The plan was to take off from Chatham, MI and do a loop around Harvey, Marquette, Christmas, Autrain, Munising, Forest Lake and finally back to Chatham. The plan was to include the breathtaking scenery around Lake Superior, maybe stop for a snack in Christmas and stop in Munising to see my sister.
Started out great. The weather was sunny, in the 80's. By the time I was 30 miles out, the rain started. A good soaking rain. The temp quickly dropped to the 60's and the wind off the lake was a chill. By the time I really cooled off, it was 40 miles out and the entire loop 86 miles. What do you do? Keep going! The rain eventually died off, but a rock sliced the New tire(I purchased for SORT) and gave me a flat. This was just west of Autrain. I pulled off to change the tire and had to pee so bad I was gonna DIE! One of those great places where if you do, you are totally busted. The tire had to be patched from the inside and then a new tube put in. I figure that was about a 10 min stop. Lost my new valve stem adapter and the new screw/stem cap goofing off in the dirt changing this. Then there was really not much time to make a pit stop, so I did a bit of a climb to a scenic outlook to the bathrooms. Anyone familiar with the area knows the last scenic point as you come in to Munising on M-28. UGH!!! There was a time when that would certainly been walk material. Now is a seated climb; go hard work! After that, I was starving. In to Subway I went, finding 15 people in line. That place is always packed, and makes me wish I owned it. The sun was setting, so I left without eating and headed for Hardees (which was DEAD). From there on in it was uneventful back to Chatham.
Started out great. The weather was sunny, in the 80's. By the time I was 30 miles out, the rain started. A good soaking rain. The temp quickly dropped to the 60's and the wind off the lake was a chill. By the time I really cooled off, it was 40 miles out and the entire loop 86 miles. What do you do? Keep going! The rain eventually died off, but a rock sliced the New tire(I purchased for SORT) and gave me a flat. This was just west of Autrain. I pulled off to change the tire and had to pee so bad I was gonna DIE! One of those great places where if you do, you are totally busted. The tire had to be patched from the inside and then a new tube put in. I figure that was about a 10 min stop. Lost my new valve stem adapter and the new screw/stem cap goofing off in the dirt changing this. Then there was really not much time to make a pit stop, so I did a bit of a climb to a scenic outlook to the bathrooms. Anyone familiar with the area knows the last scenic point as you come in to Munising on M-28. UGH!!! There was a time when that would certainly been walk material. Now is a seated climb; go hard work! After that, I was starving. In to Subway I went, finding 15 people in line. That place is always packed, and makes me wish I owned it. The sun was setting, so I left without eating and headed for Hardees (which was DEAD). From there on in it was uneventful back to Chatham.
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