Traverse City MI

We have the SLUT* in Seattle.

They have the TART* in Traverse City.

*South Lake Union Trail

*Traverse Area Recreation & Transportation

I have now ridden the both ;'-)

But first we had to drive from Mukegon to Traverse City where we would spend the night and do some riding. That brought us through the charming town of Fremont. I had stopped into the coffee shop on the way through the day before to get a tea and thought this would make a good stop for breakfast this morning. It did.

 

Inside the coffee shop in Fremont

Here is where we learned that Gerber baby food was born in Fremont.

 

 

 

Arriving at our hotel in Traverse City too early to check into our room, we used their restroom to change into biking attire much like superman does in telephone booths, and began our riding for the day.

The TART Trail winds through town and around the lakeside of Traverse City.

 

 

Interesting sign to warn of oncoming cyclists

 

Under a bridge along a canal-way

Couldn't pass this up

 

We are on Rail Trails after all --- so there have to be rail cars expected.

 

This is where the Lelanau Trail begins and we will ride that the following day

 

Beaches are almost like being at the ocean

We came upon a furniture store that mainly had things made from natural products. Here there are three sizes of chairs on display.

 

Papa Bear's chair is too big

 

Baby Bear's chair is too small

 

Ahhh, Mama Bear's chair is just right

A long day and a little tired, we were back at the motel for dinner and baddie bye.

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Musketawa Trail, Muskegon MI

We drove just to the outskirts of Muskegon to the trailhead to begin the ride on the 25 mile. We did about 19 of the miles before turning around for our return. The trail is very well maintained, and the paved surface make for comfortable riding. But the journey along the trail is rathe nondescript (read boring) as it is totally straight and flat with only farmland and fields for scenery.

We would enter two towns before our turn around point so we went to the furtherest first. The I think the word "town" is an over estimate of Conklin. We saw a bar with several bikes parked at the bike rack and a car or two. We assumed the bikers were stopped for lunch. We then found the town park about half a block on, and the welcom port-a-potty. This was adjacent to the trail so we hopped back on that and headed back.

In the other of the two towns, Ravenna, we found a place for mediocre lunch. And -- our seccond in two days -- bridal photo session.

 

 

Interesting bike rack but the train car display

 

Basic house in Conklin

 

Also in Conklin -- we thought maybe an old school with the two stories

 

Nice tunnel of trees along the trail

 

I spotted the boots, we asked to take a photo, she posed ;'-)

 

No other stop for my Teaneuring than the vast station which had this display selling these lamps.

 

I may or may not count this as a Teaneuring stop! Tea bag tea made with water from the HOT WATER tap from the kithchen in back just doesn't seem worthy.

It was quite a chilly morning that warmed up slightly by the afternoon. Also there was that wind again. But it was at our backs at the start to push us along at a nice clip. Then heading back the wind had calmed down a lot for less to brave through.

I will post that NON-TEANEURING photo in my challenge post later so it will be here again ;'-)

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Muskegon MI

We arrived at our hotel in Muskegon in the early afternoon, got checked, settled and lunched before taking a bike ride. The Lakeside Trail is just across the road from our hotel and would be the trail for today. Our hotel is in the middle of downtown Muskegon, which is about four blocks long as I can see. The city council are at least trying to keep this part of town alive and vibrant and we had a little time at the street event in the evening with music and people watching.

The trail takes us along Muskegon Lake onto the outskirts of town and then to Lake Michigan.

 

Swans don't mind the wind and waves

 

White caps on Muskegon Lake indicate the wind we had this day

Housing for your pet

 

 

Here is another wind indicator

We rode through some old parts of town with closed up mills and huge buildings in the midst of tear down destruction. Then into a few nice neighborhoods and park.

 

Maybe this house is haunted?

Trail ended at Lake Michigan as we fought the blustery winds and blowing sands.

 

 

 

This trail connector took us to the sub on display

 

The subs record

 

Guy with a dog offered to take our photo

 

Apparently this was the birthplace of Buster

Returning to town we took the loop through the nearby park which is quite extensive for an intown park. The path winds through in a maze like fashion and skirts along Muskegon Lake.

 

Bridge in the park winds us back to the trail to the hotel/

 

Wind continues

We continued past our hotel on the other end of the trail for just a few miles.

 

Found another bridge to wander along

 

At the turn around point we kind of interrupted a wedding photo session, but quickly departed so to stay out of their photos

So ended our day in Muskegon.

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Michigan 2016

Midland Michigan, at Vickie's Dad, Len's home. I had not been able to post any photos and posting without photos just does not do it for me ;'-)

I must be too early for the fall leaves to have color -- but it IS fall in Michigan.

 

I have had a few less than stellar moments in this trip. Here is an email I sent to Susan:

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...

Not trying to dwell on the negative, and I am basically having a good time on this trip, there have been some little annoyances.

1. THE UGLY -- I had chosen the window seat and at first it looked like the middle seat might remain empty. But no -- the BIG guy across the aisle had taken the wrong seat and wedged himself into our side of he aisle. Big guy slept most of the way and his arms spread into my space for most of the way. Made my already small space smaller! Quite uncomfortable.

THE GOOD -- The Ear Planes I bought and used for the first time made my usual ear pain on landing a lot less painful. Slight discomfort only but not the usual excruciating pain.

2. THE BAD -- Deciding to not bring my pedals and shoes did not work well. I brought Power Grips, and even offered to buy clips when the shop said the Grips would not work on the pedals they had. Clips wouldn't either. I found riding on those flat platform pedals very miserable and somewhat unsafe. My foot kept falling off the pedal, and I had trouble starting safely and smoothly from intersection stops (traffic ahead).

THE GOOD -- I went back to the shop to buy pedals and shoes if they would have them. They had a set of SPD pedals for me to borrow and I bought shoes and clips. AHHHHH a world of difference in my comfort level on the bike. And I didn't mind buying shoes as I have thought I needed/wanted a new pair.

(2b -- not bringing my own saddle was also a mistake as I am beginning to "feel" the one they provided.)

(2c -- I sure do miss my water bladder. It is a very tight fit to get the water bottle I brought into the bottle cage on the bike. So I don't drink nearly enough as I have to stop for a drink.)

Lesson learned -- don't pack so light. ;'-)

3. THE BAD -- My electric toothbrush ran out of battery after two days of use.

NOTHING TOO GOOD -- but at least I had brought my manual tooth brush.

4. THE BAD -- the cable connector for my camera to iPad transfer has apparently bit the dust and I cannot download photos. Without photos I will not blog as those are the drivers for my blogging.

THE POTENTIAL fix -- try to get Vickie to drive me (or loan me the car to drive myself) to Best Buy -- about 15 minutes away -- to purchase a new cable. If all else fails I can try to ride my bike there after our ride today. Strange town riding is not my choice, but I could make it work if need be.

Things have gotten under control and now that I have a new connection cord for my camera to iPad transfer I will do some catching up here.

I rent a bike from the same shop each year and like what I get from them. It is always a basic Specialized model good for the paved trail and flat riding we do.

This year's bike is pink

 

My new shoes

 

Side view

We spent the first two days in Midland riding around the quiet back roads, doing errands (getting new shoes) and stopping at the usual coffee shop for a treat. Enjoying quiet evenings at home and sharing some time with Len. He feeds 11 feral cats and kittens as well as two house cats. That adds up to 13 cats!

 

A small handful of the cats that come for breakfast, lunch and dinner at Len's

The following day we drove (by we I mean Vickie) three hours across the state to Muskegon for some riding. That will be my next post -- perhaps tomorrow.

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Leavenworth -- Autumn Leaf Festival

The final days of this trip. We de ou last "vacation"" stop in Leavenworth for the festival fun with part of the family. Susan and I arrived on Thursday to Mary (Susan's sister) and Phil's house; Sarah and family would arrive on Friday evening and we would all have the weekend together.

On Friday I took myself on my usual bike ride loop for a few miles, while Susan and Mary had a plan to take a hike up Ski Hill.

 

A pleasant house by a pond

 

Wondering if these students were practicing for tomorrow's parade

 

Bike Friendly Leavenworth

 

A piece of the River

Upon returning home I found that Susan (exhausted from all the driving of our long trip) and Mary (exhausted from a month long stay in Korea helping with her newborn grand baby) were each taking a nap. The heck with that hike up Ski Hill -- they were tired out.

On Saturday there would be a kids parade before the regular parade and we would decorate all the bikes. But first let's explore the festivities.

 

Lucy would try her hand at climbing the wall

 

And she would get up fairly high

 

Kaitlyn would do her own climbing to get to the top of the slide

 

Jaydon screams down the slide

 

And Lucy has her turn

 

The bandstand draws a small crowd for some music listening

 

We gathered up bikes and people and transported to Mary's condo garage as a staging area for decorating.

 

Unload bikes and decorating gear

 

Mary had provided some colorful stuff for the bikes

 

Kaitlyn thinks this is fun

 

Lucy thinks her (and their) bikes will be the prettiest in the parade.

 

Family finds the best viewing spot

 

Get to the parade start and .... wait

 

Starting of the parade

 

Jaydon would like to be riding faster!

 

Lucy paces herself too

 

Kaitlyn did her wave to everyone along the route (it was just too cute)

And their bikes were the prettiest and best decorated in the parade -- though there were a few more with quite nice decorations as well.

After the Kids Parade, the Regular one started. At an hour and a half long, it is the longest parade I have ever been to. So many schools from around the state

had junior and senior high school bands, and many local and non-local people had elaborately decorated floats, cars and wagons.

Unique for the Leavenworth Parade are the Alpenhorns

After lunch at Mary and Phil's, the family did do the Ski Hill hike and I joined them for only part of it.

Lots of fun and good activity for this weekend and a fine way to close out our travels for this summer.

I don't know how I did this to myself, but a week after getting home I will be flying out to Michigan for yet more fun with my friend Vickie. Will be blogging again, so keep an eye out ;'-)

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