Returning of the bikes

Wednesday, 6/12/2013

The day has come -- we must end this adventure and return the bikes to Ray's Bike Shop. The manager remembered us from last year and gave us the same good rental rate for the week that included the bike carrying rack for the car and a gear carrying rack for one of the rental bikes.

To begin with I was going to ride into town alone for updating the blog, and would meet the other two at the bike shop. As I was preparing my gear for the day, Gerry thought the ride into town sounded good to her too, so she started gearing up as well. Vickie (before her coffee) said she was perfectly happy to skip a ride today as she was feeling a little tired. UNTIL she was assisting with getting bikes off the rack and out of the car. Then she too thought a ride sounded good for the day. Soon we were all geared up and arrangements were made with Len to come to Ray's for pick up.

Gerry awaits Vickie for the start of the ride down the driveway

Our final ride down Len's driveway for this trip

You never know what you will run across on a simple ride. Along the road we came upon some handcrafted "art" work.

There was the owl from Mars...

...the Martian himself...

...and the human invader of Mars

Having Vickie along for this final trip allowed us to explore a little further than Gerry and I would have done on our own. A little visit to the Nature Center brought us memories of last year's visit, plus Vickie could get a look at her cousin's beadwork on sale there. In town we stopped for lunch at an actual restaurant (no abandoned house, cemetery or picnic bench this time), then meandered to the Library on scenic side streets.

Chippewa Nature Center

"Modern Explorers" must refer to chemists (Dow and all)

 

Overlook Park overlooks what was to be the Nuclear Power Plant that cost 5 BILLION to build and ended up being torn down (now a gas plant I think)

Then it was on to the coffee shop for coffee/tea and blogging before wandering across the way to Ray's. We turned in everything that belonged to them and I got to ride back home on Vickie's Bike Friday. Back across the tridge (see last year's trip blog) and onto the Chippewa Trail before riding the roads to Len's. I passed a deer alongside the trail but it was too well hidden in the high weeds for me to get a photo. Then I came upon a lone gosling that wanted to adopt me as its mother. I was saddened almost to tears when I had to leave it there with no mama anywhere to be seen. Perhaps mama was watching and would go to it when I left, perhaps the baby was sickly so the mama left it, perhaps the family that passed me going the other way toward it would have an idea of what to do. Whatever happens, there was nothing I could do for the gosling but mourn for it being alone.

The end our trip for this time, and an early morning on Thursday for the drive to Detroit airport and our departure for home. For those of you who have followed along, thanks for being here as I love sharing things with you. Stay tuned for the next adventure, coming soon. And, by the way, when you get a notice that I have posted on the blog, do not reply to that notice as it is to the server and not to me, so I will not get any responses. If you write anything to me (and I love it when you do), you can email me directly at my email address, or leave a comment on the blog.

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Paris

Tuesday, 6/11/2013
Today we would drive to the White Pine Rail Trail in Big (not Grand) Rapids, and ride through Paris. It could hit 81 degrees today -- it could be sunny -- it could be cloudy -- there could be an afternoon thunder storm. We didn't get the storm.

Station is closed down and in ill repair, but the parking lot is big

An idea of where is trail is located

In terms of exploring, Vickie is a lot like Susan -- always looking to see what there is to see down that road or off our given path. I really like that and it surely adds to our adventures. The spur off our path took us along the riverside and through a field of wild flowers before it looped back to the main trail.

Another bike rack (and my bike lays on the ground)

Cracked and broken robin's egg on the trail

And then we were in Paris and at the Eiffel Tower. The Fish Hatchery deserved a little visit, and by now lunch was calling our names. As we enjoyed our lunch by the Eiffel Tower, we were entertained by the ducks diving for their lunch. I did get a short video of the ducks, but the download will not work. After I get home I will try to add it here from my home computer.

Paris fish Hathery

Gerry finding the fish

We have eaten our lunch on an abandoned porch, a cemetery lawn, and finally fine dining by the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was constructed from discarded bed frames by a few High school welding students in 1980. The builders would be about 50 years old now and we wonder if they ever return to see their craft.
Continuing on down the trail to Reed City, I spotted some cows that had found shade on this side of the fence. They didn't come on the the trail as the shade was where they were, and I hoped they would find the hole in the fence to return to the herd.

One of several who escaped to freedom

It was now quite hot and we were having visions of ice cream. When we entered Reed City, at the end of the paved part of the trail, we stopped in the Chamber of Commerce and the friendly woman attendant pointed out the "hand dipped, hard ice cream" shop across the street. Perfect. We scooted over there to find it is open 7 days a week, except Tuesday! We might have to settle for an ice cream bar from the convenience store -- but their freezer went out yesterday and no ice cream! I had to settle for my less favorite soft serve cone from the Dairy Freeze, Vickie decided on a Slush, and Gerry got a mere bottle of cold water. A town without ice cream.
After our less than desired, but satisfying treats we explored around the area a bit before our return trip. The covered bridge was an unexpected treasure, and true to form, Vickie found the dirt path that led to the wooden walkway below.

Bike and foot bridge

Vickie scouts the trail

Different view of the bridge

Dragonfly for Sheri -- mural under the bridge

Once back at the car they needed a coffee shop and I wasn't opposed to a tea, so we found another Biggby Coffee to slake our thirst. Reeds is the home of small Ferris University whose mascot is the Bull Dog. There seem to be many differently adorned bull dogs around the town.

Ferris University Bull Dogs

We arrived home a bit late, had dinner, rested, showered and went to bed!

Our very busy tour guide takes a rest

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A Rainy Day at Chippewa Pines

Monday, 6/10/2013

We needed a rainy day to catch up with things (blogging), grocery shop, check in with the bike shop, and relax!

Espresso Milano is Vickie's favorite coffee joint in Midland and she spends time her doing computer stuff and drinking fine java. We spent hours here this morning so that I could finally catch up on the last three days of our adventuring, and Vickie could do her computering as well. Gerry was most patient with us!

You who followed last year's trip will remember Len's cats:

Here's Snoopy who often does not leave Len for long

 

True to her name, Princess poses regally

 

Untrue to his name, Tiger keeps a screen between himself and any strange humanoids

Now, back to reading --- and more relaxing.

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SNAPPING TURTLE RESCUE

Sunday 6/10/2013

Shortly after beginning our ride for today there was a turtle slowly crossing in front of me, and had made it to the very middle of the road. I was concerned that it would not make it all the way across without being crushed to its death by a speeding vehicle. First I tried to scoot it along with the front wheel of my bike, but it would not budge. As I saw cars approaching I stood next to the turtle (in the middle of the road) so they would not run over it. Then I thought I might have to pick it up to move it. I put down my bike and leaned over the turtle to help it along and it SNAPPED at me!! And what a large (and dangerous looking) mouth it had, and my how far around it could reach with that long thick neck. Now I didn't know what to do. I was scared of being munched on, so there I stood as Vickie and Gerry approached wondering why in the world I had been standing in the middle of the road in the middle of traffic.

Fortunately (for the turtle), Vickie had just the other night watched a nature adventure show on t.v. and learned that you pick up a snapping turtle by its tail. Once Vickie tossed it into the ditch the snapper scampered at breakneck speed into the water, under the mud and away from human danger. It moved so fast (unlike the road crossing trek) that we could not get a photo of it on its way to safety.

Phew, narrow escape for me and the turtle

Turtle saved (Vernetta would be proud), we moved on to Mt. Pleasant where we would visit Vickie's college alma mater. Along the way my buddies would stop to accommodate my addiction (or is it an obsession) of taking photos of interesting things in the farm yards. Photos I want to share in my blog.

"Funny Farm" with all the comic characters

As I seem to ride through college and university campuses on many of my trips, I have gathered several banner photographs. CMU has no banners hanging, but there is this nice sign.

My "banner" photo of CMU

We ate our packed lunch at the picnic table on campus, rode around to see Vickie's old dorm and a few of her campus haunts, then found our way to "Biggby Coffee" for our tea and crumpet stop. This was our halfway point and we would relax for a bit before tackling the headwinds to home. The tailwinds on the way here made us feel so strong and fast! Now would be payback time. We managed to find a couple more photo ops along the way.

I'd say the well is dry here - in someone's yard

Looks like a small stagecoach, may be a simple wagon to haul stuff around

 

I'd say the well is dry here - in someone's yard

Initially this farm seemed abandoned, but we found signs that someone must come here to use it periodically

Great old back door

This provided good heat in some cold winters.

 

This was a long mileage day and we were each and all happy to see Len's driveway finally come into view. Happily it was pizza night so -- no cooking for anyone.

 

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Chippewa River Float and Bike

Saturday, 6/8/2013

Len's farm sits between Chippewa River and Chippewa River Road. Today we would spend lots of time on the River, and a little time on the Road.

Don't let the abundant rust fool you for although the 1975 Jeep truck looks like it is on its last legs, it starts up with the first turn of the key every time, and runs fine. Ok, maybe it is a little bit of a rough ride, but it sure serves the purpose of transporting the canoe.

Old but reliable

"Rusty" got us to the put-in

Well, I can't drag a canoe and take pictures too...

We, fortunately, were successful in avoiding the poison ivy the Vickie pointed out to us while she was in the midst of it

The river has a gentle current that allows a relaxing three hour float from the put-in back to Len's. Within the first five minutes on the river we had a deer swim across in front of us but I had no time to get my camera out of the plastic bag for a photo.

Vickie steered us down the river and guided us around any rocks and debris, pointing out things of interest and telling us about the "great flood of '86" when some houses experienced river water in their living room, and just about everyone had water come up to their doorstep.

Our guide

Neither Gerry nor I paddled a stroke as the current drifted us along

Recent storm knocked down this tree from shoreside

We pulled in to a quiet spot out of the current to eat our packed lunch and enjoy more sounds of the birds singing for us. We were the only ones on the river until just a little before the end when we passed a gaggle of people with their kayaks and canoes beached on a small sandy island. They were playing, relaxing and having lunch, and we were somewhat glad that they had been far ahead of us and we had the river to ourselves (or so it seemed).

All the other turtles scampered away before we could get close; these stayed for a photo then scampered off

Guides need rest

Once home we had to retrieve the truck. The three of us biked along Chippewa River Road to pick it up, then Gerry and I decided to bike the short ride back while Vickie drove the truck home.

 

A river float and a bike ride - mmm mmm good.

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