Training Log Archive: Ricka

Got a late start after letting thunder storm pass. On Day 5, legs really felt the cumulative effort. Great that we mostly had cross-winds and tail-winds today from Newberry to St. Ignace. Great lunch in Epoufette. About 67 miles.

Leaving Epoufette & great lunch, Zan and I found 'best ever' raspberry patch along US 2: wide and over a mile long!!!!!!!!! Had to stop for dessert.

Stopped to see the bridge structure at Cut River Gorge - impressive!

Before trip, I "knew" that I could average about 12 mph and I hoped that 13-15 was feasible. Probably averaged 13.5-14 for the trip (above times are all estimates). Max speed was 32 mph. Max one-day average was 14.5 mph.

What a great vacation!

Day 4 of ride - start at Paradise. This day had the most stops: Whitefish Point (I skipped the Shipwreck Museum since I'd seen it 3 years ago). Two raspberry patch stops but only a brief blueberry stop - we HAD to get some momentum. Back through Paradise and on to Tahquamenon Falls. Stops to hike to Lower and Upper Falls and a beer and lunch at TF brewery. One quick stop for bread and jam at North Start bakery (fantastic sourdough 7-seed bread!). Very physical day - long, some headwinds, some narrow shoulders with heavy TF traffic.

Two swims in Lake Superior at Whitefish Point - very comfortable and collected to 'special' rocks off beach. All stones are very smoothed by thousands of years of wave and sand action

Two easy hikes with Beth, Ed, Fran, and Zan at Upper and Lower Falls. Both are impressive and hadn't seen them in many years. Good memories.

Easy -hour ride, cooler and mostly headwind (out of east - strange) from Sault Ste. Marie to Paradise. For whole ride, blue sky was 'just ahead' - until we reached Paradise, of course.

Easy ride to and from Soo Canada via International Bridge - one lane each way, very high above water, cross wind.

Hike around Whitefish Island near St. Mary's Rapids and under International Bridge. Nice wilderness area that has been returned to the First Nations.

Kayaking on St. Mary's River, border between Canada and US.

Day 2 - Detour to Soo. First part of ride through swampland was quite pleasant. Then 50 foot rise to plains and fields. Nice change of scenery but some rough headwinds. Very few cars all day (Sag cars made for about 1/2 the traffic). Finished along St.Mary's River and International Bridge. Lake Superior State was nice venue for 2 nights.

I can do this! Back to back 60 mile days and legs are still pretty fresh.

Day 1 - From St. Ignace to Detour. "Should have" been a westerly tail wind. Instead a light headwind. Nice roads and shoulders. 60 miles felt fine. Short swim in Lake Huron. MUCH warmer here than 300 miles south in Lake Michigan - weird.

Arrived at East Bear Arena in St. Ignace - HQ for 5-day MUP ride. After drying tents, off to Mackinac island with Fran and Zan for leisurely ride around and 'through' the island. Beautiful and ideal warm-up for Day One Monday.