UP (Upper penisula, Michigan)

Again, the curse of free time and no internet vs internet access and friends.

Back up: Synopsis:Thurs. I finally rode the John Muir trail portion of the collective Kettle Crest trail. I camped @ Pinewoods inside the state park for a shower. Fri I drove to De Pere, WI just outside Green Bay to visit w/ friends Dave and Rebecca who own the Bike Hub. I spent 3 nights in their drive way covering 2 days of riding. I left this AM bound for Marquette, MI in the UP. I checked out the shop Dave recommended, Downwind, where a helpful and knowledgeable sales person gave me directions to a ride. I rode it. Met a local for future ride. Drove to campground. Paid for a camping spot @ Tourist camp almost inside city limits. Shower then down to  The Vierling for brew pub beer and dinner. Back to camp for night.

Thurs I drove to the John Muir TH. reader board read: trails closed to mountain bikes. darn. I saw 2 riders coming in from the trail after having ridden the closed trails. The park ranger caught them and either blistered their ears or gave them citations. He said he would evaluate opening the trails.

I sat in the parking lot. I researched oil change service. Scored 1 w/ local shop. I arrived. I was told that even though she said they worked on Sprinters she lacked the required synthetic oil and was shaky on  the fuel filter. But, she made an appointment for me @ the local Chrysler shop that used to be a Sprinter dealer. All right. Van serviced for next 10,000 miles to next fluid changes.

I dashed back to John Muir hoping it was open for a fast ride to get to registration for another camp night and eat b4 10:00PM. Trail was opened. I took off. Almost immediately I rode thru shallow, slippery mud puddles. Trail seems too wet to ride to me but ranger said OK. I do not know the back story of how the trail came to be to be able to evaluate it. It lacked soul or imagination. Got it done. At the TH a bike wash station awaited my bike and me. Mud removal required a brush from my equipment. I washed mud off my legs. I paid for camp spot b4 dark.

Friday I made the drive to De Pere. Rebecca greeted me at their shop b4 I shut off the engine. Greetings. I am visiting you on your home grounds after 2 Sedona visits.  She toured me thru their shop. This started my social visit for 3 days. I camped in their short driveway in suburban neighborhood where nobody was ever visible in the front of their house except when they mowed their front lawn . Sat AM the lawn mowers split the air.

Sat I drove Rebecca and bike to 7:00 AM start to allow 2 shop riders to make work on time. Bards Creek is right inside city limits of Green Bay. Small patch treed hilly plot of land. Rooty. Lots of little tech moves over off camber roots. Tight and twisty. Pieces of trail have been rerouted for sustainability.

later Dave told me about a retail store for memory foam as I wonder if my pad is sacked. I drove to the shop and talked comfort. I compared my pad to their new and decided that mine was as good as theirs. Avoided expense.

For dinner Rebecca treated me to deep fried perch which I haven’t had since last Lake Erie fishing trip back in maybe 1962. Nice treat. Someone else caught, killed, cleaned, descaled, breaded, deep fried: all for me.

Sunday was a 10:00Am ride @ Reforestration camp. . Seven yo Luke would be leading his dad, Tom, Rebecca, and me on his 20″ wheel bike. 1 hr 39 mins later back at the TH. Kid can pedal. we only stopped for him to drink from his bottle. Lincoln. Great kid.

Rebecca and Dave hosted a dinner party.

Monday AM came the hardest part of every visit: saying good bye. I waved goodbye and headed to the western shores of Lake Michigan. Along the way i stopped @ a roadside picnic site right on the shore of the lake. Windy w/ white caps. I took some pics. Pretty sky waves scenes.

I made Marquette and Downwind sports seeking trail info. What I knew was Dave saying this was a place to ride. Armed w/ directions I drove to the TH. I planned a route from the large trail map. I started w/ the longest climb since Pisgah. Then a rude awakening to UP woods. hemlocks w/no adelgids killing them. Tight. I scooted between rather than ride because of how tight they either were or were perceived to be. I rode the 7 mile red trail. Lots of elevated trail to avoid wet ground. Nice trail, worth riding again. I rode back to the TH then took off riding the green trail. Trail was rideable both ways but it seems that I rode uphill onto the bermed turns that allowed great downhill banked turns. Almost at the end I rider from the opposite direction and I met, He asked if that was my van next to his car. Yes I said. A local and he furnished lots of inside stuff. Seems he just returned from an 8 month road trip. We made arrangements for tomorrow same place different trails and maybe some local knowledge trails.

I drove to XG. I am camped @ a non electric site up against the border fence keeping town activity separated from us recreaters.

Back in eastern time zone again.

These trails are to ride again, maybe after Copper Harbor to the north.