Day 39. Thursday, July 25

Day 39. Thursday, July 25. Birch Run to Port Huron, MI. 87 miles

Riding around the hotel with Sophia and Cate

Sorry I didn't post anything last night. Our daughter Mandy and her family were in town and I was having too good of a time to stop and write anything. By the time we got back (almost 8:30), it was practically bed time.
 

The day was a beautiful day for biking. The temperature started in the 50s, calling for arm warmers and a light vest, but then rose into the 70s with only a slight breeze. The route has been relatively flat of late, making this guy from central Ohio feel at home. I still lag a bit behind on the rollers.

We stopped in the town of Brown City, MI to give the ladies a chance to use the rest room. While there, we had a glass of chocolate milk, although Yuval skipped the milk and went straight for a piece of blueberry pie. While there, I talked with John, an older, retired gentleman who was sitting by himself but who was definitely intrigued by this funny group of folks dressed in spandex.  I learned that he owned a farm with two houses on it, not far from the store. He does not farm them, but, rather, rents them out. He has some family down in Monroe (southeast corner of Michigan where we lived in the late 1980s), but I didn't recognize any of the names. I asked about his wife and he paused. A tear came to his eye and, with a catch in his throat, he told me his wife had passed eight years ago, after 45 years of marriage. They never had children, although she lost two from a previous marriage. He came to this little restaurant fairly regularly, I suspect for the company of the other patrons.  I would have liked to stay and talk, but the other riders were leaving.  As I was leaving, I told him my name and he introduced himself as John.  He then added, "Every house needs a John." I wonder how many times he's told that one. 

Outside, one of the other patrons was telling the group of a park in town dedicated to the memory of the fire fighters who lost their lives on September 11.  We rode to the park and were amazed at how this little town had cared for this memorial. A guy next door came over and started telling us more and how motorcyclists and fire fighters helped escort a beam from the trade center back to their town. He was ready to tell us much more, but it was time to get back on the road.  If you search YouTube, there is a video, showing hundreds of motorcycles escorting this beam (update: It's here). 

We finished the ride into Port Huron by coming up Lakeshore Drive with some huge mansions and very nice lake cottages. We then rode down to the St. Clair River at connects Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair ( a lake between Huron and Erie). The Blue Water Bridge rises high over the water to carry cars to and from Canada at Sarnia. Tomorrow we will be riding over this bridge.  Awesome!

Got to the hotel and had a chance to clean up before Mandy and Vaughn arrived. When they got their, the girls pulled their bicycles out of the trunk, we strapped on helmets and went for a ride (twice around the hotel).  Sophia and Cate have now ridden part way across America with me! 

After a nice dinner at the Quay Street Bistro, I returned to my room to get ready for bed and get prepared for the next day. When I pulled the sheets back, I found a friendly alligator, compliments of the girls. Sophia, Cate, and I have been putting this in each other's bed for 3+ years. It made me laugh hard. A great ending to a very good day. 

Be well. Do good.

Don