The Best Things About Wisconsin
Let me briefly mention what I didn’t like about Wisconsin; construction, poorly marked trails, and lots and lots of hills. Since I’ve already written about these things before, I’m just going to skip to the good stuff.
First, PABS is a must go to place in Stevens Point when bike repairs are needed. I had noticed that the rear rack was loose and I couldn’t figure out how to tighten it. PABS replaced the rack and also repaired a pannier hook that had not been functioning correctly. A few days later when my front wheel was shaking badly and I couldn’t find what the problem was, I stopped at Plack Automotive in New London to see if they might have someone heading to the next town with a bicycle shop. The sales manager and the owner soon had me on my way with an employee that was “heading that way”. So despite the challenges I was having, people made all the difference between a bad experience and one that will be fondly remembered. (If anyone knows of a bicycle mechanics class being offered in New Hampshire, please let me know!) Oh yes, there’s one more great thing about Wisconsin. In the town of Manitowoc which sits on the western side of Lake Michigan, is a dock for the S.S. Badger, the ferry that I took to Lundington, Michigan.
What I Loved About Michigan
On that first morning of riding in Michigan, I jumped out of my sleeping bag at 4:45 a.m. only to be looking at a dark sky with a very bright moon. I had forgotten that I was back in the Eastern Time Zone and not only that, I was in the very far western part of that zone. It was at least another hour before the birds began singing their morning greetings.
There were more surprises for me in Michigan. The trails were fun to ride even if there were some bumpy spots. There are great signs, directional and informational, restrooms along the way, easy access to towns, and best of all, on private roads that cross the trail, it’s the vehicles who have to yield. As a bonus, huge bonus, state parks are mandated by state law to find cyclists a camping spot even if all designated spots are filled.
The ride across eastern Michigan was mostly flat and my average miles for the day across the entire state was 46. One more thing about Michigan that caught my attention, a strand of birch trees along the side of the road. It reminded me of home.
