Mi  = 45

Our day began at 4:45 am — up early to catch the Ferry by 6 am.  We watched the sunbeams of the sunrise burst over Lake Michigan as we pulled away from the dock.  Matt was reminded of how he felt a few days ago as the boat rocked back and forth and back and forth across the rough wake of the lake.  When we arrived safely and Matt and Jonathan located their stomachs again, we had an early lunch and headed out for a half-day of cycling.  It was only a few miles from the tourist town of Muskegan, where the ferry docked, to a paved bicycle trail that took us right into Grand Rapids, where we would be staying with Barb’s college roommate.  Well, we flew through the trail, but it was a LOT slower as we attempted to find her house.  Two wrong turns and a $5 map later, we found directions that would navigate our way to her house.Her name is Maureen, but Barb calls her “Mo” for short.  She offered us our four favorite things — shower, dinner, ice cream, and sleep.  She has an old house that has been completely renovated and modernized.  Totally cute!  Want to buy it?  :)  Check out Re/Max for 655 Gladstone in Grand Rapids, MI.

 Here’s Barb calling her hubby:   

Mi = 102     Portage, WI - Milwaukee, WI         Cycled on several of Wisconsin’s bike trails.  The terrain was flat, but 40 mi of the trail was left unpaved, covered in limestone instead.  For a while, we felt like we were hiking or riding on a mountain bike trail as the trees kept us hidden from the outside world.  Once we reached the paved section, which eventually led us to the heart of Milwaukee, we began to see signs of life.  It was refreshing to see families out for a leisurely bike ride, couples holding hands over roller blades, and children racing one another to the next block of the trail. 

FUN WITH WISCONSIN SIGNS:All Wisconsin county roads are labeled with a number or a letter.  Here are two that we enjoyed:

Mi = 85Millston, WI - Portage, WI Guess what we did today?   Did you expect a different answer than ride a bicycle?  ha ha got u.  We biked on roads that went buh-bump, buh-bump, buh-bump.  Lots of cracks.  The terrain was pretty flat today, so we did a lot of talking.  Probably not the best thing to do, as we’ve been getting on each others’ nerves.  Do you think maybe we’re spending too much time together?!?!  Barb went to the grocery store and brought back charcoal for cooking burgers and we had a feast of other veggies, fruits, and junk food as well!   

Miles = 104 W heeler, WI - Millston, WI Church at St. Anthony’s and refreshments afterwards.  Nothing like a prayer and cookie to start out the day!  The miles weren’t coming quickly enough with the hills we were expected to tackle and the scenery was quite repetitive and boring.  It was warm too.  We obviously were not thinking clearly in the heat when we disregarded a sign, reading “BRIDGE OUT 3 miles ahead” and continued on the 3 miles anyhow.  

I guess we really weren’t surprised to see the blank space where a bridge used to cross the interstate.  We then decided it would be a good idea to carry our bikes down the steep hill along the underpass where the bridge used to be, run across the high-speed traffic of the interstate, and climb back up the steep hill with our bikes in our arms to reach the missing bridge.  Sadly, we did this.  We are alive, though, and we got right back on our route.  

OH–Matt lost his wedding ring on the ride today!  We will be taking up a collection to replace it for any of you pity-ridden friends.  :)  haha 

Mi = 97 

Springvale, MN - Wheeler, Wisconsin 

We were relieved to see Matt get up this morning and reach for his biking clothes.  He seems weak and looks a little pale, but he seems to have a lot more color and energy than yesterday.  We left by 7am with a high goal of 120 miles, depending on how long Matt could last having not eaten at all yesterday and not much today.  It actually turned out not to be Matt that held us back; it was the severe thunderstorm hovering over us most of the day, daring us to push further.  Watching clouds form miniature funnels got us off our bikes at the end of the day–the storm won.  We ran into a bar…surprise, surprise…funny how we can always depend on bars to be open when we need them most.  Staying at a place we found on warmshowers.org.  Tom and Beth Arneberg and their 5 children allowed us to invite ourselves into their home for the night.  They fed us a home-cooked meal around a super-large table and shared bicycling stories.  We also received a home-circus juggling concert.  

 Mi = 0Springvale, MN - Springvale, MN 

Poor Matthew!  He woke up really sick today!  Problems coming out both ends.  We think it was food poisoning.  After much deliberation, we decided to stay another night here in Springvale, MN.  The people here were so understanding; they didn’t even charge us for a second night.  It felt like we were staying in someone’s backyard.  In fact, we had a visitor all day–a cat.  She rubbed our ankles, curled up in our laps, and took a nap with Matt. Matt slept most of the day while Barb, Laureen, and Jon researched a new route to cut out miles.  We’ve heard other cyclists rave about crossing Lake Michigan by Ferry and so we looked in to it.  Weaving a highlighter on and off of back roads, we found a way to cut off a few days of bicycling.  Excited about beginning tomorrow–hope Matt is feeling better!

Royalton, MN - Springvale, MN Mi = 72 Another rainy day but we had to push on.  No definitive thunderstorms.  Although, a few hours into cycling, we got caught in a quick storm.  Luckily, we were near a town when it hit and were able to use a convenience store for an umbrella.  After that break, we felt energized enough to push on to 100 miles, which was further than we had planned.  Jon’s tire had other plans.  The only tube left was an old patched one, and we weren’t sure how far he would make it…. back to our original plans and called it a day at 72 mi when we arrived at a campsite in Springvale.  What a beautiful facility hidden on the back roads of Minnesota….large pool, clean showers with hot water, and friendly people…….and of course our Barb!  :)   

When you are bicycling every day for at least 6 - 7 hrs each day, you spend a lot of time in the sun. Depending on what you wear, you get strange tan lines. Check out these embarrassing marks:

Can you guess whose hand is whose?

Scroll down

scroll down

The answer is Laureen on the left, Jonathan in the center, and Matt on the right.

2. And how about these embarrassing marks:

Can you tell whose leg is whose?

Scroll down for the answer.

keep scrolling

The answer is: Jonathan on the left, Laureen in the center, and Matt on the right.

Miles = ZERO

Woke to the music of thunderstorms.  Checked the weather–thunderstorms all day, winds SE (against us) at up to 60 mph in some parts and chance of hail.  We certainly weren’t bicycling.  God wanted us to have a rest day.  When the 1st storm cleared, we finished our junk food and Jonathan’s 1st experience with the card game “Eucre”,  and finally came out of the tent.  On our trek to the office to pay for another night of camping, we discovered a lounge and game room, where we turned on ESPN for the boys while Laureen borrowed Barb’s makeup and nail polish to feel like a woman once again.

Check out this game room and lounge:

We spent the majority of the day playing cards and board games.  Matt, Laureen, and Jonathan learned how to play cribbage from Barb, who is very patient with rookie players.  Matt vs. Laureen => Matt won ; Barb vs. Jonathan => Jon won  Boys ruled and girls drooled in that game of cribbage, but for the game of Eucre, the girls won.  We also tested our vocabulary with the game of Scrabble, which Laureen won with a 7-letter word “BANDANAS” earning her 36 points + 50 bonus points.

In the evening, the girls sat on the dock while the boys dominated one another wrestling in the Mississippi and the Platte once again.

We cooked cheddar bratwursts on the fire, followed by marshmallows for making s’mores.  Towards the end of the night, Jonathan headed to the lounge for free wi-fi while the older folk read by the light of the campfire.  Thank you, Lord, for this rest!

Mi = 74

Parkers Prairie, MN - Royalton, MN

Barb cooked eggs (over the way we like them), maple sausage, oatmeal sweetened to our individual taste, and fresh Jersey blueberries for breakfast.  Luxury!

To the Olympic torch tune, we ceremoniously transferred the 45lbs of gear from our bicycles to the support vehicle.  Then, we released a sigh of relief as we gently lifted our bicycles over our heads looking at one another…Ahh–so light!

got the day started riding feathers 34 mi to a town called Long Prairie where Laureen and Jonathan replaced their back tires. (Jon’s rubber had been chipping away and Laureen’s had no tread left for traction.)  Since we were stopped, we ate our usual lunch of pb and honey on wheat bread–only today was the day we had to buy a new loaf, so it wasn’t smooshed or toasted from the hot sun beating on it all day.  Filled up on ice+water and headed back into the sun for another 36 mi, which took us to a BEAUTIFUL campsite past Royalton, MN.  Our campsite was right on the fork where the Mississippi meets the Platte River (check on a map).  We actually swam in the exact spot where the two rivers met!!  Since our first cross of the Mississippi River occurred today, we know we’re at least half way home!