Riding Days 16 - 20

Day 16: Bemidji, MN to Superior, WI

On our way through the lovely swamplands and lake lands of Minnesota.

We would only spend two days of riding through the land of 10,000 lakes.

What's weird though is that I only counted 9,999 lakes :)

Lame joke over.

Our way to Wisconsin was filled with green forest, going over the Mississippi River, good shoulder on the road, and mosquitos.

The mosquitos are back, and they are even more viscious.

Every break was spent in the car, if not...imagine Alfred Hitchcock's Birds and apply it the number of mosquitos that would swarm us when we stop outdoors.

Dramatic? Maybe.

True? Debatable.

Did it happen? Yes.

Oh and then after 80 miles we were met with a nice big hill.

Followed by a dive into Duluth, MN and took the bridge across the bay into Superior, Wisconsin.

Totalled about 135 miles for the day.

Day 17: Superior, WI to Ironwood, MI

Today was a rather simple day.

Started off looking really good. See?

 The morning was beautiful.

But, a quick reminder was given to us about our new, humid conditions.

I come from a desert, I already sweat the amount of two hairy men.

I'm going to need more water. But still had a good day, good enough for me to be a goofy goober.

We had nice rolling hills (that is said with sarcasm because hills with 100 mile days get old really, REALLY fast) and still the lush green forest.

I guess that all comes with the humidity.

The mosquitoes still loved us today when we were outside.

Also, the gnats on steroids made a wee comeback.

But, after only one day in Wisconsin that was just over 100 miles we finally made it to our seventh state, Michigan.

Altough there was slight confusion as to where to go next.

Now, in my defense, I am partially right. Why?

Because the next day we would make a minor pass through Wisconsin on our way back to Michigan, and into Iron Mountain.

Now we get to meet and know the Yoopers.

That is the term for the people who live in the uppper peninnsula of Michigan.

Day 18: Ironwood, MI to Iron Mountain, MI

Nothing too special about today. It was our third day in a row that we would crack 100 miles.

Definitely takes a toll on the body.

Still feel like Superman though.

Less mosquitoes  hills still show up (those buggers), and we had a nice humid heat to take us our last 20 miles. Twenty miles past 100 miles already ridden for the day.

Busted it out like champs.

Day 19: Iron Mountain, MI to Manistique, MI

Day 19 started off with a bit of rain, but that cleared up by 9:00am and almost right after we crossed into our final time zone.

Eastern

Still, today was awesome!

Why? Because now we were going to be by Lake Michigan and have a change of scenery for a bit of the trip.

It was nice to have some water at the side. 

Not only was it a nice change of scene, but it helped cool us down too.

Another day cracking 100 miles.

Even met some friends along the way.

This is Eric and Kelsey. They are from Illinois and were on a bike ride that loops Lake Michigan.

They were riding for a cause that helps to promote better schools and education in Chicago and Thailand.

How those two go together, I don't know.

A cause like that is still a good cause.

They were extremely nice and invited us to a potluck dinner at a local church in Manistique. 

Didn't make it, but still enjoyed having more people to chat and draft with :)

We made it the 107 miles to Manistique and were able to actually go out and enjoy the scenery and good company.

Day 20: Manistique, MI to Cheboygan, MI

Our last day in the Upper Peninsula with the Yoopers greeted us with cloudy skies.

Now it looks pretty, but those clouds are viscous, mean things.

We had a fantastic downpour that paused the journey for almost an hour!

I didn't get any pictures of it, but it was a little more intense than the rain my Dad and I encountered on the Century Salt Lake ride.

It was awful, but at least we had a van to stay in and kinda dry off.

We continued on Highway 2 through forest and the shores of Lake Michigan.

 In the town of Epoufette (Ee-poo-fette...yeah, I'm serious) we were all tempted to try out an Yooper favorite.

A Pastie (Past-ee).

It's like a potpie kinda deal, it can be filled with anything.

But, you gotta choose wisely where you get them.

The first place we tried had it with sausage, chicken, bacon...need I say more.

Sadly those weren't ready.

The next place had hamburger, onion, and other garbage that sounded like they put in what they don't cook the previous day.

Pass!

We made it to St. Ignace where we would say our fond farewell to Highway 2 and would head down into the hand of Michigan.

And onto Cheboygan (Sheh-boy-gan) with a tailwind that carried us up to 27mph.

Which on a bike is flying for us :D

It was awesome!

Highway 2 has carried us since Montana. It had its ups and downs (in many ways) and now we start planning a zig-zag, kinda, down Michigan and into our Neighbors to the North, Canada.

Probably won't be there for a day or two more, but that'll be fun. 

Boston or bust!

-Jordo