On any self-supported bike tour heading into areas you have never been to before and roads you have never ridden on before, navigation can be challenging. When all your planning ahead either falls apart for some reason, weather, road construction, or big local events, there are two sources that have helped us. First is talking to the local residents. That advice has really helped us numerous times. Second, is Google Maps satellite view. While not always up to date, the satellite view can tell you a bit about the quality of the road surface and if there are shoulders to ride on. As we turn east today to cross the remote U.P., several of the bike route sources like ACA suggest back roads that on the satellite appear really rough or are dirt. What about US 2? The satellite view suggests very wide shoulders. So US 2 it is!
The route out of Gladstone on Lake Shore and Bay Shore Drives is very pleasant with no traffic. This takes use to the intersection with US 2 at the very small town of Rapid River. We stock up here knowing that there are long stretches across US 2 with no services. Heading out of Rapid River we find very wide shoulders on US 2, 12 feet at times, and the road is perfectly smooth! How could that be this far north and in a remote part of the county? In contrast, the highway has a lot of traffic, much more than we expected.
The ride to Manistique is very pleasant if. We feel safe along the way, and the pavement continues to be the some of the smoothest we have been on. Oh yeah, sunny all day! Great!
We are staying at the Manistique Comfort Inn tonight. Very nice hotel and nice room. With the tandem and all our gear we always request first floor. Not only are we on the first floor we are right next to the lobby and the front door.
One of the beaches along our route.
Todays route
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