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.

BAGELSnPINTS.May26-27 Bronte-NiagaraOnTheLake-NiagaraFalls M-60.01,T-6:00:01,AVG-10.,El-692.M-13.39,T-1:32:57,AVG-8.64,El-624

I left Bronte Park promptly this morning after wrestling with the racoons most of the night. I could here there sniffer getting closing in  as I was about to doze so I would hiss like a snake and bat the side of the tent a few times to get the critters scurring off. I did have my moment of revenge that night though being I left a empty bag of trail mix out by the picnic table. A distraction from the tent as I heard them crinkling and prying trying to get something out of the empty bag with the scent drivng them nutz. It's hard to compete with a hungry cyclist.

Later that morning I met up with Joe, a new friend I just met over coffee at Starbuck's and chatted part of the morning away with. He mentioned he and his brother Jack had a Bagel shop and Deli on my route and to stop in and say hi  as I was passing through. He thought Jack and I had some common interests as far as adventure and was kind of crazy like myself.

I'm glad I did !! It was my best stop for lunch so far and I would rank it right up there with Gere-A-Deli one of my favorites back home that my Bellingham friends and I ride to on our thursday's ride.Well actually there bagels were the best I've ever had so I would probably rate JC's higher. They've been at it for 20 years and  it shows drawing customers from miles around. Jack was a cyclist to and we talked about touring and he mentioned his past years of racing for a nice afternoon of conversation. He also made sure I had some Bagels for the road before I left which I was most appreciative of...............good eating for a couple of days............isn't that what's lifes about!!

A Pint at the Harp at Niagara On The Lake before bedtime.

   

May24-25 Toronto-Bronte,M-51.09,T-5:19:10,AVG-9.6,El-1131

I worked my way out of Toronto today after a nice relaxing break from the trail. My brother inlaws sister,Linda and her husband Craig live here in Toronto and they invited me over for a afternoon barbecue down on the dock where they moor their sailboat on Lake Ontario.They also said I could spend the night which I gladly accepted to. It was a nice afternoon of normalcy after being on the road for a few weeks. Gus who's head of the house hold love's his time at the dock to. His favorite get away. 

Leaving Toronto after a stop at Mt. Equipment Co-op to pick up a few supplies

May22-23 Wicklow-Darlington-Toronto M-62.11,T-6:14:26,AVG-9.95,El-2121,M-58.17,T-6:32:17,AVG-8.89,El-1748

I had company yesterday on the Waterfront Trail. The Whitby Marathon was happening as I was riding west and the runners were headed east. One thing I noticed was the enjoyment level of the participants  faces as I rode closer to the finish line.

Pete, here on my left, I ran into as I was nearing the end of the Waterfront Trail. Where it heads into Toronto and then picks up again. Pete followed me for a few miles as I kept looking in my rear view mirror. Then stopping  for a map check, he stopped and offered up some advice and shortcuts so I wouldn't have to get on Kings Street to get into Toronto." Left at the Log cabin" he said. Then following with "I'm  going the same way"......hey..... "I'll just follow you". I replied. Pete," I'll be going a little slower than you". ......"No trouble"  "It's faster than doing the same trail twice like yesterday when I got messed up." Lost again as I navigated around in a circle and ended up at the same reader board and park a hour and a 1/2 later and I was feeling lucky I did that. I average  around 12mph. Pete does around 8 to 9 mph but thats at 1 time through so I followed him. I new he wouldn't drop me either and I always could here his squeeky chain if I lost sight of him.....Great Guy, as he said this was his first time out and he didn't usually go this far as I could tell by his chain.

I was dreading the ride through Toronto as city's can be some what taxing on all your senses. Navigating through them whilst watching for signs and lackadaisical motorists, surviving. Looking at my handle bar Ontario Provincial map which doesn't show the greatest detail.
Well all that worrying was for nothing as I got closer to the down town area and allot of pedestrians and cyclists were out in #'s for the holiday. A spontaneous herd of us cyclists met up and formed are own eclectic peleton to totally confuse the drivers. It was fun and quite a mismatch of riders with a common goal.









I find the day and experiences change with the miles. Someitmes I find myself getting attached to the lows of the road, isolation, traffic,wrong turn, etc.and once again to be brought "Highs"5 miles down the road by new scenary and new friends, even if it's only brief. Your new relationships on the road can have more depth then one's you've had for years.  I guess the lesson here is let go of the downs and enjoy the ups, there always just around the next bend.

May21 Wellington-Wicklow

BARN ART

M-44.84,T-3:50:41,AVG-10.63,El-1143