Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned

The following are random thoughts and lessons learned from my trip.

1.  Be flexible!  Have a plan but understand that it will change.  Things are going to happen that are outside of your control and you will need to adjust your plan accordingly.  That's okay...these type of trips are not defined by how closely you follow your plan but rather how well you adjust or modify your original plan and the experiences you have.

2.  Live in the moment.  With a long trip or big goal it's easy to try to look forward to the end.  Resist doing that and enjoy the present part of the trip no matter how bad it seems at the time....these times are usaully some of the fondest or most talked about times of your trip.

3.  I would recommend some type of support system especially if you plan to ride alone.  Either a support vehicle or at the very least a lifeline in each state.  Someone that you can call if you need some type of help.

4.  Don't overpack, you can manage with less than you think.  There are several things that I brought with me that I never used...my load was way too heavy.  As the ride continued I sent some stuff home then left some in Edina, MN and then some more in Belmont, MI.

5.  The  weather during the latter part of my trip impacted how many times I could camp...since I didn't want to break camp in a pouring rain.  For safety you need to be prepared to camp.  During the first week of the trip there were at least two days that I had no choice but to camp. 

6.  For this type of trip you do need to be looking ahead to make sure you have services (especially in the west) and always be prepared for no services.  Always keep your water bottles full.  I carried a couple of emergency dehirated meals...and ended up having to use them.

7.  I was prepared for almost any mechanical bike problem and carried a lot of tools.  I never had to use them.  That could be a tribute to the quality of my heavy duty bike.

8.  During my training I had a lot of problems with flat tires so before the trip I purchased new tires.  These were the Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires and weigh a little more but to me they were worth it because I didn't have any flat tires.  I would highly recommend these tires!!

9.  If you have a dream or something you always wanted to to....just do it!  You can do anything that you put your mind to!

Again thank you for all of your support and generous donations to the Bain Injury Center!!!

Day 26 - 2 July, Wednesday, Fenton, MI - Metemora, MI (40 Miles)

     This is my last riding day!  It's been a great adventure but my legs can use a rest.  The weather was good to ride but garmin took me on some gravel roads that were just treated with calcium chloride.  That made the road soft and muddy so decided to reroute using the highway vs the dirt roads.  This made my ride a little longer with more traffic but it was better than the soft wet gravel roads.

     As I was getting close to the cottage Rinaldo a kids saw me and pulled over to say hello.  They were headed to the cottage to meet me as I finished.

     Coming down the last hill to the cottage there was a group of family waiting to meet me as I finished my trip.  It was very nice to see everyone and to be finished with this very challenging adventure!

     I plan to take a few days to reflect on my trip and then I will make a final post with my final thoughts and lessons leaned on the trip.  

     Thank you to all for supporting and following my adventure!  It really made a difference to know that I had so many people pulling for me.  Also thanks to everyone who donated to the Brain Injury Center!

                                                               Dirt Road!

                                                   The welcome gang!

                                                           I made it!!!!

Day 25 - 1 July, Tuesday, Dewitt, MI - Fenton, MI (55 Miles)

    Today was a little cooler with a misty rain for the first 2 hours of the ride.  Most of the ride was on a two lane country road that had a lot of traffic.  There was no bike lane so cars had to go around me...this makes it more difficult to ride.  Even in these conditions I was able to average 12 mph...so I made pretty good time.

     I pulled into the Comfort Inn & Suites in Fenton, MI about 1pm.  Rob came by the hotel after work and picked me up to eat at the Sagebrush Cantina in Fenton.  Carol and Tony were on their way home from up north and stopped in to eat with us.  We watched the US play in the World Cup and ate.

     Tormorrow will be my last riding day!!  I plan to finish the trip at the family cottage in Metemora, MI.

                                      Highland Hills Golf Course in Dewitt, MI

Day 24 - 30 June, Monday, Outside of Grand Rapids, MI - Dewitt, MI (35 Miles)

     Last night Sara picked me up in Ludington, MI when the ferry came in and drove me to their house in Belmont, MI.  Nick was there with Brandon and Jordan making dinner.  We had smoked beef brisket and smoked pork butt in his new smoker...it was great.  I plan on buying one of those smokers.  I can't beleive that I didn't take any pictures.

     This morning Sara gave me a ride out of the Grand Rapids area.  This would alow me to have a lower mileage day to give my legs a break.

     Thanks Nick and Sara!!!

     The ride today was good the weather was overcast and the humidity was high.  I made it to Dewitt, MI which is just north of Lansing, MI.  I'm staying at the Sleep Inn in Dewitt.  Oh yeah I left all of my camping gear with Nick and Sara since the remainder of the trip I will be staying at hotels.

     Tomorrow I plan to have a full day of riding (50 miles) to Fenton, MI.  That will leave my last riding day on Wednesday make it to the cottage!

 As we pulled into Ludington looking out at Lake Michigan

                                             A bike trail that I was on for a few mile

                                                      Portland River

Day 23 - 29 June, Sunday, Little Chute, WI - Manitowic, WI (50 Miles)

     Today when I woke up early I heard the rain.  It was pouring...I decided to get ready to ride with the hope that it would let up.  By the time I was ready to go around 6:45am the rain did slow down.  So I donned my rain gear and left my room which was on the thrid floor.  The lights in the hallway were out which was a bit strange...when I got to the elevator it wasn't working.  Turns out they had a power failure and I had to take my loaded bike down three flights of stairs!!  What a way to start the day!

     So the reason why I had to get an early start is because I wanted to make sure I was on time for the 2pm ferry across Lake Michigan.  The weather was cloudy and threatening rain for the whole ride...it seemed that I was running from the storm.  I never got rained on and made really good time.  By the time I got to Manitowoc I saw the SS Badger pulling in from Ludington.  I had time to have lunch before boarding the boat.

     When I get to Ludington, MI Sara will be picking me up and taking me to their house in Belmont, MI.  Nick will be preparing dinner in his new smoker...sounds good!  I think Brandon and Jordan may be joining us at Nick and Sara's house.  I haven't planned out the next phase of the trip but I am thinking it should take me 3 or 4 days to get to Metemora, MI....my final destination.

                                                 Memorial outside my hotel

                                                   Kaukauna Dam

                                                         Fox River

                My garmin took me on this dirt path...good thing it was only one mile!

                                        Looks like someone was having fun!!

                                               SS Badger pulling into Manitowoc,WI

                                                     Manitowoc, WI

                                         Took a break when I got to Lake Michigan

                                    This sign on a bench caught my attention....

                                                   SS Badger in port

                                                       Finally leaving Wisconsin!

                                           Lighthouse leaving Manitowoc

Day 22 - 28 June, Saturday, Clintonville, WI - Little Chute, WI (47 Miles)

     Today was a little warmer and sunny.  I was heading SE and the wind was strong coming from the SE.  So that was today's challenge...at times it felt like a was standing still.  Always a challenge...

     When I got to the Country Inn & Suites in Little Chute, WI. they told me that they didn't have any rooms available.  After talking to them for a while amazingly they found a room...this was good because I didn't feel like riding any more today.  I'm not sure how I miscalculated the mileage for tomorrow but I thought I would only have 35 miles...it turns out that I will have to ride closer to 50 miles.  So my plan is to start riding earlier than normal so I can make the 2pm ferry to MI.  If I miss this ferry then I will just have to wait till Monday.

             You see a lot of road kill on a bike but this was the biggest and freshest.

                                                   Embarrass River

                                                         Wolf River

                                                   Break to have a pear.

Day 21 - 27 June, Friday, Weston, WI - Clintonville, WI (53 Miles)

     Today I woke to a pouring rain.  I was thinking about changing my plan but decided to have breakfast first...by the time I finished eating the rain slowed to a drizzle.  So I decided to press ahead...I didn't put on all of my rain gear hoping that it would stop.  Well the rain got worse as I rode...I was in a pretty good down pour for a couple of hours.

     My garmin took me on a trail for 10 miles...I think it was a snow machine trail.  It wasn't paved and the grass was long and wet.  The good things about the trail were not cars or trucks, no dogs, a lot of deer and it was relatively flat.

     I checked into the Cobblestone Inn & Suites in Clintonville, WI.  Tomorrow I plan to ride to Little Chute, WI.  I also made reservations for Sunday on the SS Badger that leaves out of Manitowoc, WI and will take me to Ludington, MI.  When I get into Ludington, MI on Sunday night Nick and Sara will pick me up and I will stay the night with them at their house in Belmont, MI.

                                                    I liked this house

                            This is the beginning of the trail I was on for 10 miles!

                                                             A lot of deer!!

                                                          In the middle of nowhere