Yesterday, I participated in the local walk to support food insecurity needs. Money raised by this event will be used to support local and world efforts. I did the two mile loop and that was long enough for me. There was also a 5 mile option. The Fed Up Ministry travels to several places around the Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti area to offer free meals. I tried their wild rice and mushroom soup. It was very good. My glass was used for the lemonade the had a hint of lavender. It was very tasty. I look forward to doing it next year.
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At this time of year I never know how many days I will get to ride outside. Several conditions will cause me not to ride during this season. Some days I am too busy and the daylight is less. I can always find some time each day to exercise inside, Sunset is at 7:00 P.M. today and we have a couple of minutes less sunlight each day. The temperatures are the biggest determining factor for me. I have set 50 degrees fahrenheit as my low temperature to stay inside to ride. We have been having rain and I would rather not ride in the rain. I rode this in July and only got part of the way before I was stopped by a train across the path. Another rider with me said that this usually takes a long time and there is no quick way around to pick up the trail. I turned around and explored the Lower Huron Metro Park to fill my ride time. This time I was hoping to get all the way through all three and then do the section to the city of Flat Rock. On the drive to the park I was stopped by a train on the access road. Luckily my mapping app gave me a suggest for driving around and I made it into the park. These parks require a day or yearly pass. They are open year round to residents and non-residents. I get the senior rate. A yearly pass pays for itself after only 3 visits. Most activities are during the summer with the outdoor pool being a big draw. During my three hours along the trail I saw cyclists, runners and walkers. Most of the time I was by myself. This park was as quiet as the first park. I will try to come back when the leaves turn color. At this point the path changed to a path through the city and many stop lights. I decided to save this for another day since I needed to allow time to retrace my path to get to my car. Going on from here will be a good summer ride because it leads to the water and to neighboring cities through the green way. In the park I also found this bear statue and next to it was a plaque that explained the significance. I appreciate the tribute to the indigenous people who once inhabited this part of Michigan.
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.
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