Day 36. Monday, July 22

Today is rest day, even though we will be traveling about 115 miles to the east.  Today  we cross Lake Michigan, from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, MI. and enter the eastern time zone. I feel decadent sleeping in to 6:45. Yuval, my roommate, made me a cup of coffee and brought me the paper before I got up. What a guy! I wonder how I can arrange for this when I get home.  

We slowly got ready this morning as we had to load bags by 10:00, but not get on the boat until about 1:30. Of course we had a three mile bike ride to negotiate and find a nice place for breakfast. We were greeted at the dock by an ABB alumnus from 2011,  Gary Butters. he served us crackers and cheese and says "Hi!" to Dan Schoedinger who was also on that ride. Dan, he added a "go, Blue!" just for you!

So we sailed across the lake on the SS Badger. It is the last coal steam powered ferry in the U.S.  It was originally launched in 1953 to haul rail cars across the lake, but in 1992, it was repurposed to haul cars and passengers across the lake, between Manitowoc and Ludington, which are about half way up the lake on either side. I'm sure this saves a lot of time compared to driving around the lake. Because it is coal powered, it is not known how much longer it will be allowed to run. There was some speculation earlier this year that it would be shut down, as it burns 55 tons of coal each day and dumps 4 tons of coal ash directly into the lake every day. For now, they have permits through 2014, but who knows what will be decided after that.

Did you know that Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes that is entirely within the U.S. and not shared with Canada?  It has a surface area of 22,400 square miles, making it the largest lake , by surface area within e borders of one country. It has an average depth of 279 feet, and, at its deepest, it is over 900 feet deep.  You cannot see anything but water when out on the middle of it.

Once in Ludington, we had another three mile ride to the hotel of a quick night sleep. We leave at 6:30 in the morning for Mount Pleasant, MI, about 115 miles away.  Hard to believe, but this will be the final century ride of the trip.

Be well. Do good.

Don