tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41402539959797790032024-03-13T14:16:03.967-04:00Gasoline is for SuckersUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-16419193003613572282016-03-27T16:42:00.000-04:002016-04-24T23:16:15.882-04:00Ride at Dawn<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Bay County Railtrail, Hampton Twp, MI</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-89317313832779774992015-07-26T17:14:00.003-04:002021-05-26T18:57:32.471-04:00Wheat Stubble<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-47158594246833433062015-07-18T12:27:00.000-04:002015-07-23T17:04:54.031-04:00Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail - A Rail Trail in Progress<div>
Bay County to Saginaw County Connection<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption">Bridge over a Saginaw River tributary near Stony Island.</td></tr>
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The Bay County to Saginaw County Connection, part of the <a href="http://www.greatlakesbaytrails.com/uploads/11x17_map_web_version.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Great Lakes Bay Regional Trail</span></a>, starts from Bay City's west side along the Saginaw River toward Zilwaukee, or Saginaw County. The trail begins as an overgrown two track path instead of the expected abandoned railroad bed with an occasional railroad tie poking up through the dirt. Bushwhacking through the thick weeds, branches and mosquitos finally takes you to a river crossing over a refurbished trestle. After the trestle, the trail continues over freshly laid gravel and on to a second river crossing near <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/@43.5514675,-83.9166253,15z" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stony Island</span></a> where the historic <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=d6FgD4a_vy8C&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=skull+island+massacre+michigan&source=bl&ots=D2JaLV4Z7C&sig=85AcDb4VZw-OEMUDiYmmRiI2tLQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=onyZVdSlL8zmsAWfpajgAQ&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=skull%20island%20massacre%20michigan&f=false" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Skull Island Massacre</span></a> took place just to the north.<br />
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The connection transforms through various stages.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Two track. And plenty of Stealth Camping opportunities...</td></tr>
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Approximately halfway through the connection the trail peters out. From here the trail is incomplete and I followed the alternate route - if the proposed rail trail along the river is not secured. Hopefully the alternate route won't be used since it is simply a utility road through a wildlife refuge. While riding on this straight two track I came upon two hunters who were sighting in a rifle along the path and I feared getting a stray bullet in the head...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Alternate route through Crow Island State Game Area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">The alternate route isn't very scenic - hopefully the connection will follow the rail line along the river. </td></tr>
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The connection ends near the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=zilwaukee+bridge&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAmoVChMIuK7G25HaxgIVApuICh2yDALP&biw=1920&bih=943" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Zilwaukee Bridge</span></a> seen in the far distance.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Frankenlust, MI, USA43.545095396002935 -83.90679359436035243.542217896002938 -83.911836094360353 43.547972896002932 -83.90175109436035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-63147560134804802272015-06-16T09:23:00.001-04:002015-06-16T09:23:19.367-04:00What I Did on My Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uV7-Qz6CGq4/VYAilSM4MUI/AAAAAAAABmE/5mrQxhy8cO8/s1600/USBR20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uV7-Qz6CGq4/VYAilSM4MUI/AAAAAAAABmE/5mrQxhy8cO8/s400/USBR20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-72612801981179382942014-12-11T20:31:00.000-05:002014-12-11T20:31:17.461-05:00More Bike lane issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFppD8TpfDI/VIo16X0cGfI/AAAAAAAABlI/wMAS_07KIlo/s1600/December%2B11%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vFppD8TpfDI/VIo16X0cGfI/AAAAAAAABlI/wMAS_07KIlo/s1600/December%2B11%2B2014.jpg" height="640" width="443" /></a></div>
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Two days ago, December 9th, I received confirmation from The City of Bay City that they completed my request to clean the bike lanes which I submitted on, wait for it... November 13th.</div>
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So yesterday I decided to check up on this progress, since I use the bike lane four or five times a week, and saw what is seen in the top photo.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-57219277094484076392014-11-08T12:08:00.000-05:002014-11-08T12:08:51.482-05:00Bike Lane Issues<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNvKTc6dQtc/VF4nzJmSsII/AAAAAAAABk4/guhfnoc8wB0/s1600/Liberty%2BBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNvKTc6dQtc/VF4nzJmSsII/AAAAAAAABk4/guhfnoc8wB0/s1600/Liberty%2BBridge.jpg" height="308" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Saginaw River separates my hometown of Bay City, Michigan and four draw bridges allow access to the east and west banks of that river. Problem is, only one of those bridges, Liberty Bridge, has a bike lane and the city has a <i>very</i> low priority of keeping those two lanes clear from snow, broken glass and all other sort of debris, despite the growing number of year-round cyclists.<br />
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Although the city has a <a href="http://www.baycitymi.org/city-issues" rel="" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">webpage</span></a> to report such issues within the community, it took exactly one week and three separate requests before the city responded to clean the bike lanes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-8961927267385883952014-10-05T08:28:00.000-04:002014-10-12T08:21:17.504-04:00Overnight Bikepacking to Big Mud Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IclM75qIqHY/VDAmvdAF9HI/AAAAAAAABkY/EHx_GRD4ULk/s1600/Mud%2BLake%2BRoute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IclM75qIqHY/VDAmvdAF9HI/AAAAAAAABkY/EHx_GRD4ULk/s400/Mud%2BLake%2BRoute.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Pics or it didn't happen" is a popular catchphrase these days. Well, that may or may not be the case, simply because I didn't make any new images after shooting much of the same route <a href="http://staudacher.blogspot.com/2011/10/pere-marquette-rail-trail-west-from.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">two years earlier</span></a>.<br />
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Leaving U.S. Bicycle Route 20 (USBR 20) northward, I traveled about five miles over gravel roads to the <a href="http://www.michigandnr.com/parksandtrails/details.aspx?id=605&type=SFCG" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange;">Mud Lake</span></a> rustic campground as a destination for an overnight bikepacking trip<br />
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Located on the wooded shore of Big Mud Lake in Clare County, the campground overlooks the 230 acre lake featuring eight camping sites, potable water from a hand-pumped well, vault toilets, and fire rings.<br />
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With roughly equal hours of day and night this time of the year, I forgot to plan on coping with a solid 12 hours of <i>looong</i> tent time. Don't get me wrong, I was plenty tired after carrying all of my gear 75-miles from home, but I wasn't 12 hours of sleeping tired if you get my drift. After arriving all I wanted to do was to hop off the saddle, eat and drink something, and walk around a bit to try and soothe the monkey butt before setting up camp.<br />
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Looking back, Mud Lake isn't a "destination" for a solo bikepacker in my opinion. If I'd brought along some fishing gear I'd definitely try my luck for the bass, bluegill, crappie or northern pike. A boat would be a nice thing to have here. For other recreation there is the Green Pine Lake Pathway to consider, but after seven hours in the saddle, a nine-mile hike to Pike Lake probably ain't gonna happen. For these reasons I found little to do.<br />
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For a cyclist traveling USBR 20 from A to B, I think a better option may be to find a spot alongside the route and "wild camp." My visit took place after the summer's school vacation ended and before the deer hunting season began and I had the entire place to myself, so I can't comment on the campground's atmosphere during peak times. The water well is definitely a plus for the campground since the nearby towns are small and water and food not always available.<br />
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Highlights of the trip include near peak fall foliage, plentiful wildlife including deer, turkey, and howling coyotes at night. After straying from USBR 20 west of Clare (that's code for making a wrong turn after attempting a shortcut) I rode past a family of Amish girls playing a game of baseball in their front yard with a tennis racket instead of a bat while their parents watched from chairs behind "home plate" - it was a Sunday after all, so no work was to be done.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-80026805716546865282013-12-15T20:52:00.000-05:002013-12-15T20:52:55.671-05:00Chain Break<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kg3594haisI/Uq5K_ZHlRmI/AAAAAAAABhs/WwC9Q8CBAko/s1600/Chain+break.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kg3594haisI/Uq5K_ZHlRmI/AAAAAAAABhs/WwC9Q8CBAko/s400/Chain+break.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
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One of many broken plates.</div>
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Once again, winter takes its toll. After five inches of snow fell this weekend I rode down the unplowed backstreets that have three to four inches of packed snow instead of riding in the salted wet mess of the main streets. At the end of each day I took the bike down into the basement to hose off the salt and lube the bike's vulnerable parts. Then I noticed a broken chain link and figured no big deal since I'd just replace it with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/KMC-MISSING-Bicycle-8-Speed-6-Pack/dp/B000AO7LGM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1387155865&sr=8-3&keywords=kmc+quick+link" target="_blank">Quick Link</a>. While wiping down the rest of the chain about a half-dozen more links show similar damage.</div>
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Even though it was a real workout trying to pedal through that frozen oatmeal-like snow, I can't believe a chain couldn't handle the stress. I picked up the bike used for a song so who knows what the previous owner did.<br />
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Tomorrow, a new chain and a Quick Link.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-58103762298475218112013-03-16T17:14:00.001-04:002013-03-18T15:12:03.844-04:00Winter Takes its Toll<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/87261636@N03/8562285593/" title="Rusty Chain Link by BayCityBikes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8562285593_e7db601af9.jpg" width="470" height="308" alt="Rusty Chain Link"></a>
Each year the mixture of road salt and slush eats away at my beater.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-79752398099853625672012-06-30T05:37:00.000-04:002012-06-30T05:37:00.085-04:00Last Tuesday<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/44937535" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
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Another gravel grinder in the Thumb. I had <del>a bit of</del> a lot of trouble with wind noise in the audio and will either try to attach some sort of wind filter to the camera body, or just put an audio track over it in the future. Or maybe do both.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-28109899340089318152012-04-30T11:33:00.001-04:002012-07-02T21:14:30.016-04:00Experimental VideoI'm weary of posting the same old bike in a landscape photo so here are a few videos.
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/44154471" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41291050" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
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They're just snippets and eventually I'll to learn how to tweak the audio as I fiddle with the video software.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-36924826842366821082012-04-08T05:36:00.007-04:002012-04-08T22:34:03.009-04:00My Favorite Time of Year<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9__qAh_nGYw/T4DwiOHf2cI/AAAAAAAABKI/0owI6zgpfio/s1600/001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9__qAh_nGYw/T4DwiOHf2cI/AAAAAAAABKI/0owI6zgpfio/s400/001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5728843196711033282" /></a><br /><br />Despite the many signs of spring - birds and waterfowl returning to nest in the north, trees greening and blossoming, farmers preparing their fields - temperatures were still in the thirties when I left home Saturday morning for a 30-mile gravel ride in the Thumb. Had the winter riding gear on starting off and should have planned for the warmer afternoon temps, but that's okay, the extra layer helped sweat off a few of those added winter pounds.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109045037990935130590%2Falbumid%2F5728845108627388129%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPKVu4SC6KmYggE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br />It's still hard to believe that everything growing is about a month ahead of schedule, and I haven't heard anyone complaining about the early warmth. Shoot, I even enjoyed getting chased by a yapping little ankle-biter that tried to take a hunk outta me - must be the weather.<br /><br />So it's all good for the next five months as we break into my favorite time of year. That said, Old Man Winter can kiss my lycra-clad butt good-bye!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-47664036621850313092012-03-20T17:05:00.011-04:002012-03-22T23:50:56.103-04:00Vernal Equinox and Vernal Pools<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKqEfCAnVD4/T2vxEH8rNyI/AAAAAAAABJI/WBaxWvGEj18/s1600/Vernal%2BPond%2B1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OKqEfCAnVD4/T2vxEH8rNyI/AAAAAAAABJI/WBaxWvGEj18/s400/Vernal%2BPond%2B1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722932804659656482" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">Ah, spring! Renewal, a fresh start! Leaving dirty ol' winter behind - I love it!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">Not that we had much of a winter, but signs of spring are about a month ahead of schedule. This past week temperatures reached into the seventies each day and the forecast for today and tomorrow are in the eighties - </span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: italic; ">no way<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span><span style="font-size: 100%;"> this could be global warming.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">So I decided to take advantage of these summer-like temps with a ride to <a href="http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/wildlife/viewingguide/slp/118Tobico/index.htm">Tobico Marsh</a>. Pedaling along the 3.5-mile trail that crosses and skirts numerous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernal_pools">vernal pools</a>, I'd occasionally catch an earful of croaks and peeps - the mating call of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_Frog">Wood Frogs</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_spring_peeper">Northern Spring Peepers</a>.
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<br /><span style="font-size: 100%;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38781369" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span>
<br /><span>Who knew frogs could make such a racket?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 100%;">In the video you can see ripples made from the frogs croaking and searching for a mate. I wasn't able to get close for video so I used a long lens to capture a solitary Wood Frog.
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SPHVcAeqMI/T2vy-ejvj_I/AAAAAAAABJg/27ayFT4zyJo/s1600/Vernal%2BPond%2B2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SPHVcAeqMI/T2vy-ejvj_I/AAAAAAAABJg/27ayFT4zyJo/s400/Vernal%2BPond%2B2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722934906673139698" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-53083344673794875572012-02-09T18:57:00.001-05:002012-03-23T00:31:44.450-04:00South End Rail Trail<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-unFnKtZxIQM/TzRds6jAwMI/AAAAAAAABIA/lyFe7GsoGvE/s1600/RailTrail.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-unFnKtZxIQM/TzRds6jAwMI/AAAAAAAABIA/lyFe7GsoGvE/s400/RailTrail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707289653996994754" /></a><br /><br />A friendly reminder and not too subtle warning to hooligans using the rail trail.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-34058745399321692252012-01-11T20:39:00.015-05:002012-03-23T00:02:48.615-04:00The Winter that Wasn't<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fc6-BHhrjUc/T2v1wGFBrPI/AAAAAAAABJs/1ldnCdMIw6E/s1600/001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fc6-BHhrjUc/T2v1wGFBrPI/AAAAAAAABJs/1ldnCdMIw6E/s400/001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722937958118567154" /></a><br /><br />Just had to get out today and take advantage of the 50˚ temperature in January. That's right, January, as in winter. We've had a few flurries here and there, and I've even shoveled snow <span style="font-style:italic;">once</span> after one or two inches fell in December.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, I ain't complaining.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109045037990935130590%2Falbumid%2F5696556618357683809%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCP_PhaPB8Y7JOw%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-2669708951831134182012-01-08T19:01:00.015-05:002012-01-09T23:36:35.423-05:00Trash Talk<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqpblxps5KI/TwoxrXlAW6I/AAAAAAAABFk/HE8y44SACmQ/s1600/Ten%2BCents.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqpblxps5KI/TwoxrXlAW6I/AAAAAAAABFk/HE8y44SACmQ/s400/Ten%2BCents.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695419299896777634" /></a><br /><br />I see quite a bit of trash during my rides I'm sorry to say. <br /><br />Discarded lottery tickets, furniture, cigarette butts, plastic water bottles, refundable beer and pop cans - you name it.<br /><br />So much junk in fact, it makes me wonder what people are thinking.<br /><br />But yesterday, while heading to the store to turn in a few cans and pick up some groceries, I spot an empty beer can in the ditch. What the hey, another ten cents in my pocket, so I set the bike down and add the can to my collection. As I hop back on my ride a motorist slows to a stop. Usually when this happens it's someone asking for directions.<br /><br />A smiling woman asks if I'm picking up trash. And she wants to give me a candy bar for being a good citizen.<br /><br />Somewhat embarrassed, I thank her and decline the candy bar explaining I'm just heading to the store. She smiles and waves while pulling away. <br /><br />Sometimes you meet the nicest people out on the road.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-265384773112567562011-11-06T19:23:00.014-05:002011-11-06T19:52:25.656-05:00Indian Summer Gravel Ride<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zsL2Zg2yr6o/TrclYgnsSSI/AAAAAAAABDA/3omTWqq-R9s/s1600/Indian%2BSummer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zsL2Zg2yr6o/TrclYgnsSSI/AAAAAAAABDA/3omTWqq-R9s/s400/Indian%2BSummer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672043358699931938" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Got out for one more gravel ride in the Thumb as temps hit the low 60's. The snow will fly soon and we probably won't see weather like this for another five months, so this post is a lil' something to help get me through the cold winter...<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109045037990935130590%2Falbumid%2F5672046514307755505%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPPz7sCMk62igAE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-12794223106650408652011-10-08T21:18:00.038-04:002012-03-23T01:31:49.347-04:00Pere Marquette State Trail - West from Clare<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sUy3XRag21A/TpD2q4yUcBI/AAAAAAAABBY/Y-F0EUBC-gg/s1600/Rail%2BTrail%2BWest%2B01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sUy3XRag21A/TpD2q4yUcBI/AAAAAAAABBY/Y-F0EUBC-gg/s400/Rail%2BTrail%2BWest%2B01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661295948263092242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I picked the perfect autumn day for a color tour on the Pere Marquette State Trail west from Clare. While the course is not yet complete and the pavement ends at Baldwin, the portion I rode was awesome.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267"flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109045037990935130590%2Falbumid%2F5661106954938815265%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCPmMxMzdjp-D5gE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-88192894374734118092011-09-14T15:42:00.007-04:002011-10-08T21:44:16.004-04:00Corn Ride<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTwq_ffJGA0/TpD68yUFuJI/AAAAAAAABBo/WdaspRB_bSg/s1600/Corn%2BRide.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTwq_ffJGA0/TpD68yUFuJI/AAAAAAAABBo/WdaspRB_bSg/s400/Corn%2BRide.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661300653809842322" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Three counties, five hours, much gravel, and only three cars.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-84232787998744681362011-07-25T19:18:00.067-04:002011-07-26T01:05:20.811-04:00A Shortcut?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-32WH9yAO0nI/Ti4ARex150I/AAAAAAAAA1I/8wbAw500ix4/s1600/IMG_001.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-32WH9yAO0nI/Ti4ARex150I/AAAAAAAAA1I/8wbAw500ix4/s400/IMG_001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633440484206962498" /></a><br /><br />The other day I found a potential shortcut.<br /><br />With the help of an online satellite I spot a road that doesn't exist, despite knowing where the road supposedly ends. Or does it? Zooming in displays a path I'm not familiar with, so I just have to go see for myself.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109045037990935130590%2Falbumid%2F5633457860319954817%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br />After finding an open gate and no "NO TRESPASSING" signs, the first thing I notice is a lot of spent shotgun shells. The last thing I want to do is surprise some gun-totin' dude who's tending to his patch. I also know this is a popular hunting site, and I didn't hear any banjos playing so I relax. The only things I manage to spook are a deer, a fox, and a few turkeys along the two-mile route. It's hard to believe that this is considered a <span style="font-style:italic;">road</span> since it's barely a path in a few areas.<br /><br />As it turns out this <span style="font-style:italic;">is</span> a legit route, so to speak. There are a few deer blinds along the way but mostly this is simply an access to farmers' fields. Not sure if it's legal, but hey, it beats riding beside a state highway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-5799864724970044292011-07-19T19:06:00.008-04:002011-07-19T21:59:24.842-04:00More Gravel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8wVOXJednU/TiYOTPezn5I/AAAAAAAAAzg/0tCBTWAHzb4/s1600/IMG_0452.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8wVOXJednU/TiYOTPezn5I/AAAAAAAAAzg/0tCBTWAHzb4/s400/IMG_0452.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631204107809431442" /></a><br /><br />Up and off before dawn to ride further into Michigan's Thumb taking advantage of the early morning light and avoiding the mid-day 90-degree temps.<br /><br />One of the great things about these gravel rides, aside from the awesome vistas, is the lack of traffic as only a handful of cars passed me in four hours.<br /><br />There's definitely something to be said for taking the road less traveled.<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109045037990935130590%2Falbumid%2F5631057344581357297%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-39484778682025385032011-07-10T00:00:00.012-04:002011-07-10T08:52:04.239-04:00Thumb Gravel Grinder<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhP69G5YRQk/ThhLn3LcbCI/AAAAAAAAAwo/zwPc1LlcXmM/s1600/Tuscola%2BCounty%2BWheat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WhP69G5YRQk/ThhLn3LcbCI/AAAAAAAAAwo/zwPc1LlcXmM/s400/Tuscola%2BCounty%2BWheat.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627330882598366242" /></a><br /><br />It's good to break away from the usual (asphalt) route and take a gravel crunching ride into Michigan's Thumb.<br /><br />The thought of escaping the urban environment and into the solitude of the country draws me like a moth to the back door light, yet I wonder why I so rarely venture here. Is it because of time constraints? Nah. Fear of the unknown? Maybe.<br /><br />So far, the fear of the unknown has proven to be unfounded.<br /><br />The farmer on his tractor, a woman checking her mailbox, and the man walking his dog, all take time out of their day to offer a friendly greeting.<br /><br />When folks I don't know wave at me, I must be in a good place.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08uFrWS13x4/ThhMSp7YYbI/AAAAAAAAAww/FYK_HR-F4Zk/s1600/Tuscola%2BCounty%2BNumbNuts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-08uFrWS13x4/ThhMSp7YYbI/AAAAAAAAAww/FYK_HR-F4Zk/s400/Tuscola%2BCounty%2BNumbNuts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627331617775706546" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span">(<span class="Apple-style-span">A test shot reveals a need for a wider lens.</span>)</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-27791917331929155742011-07-04T00:01:00.001-04:002011-07-04T00:01:00.768-04:00Fourth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orIyk0aIZ1Q/Tg-vcheWaFI/AAAAAAAAAwg/NaJmtWHTZAE/s1600/Fourth.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-orIyk0aIZ1Q/Tg-vcheWaFI/AAAAAAAAAwg/NaJmtWHTZAE/s400/Fourth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624907364165904466" /></a><br /><br />Happy birthday Uncle Sammy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-14576601923137353452011-06-14T20:30:00.001-04:002011-06-14T20:34:08.784-04:00On the Way to the Market<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaKhqVhSaAo/Tff9xlgPeFI/AAAAAAAAAwI/wMghlMRcGQ0/s1600/Rye.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xaKhqVhSaAo/Tff9xlgPeFI/AAAAAAAAAwI/wMghlMRcGQ0/s400/Rye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618238088490743890" /></a><br /><br />My ride takes me past a field of rye.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4140253995979779003.post-15968989165287068852011-05-26T09:54:00.003-04:002011-06-07T10:03:15.909-04:00Be Careful or Be Roadkill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IZM1pVq26c/Td5cAIAWrFI/AAAAAAAAAvs/15Tvy2Oq7uw/s1600/RoadKill.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7IZM1pVq26c/Td5cAIAWrFI/AAAAAAAAAvs/15Tvy2Oq7uw/s400/RoadKill.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611023342968941650" /></a><br /><br />Rode the first leg of three for an upcoming gravel expedition into the Thumb. It was only an out and back trip totalling 20 miles, but <span style="font-style:italic;">waay</span> too slow for the commuter...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0