Cycling back to Wisconsin

After spending the week in Detroit with Dave's family we are now headed back west. We left Southfield on Monday, late morning and rode to Ann Arbor, along some of Oakland county's so-called bike paths (think sidewalks with lots of bumps). The closer we got to Ann Arbor the better the streets were. There had been some paths built along I-275 but they weren't maintained and so felt like obstacle courses. The nice surprise was yesterday, riding from Ann Arbor to Jackson. Though it was very hot, the ride was one of the best we have done anywhere. Riding a scenic route along the Huron River and then through Waterloo Rec Area was terrific. We had been told this was the local route for cyclists, and being July 4 we saw several cyclists, including many breaking in the town of Chelsea. Today was also nice riding, even with a head wind. It was cooler which makes a big difference. I have to say it's been pleasant and such a relief to leave the nasty cycling conditions of SE Michigan behind us.

We didn't do anything special for the 4th; we missed being in Milwaukee with friends. I tried to think of the last time I didn't do something for the 4th, and I honestly can't recall a time when I didn't celebrate somehow. Even the restaurant we walked to for dinner didn't have any decorations, and most of the stores were open. So we just relaxed by the motel pool and read. Relaxing is always good, since we know we'll be very busy in the weeks and months ahead.

We are now sitting in the public library in Battle Creek, just before finding a pizza joint for dinner. These have always proved to be the best places to use the internet for free; we've never been told we have to be a resident, and it's typically cool and quiet.

So tomorrow we'll head north to Grand Rapids, then on Friday ride some more roads before picking up a bike trail for the last 27 miles to Muskegon for the afternoon ferry back to Milwaukee. This has been a great way to get our annual bike trip in before our July 23 departure for the Peace Corps. Let's hope the weather holds out for a couple more days, which it looks like it will. (We've been very lucky over the years with the weather during our bike trips.)