Day 28Monday August 20th, 2007
Mackinaw City, MI to Mackinaw City, MI
45 miles today (19,499 - 19,544)
5,434 miles total
Traveled little today. The plan was to stay put and NOT go south into central Michigan where LOTS of rain is forecasted. The sky was very overcast here this AM, and a 50% chance of showers. Will consider moving indoors to a cabin while all my gear is still dry.
Plans included laundry (yuk), make pics of the bridge, go to the bridge visitors center, work on blog, work on route planning and read. I hate to take another “day off” after last Wed-Fri in Fargo, ND, but I don’t see any point in riding through a projected DOWNPOUR all day! Besides, I have NO clean clothes!
Decided to move indoors to a cabin. After moving and packing the tent away, I did laundry as planned, rode into town, crossed the bridge and rode on the metal grate lane coming back again. Couldn’t see water, but the wind was fierce! I was leaning pretty significantly, yet still going straight ahead. At two different sections on the bridge there are some modified turnouts (blocked by curbs) that provided a wind break. At that instant, as I came up to those, I nearly fell over for the LACK of wind all of a sudden. It really caught me off guard the first time!
I am not much of a “tourist.” Although I rode through the downtown area, I didn’t bother to park and look in all the little shops that had the same ol’ stuff I’d already seen in a dozen other little tourist towns. I’ll take the roller coaster ride on the bridge anytime!!
Decided to move indoors to a cabin. After moving and packing the tent away, I did laundry as planned, rode into town, crossed the bridge and rode on the metal grate lane coming back again. Couldn’t see water, but the wind was fierce! I was leaning pretty significantly, yet still going straight ahead. At two different sections on the bridge there are some modified turnouts (blocked by curbs) that provided a wind break. At that instant, as I came up to those, I nearly fell over for the LACK of wind all of a sudden. It really caught me off guard the first time!
I am not much of a “tourist.” Although I rode through the downtown area, I didn’t bother to park and look in all the little shops that had the same ol’ stuff I’d already seen in a dozen other little tourist towns. I’ll take the roller coaster ride on the bridge anytime!!
Had fun at the little t-shirt shop (pic above) when I asked the clerk if I they got a lot of snow here! Well...I didn't know!! She was silent for about 10 long seconds while she looked me over.
"Are you serious?" she asked in her most "is this guy for real" voice. She asked if I was NEW to town. HA! She proceeded to tell me how the town clears out except for one hotel and one gas station. "NO ONE stays here for the winter" she went on to explain. I even learned that the waterway under the bridge joining Lake Michigan and Lake Huron actually freezes over! I had no idea! Hey! If you don't ask questions you won't learn anything!
The rain never materialized today. Oh well. I’ll sleep good knowing I’m already packed and ready to go tomorrow.
The rain never materialized today. Oh well. I’ll sleep good knowing I’m already packed and ready to go tomorrow.
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