July 24 – 88 miles from Birch Run, MI to Port Huron, MI,
then another 7 miles around Port Huron.
With pleasant weather, little wind and no hills, it was an easy
day. Some days seem to blur into
many others, and with more endless corn and soybean fields, this was one of
those. In Yale, MI, we learned
that we were missing the annual bologna festival – rats, I was so looking
forward to it! (Yale is the
self-proclaimed bologna capital of the world (‘cause no other city wanted the
honor.)) We also saw that Lake
Huron is incredibly blue, of the Caribbean shade – a lovely lake with lovely
beaches, and apparently water warm enough to swim in (as opposed to Lake
Michigan.)
July 25 – over the aptly named Blue Water Bridge into
Sarnia, Ontario, then 67 flat miles to London, ON. America by Bicycle managed to have the east bound bridge
closed for our transit, so we had a fun group ride up an over the high bridge
into Canada. Otherwise, it was
corn, wheat and soybeans all day, in what looks in every way to be the US
except the flags. But still a fun
rude, as I rode with a good group, scenery was pleasant and the day short. Today I went over the 3,000 mile mark
for the trip – less than 800 to go.
July 26 – You are never can tell how a day will work out on
this trip. I started late today –
dead last in the group – so figured I would relax and ride alone at my own pace, which can be very enjoyable. I passed several of the slower riders
and about mile 18 caught up with Norm and George, then Robert and Carol.
Shortly thereafter, a thunderstorm rolled in. We took refuge in a farmer’s barn, with 15 of us eventually
settling in for 45 minutes to wait out the rather lovely storm. Leaving, I rode with Dan, Paul, Carolyn
and Julie, but eventually decided to slow down and ride alone again. About lunchtime, a second storm rolled
in, and I took refuge at café in Mt. Pleasant (the Windmill – worth going to if
you are in the area.) 9 others
were there, and we had good food, sitting in very comfy rockers on the covered
porch, watching the lightning crash around us, torrential rain, and a brief
episode of ¾ inch hail. It was a
spectacular display of power. We
also chatted with the owner, who gave us complimentary home-made cookies. When the rain broke, we decided to try
the remaining 9 miles (of 67 total) to Brantford, despite lots of clouds in the
area. A mistake. The heavens opened up in 3 miles, then
lightning crashed exactly overhead and all around. Pretty scary.
The first refuge opportunity was in 2 miles, under a bridge, where 6 of
us, now soaking wet, held up for another 20 minutes. When the lightning passed we went the remaining 3 miles in
pouring rain, through streets with flowing streams. Everyone in the group arrived safelty (all 52) though many
were drenched like us. Everyone
spent a good hour cleaning and drying their bikes. Overall, it was a great day – one of those days where things
get so bad they become good. You
know, like mud wrestling or playing in a blizzard.
At dinner, I was surprised by a large cake for my birthday,
arranged by Carolyn (my wife, not the Australian rider on this trip). The group sang Happy Birthday. I had tried to keep this under wraps,
but it was pleasant nonetheless.
