It is day 19 and it is time to start heading toward Sturgis, SD. I am thinking about taking the Ferry from Muskegon to Milwaukee until I discover that I have to pay for myself and the Harley. It will be like $225 and the Ferry doesn't run every day. Okay, new plan. Maybe I can retrace my steps only this time I want to ride the western edge of Michigan.
Bambi is passionate that I should go to Fishtown - some small historic village up on the northwestern tip of the state. I tell her I will try.
Alice, is very sad that I have to go. I will miss that dog. And my cousins. It has been an amazing stay. But I need to get moving. Rain is coming again, and I need to get ahead of it.
It is Monday however, and that means meeting day. Time for remote work. I find a Chick-fil-a and turn it into my mobile office. They have great WiFi - better than any hotel or motel I have stayed at this year. What's more they don't seem bothered that I'm sitting in their restaurant for like two hours. They also had outside tables, so I spent my second conference call in the cool Michigan weather.
Once the calls are finished, I head north again. I have to say this part of the ride is fairly dull. Just straight roads, green trees, and clouds. I get a little rain as I approach Frankfurt, MI but the 10 minute rule keeps me from putting on my rain gear.
The 10 minute rule is you start a timer when it rains. If it stops, you restart the timer. It has to rain for 10 minutes Before you pull over and put on gear. I get a little damp, but it's manageable. The longest spell of water falling on me is 9 minutes. It's a light drizzle. The scenery and roads on the West coast of Michigan already seem very promising. They are twistier, and more hilly than the eastern half.
Needing a place to stay, I find the R&R Motel 1.5 miles from downtown Frankfurt. I pull in, and get a room. It's not exactly cheap, but the place is clean and hotel rooms down town are over $300 a night. Summer time beach Michigan is not for the feint of heart. I guess they need to make money when the sun shines. Can't say I blame them.
The owners live on sight, and they have taken immaculate care of the hotel. Despite the now steady drizzle, I ride into town to grab something to eat. And guess what it is?
The best coney dogs I've had yet!!
At some point I'm going to have to eat some plant based food, but I can't leave Michigan without a great Coney Dog! I wander around downtown Frankfurt, looking at the shops - it is a typical tourist town. T-shirt and souvenir stores, coffee shops, brewers, bars, and of course the hot dog joint. I call my mom and sister who are following my travels and catch up. Mom wants her own bear.
So, I head back to the hotel, and spend the evening whittling a bear from a section of the poplar dowel Judie and I bought at Menards. It turns out, that is actually really good wood for carving. It did not cover a ton of ground, maybe 350 miles, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I should be able to hit the famous tunnel of trees and the weather forecast is for a sunny day. I can't wait.
