LMT Day 17 - 9/1/2024 - Hart to Muskegon to the Van at the ferry packing lot, 44 miles

 One of the reasons we chose to stay at Hart was the campground, and also it is the start of a paved trail system that will take us all the way to the ferry parking lot in Muskegon!    The Hart-Montague Trail starts in Hart, running about 23 miles, which then connects to the White Lake Path in Whitehall for 3 miles, which then connects to the Berry Junction trail for 11 miles, and final connecting to the Muskegon Lakeshore Trail for the last 7 miles to the ferry.

The day started with a fantastic breakfast at the Hart Pink Elephant Diner.  The diner was packed with people and we soon found out why - what a great breakfast!    We sat next to two very nice guys, very talkative of course, who live in the area and have ridden the trails we planned on riding today.  We quickly learned all the details of todays ride.

Two blocks from the diner the trail system started.   It was a beautiful, sunny day with the wind at our backs all day.  What a way to finish!   

Todays route

LMT Day 16 - 8/31/2024 - Manistee to Hart, 45 miles

 Todays ride was highlighted by country roads through huge vineyards and orchards of all kinds.   There were apple, pear, peach, plum, and nectarine orchards and other fruits we couldn't identify.  Very different from the rest of the ride.    Much of the ride was through rolling hills but nothing like the steep climbs of the day before.

We arrived at the town of Hart earlier than expected and found our way to the city campground.   The weather was beautiful and the campground staff gave us a perfect site overlooking the city lake.    We sat and talked to the camp staff for a long time.   We learned that today 8/31 was the last day in the RV park for most of the summer residents.   The tradition was that they celebrated Halloween for all the kids on the last day before back to school and back to work.   That evening we got to see all the kids dressed up, lighting and fanfare.   We walked into town for dinner and got a recommendation for a good breakfast place in the morning.  We did laundry at the camp, and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

Great last night out.

What a campsite!   Yes, we know, we carry a 3-person tent when there is only two of us.  We like the extra room!

Hart's mascot the Tin Man.    If only I had a …

Last sunset on the road.

Todays route

LMT Day 15 - 8/30/2024 - Glen Arbor to Manistee, 64 miles

After a good nights rest we headed off on what we knew would be our longest day of the trip, but we didn't realize how tough the hills were going to be.   The day started with a short ride back to the Sleeping Bear trail.   The 6 miles of trail from Glen Lake to Empire was all paved and  forested.   There was a fair climb to tackle but not steep at all.

After breakfast in Empire, we have another significant hill on the way out of town.   We were back on route 22 again and the shoulders were very nice and wide.   After a long flat stretch on 22 to Crystal Lake we turned west to ride around the lake and immediately hit the strongest headwind of the trip so far.  The few miles to get to the west end of the lake and turn south again was really challenging.   A few more miles down the road was the town of Frankfort.  While it was a bit early in the day, we had lunch at the Birch and Maple of a view of the small bay the borders the town.

Leaving Frankfort, still on route 22, we encountered a series of hills that really challenged us!   Most of the route around Lake Michigan has been very flat, today was a big change!    The sequence of hills was one shorter 150 foot climb, then three climbs each at about 300 feet each, and finally another 150 foot climb.    Sherri said her Elemnt bike computer read between 8% and 12% steady on all five climbs!  Tough on a loaded tandem.   Luckily after each climb there was a long flat section that helped us recover.  Whew!

It was a long day, and we were happy to see our motel in Manistee.   We needed to do some laundry, but by the time we got in the laundry was closed.  We asked at the motel desk and they graciously agreed to do our laundry for us!  Nice touch.  Have to give these guys a great review!   As night fell we walked to TJ's Pub for dinner.  It was a nice evening so we took a table outside.   Great food and good service.   The pub looks across the road to the city's drawbridge.   Sure enough while we were eating the horns sounded and the bridge went up.   The river is quite narrow but a huge ship made its way very, very slowly past the drawbridge down the river to the Lake.  What a sight to see.

Rest stop at one of parks on the route.

The final descent was incredibly steep.   Good thing we were headed down!

Storm on the water at a Lake front park just before Manistee.

Taken from our outside dinner table at the corner pub.  The ship moved through as if it was just on a city side street.

Todays route

LMT Day 14 - 8/29/2024 - Traverse City to Glen Arbor, 49 miles

The first couple of miles of today was through the heart of Traverse City.   There was a lot of road construction and the bike trail along the bay was closed.  Eventually we found our way out of town an on to the Leelanau bike trail.  The Leelanau was a beautiful paved bike trail taking us through rolling hills with a combination of forest, vineyards, and orchards.  The trail into Sutton Bay had a very nice descent. 

At Sutton Bay we took a long break at a great little coffee shop, Hive Coffee Company, for coffee and snacks and of course, a bathroom.   The way out of Sutton Bay and back over to the Lake side was on route 204, which had great wide shoulders and a very smooth riding surface.   204 took us up and over the hills that separate the Traverse bays from the Lake.  Very nice descent down to the Lake.

The ride along the Lake on route 22 was gently rolling and in the forest, beautiful but no Lake views here.   At about mile 35 we found the only stop between Sutton Bay and Glen Arbor, the Market 22 restaurant.   It was a very welcome break and the food was good.   The place was really busy, we guessed because there was nothing else for miles.

A few miles after leaving Market 22, we connected to Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail.   Sleeping Bear was a nice trail rolling through mostly forested areas with both paved and gravel sections.    The last couple of miles today were on quiet backcountry roads leading us into the resort town of Glen Arbor.

In Glenn Arbor we stopped at a grocery store and stocked up.   Glen Arbor is a very expensive place.  We staying at an AirBnB a couple of miles south of town on Glen Lake.   From our AirBnB we enjoyed a walk out over the bridge that crosses the channel between the two sides of the lake.   On the bridge we have nice view of the Sleeping Bear sand dunes.

One of the lake front houses at Glen Lake.

The Sleeping Bear sand dunes

Todays route

LMT Day 13 - 8/28/2024 - Torch Bay to Traverse City, 37 miles

Today was a pleasant day of riding with easy rolling hills on US 31.   The last 5 or 6 miles were on a nice paved trail, the Traverse Area Recreational Trail.   Google routed us through a cemetery to get us to the hotel.   Once again with thunderstorms on the way we opted for a hotel.  After dinner we walked down to East Bay Park to sit and enjoy the view of East Arm Bay.  Staying at the Comfort Inn tonight.

Todays route

LMT Day 12 - 8/27/2024 - Petoskey to Torch Bay, 38 miles

The first 14 miles of todays route was on a nice paved bike trail called the Little Traverse Wheelway.   Another 4 miles on the road took use to the quaint Lake front town of Charlevoix.   Here we got lunch and filled our bottles because the next 20 miles was through a remote area with no services.  We have a motel reservation at Torch Bay tonight but we are not sure what services we will find there -- Google didn't show much.  No camping available

Part of the ride today was through hill country away from the lake.  We saw some vineyards and a few orchards.  Backcountry roads took us most of the rest of the way, then on US 31 for the last few miles.  US 31 runs all the way down the west side of Michigan.

Torch Bay is mainly a crossroads, but to our pleasant surprise we found a great small market about 2 miles from our motel.   The Eastport Market had a great selection of food and indoor seating.  We had our late lunch here and went back for dinner.   

Riding along the Little Traverse Wheelway.   Yeah, our Samuel Engineering Jerseys are our favorites.

A banana split and french fries! Our favorite lunch too share!

Todays route

LMT Day Off - 8/26/2024 - Hampton Inn, Petoskey, MI

Today is a day off for us.   We were going to stay a second night at the state park, but more thunderstorms are moving through the area today.   A day in the tent today did not sound fun, so off to the hotel!   It was a short 5 mile ride, so almost a day off.  The hotel is up on the bluff above the lake and the city.  Great views!

Yeah, and it did rain most of the day today.  But clearing nicely at sunset.