Eric's Stir-Fry

This is back on our first day leaving Madison. Eric is preparing a stirfry on Grandma Delain's Weber Grill. He impressed us all with a delicious meal.

Bowling Green, OH

Hi Everyone,

My turn to drive today, and thought that Bowling Green looked like a place to get internet connected, catch some coffee, some books, and maybe a knitting store.

Unfortunately I don't have new pics of the last few days, as they're on zoe's computer and camera.
And I left my journal in the car. But here's a rough sketch of the last few days. I'll be starting currently and working backwards.

Yesterday, which was Wed. June 16th, we rode from Monroeville, IN to Grand Rapids, OH. It was fun to ride a state crossing border. I biked with Steve and Zoe. We had a great tailwind for 72 miles. Easy to pedal 15 to 20 mph. and the roads were very flat. It was probably one of the easiest days we'll see.

Tues. we road from Dallas Lake, near Ft. Wayne, to Monroeville, which was 70 or so, which is what Eric did. Steve and I did 48 due to rain. Monroeville has a great setup for bikers, free lodging with kitchen facilities, shower, and washer and dryer. plus tv and dvd player. a beautiful park and a great journal they've been logging since 1990. Great to look at people's rides.

The day before that, we rode from Augusta, MI to Scott, IN, amish country. stayed a great private campground on a river. It's been fun to see all the horses and buggies and kids on these Amish Farms. And zoe and i have found strawberries and peas at roadside farms...

We have been blessed with great weather and pretty curteous drivers.... no accidents, no flat tires...

This is week 2 out of 5, and I am losing track of the days, the meaning of a true vacation.

Trudi

The kids and I are jealous of Steve's recumbent cruiser. It's a Rans which he purchased from the Hostel Shop in Stevens Point. So he has no sore neck or shoulders, or wrists or butt... He has really enjoyed riding his new bike.

I am writing this blog in the hotel lobby of a Holiday Inn in Big Rapids, MI as the family is still asleep. As Steve, Zoe and I were riding yesterday, Steve was chased by a Great Dane. Zoe and I watched it all unfold. It was hilarious as the dog came right at eye level of Steve. Zoe and I stopped to pet the dog, along with another small dog. We saw a lot of dogs yesterday. It made me miss our dog, Shelby...

The end of a day of biking, soaking up some rays at a town park in Alden, MI, on the way to Traverse City.

This is a view of Torch Lake that we had the pleasure to bike alongside for 20 miles on our way to Traverse City. The lake had a beautiful aqua color to it. Swimming in a lake seems so far off, as the weather has been so cool. Maybe by the time we get to Lake Erie and Lake Huron the temps will be more summerlike...

Decided we needed a break at the top of this series of hills to catch our breath and give our legs a rest. As you can see, the weather was fantastic for biking. I had such a fear of hot and humid weather, and we haven't been over 70 degrees.

Eric and Zoe are ready to start their first leg of the bike trip from Young State Park in Boyne City.