Ride 1: A tour of the tip of the Thumb

Before I recap today’s ride, Lisa and I would like to thank everyone who has donated so far. After a flurry of donations yesterday, we are now over $4,000! If you haven’t yet donated and would like to or know someone who is interested, here is the link: 
Raise One For Anne Donations

Today we wanted to finish before noon because it was supposed to be hot and thunderstorms were predicted for the afternoon. So, in a very non-vacation like manner we got up at 5am to make our preparations for the day and start our hour drive to Caseville, MI to start our ride. 


Lisa thought it a good idea to take a picture before setting off. 


Making use of the wide shoulder on M-25 we set off and first of today’s issues popped up. I must have been drinking when I planned the route. My cycling GPS was telling me to turn inland after only 2 miles. I disagreed. We stopped and looked at a map and decided to ignore the directions. I angered the GPS. It beeped and flashed red lights at me. It’s not the boss of me!

5 miles in the coffee took hold and an unplanned pit stop was made. But it gave us a nice view from Michigan’s Sleeper State Park. (Fun fact: Day access via bicycle is FREE at all Michigan State Parks.) 



We settled in, while ignoring the GPS several more times as my wonderful route tried to send us down some dirt roads and one road that was supposed to take us to see a lighthouse and Turnip Rock was marked private. (I’m fired as a route builder.) Somewhere in mile 32 we arrived at Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse. We spent some time reading all the markers outside about the history of the lighthouse and shipwrecks in the area. 







It was now time to turn back. Around mile 37, Anne was somewhere saying, “Ha Ha!” I ran over a small rock which punctured my back tire. This is nothing that hasn’t happened before. We made short work of the tube change and pumping the new tube with the mini pump. Thanks to the local who stopped on his motorcycle to make sure we were okay. 

Navigation delays, sight seeing, and the flat slowed our total time which meant we were out as the temperatures started to climb. There also isn’t a lot of shade on M-25. It was hot but not unbearable. 

It also didn’t stop me from taking pictures:


Lisa with the lead along Lake Huron. 


I’m 12. 

After 60+ miles we rode back into Caseville. Today was a little tougher than expected. But we aren’t doing this because it’s easy. We are doing it so someone’s life will be less hard. 


Oh, and don’t think for a second that we forgot the beer! Thanks to the folks at Thumb Brewery for making some tasty beers and taking our picture. 

Tomorrow we’re off to Oscoda, MI and some views of the Au Sable River. 



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