Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Day 22

Stats
Net Elevation gain: -20 ft.
Average Speed: 9.9 mph
Top Speed: 16.8 mph
Time spent biking: 5 hours 18 minutes
Total time for the day's travels: 12 hours
Miles biked today: 52.73
Total for trip: 944.4 miles

We woke up in the beautiful field, and packed up slowly. It was quite windy, but that was nothing new. Although we were a little bit grouchy, our strong legs gobbled up the first few miles. We didn't have much for food, so we were eagerly hoping that Munger would have something. We stopped at the first place that we saw, and although it looked much like all the other roadside diners, it surprised us.

Super views in the morning outside the tent.

At the The Tool Shed, we found Internet, excellent burgers, friendly staff, and a decent atmosphere. We lost our grouchiness by the time we had eaten. We spent about an hour after we were finished with our meal looking at maps and using the Internet to answer email and upload pictures. The friendly staff gave us great directions for small roads to take into the center of Bay City, where we were headed to Bay Vac & Pedal, the recommended bike shop in town.


We soon found our way into the city and after going one too many bridges too far, backtracked and crossed the correct bridge and found our destination. The folks at the bike shop were very helpful, and Bill got right to work on our bike, despite having a busy schedule. The bike had been holding up admirably, but it was starting to skip gears here and there, and we had neglected our cleaning duties. We hadn't had any work done on the bike since we bought it, so we were excited to have the drive train cleaned and and the shifting and brakes adjusted. They sold us a new kickstand, too, because our old one had bent just a day before. Bill also took the old one in the shop and bent it back into shape, so we took that with us just in case.

Jenny shows off our newly tuned up and cleaned bike!

We also purchased a new water bottle, because one of ours had gone bad after a hot day and some juice. Brett was a little sad, because he had been given that water bottle by Marie of Pedal People on his first training ride, and it had originally come from Basically Bicycles in Turners Falls (a shop that sells Rans Screamers).

We followed this pretty bike path along the water and out of Bay City.

With our newly clean bike and our new equipment, we walked a block down the street to an all-you-can-eat pizza and salad buffet for our second meal of the day (around 5:00). We stuffed ourselves, and then headed north. We followed their bike path out of town, even though the roads may have been faster, because it was pretty along the banks of the river for a while. Eventually, the path ducked into the pretty woods, and we started cruising. It wasn't long before we came to the Bay City State Park, our first option for the night. It looked beautiful, but we felt so good riding and the sun hadn't even set yet, that we decided to push on to the next option, a county park in Pinconning. For that, we had to head west, then north, then back east. On the map we spotted a bike path heading north/south a bit east of the main road north (Route 13/Route 23), but when we went to look for it, we never found it. Perhaps it's still railroad tracks. Anyway, we were getting tired now, and annoyed at the phantom bike path, but we did finally make it to Pinconning Park.

Just after we passed Bay City State Park, we met another Rans recumbent rider, biking the other way! He started in Seattle and was almost to his end destination of Rochester, NY.

We had tried to stop for dinner and breakfast supplies at a supermarket in the center of Pinconning, but they were closing as we got there. We had a little bit of food, and we weren't very hungry, so we just headed to the park. Amazingly, the family across from us in the campground offered us dinner of chicken, baked potatoes, and beans, with s'mores for dessert. They were so friendly and fun to talk to! They also said we should come over and eat breakfast with them in the morning.

Brett finishes setting up the tent.

We took a shower after dinner, and went to bed exhausted but happy. We even got to read fun and inspiring comments on the blog, because this park had Internet!

7 comments:

  1. I hope you are staying cool. Here we have highs in the 90's predicted today through Thursday, and upper 80s with thunderstorms Friday. I hope the weather is better where you are, or if not, that you can find some cool refuge to escape to.

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  2. when i am feeling overwhelmed by work (like now) i switch screens to check your blog and it lightens my load. even in the middle of a downpour (it's raining as i write), reading your blog is bit of sunlight shining through. mama

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  3. Well, I do declare. You two do "depend on the kindness of strangers" - and with great success! Your travels and tales of strangers restore/bolster my faith in humankind. We all should strike out as you have, and I'll bet we'd encounter kindnesses, too. We have enjoyed many a book by Steve Hamilton on the U.P., but he informs readers that a snow in July is not all that rare..........

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  4. Hey Brett and Jenny,
    Just caught today's blog. Sounds like a great day. I'm really impressed by your bike. Considering the weight you are carrying and mileage, and your admitted little time spent on maintenanc, it is holding up beautifully. You will make a great ad for Rans. You are probably unaware, but the Tour de France is in its third day and very exciting so far. Between you blog and the Tour, it is all I can do not to grab my own bike take off, and not look back. Brett, how is the knee? I see the brace and hope it helps. Don't forget I + I (Ice + Ibuprofen). Miracle combination. Back to the grind after a fabulous 4th of July weekend. Looking forward to tomorrow's blog. Ride on.....

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  5. When I read of your going "one bridge too far", I thought of how easy it is to just turn around in a car, and am again in awe of you intrepid pedal-powered travelers.
    I'm off for a ride myself, early, before the high 90's defeat my inspiration. Thank goodness for our river!
    Love, Mom

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  6. All you can eat pizza, a family dinner AND a site with internet? What a score of a day! I am so much enjoying every post and admiring you more and more each day. As always, sending lots of love and thoughts of perfect weather your way!
    love,
    Cara

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  7. I'm at Grandma and Grandpa's and we have just finished going through all the posts. They say they have really enjoyed following your trip, especially the places they recognize from their many travels.
    "We thoroughly agree this is the best thing you can do for yourselves! Sending lots of love and admiration, Mary and Val"
    Lots of same from me, too,
    Mom

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