William Ferry Park, just north of the drawbridge across the Grand River, and next to Spring Lake. To get from Ferrysburg, where I live, to Grand Haven, you HAVE to take the bike path over the drawbridge. It's not too bad - just a little narrow. If you see bikes coming across from the other side, you can time yourself so that you meet them in the wide spots on either side of the drawbridge proper.

I was able to get out in the neighborhood Thursday evening and got in 2.5 miles. Saturday, I did 9.2 miles, and today (Sunday) I did 7.8 miles. I have many more photos to post so check back later.

Time to register for multi-day rides!

It's that time of year! Most of us are snowed-in, just dreaming about warmer summer weather and cycling without a heavy coat or tights. However, it is time to think about sending in your registration for one of the popular multi-day rides this summer. In fact it is too late now to register for PALM (Pedal Across Lower Michigan). They already have their limit of 700 riders. It is getting late for the Michigander Ride, but I think that this is still open. The Michigander looks very nice this year, with routes to Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island.

I doubt if I will take in either of these rides. Since I have started a new job, I only have 2 weeks of vacation this year. My first choice is likely the NUMB Ride (Nebraska United Methodist Bike ride for Hunger) in late June. A lot of my old friends are riding in this, and the route is in eastern Nebraska, which is much better than out in the panhandle. I still have to coordinate this with Gayle, and figure out whether I am driving or flying back to Nebraska.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas to everyone from our family in Ferrysburg, MI!

Love Links - a bicycle ministry

A couple years ago, Derek Rust, an advertising representative at the Grand Haven Tribune, learned that a single mother - whose only means of transportation was a bicycle - had her bicycle stolen. Rust fixed up a used bicycle for her to use as transportation. That kind gesture led Rust to explore ways of helping other people who use bikes for transportation. The wheels were set in motion for the creation of "Love Links", a bicycle ministry under the auspices of volunteers Char and Kevin Velik who are affiliated with the Harvest Bible Chapel in West Olive. Love Links serves as a partner to Love INC. The bicycle ministry was started in 2007, but really began to flourish in 2008 when 128 bicycles were repaired and given away. So far this year, 202 bicycles have been given away.

Read more about Love Links in the Grand Haven Tribune:
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/298216171793177.bsp

Read more about Love Inc. here:
http://www.loveinctricities.org/

More photos from Sunday's ride

Here are a couple more photos taken on my cycling trip around town on Sunday. The top photo is of the pivot bridge for the train. This is a lightly-used train track which crosses the Grand River parallel to the US-31 drawbridge. The drawbridge carries 100% of the car-truck traffic between Holland and Muskegon. The closest bridge over the Grand River is about 20 miles east, near Allendale, MI. The bottom photo is of the south pier and boardwalk to the pier. There was a lot of sand on the walkway plus lots of foot traffic, so I decided to turn around before reaching the pier.