I slept well last night, which was fortunate, because today was a challenge.

I woke up around 6:15 to thunder. By the time I’d gotten changed out of my Pjs it was raining. I walked in to breakfast in the pouring rain, so I started the day wet and stayed that way until after my shower this evening.

Not to say today was bad. I met a lady named Cynthia last night at dinner and we hit it off, and we ran into each other for breakfast again. She introduced me to her group, so I rode with them today. So I have friends now.

We all set off around 8:30, and the rain had stopped. For a bit. Not too far down the road though, it started again, and it rained with various intensities most of the morning. We had lovely riding today, but I didn’t get to take it in like I would have had my glasses not been rain splattered. I also pay a lot more attention to the road and puddles in that weather. The scenery was mostly forest, with lots of beautiful lake homes to look at as well.

Midway through the morning one of the group became mechanically disadvantaged, and it was taking a while to fix roadside. Once we’d been morally supporting for a good 45 minutes, both Cynthia and I were getting cold and decided to move on down the road.

We stopped in Manistee for lunch, which looks like a nice place, worth passing through again. Their Main Street had many stores and restaurants but we hit the first one on the corner, TJ’s Pub. I highly recommend it; great sandwiches. I indulged with a couple of Oberons as well. So good.

While we were there, the rest of the group showed up, so we sat with them as they ate and all moved on together.

After lunch the rain had moved off, and in its place a pretty significant headwind moved in. The afternoon stayed cloudy though, which was good, because there was a great deal of topography on the agenda.

The three spikes at the end are evidently called (by some at least) the Three Sisters. The second one is Watermelon Hill on this tour, as it is traditional that they serve watermelon at the scenic overlook near the top.

In years past, I wouldn’t have ridden all the way up these hills, especially not the second one. But I rode them all today. I AM improving! I’m very happy with my performance. I wasn’t even grumpy.

The scenic overlook was of course very scenic. Since my legs were already working, I went to to top of the platform for the most scenic look, up many stairs. Why not!

Once we got through those three climbs we were finally wheeling into Frankfort a few miles later. I was so ready to be done. I dropped my bike in a camp spot, retrieved my luggage, set up my tent, and went to dinner (which was really good). Then I dropped my device bag at the charging station and finally got my shower. So warm!! It was so great to get warm and clean and DRY.

The forecast for the rest of the trip is rain-free! Tomorrow we head to Traverse City, 62 miles. We’ll be there until Thursday morning.

I’ll leave you with this inexplicable image, the only “local color” one I took today. This is inside the school we’re at (Frankfort-Elberta Area Junior/Senior High School).

Goodnight!