7/29/05 Friday | Clare MI |
7/30/05 Saturday | Bay City MI |
7/31/05 Sunday | Silverwood MI |
8/01/05 Monday | St. Clair MI |
8/02/05 Tuesday | St. Clair MI |
8/03/05 Wednesday | New Glasgow ONT |
8/04/05 Thursday | Port Burwell ONT |
8/05/05 Friday | Selkirk ONT |
8/06/05 Saturday | Port Colborne ONT |
8/07/05 Sunday | Niagara Falls ONT |
8/08/05 Monday | Niagara Falls ONT |
Today we rode our first couple miles on the Pere Marquette rail trail. We are
now on the route my brother Jon, my friend Sue, and I took last summer
in the opposite direction. (Tnx Brendan for the photo)
We're camping at Herrick State Park near Clare MI.
At the terminus of the Pere Marquette trail in Midland there was a farmers'
market in the city park. We bought as much as we could carry on the bikes
- 10 ears of corn, green beans, green onions, peppers, and squash.
(Brendan's photo was actually taken a couple days earlier, but it looks
so good I had to include it.)
For the rest of the supplies we found a grocery store only a mile and a half
from our campground at Bay City State Park. The store owner agreed to deliver
the groceries to our canpsite.
Eric has decided to leave the group and finish on his own, like Wes.
He will follow the route, but a couple days behind. I will inherit his
cooking partner, Brendan. We are now down to 9 people out of the original 16.
Tonight we're at 1000 Trails campground near St. Clair MI, which is located
about 8 miles north of Marine City where we will be crossing over the river
into Canada.
There wasn't much to do in town. I killed a couple hours reading "Burr"
by Gore Vidal in an ice cream shop. I also chatted with the Greek owners
about politics, etc.
This seaman looks like he's been standing on the ferry for a long time.
Today was long and very hot. We're staying at Hickory Grove canpground
near New Glasgow, Ontario. The power went out shortly after we arrived.
Fortunately, the cook crew got ice from the camp store before they
closed. I tried to call the Fitzgeralds, who put up Sue and me last
summer, but the pay phone wouldn't accept coins. I had called several times
yesterday but only got his voice mail.
We're staying at Pleasant Beach Campground near Port Colborne, Ontario.
Mark's wife Mary brought us a steak dinner tonight. That's Mark sitting
next to Jeanne on the left and Mary next to the rear on the right.
We'll be staying two nights in Yogi Bear's Jellystone campground in
Niagara Falls, Ont.
7/29/05 Friday, Clare MI
73 miles
It sprinkled a little about 5 am and again just briefly as we were leaving
camp. We had cool weather for riding most of the day.
7/30/05 Saturday, Bay City MI
52 miles
Don slept in this morning so I rode with Maddy all day. With the new cook
crew assignments she and I are now on the same team.
7/31/05 Sunday, Silverwood MI
66 miles
Along the road today a nice family put out ice water for us and we stopped
and chatted awhile. We're camping at Sutters Recreation Area near Silverwood MI.
8/01/05 Monday, St. Clair MI
64 miles
Don's rear tire blew out on the road today. After replacing it, the first
two tubes didn't work so he ended up borrowing one from me. We were over
an hour dealing with all of it.
8/02/05 Tuesday, St. Clair MI
19 miles
Layover day in St. Clair. I spent most of the day in town to escape the
mosquitoes in camp. In the park by the river there's an interesting
sculpture of a family on bicycles.
8/03/05 Wednesday, New Glasgow ONT
81 miles
We crossed over into Canada on the ferry at Marine City. This is looking
back at Marine City across the water.
8/04/05 Thursday, Port Burwell ONT
62 miles
Another hot humid day. Staying at Port Burwell Provincial Park.
Jeanne's friend Mark is joining the group for a couple days.
He works for a company that makes machines to count people.
He did the Trans-Am in 1976.
8/05/05 Friday, Selkirk ONT
63 miles
Much cooler today. Staying at Selkirk Provincial Park.
We stopped at a dinky store at Peacock Point to help Don and Geoff carry
food to camp.
8/06/05 Saturday, Port Colborne ONT
60 miles
Most of the ride today was along the north shore of Lake Erie.
8/07/05 Sunday, Niagara Falls ONT
42 miles
Mark and Mary rode with us most of the day. Thanks Brendan for the photo.
That's Mary, Brendan, Don, Mark, and Jeanne.