In 2011 and 2012 I traveled along the Michigan shore on the Lake Michigan side during two bike tours. Earlier this year I did a virtual tour circumnavigating the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My next step was do the path from Whiting, Indiana on the Indiana-Illinois border up through Wisconsin to the corner of the the U.P.  In this way I can say that I will have gone around the Lake Michigan.

In recent weeks I see that the  large group bike tours within Michigan are postponed from 2021 to 2022.  I am comfortable with that I will go on many day rides and do some overnight tours on my own in the State.
​

 A week ago I received my second Covid-19 vaccination and I had a toothache that required antibiotics. These two situations caused fatigue as the day progressed.  I would get on the recumbent and I wanted to stop after just fifteen minutes.

I also decided that my stamina was less too.  I was doing work projects during the day taking a lot of energy and I was to tired to exercise.  Tuesday I went  2 miles, Wednesday 2 miles also, Thursday I went 7.3 miles, Friday was 14.6.  Today I started off inside with an hour on my training cycle and with the nice temperature I decided to do some more outside.    I was going to go a half hour and then turn around and trace my steps back home.  When I got to the 25 minute mark, I felt good and decided to go on to a new turn around point.  I made it!  29 miles.

Today there was a 20 mph wind with stronger gusts.  I was surprised with how well I was feeling.  

Hopefully tomorrow I will feel as good.  I never know what each day will bring.

The day after my last post I said to myself that my rear end did not feel comfortable after an hour in the saddle.

That is not unusual at the beginning of the season because usually people have not been sitting on a saddle that long.  I was surprised with my sensitivity after riding on the trainer for an average of two hours a day since January 1.  I thought about the seats  on my trainer bike and the recumbent and I realzed that they are wide and comfy.  Then my rear end was making the adjustment like everyone else.

Another week has passed and the long rides outside do not bother me until near the end of the two hours.
​

Today will be the fourth day in a row that I will be riding outside.  The temperatures have been above 50F and I do not suffer from breathing the cold air.

As the title says, it has been a joy.  The winds may be strong, but there is a spring warmth that does not make you feel chilly.  A zipper hoodie has been enough to provide comfort.  Specialized is the manufacture and I had not tried it on a ride to test the utility at this temperature range.  Do you know the feeling of wind penetrating and hitting your skin?  It is that feeling that I did not experience.  There was joy in finding when is a good temperature range for this part of my kit.

We are not technically at spring, but the 50s are sure spring temperatures.  I remember flying a kite on these days.  I have been riding in winds that are two or three times the normal breeze.  Going into the wind is not pleasant, but I like the change from the steady pedaling on my resistance trainer .  I appreciate the added workout because it will build me up.  I have also had to hold tighter on the bars to keep balance in the crosswind.

There has been the joy of going a little farther each day.  On the first day I was ready to come in after barely one hour.  On the third day I was comfortable going one hour and forty-five minutes.  The progress is tangible.

It has not only been warm, but the sunny has been shining! What a boost to my mood. 

Spring is coming and there will be cold days again in Michigan.  I am ready to enjoy an outside ride when the weather cooperates.

I have enjoyed these virtual tours https://www.myvirtualmission.com will give you details about the challenges.  I have decided to to do a couple of the long ones, but they have shorter distances that are great for joggers, walkers, or runners. 

The post cards that you have seen are sent from them.  The other pictures and text I generated from Google searches.  I enjoy the interesting information that I can discover.  At my age, I know that I will never do this trip in its entirety, but who knows, I may do some pieces of it.  It would be a wonderful journey.  I hope that you enjoy this last post. I will soon start another virtual tour.

This area looks difficult to farm and I can see grazing sheep.  From 1750-1860 a practice of highland clearances were used to relocate those in the highlands to communities like Helmsdale. Those who had worked the land were hoped to get into a local industry like fishing, quarrying and kelp. As i got into this historical account I can see that this would be too involved to elaborate further on a volatile period. 

I am getting close to my destination of John O' Groats.  Here I see a sign about the JOG Trail, which is a walking trail from Inverness and part of the North Highland Way which covers 607 miles of Scotland.

A bothy is a basic shelter that is available for anyone who stops.  It is quite often used by hikers and touring cyclists. Please remember to leave it nicer than you found it.

This military road was part of the plan of General Wade, built in the 1700s, to help bring order to this part of the British Isle when there were uprisings with the British government.  The condition of the road now does not support the heavy vehicular traffic, so walkers and bikers do not have to worry about traffic. The elevation is around 2300'.