xltd.com weblog

Today started out in quite a different manner since this is the only planned day that my bicycle was mounted onto the car for transport across the Mackinac Bridge. This is an interstate highway, so there is no pedestrian or bicycle traffic permitted.








After crossing over the bridge and passing through the toll plaza, we pulled into the rest stop/visitor center. Once the bicycle was dismounted from the roof rack and all of the accessories remounted, I was ready to go by crossing the interstate and heading west. I learned of this maneuver from a blog that documented a crossing where the bridge authority will pick you up and transport you across for $2. This was the route described.







Today's trip started in a light drizzle in Mackinaw City, but cleared in St. Ignace to start the day's leg. There was no rain today, but the roads were wet and the sky a dreary gray for most of the first half of this century ride.







There was one minor detour on the ride that Karen gave me a heads up on when I called here for my first check-in at the 20 mile mark. She learned this from a person at the visitor center. Since cell phone coverage is spotty in the Upper Peninsula, we scoped out the coverage map and planned calls throughout the day.


The first two calls we arranged came for me at rest stop/scenic overlooks







The second call allowed us to meet for lunch, which consisted of a shared turkey sandwich from the shop behind me as I pulled into to the parking lot. The day brightened after that, being mostly sunny the rest of the route.



After riding on US 2 for almost the entire day, a side trip to a lighthouse was a pleasant distraction and well worth the 17 mile extension - including 8 miles of unpaved, but very ridable road.







The day ended with a stroll along the boardwalk in Manistique - for the only "picture" of the two of us together.