I have mixed feelings about leaving Michigan. Matt and I have had the best time riding in Michigan. The people have been so unbelievably kind. As a whole, the bike trails in Michigan were amazing! But we must get a move on! Here is a recap of our last days in the beautiful UP!

We left our stealth camp along Highway 41 at 8:15am! It was a bit foggy and brisk but we made great time to the nearest gas station for coffee. Thank you to all who have bought Rosie and I coffee through my buy me coffee link! This really helps out tremendously! 🦄❤❤❤🚲🚲🚲☕☕☕🤗🤗🤗

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/therosecra1

We rolled out of Tioga Creek Roadside park and onto Highway 41. Moderate climbs with excellent shoulders stamped with a modest rumble strip. The shoulder on this section along Highway 41 and 141 we awesome! It just puts a big smile on my face to be riding my touring bike on smooth pavement and having enough room on the shoulder to “feel” safe about being on the road. 😃🚴‍♀️❤

Our plan for the day was to ride as far as we could and start looking at stealth sites beginning just after the small town of Ewen. There was a roadside park just past Ewen on Highway 28 that had overnight possibilities.

Matt and I stopped in at a local gas station for a can of cold coffee and a breakfast sandwich after 15 miles or so. Shout out to small town gas stations that make some of the best breakfast sandwiches!

We rode away and found ourselves in Sidnaw, Michigan. There is a “ORV” (overland recreational vehicle) multi use rail trail that runs from here to Bergland. Google cycling map has been known to add a dark green line to the map if the path is paved and a dotted green line if is not…I could be wrong. Anyways, we took the suggested route onto the trail. Mostly because Highway 28 got busy quickly and there was now zero shoulder. Disappeared. Gone. Zilcho. Nada. Bye bye. Hasta La Vista suckers.

I was wrong about the Google bicycling map dark green line…the entire rail trail was littered with 2-5″ rocks, sand, 12″ deep washboards, buck ya off your loaded touring bike you big dummy go get your mountain bike! Better yet buy a side by side and join the masses!

Matt and I gingerly plodded along the obstacle course for a few miles and took a break at the Sparrow Kenton wayside picnic area. It was almost noon and we had completed 30 miles. Not too shabby with the amount of breaks we take.

The Sparrow Kenton wayside picnic area had picnic tables, shade, a water pump and a pit toilet. Everything we needed for a good lunch spot! Matt helped me pump water. My arms were wet noodles after coming off the trail. We both cooled down quickly with the cold water splashing on our heads. It was so refreshing!

After lunch we felt pretty good and decided to go back to the trail for more punishment. Highway 28 still had not gained anything resembling an adequate shoulder, so better to be safe than sorry. Even though the trail surface was very challenging, one thing it did provide was shade from the sun. We slowly made our way to Agate Falls. We rode across the bridge and had to stop and take in the view! Pretty amazing!

After the spectacular sights if Agate Falls, we decided to try our luck in Highway 28 again. We rode to the next crossover and rolled onto the smooth asphalt. Highway 28’s shoulder had returned!! After 20 miles of plodding and picking our way on that trail our bikes and bodies were glad to be rolling on a smooth surface once again.

Mid afternoon we stopped at Dollar General for a quick snack. If we were going go as far as we could today, we had to keep ourselves from bonking. We made a protein drink from a half gallon of chocolate milk, our vanilla protein powder and 3 folgers instant coffee packets. We could barely finish it, but it was good. Matt and I rolled into Ewen with full bellies. We now know as adults we both have limits as to how much chocolate milk we can consume on a ride. Matt’s limit is a pint, mine might be a quart. We arrived at the Ewen roadside park after pedaling fast and furiously toward our destination. The shoulder deteriorated quite quickly as we exited the small town. The wind had picked up to about 10 to 15 mph. It was a sidewind and an occasional headwind. We rolled into the safety of the parking lot and sat down at the picnic. We discussed staying, but as we looked at the weather and the leaning trees in at the roadside Park, we both agreed to keep going and Matt shoot for another 11 miles to nearby where the ORV trail began. We pressed on into the wind and got back on the trail for the last 2 miles. The trailhead that was on the Google maps was not to be found. We rolled onto the bridge over Lake Gogebic and reassessed our situation as it was nearing late evening.

We decided to keep going and check out the town park campground. A friendly camper named Peter came by and asked if we were camping. He offered the ground next to his van. We thanked him for the offer, but were still deciding. The campground was tightly packed and we wanted to check out all our options before deciding. We rode up the hill to what Google said was the Bergland Cultural and Heritage Center and campground. It no longer existed. Instead there appeared to be the Timbers Resort in its place. I called and got the rates for the cabins and we got a cabin for the night. Joking no we did not. Actually while looking for the campground we got a call back from the owner of the Timbers Resort and she offered us a campsite by the water for $30. Sold. She filled our water bottles and offered her truck to use to get dinner. Such a kind lady. Matt set up our tent near the water while I ordered a pizza for dinner. I unloaded my bike as much as I could and Rosie and I retrieved dinner via my bike. I just didn’t feel right about driving her truck a 1/4 mile to pick up dinner. When we got back, Matt was done with the tent and ready for dinner. It was a long day in the saddle with 70 miles done for the day. We were pooped. We cleaned up the picnic table and went to bed.

Matt and I got back on the road the next morning fairly early. We only had 30 miles to go to our Warmshowers host Russell house for the day. We planned an early day due to the rain in the forecast. Matt said it would toughen me up to ride in the rain…lol I don’t need toughened up, I am plenty tough already. I was hoping to make it into Bessemer before the rain hit. As rode toward our destination in the cool morning. We came upon road construction on Highway 28 that had one lane closed for 3 miles. So we waited at the end of the line and when it was go time, pedaled our hearts out to get to the other side. A few cars waiting to go the other direction, cheered us on as we passed the “finish line”. That was truly some of the smoothest pavement my bicycle has ever been on. Hats off to the MDOT Asphalt and Road crews resurfacing Highway 28. Matt and I realized that for the next 10 miles or so we would only have csrs behind us every 20 minutes or so. What a relief. We took advantage of the reprieve throughout the morning. We rolled into Wakefield and stopped for a iced coffee at Northwoods coffee shop. The owner was very kind and lots of great stories to tell.

As we finished our coffees, the sky began to darken. Time to roll out quickly. Our Warmshowers host didn’t expect us until 1-2pm and we knew we would get into town early, so we pedaled in the rain to the Daily Bread Bakery in Bessemer. Drenched from the rain and road grime, I changed out of my wet socks and drenched clothes in front of the bakery. A sight to see I am sure. But its easy to change when you have a versatile black dress to cover you up while you take off your dripping wet clothing. Soon we found ourselves seated in the warm bakery with a cup coffee, pastry and a bag of potato rolls. Amazing how a cup of coffee, warm fresh bread and butter can change ones mood. As we sat enjoying the quaint atmosphere in the bakery, a man named Dwight came in and asked about our bicycle tour. We had an great extended conversation with him. Before he left he came back in to give us his card, letting us know if we get in a bind to give him a call. He has a truck and trailer. Thank you for the offer Dwight!

Matt and I contacted Russell and let him know we were close by. He graciously allowed us to step inside out of the rain until he got home. Moments later he arrived. Matt and I got our bikes situated in the garage then sat down to chat. Russell was an excellent host. He took us to a few of his favorite spots around town and told us the best places to eat that were in walking distance. Later he went out to Beatles tribute concert while we went out to eat. We got back early and called it a night. Both of us hadn’t slept well the night before and were ready for a good nights rest!

The next morning, Russell made us a stir fry for breakfast before we all headed out to the Iron Bell trail together. Russell has alot of knowledge on alot of history in the area and along the trail he shared a wealth of information as we pedaled into Hurley, Wisconsin. Before we got to the end of the trail, we stopped at a weigh scale. The attendant allowed us to weigh ourselves with our bikes.

We ended our time with Russell at Sharon’s Coffee Company in Hurley, Wisconsin. We sure had a excellent and informative time in Bessemer. Thank you Russell for all you do in the Warmshowers community.

Russell left towards Bessemer and Matt and I headed West.

Matt and I made it as far as Ashland that day. We decided to use our points and get a night at America Inn. We had alot of things to get caught up on between pannier repairs, bike maintenance, meal planning, reorganizing and writing we didn’t get to bed until after 10pm. We did however get to swim in Lake Superior!

The next morning we rolled out of the hotel by 930am. A record for us! We resupplied before we left on breakfast and lunch provisions as well as ice and water from the hotel. We stopped along the way and ran errands as we were leaving town. Matt and I found a the Lakeshore trail and followed it along the shoreline of Lake Superior where we met Sam Hallstrom. He had a Remote Control Pontoon boat. The minute Rosie saw it her tailed swish swished in excitement! She had me jump off my bike and take her down to ask Sam for a ride. He obliged and helped with the photo shoot! Sam makes RC models by using LBR engineering. Looks About Right. I’d say it sure does. He does a phenomenal job and has a great attention to detail. It was great talking to you Sam! Be blessed as you were a blessing to us today! It was great talking to you! Sam’s You Tube channel link is below.

https://youtube.com/user/chilly7261

Matt and I made one last stop before we left Ashland. Solstice Outdoor was right on the trail and we needed a resupply of fuel. Ethan was super helpful and we made it out of there exercising alot of self control. Matt bought 2 canisters of fuel and I bought a kuhl dress on clearance! Soon we were on route and it was only a few minutes close to noon. Oh well, we will do our best today and do better tomorrow!

We finished cycling today at 5pm when we ended up at a little town called Brule. They had a roadside motel and we are staying the night in hopes for a good nights rest and to complete our updates on our blogs.

Hope y’all enjoy the updates and had a fantastic weekend! Have a very blessed week!

Read more on Matt’s blog below!

https://acrossthemapwithmatt.com/?p=3102