Why this route? Basically, I simply had never been in North Dakota and through the northern tier of the country. And, I thought with decent weather I could ride all the way home to eastern Pennsylvania.
No pictures from this trip. I decided not to even take a camera as the anticipated scenery was obviously not going to measure up to my far western trips. Since that time I have developed quite an interest in photography and would never leave my good, albeit heavy, camera at home. Even a trip through the most blah terrain can afford unexpected great shots and with just a little extra effort and time you can find interesting photo subjects.
Lots and lots of farmland as far as the eye can see and numerous lakes (think Minnesota) gave way to considerable forest in Michigan. The one most trivial memory was cruising the Upper Peninsular and hearing the continual mating calls of the black-capped chickadees. Getting across the Mackinaw Bridge required a ride in a Mackinaw Bridge Authority worker’s truck, as bicycles are not allowed. Currently they charge $2.00. I do not remember if I was charged back in 1990. It may have been $2.00; if so it is time to raise the rates!
I was “on schedule” well into Ohio and then my luck ran out at Galion. A nasty weather system moved in and it rained hard for a week. When I realized I would not make it back home before my vacation ran out, I was rescued by my parents (retired and they really had nothing else to do). My wife was working and couldn’t take off. This was my last long trip for eight years and there is a suspicion that marriage had something to do with that.