I was ready for a change. All summer I have enjoyed the same dirt road going through the farmland just outside my town.  I looked at the detailed roads map.  This map has allowed me to determine a route and I make an old fashion small paper  map to remind me where to turn.  Of course, I can look at my phone.  Old habits die hard.

This road had more up and downs than my regular route.  I did fine and I will do this loop again.

I got nervous taking this photo because the dog started barking.  I get uneasy when the dog barks.  I was in the public road so I felt a little safer.

The properties were well taken care of along the way.  I saw several equestrian farms.  The weather was beautiful: clear sky with a few clouds and very calm.

You never know what these dirt roads will be like.  Our weather has been dry and that helps.  The gravel quickly mixes into the dirt.  I felt that the condition were plenty fast.

The tires are knobby and 2.1" wide.  The front shock smooths the bumps.  I have a suspension seat post and that takes some of the bouncing.  I added the rack this year and it is good to hold the jacket after it warms up.

This section had been on my to bike list  all season.  There was a threat of rain, but it looked slight and the predicted accumulation was 0.01" and I was not too worried.  I really wanted to get this ride in.  Earlier in the summer there was a big natural gas line re-do in progress and I figured that the project would be done by now.

You see my jacket strapped on the rack.  I always carry a poncho in my brown bag.  You cannot beat a compact $1 plastic emergency poncho. The temperature was 60 degrees and I was hoping that my thin merino base layer would be sufficient and it was.  You always warm up after you get moving.

This segment winds through woods and is in two state recreation areas that are divided by the state highway 52. There are some parts that travel along the highway, but there is a good space of separation.  It is a pretty ride.

I rode 16.4 miles total and there was 764' elevation gain.  I took advantage of the norm mode on the e-bike.  The downhills gave me some good quick runs.  I love the downhill runs!

From the trail you may cross the highway and get to these mountain bike routes.  There are three options of routes for the beginner, intermediate and advanced skill level.  I have only tried the  beginner level and that is hard enough for me.  I stopped by today and these trails do not allow an e-bike. Without the motor I would need to make some stops during my loop ride due to the elevation gains.

These routes go through the wooded areas.  They are well marked and maintained.  

There are wider spots throughout that allow you to get around others .  There is a gate to the parking lot that closes access during muddy times.  

This seems interesting to see this along a walkway.  This photo is from last year.  I noticed that this sign is down now.  I do not know why it is gone.  I hope there is a no longer a threat.

Several side roads are along the trail.  In future rides I will do more side exploring.  The air was full of tiny water droplets and it quickly soaked you.  I was ready to stop and headed back to the trail head. What an enjoyable ride.

On a tour your day follows the sunrise and sunset.  I realized that the sunsets are about 40 minutes earlier than what I am used to because I am hundreds of miles further east in the eastern time zone.  By 9:00 PM I will be in my tent.

Before I go to bed there are several tasks to take care of in order to get going faster in the morning.  I will get my clothes out: top, shorts, socks.  I will have a long sleeve out for any morning chill.  My bags will be set to close up.  Medicine is out for the morning.  Check the weather to have an idea of what to expect tomorrow.

In the morning I will take the medicine, pack the sleeping bag and take the backpack to the luggage truck; remember the truck number.  The roll duffel I will do after breakfast.  I will take a cup of coffee for me to enjoy later. Top off the tire pressure; look over the bike.

Biking through urban areas is stressful.  With this part we were traveling early Sunday morning.  I felt the safety of numbers.  Cars would see us.  They gave a lenient pass through any changing street lights.  Our route was marked with paint along the way.  I also had downloaded the route on Ride GPS, which would announce turns.

The Niagara River connects Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.  It reminded me of the St. Clair River and the Detroit River  near me in Michigan.  These are rivers which come off a Great Lake.  All of these places have a lot of wind.   I felt at home and I was happy when we turned inland.

I knew that many of the towns near me had corresponding names to New York cities.  I lived in Rochester, Michigan and we had Troy and Utica right next door.  This was exciting for me to be here knowing how this canal impacted  my state.

This stop also had an ice cream shop.  I must've waited  20 minutes to get my chocolate shake.  These stops were well stocked.  The Hertz truck carried all of our nourishment.  

When I arrived in camp I would find the area to recharge my bike battery.  Attendants would monitor the batteries while we did other things.  That was nice.  The school had showers , but there was also a shower truck.  After a dusty trail our bikes needed a shower.  I also cleaned the chain to be ready for the next day.

Day 1 is done and I was tired.

From  Sunday, July 9 through the next eight days I took part in the bike tour traveling along the  Erie Canal.

I have been looking forward to this for a complete year.  When I returned from the MUP tour I had an email that mentioned that they had just completed the tour.  Tour registration did not open for months and this provided me time to read the information from the website.  https;//www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal/itinerary

In 8 days of cycling they say you will cover 400 miles.  Our days ranged 40-60 miles.  The website accurately described the trip.  I found no surprises.

On my earlier tours I will bring my own tent.  This year I decided to try the tent service.  This tour uses Comfy Camper.  They were responsible for the set up and tear down of the tent.  An aero bed mattress, towel and chair were provided.  I am now spoiled and will look to use a tent service again.  My advice, set your reservation early. Only so many spots are available.

This arrangement allowed me to have a good night's sleep.  That is so important on a tour.  Each day you would need to tear down your tent and move on.  I also did not have the worry about dealing with set up and tear down in the rain.  If you get rid of some worries that is a big help. 

The tour provided options for long-term parking at both ends.  A shuttle for the rider and bike were also available.

My wheeled duffel from REI was new.  My roll bag last year broke a wheel.  The terrain can be rough and  they are being handled by others.  The ebag in the chair held all my riding clothes and as the week went on the dirty ride clothes.  Backpack straps made it easy to carry.  Last year I used a shoulder strap duffel.  I am sticking with this set up.

This ride has been on my list of places to ride this summer. This an attractive town in southwest  Michigan along Interstate 94.  I can drive there in less than a half hour.  I decided to park in a town park.  I had the convenience of a porta-john before and after the ride.  Since I was right in town I had the choice of many food options and services.

I was not sure where I would ride I just took off.  I was just looking for quiet streets and roads to ride to take in the sights.

The city park where I started was connected to the local hospital.  The complex is nicely nestled into the woods and it is not visible from the main roads.  Three medical buildings are near by and the woodland roads provide a nice settling.  I passed several walkers getting some exercise during their break time.  The road led me into a senior residential development within walking distance to the  doctor offices.  I crossed the main road and took the photo above.

Michigan has many lakes and they are very attractive for development.  I moved into the subdivision and toured the residential streets. It is very easy for me to pedal my touring pace.

This led me to a dirt road (gravel) that I would like to look at  for a later ride.  Today I wanted to stay on pavement.

Just past the overpass of the Interstate was a local road that paralleled the freeway. This was a quiet road which serviced small commercial buildings.

As I went through several residential subs I happened upon the Border to Border trail of Washtenaw County.  I had never been on this section.  It does not reach Dexter and I just went to the end.  I did not feel like riding on the highway.

Funny, I never heard they were missing.  I am glad that I found them, but not as big as I expected.  These were the foundational base for the water tower for the steam railroad  engine.

I followed the track all the way to the station in Chelsea, just off main street.

Chelsea is the home of the Jiffy baking mix company.  These track are used by the Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Detroit.  The clock tower is impressive.

I continue to use tubes on all my bikes.  I do not have trouble with flat tires. I can count my flats on two fingers.

If it is not broken don't fix it, the saying goes.  My reading about tires has given me a better standing about air pressure and ride comfort.  As I have gotten older, I realize the bumps more.  A rough ride makes me tired.  I remember a tour a couple of years ago that really taught me this lesson.  The surface of the trail was bigger stones which was constantly jarring the handlebars and rattling me on the seat.  I was tired much earlier in the day and multiple days had a compounding impact on several levels.

I now use a seat with springs. There is also a nice foam cushion.  I tried it on my day rides and it made a big difference and I did not feel as beat up.  The front shocks are also helpful because it softens the jarring handlebar.

This is the bike I now will use on tours.  I used the Brooks Flyer seat for my day rides, but I find the other seat better for multi-day tours.  Many love the Brooks saddles for tour comfort. Brooks has models that do not have springs.

My tires state the range of 30-70 pounds.  In the US most people will prefer this value. Bike pumps will show you both values like your car speedometer will tell you MPH or km/hour.

I was advised to "top off "the tire pressure before each ride.  I took this to mean fill this tire to 70 pounds.  I think that is why I avoided many flats because I never got a pinch flat from hitting a hole when the pressure was too low. I found that the disadvantage of this  practice is that the ride is rough or hard.  I rattled at each bump and seam in the road. 

Search for "bicycle tire pressure calculator."  These guides, you have the choice of several, will work you through a series of questions (bike type, tube type or tubeless, total weight, tire size,  tire width, road surface, etc.)  Once you fill in the blanks you will get a value for the front tire and the rear tire.  The guide will suggest a little more air in the rear tire.  Instead of 70 pounds it calculated  31 pounds in the front tire and 33 pounds in the rear.

I have found this new tire pressure to be much more comfortable whether I am on cement, blacktop, chip seal, crushed limestone or dirt.  I would put more pressure in when I would be hitting more potholes and larger rocker or roots. 

I will continue to play with the air pressure and write down these values so I remember.  What is your experience?  What do you suggest?