Biking with Bill

ATTENTION SHOPPERS !


We wanted to stay ahead of the rain today–and we did, but not by much...and it wasn’t easy! We completed the 75 mile route today in 4 ½ hours, in spite of some segments with 10-15 mph headwinds and some of the worst road conditions in America. Our average speed for the day was over 16 mph. It was as tough a workout for me as yesterday’s 115 mile ride. I probably pushed a bit too much to stay with stronger cyclists—but I do enjoy having some free time this afternoon. I even had a chance to put new clip-on cleat sets in my biking shoes.

It was a gray, overcast day with scattered showers. Some of the riders are still out and it has now begun to rain here in Birch Run, MI.

I am told that this city of only 4,000 residents hosts “millions” of shopping tourists each year at the more than 150 brand name outlet stores located in a HUGE complex as you enter town. In fact “the Birch Run exit off I-75 is the second busiest exit on that highway” that runs all the way to Naples and Miami. “Only the exit to Disney World is busier”. However, I have NO intention of visiting the outlets. During this trip the only store in which I have any interest is a bike shop. All of us stop at every bike shop we come across. You always need something in a bike shop.

What has happened to Michigan roads? Granted, we are on low priority back country roads with little traffic , and granted, Michigan does have long and tough winters, but holy cow, what a state of road disrepair we have encountered.

The route today took us through the towns of Sheppard and then into Alma and past the college campus there. That was the last town we saw until we entered Birch Run. Farmland was our environment today. Kent (VA) identified the crops we passed en route. His list (since I am unable to question his identification of these grains and vegetables) includes: corn, soybeans, green beans, lima beans, sorghum, beets, asparagus, pumpkins, sunflowers, wheat and....hay----all on Michigan farms.

Biking the farmland of Michigan,
Bill