Biking with Bill

i tunes to BRANTFORD


Our short, sweet, enjoyable Saturday morning ride to Brantford, Ontario was filled with the sound of music! I was surprised to hear some “good ol’ rock and roll music” as we were leaving London this morning at 7:30 am. It was a beautiful, yet hazy, day for the 64 mile stretch to Brantford, home town of hockey great Wayne Gretsky. The music was coming from Dan’s bike. He had rigged up his i pod to a small speaker set he had borrowed from Annie, which was strapped to the cross bar. I could hear his good selection of tunes most of the way today.

Early on in the route, I rode with Chuck (OH/FL), a Cincinnati/Sarasota resident whom I knew was a retired Air Force Colonel–and a strong cyclist.(see photo of Chuck in the morning haze). He flew A-4 fighter jets out of Da Nang while Kent (VA) was piloting a modified A-4 off aircraft carriers at the same time during the Vietnam War. During my conversation with Chuck, the “Navy boys”, Dave and Jim, classmates at Annapolis, came roaring by in a 2 man pace line. They have improved their speed and riding skills tremendously since Astoria, Oregon. It is great to see them riding so well.

In the town of Springford at a town park and ball field we had our mandatory SAG stop. A softball tournament was about to start, and our pavilion was being readied for it’s conversion to the “beer tent”. A sign said; “7 beers for $20". It was tempting to several of us, but it was only 9:30 am–and the concession stand didn’t open until 11:00. So we rode on.

We biked through the small Ontario towns of Otterville, and Wilsonville to Mt Pleasant and finally to Brantford (pop 90,000–and apparently declining). It was a rather unimpressive part of town that was our entry through the streets of Brantford. Scoopy’s Ice Cream was our first stop. A good one.

The rural areas on our route today were “lovely”, as one of the UK riders said. Big, prosperous, and tidy farms on great roads (particularly when compared to Michigan). We saw tobacco fields, and strawberry fields enclosed in screening, along with the corn, soybeans, and cows. The small towns were neat and clean and had the look of prosperous middle class communities.. All were quiet on this Saturday morning.
We again put our heads down and rode the last 33 miles “with purpose”. The average speed for the day was 17.3 mph. We were in town before noon—waiting for our rooms to be ready.

We passed the 3000 mile mark of our journey on today’s ride. Tomorrow we ride to Niagara Falls, NY for a rest day on Monday. And then it’s only 7 days to Portsmouth...and our celebration of a great adventure. WOW!

Bill
ps Did you know that Canada is so much associated with the game of ice hockey —that on the new $5 bill a picture appears of youths playing hockey?

“ OH CANADA, GLORIOUS AND FREE ”


Those are the words in Canada’s National Anthem which the group of riders known as “the Final Four” (Annie, Lois, Abe, and Stew) were prepared to sing to the Customs and Immigration officials at the border in the event it became necessary for entry. It was not required (naturally), but a few bars were sung anyway. Actually, the preparation and procedure itself went off very smoothly. We assembled at 7:15 am in front of our hotel in Port Huron with passports tucked away in our ABB jerseys and cameras at the ready. We were to ride closely behind the van–all 54 of us–, and we were to be followed by our other van and luggage truck.

The bridge authorities were ready for us. They held all truck traffic going into Canada until we had cleared the bridge, which rises high over the St Clair River. The Canadian officials at the far end of the bridge were cordial and efficient. Only the 5 Europeans were asked for their passports–in order to stamp them. The Americans passed right through after disclaiming having a weapon or contraband.

We were in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada where we immediately found better roads, but the same crops as we found in Wisconsin and Michigan. Our welcome to Canada was complete with the arrival of warm sunshine and a TAILWIND! The unattainable tailwind we begged for in South Dakota and Wyoming we found in Canada on this day. This tailwind pushed us faster than expected down the country roads. What a pleasure to have a wind at our backs.

The route from Port Huron to London, Ontario was a flat 82 mile ride. From the SAG stop in the town of Watford at the 34 mile mark, we shot right into our destination city of London, Ontario. It was a 48 mile non-stop push at speeds in excess of 18-20 mph. We were at the hotel before 1:00 pm. Actually, Dan and I first stopped for a lunch of fish and chips at a restaurant next door to our hotel. There we found “the Wolfpack”, the group of mainly European cyclists who ride in a pace line together each day, and are always first in. Peter (UK) offered us a celebratory Labatts Blue beer. “Welcome to the Commonwealth”, he said. “Cheers, Peter” was our thirsty response.

It was a great biking day: the excitement of crossing into and biking in another country, the weather and tailwind, the challenging speedy finish all made for a great bit of cycling.

I was told at the “all you can eat” buffet restaurant last evening that a gentleman was there looking for me. To my amazement, an old friend from the paper industry, who resides in Port Huron and was the president of the paper company here, heard of my bike trip and knew I was in town. He invited me to his beautiful home right on Lake Huron for a beer and some good catch-up exchange of news on people we both know. His wife and Betty had been good friends and shopping and touring buddies at the paper industry conventions in years past. Small world!

I ordered another t-shirt. I know I have too many, but this one is an original and is offered by a fellow cyclist on the tour. It describes our unalterable itinerary for the 50 days of our cross country bike ride. It says: “EAT, SLEEP, PEDAL.....REPEAT”. Perfect.

Cruisin’ in Canada,
Bill

MICHIGAN FAREWELL !

I turned on the television this morning at 5: 30 am to see the local news broadcast of a story on our cycling trip. A reporter had interviewed a couple of our guys, including Stephen (NJ), a great kid biking across America with his dad. He is 15 years old and had some choice quotes for the reporter. His best was: “I HATED South Dakota (due to the heat and wind, of course), but also, “ I thought Michigan was supposed to be beautiful”. The producer at Channel 25 decided against “airing” those comments, and went with some less inflammatory remarks. He is quite a young man!

The route today was a flat 88 miles to Port Huron, MI (pop 32,000), located on Lake Huron at the site of the Blue Water Bridge to Canada, and “Boyhood home of Thomas Edison”. The bridge, a massive structure, crosses over the St Clair River which flows out of Lake Huron. We will make the crossing and GO INTERNATIONAL tomorrow. We are all excited about biking in Canada! New adventure.

It was a bit foggy this morning, but we were pleased to see the sun shining early. The morning fog produced a haze over the farm fields in the distance. It did cloud up later in the morning, however.

“New guy” John passed us –as he does every day–in a flash. He is an incredible cyclist with a steady, steady 105 to 110 pedaling cadence ALL DAY LONG. That is very fast spinning, his legs are like pistons going up and down. He is definitely in a different league.

Our first SAG at the 26 mile mark was at Artesian Well (photo). We then biked on to Brown City and into the town of Yale for a SAG at Andrae Park, named for the family of one of our riders, Nancy (FL).

On the outskirts of Port Huron–passing beautiful houses on the lake– we caught a glimpse of Lake Huron at Lakeport State Park Beach. It was a good day for a swim-hot and humid–, but we cycled on to get lunch.

We again moved right along today, averaging 16.3 mph. We were on the road for 5 hours and 28 minutes, getting into town about 12:30 pm. Keith, Dan and I rode together most of the day–and finished together.

Floyd Landis: (if proven) SHAME.... for what you have done to the sport of cycling! WHY?

Bill

ps ** See photo of road conditions–and call your county supervisor if you live in Michigan.

** Naples Cyclery, my bike shop, would be proud of my biking clothes today. It is their team colors.

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

SINGING IN THE RAIN

(NOTE; See Day 36 also posted today)

About 3 miles outside of Ludington this morning we stopped to put on our rain gear. It was a high mileage day (115 miles) to Mr Pleasant, MI and the forecast called for thunderstorms during the morning hours. What it didn’t say was ALL MORNING. It was 75 miles and 5 hours later that I took off the rain jacket. Incidently, my rubberized rain jacket is the same type of cover that wrestlers wear when trying to lose weight before the weigh- in for a match. Guaranteed to drop pounds through “sweat equity”. I was as wet on the inside as on the outside. Nevertheless, I could not get certain “rain”songs out of my head, so I rode for miles singing to myself.

Today’s ride was our last “century” ride of the trip. We only have 12 cycling days left–none over 90 miles. But we certainly have some great cycling ahead of us. Michigan, despite the weather, has been beautiful. We all look forward to our time in Canada, and then NY State–and family visits–, followed be the Green Mountains of Vermont, and then New Hampshire and the beach. These are exciting days! The large cycling group has really come together well. We have all developed new friendships and riding partners.

I had dinner and a couple of drafts with Eberhard and Anja this evening. They own a bicycle touring company that offers cycling tours of Germany and Majorca. I’ve been thinking.....next summer maybe Munich to Hamburg or possibly the Belgian border to the Polish border; Germany South to North or West to East. I’d love to do either one!

The rain today may have slowed us down a bit, but we made very good time over the 115 mile course (avg 15.8 mph). The final 25 miles was again with “gusto”. We hammered home. I rode with Dan, Kent and Ilkka.

Dan’s quote today, as we headed into Mt Pleasant was: “I never like to see the word “Mount” in our destination city. Inevitably, it involves a climb”.

When riding with Kent, a recently retired pilot for American Airlines, I am reminded of his quote on opening day when asked WHY he was making the cross country trek, He said, “For 30 years I have seen the world go by at 500 mph. Now, I want to see America at 15 mph” Well said.


Bill

REST DAY?

MICHIGAN AHOY!


The booming horn on the SS Badger sounded at 1:15 pm as we slipped out of the harbor in Manitowoc, WI. The large 612 passenger ferry (they called it a CRUISE ship!) was underway across Lake Michigan to the town of Ludington, MI, a voyage of 60 miles over the course of 4 hours. This was our REST DAY.

It was amusing to watch the 50-plus cyclists– in civilian clothes– occupy the time aboard ship. Some lounged in the sun on the top deck, some below amidst a bingo game. Some read a book in the “quiet room”, and some –like me– did all of the above. It was a pleasant, though rolling ride AT SEA.

On arrival, we walked our bikes off the ship, changed our watches to EDT, took photos at the “Welcome to Michigan”sign , and hurried to dinner in town.

Kevin, a reporter for The Herald Times Reporter newspaper in Manitowoc, had called earlier in the morning for an interview. We spoke on the phone and he came to the port for a photo and further questions. A nice gentleman–in a very friendly town.

Rested for tomorrow’s 115 mile cycling day,
Bill

THE SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN

It was a beautiful Sunday morning in Southeastern Wisconsin. There were only a few people around as we departed Fond du Lac for Manitowoc, WI, located on the shore of Lake Michigan. It was a short 60 mile ride through the cornfields on untraveled county roads. There were no trucks to be seen, and only the occasional passing car. We were all dressed in our red, white, and blue America by Bicycle jerseys–as we are asked to do on days going into a rest day town.

We were almost alone on the roads, just 54 cyclists in the quiet of the morning’s rising sun. We were in no hurry today.

I began to feel a little guilty about missing church on this Sunday morning. I was nudged by the town signs as we entered St Peter, Calvary, and Marytown, WI with its grand Catholic church perched on the hilltop.

A group of 3 bikes passed us on a downhill–it depicted the variety of two-wheeled vehicles represented on this tour. First was the tandem with Steve and Barb (ME) in command, next was Jon (VT) on his conventional road bike, and finally Larry (MA) on his lay-back recumbent. All were cruising along comfortably and enjoying the ride.

I rode mostly with Nancy today, a fellow Floridian and Team RTC member. We entered the town of Kiel, where none of the 3400 inhabitants was anywhere to be seen. We were all alone until the SAG stop at the far end of town. The rolling hills kept us active along with the “DO NOT MISS” county road turnoffs on our route sheets. At the 47 mile mark we caught our first glimpse of Lake Michigan. What a sight!

Arriving at the busy lunch spot in Manitowoc, there were the usual questions by the folks there and subsequent amazement at the time, logistics and distance of our cross country bicycle trip. There seemed to be a great deal of interest in cycling on this final day of the Tour de France–and I noted some degree of pride that Floyd Landis , an American, had won.

We will board the ferry at noon tomorrow to travel across Lake Michigan–on our rest day.

Floating across America,

Bill