Team Enjoy the Ride hammered it.

As forecasted, a couple of small cells passed through overnight, bringing thunder and hard rain. I was fine and cozy in my tent and sleeping bag, but oh man was it wet outside when I emerged the next morning in the dark. I’d forgotten to bring my doormat in overnight and had to abandon it, since it was holding about 2 gallons of water. I draped it over the steps of the luggage truck to dry and left it there, hoping the tour folks might find a use for it.

After much discussion about the length of this year’s find day route, which was 10 miles longer than in previous years, we decided to do the published route together, and just try to leave early. Although I understand, I’ve always found it kind of sad that the last day of a tour becomes so much about getting home. This year especially, many people were trying to find ways to cut mileage off the route so they could get in their cars earlier. Again, I understand, no one wants to get home in the middle of the night, but still.

Both Kris and Bill had caught the pre-ride bus, so their cars were parked at the endpoint, while I had chosen to drive to the start of the tour and use the post-ride bus. So I was beholden to the bus schedule, which was not great. It wasn’t scheduled to leave Mackinaw City until 4pm, which was a few hours later than it had been the year before. The bus then was going to Traverse City to drop off the riders that had joined the tour there for the three-day event. After an hour dinner break, it would be back on the road at 7:30pm, with arrival in Montague at 11:30pm. Ouch. Assuming I left there by midnight, I’d get home around 3am. So yeah, I was concerned about getting home as well.

I will say though, that the last day of this ride is my favorite, and there really was no way I was going to miss it. I told my companions, especially Bill who had to drive back to Iowa, that I certainly would not begrudge them changing it up to get back to their cars faster. In the end though, we all decided to just start off early and do the route together.

And so the Enjoy the Ride group became the Enjoy the Ride while Hammering It group. We were off at 6:40, only ten minutes past our planned departure. We skipped breakfast, and that was the one day they had bacon, which of course I don’t care about but Bill very nearly decided to stay back for. They also had french toast which I would have enjoyed. But, the road called, so off we went. Kris very awesomely had brought me coffee from their tent service while I was packing up, so at least I had some caffeine on board.

It was no longer raining, but the day remained cloudy, cool, and breezy, which was actually great cycling weather. A self-imposed deadline of a 1pm arrival in Mackinaw City quickened our pace, and we picked up the Little Traverse Wheelway again out of Petosky. We departed from that trail as we turned west and headed towards Harbor Springs, down on Beach Road.

The real joy for me came as we reached Lake Shore Drive, and then onto Lower Shore Drive. This is one of my favorite places. The wide and beautiful vista of Lake Michigan on the left, this morning grey and heavy under the equally grey skies, and the dream homes on both sides of the road. And the road! This quiet Saturday morning the trees rustled and tossed in the wind, deep and dark. We continued on along the shore for miles and miles, seeing some deer, climbing a few hills, but for me, mostly just enjoying this beautiful place. How happy I am to call Michigan my home.

Next we were on to Good Hart, then Cross Village, where we arrived at the first sag of the day. As I rolled up the volunteer told me I was only the fifth rider of the day so far. Unimaginable! Oh, the things I can accomplish when I get up early.

We basically had our breakfast at the sag stop, loading up on “fun size” Payday bars, mini rice cakes, and trail mix. We were all fortified after the snack and bathroom stop, plus a water refill, and we headed into the Michigan Wilderness State Park, home to some of the most badly patched roads I’ve ever seen. I have a theory that they leave them like that to slow people down. It certainly gave us cyclists a lot to focus on, watching for big lumps and potholes, looking for the smoothest route while staying out of the oncoming lane. Fortunately, there was almost no traffic.

As we neared the shore again in the park, the tailwind we’d enjoyed turned into a formidable crosswind, and we counted ourselves lucky that it wasn’t a headwind. In fact, as we turned east on East Gill Road, we encountered perfect conditions. Aided by a a slight downhill and a tailwind, we truly leaned into it. Bill was out in front, and I tried my hand at drafting for the first time. We clipped along in high gear, and I was pushing hard. What fun! 18.6 miles an hour for over two and a half miles, a ridiculous pace for our little team. When we finally slowed we all agreed that had been really fun. If only all riding could be that awesome!

In the town of Cecil we hit the final sag of the trip, 46.5 miles in. Only 9 miles to go, and we were making great time. As we approached Mackinaw City, we were able to enjoy the Western State Trail for a bit, and then we were there. Just like that, it was over, before noon. We covered 53 miles in 4 hours, an average pace of 13.4 mph. Every other day of the ride we’d done 11.4 mph. I guess we can move when we want to.

The night before, Bill had offered up the idea of being able to drop me off in Montague, since it would only be a bit (an hour) out of his way, if we could get two bikes and four gear bags into his Camry. So when we arrived, we set to work, taking off wheels and carefully positioning the bikes, then loading the bags. It was a tight fit, but we did it! Then it was time for a final hug and goodbye with Kris, a quick change of clothes, and off we went.

Thanks to the great conversation and aided by Bill’s penchant for exceeding the speed limit, we reached Montague by 4pm, just about the same time I would have been leaving Mackinaw City had I been on the bus. For this extraordinary offer and aid, Bill has forever achieved the title of hero in my life. The trip home was easy, and I pulled into my drive about 7:20pm, when I would have been loading back onto a bus in Traverse City, still hours away from Montague even. To me, it was am amazing act of kindness, and I am so thankful. I was able to get home at a reasonable hour and have a normal evening and plenty of sleep on Saturday night. Bill let Kris and I know the next day that he made it home around 9:40, EST. Kris made it back to her home in Ohio around 6:30pm.

Grumble as we did about the at times uninspired food, the change in accommodations, the difference in the routes, in the end, for me, it was a great trip. The riding was great, challenging at times but always satisfying. Michigan continues to be my favorite place, a state of treasures. And I’ve begun to build this amazing group of cycling friends, who are also a treasure. I truly loved my week with Kris and Bill, and we’ve already decided on a trip for next year, the BonTon Roulet in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. Cynthia is in. We each have other friends to invite. We’re looking forward to another great adventure.

I’m back home and it’s already Monday as I’m finishing this. I have great memories and pictures to keep forever of this trip. I’m thankful for the life I enjoy that allows me the resources to do things like this, and I’m so thankful for the people.

And boy am I thankful for the cats.