June5 Manitowoc-GreenBay M-59.78,T-5:36:05,AVG-10.67,El-1087

Good Time Charly coming into Manitowoc aboard the Badger.

I figured out my next couple of days riding by connecting some railtrails. Today I went from Manitowoc to Two Rivers via the waterfront trail. Then from Two Rivers I took 147 N. to 43. From there 147 turns into Z and then into Park. Park ends at PP where I took a right to 96. Then left on 96 to Green Leaf which is the beginning of the railtrail to Green Bay. You could probably follw this route on the info. I gave above on Google maps if you wanted to.  Just pick up a few doughnuts before you start and it will be like the real thing.
Tomorrow is going to be the MountainBayStateTrail. Which runs from Green Bay-Shawano-Wausau for 83 miles which should make for a relaxing day.
Nice backroads here in Wisconsin. I used my new maps to get me to the trail head in Green Leaf and they worked just fine. There was little traffic on most of the roads and they were covered with a real fine chipseal which was easy to ride on. In fact after riding today on the roads theres really no need to use the railtrails other than the novelty of them and I can't let a 83 miler go by.

 http://www.mountain-baytrail.org/

June 4

A few parting shots from my ride in Michigan and pondering the trek across Wisconsin.

Quote of the day  as I was riding the Pere Marquette railtrail. The widest staightest trail I have ever ridden. 33 miles long from Midland to Clare Michigan.  I must of dozed off a few times as I was riding it because it ended so soon. This author summed up life in 6 words.

       Logistics day today having arrived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I needed to come up with some routes for cycling across Wisconsin being I've done little planning for this part of the ride. Anyway I got a Wisconsin State map at the visitors center to help with the process and went on line with Google maps and mapped a ride which covered 378 miles from here, Manitowoc, to Waconia Mn. With only 236 waypoints and no printer I got totally frustrated .......hmmmmmm..... there has to be a better way than this. I'm not writing 236 waypoints  down. So I called a local bike shop hoping for a better solution and they had a couple of maps which I didn't think was going to cover the distance after talking to the salesman. Anyway I decided to ride down and check it out. Dave the owner met me at the shop and pointed some maps out and said it's just one in a set of 5 which covers the whole state..............Yes!!!.........I'm on my way again for a  Mr. McGoo ride across Wisconsin. Good details with these maps to. Covering all the backroads as well as main thoroughfares  so I can pick and choose as I go and do more exploring.Unlike Lake Ontario & Erie. It was just keep the lakes on your left and not much deviation, by choice to. Quite a luxury to have this detail  making life easier.......little things!

June2-3 Caro-Claire-Ludington,M-89.51,T8:13:35,AVG-10.89,El-878.M-93.53,T8:24:44,AVG-11.11,El-1619.

Making time is how I approached Michigan after the first day of riding. I just wanted to burn up the miles and move on. I decided to deviate from the Adventure Cycling route and took a more direct route on the interstate. I enjoyed parts of Michigan but mainly my barbecue ribbed dinner at the Old Hamlin Restaurant on the main drag in Luddington. It was the best and tasty too.



My ride across lake Michigan. A antiquated coal driven steamship for a muchly anticipated pedal free ride across the lake and looking forward to it.

A picture perfect departure from Luddington.

I made it through Michigan!!

June1 St.Clair-Caro M-92.11,T-8:31:53,AVG-10.8,El-1546

Buy Local here in Michigan is the motto. Not many Toyotas or Hondas on the road or any foreign cars as far as that goes as I was observing. Just Ford's,Chrysler's and Chev's minus mufflers my ears told me. A indicator of the local economy I kept trying to spot a Japanese car but was only fooled by the new Ford's that look like a Accord.

 I decided to give these guys the road as they were off to work discing another 200 acres in 2 hours. Despite the woes of the economy agriculture oriented communities seem to be doing the best as I ride west.  In both U.S. and Canada.

A delicious piece of baklava I purchased  at of all places a Sunoco mini-mart. The days surprise!! The best ever chewiest-gooeist I've ever had. I asked the attendant if he made it some what jokingly and he replied that his mom did......I had 3 pieces to help with the days riding and got a couple to go.

Memorial Day-St.Clair

Memorial Day today in St.Clair. I decided on a rest day and took in a parade out in front of the Inn I stayed at. The sun shown through this morning but turned to rain and thunder and lightning as the day wore on. A good day to rest.

May30 NewGlasgow-St.Clair,M-80:01,T-7:03:07,AVG-11.34,El-710,

Marine City

They let me back in the good ol'U.S. It's the most laid back border crossing,Marine city, I've ever been through. A few Canadians with there loot carting back a couple of sixer's to finish off there memorial day weekend in the U.S. The custom agent was quite inquisitive to about my bike trip and wished me "Luck".

Sombra-Marine City Border

Yard Art

May29 Normandale-NewGlasgow M-96.75,T-9:08:05,AVG-10.59,El-2056

Countryside of Southern Ontario. A lot of farms running right up to the Lake Erie shore. It seems to be very real productive land and reminds me of Skagit Valley on a larger scale. As you can see there silos are no longer in use here  with the farmers putting there money into current improvements just like the silos were in there time.

May28 Niagara Falls-Normandale M-89.65,T-7:26:01,AVG-12:06,El-14.01,

20% of the planets fresh water takes a tumble down these falls. A toddler a few years back wearing a life vest  survived the fury of the falls and was rescued by a tour boat on it's daily excursion.

It was a great day of riding as I finished up the Waterfront Trail in Niagara.Which looking back seemed to had gone on for eons. The newness had warn off. Back to idyllic country roads as I ride above Lake Erie. I can make some better time, meeting locals and just enjoying the ride. This Adventure Cycling route looks to be a good one as I pulled into the campground around 8. The day cools down around 5 and the early evenings make for some easier miles.