After our day off, we got up at our usual time (6 am), packed, and left Stewart’s cottage after eating breakfast. Happily, the “Little Traverse Wheelway” bike path allowed us to avoid busy US Hwy 31 for 26 foggy miles to Charlevoix. The photo shows Betsy at the southern edge of Petoskey, where the lake almost reaches the bike path. We passed by the site of the former Big Rock Point nuclear power plant, now demolished.
In Charlevoix, we ate more breakfast at the Harbor View Cafe. We abandoned Hwy 31 for Barnard Road, which had lots of ups and downs, some bumpy pavement, a few cars, and some rain. At the intersection with US 31, we opted to ride on 31 because of its good shoulder. The rain resumed, but it wasn’t much of a problem. By Eastport the rain abated. We continued for 5 miles to Barnes Road- which we took to Torch Lake, about 15 miles long by 2 miles wide.
Fellow cross-country biker, Dan, whom we met a week ago, offered to let us stay at his place on Torch Lake. We got there at noon and ate lunch by the lake. However, we chose to keep going to avoid a very long day tomorrow. Back on US 31, we rode into Elk Rapids and bought groceries, including the obligatory half gallon of chocolate milk. South of town, we biked on county roads for about 5 miles to the “Everflowing Waters RV Park”. The owner gave us a discounted rate of $10 because of our cross-country trip. We set up camp in a grassy site and ate dinner early, just in case the rain returned. In spite of the unsettled weather and rain, we had an enjoyable day.
July 02 - Bay View, MI to Acme, MI : 68.2 miles
