Ride #12 - June 26, 2011

We were at the Relay for Life on Saturday and didn't get home until about 11 PM.   And we were tired from all the walking.   So we dragged tail and didn't get started until about 10:30AM.   Our plan was to ride to the end of the trail and then head back.   All went well except Joe was feeling very weak and so was I.   We took it fairly slow for Joe's pace staying at about 16 mph on the way up.   Of course going that slow only invites the legs to want to turn faster so we did get up 20 mph at times.   We did our normal stops at Sanford, Coleman and Clare for lunch.  We got to Subway right after a group of female athletes arrived.   So we were in line for 20 minutes.  Lunch cost us over 30 minutes.

 We reached the end  of the trail at mile 53.   The next mile is ready for asphalt.

 Yea, Washington even claims they are helping the trail extension.   We thought it was cow manure we were smelling.

 Yep, Joe read the sign again.   Can you believe this??!!  Wasting money on a sign that only a hand full of taxpayers will see.

 Trail looking east.   Its straight but goes through some beautiful natural swamps and woods.

  We rode to the end of the trail.   It had gotten warmer and we were still not feeling very well.  So we called Mary and had her pick us up at the McDonald's in Clare.   It was a nice 68 mile ride.   The ride back to Clare was into the wind but we were dropping elevation so we were able to maintain about 20 mph most of the way.  Of course I always enjoy the little climb on Main Street in Clare as we headed out to "hamburger hill".   It was sunny and windy all day so we got cooked pretty good.   But a nice ride and soon the trail will be complete to Reed City.

Ride #11 - June 24, 2011

It was another cool day but not as bad as last Friday.   Joe and I decided to take another quick ride up to the 14 mile mark.   So off we went.   I wanted to keep Joe exercising during his time off from running because he will soon be returning to his favorite sport.   The wind was blowing out of the SW so we were down wind going out and of course a slight head wind coming back until we started heading east on the last leg.

   I felt pretty strong but we didn't go as fast as the previous Friday.   It was cloudy and bit cool so I took the jackets just in case. We didn't have to use them as it was warm enough.   It was a nice ride.

Ride #10 - June 17, 2011

Rode with Joe up to the 14 mile road.   Joe had energy that went wild.   We were going about 24 mph from the Tridge to Sanford.   We had a cyclist that stayed on my tail for a while but then dropped off.   I had two large cookies for lunch along with pizza and not sure if that helped but I stayed right on Joe's wheel and felt very good and could have gone further but Joe had to use the rest room in Sanford.  We then talked a bit for a couple of miles and then he took off again at about a 22 mph clip.   Of course going down wind helped.

   But on the way back into the wind we maintained a 20 to 21 mph pace for the 14 miles.   We then took it a bit slower as we headed home from the Tridge and rode through the streets of Midland.   We picked up the pace on Savage Road as we approached Midland Road.   And of course we always have to do that last mile from the overpass to the driveway at a nice pace so I led Joe home at about 24 to 26 mph.   It was a very fast 42 mile ride.   I was glad because I had a lot of lawn to cut when I got home.

Ride #9 - June 12, 2011

Joe injured his heel so he wanted to ride to stay in shape so when he resumes running it will be less dramatic.  So he and I rode from home to the Tridge where we joined Dave and Dave.  We rode up to Clare Sub Way and had lunch.   We discussed our options for getting to the Tour de Mt. Pleasant race course.   We decided to go down Mission Road until we got to the Coleman Road intersection. 

So even though I felt terrible today, I took the lead and we zoomed down the five miles averaging between 22 and 24 mph.   Of course we had help from a nice tail wind.   At Coleman Road we went east to the Leaton Road exit and waited and waited.   We arrived at about 12:30 and the racers didn't arrive until about 2:20.   After viewing them at the corner as they came at us on Coleman and turned north onto Leaton, we rode east two miles further and stopped at the Loomis Road intersection.  

We got to view them again as they went flying by straight south on Loomis.   There was a lead pack of about five riders with about  a 30 second lead.   The trailing group was about 60 to 70 strong.   After they passed we rode into Coleman and then headed back to the Tridge.    Julia called and said she and Mary were going to be on the trail.   So as we approached the six mile mark we said good bye to Dave and Dave and rode with Julia and Mary up to Sanford.   We talked with Lowell who was riding alone.   Joe and I decided at about the trail restaurant that we would take off and meet Julia and Mary at home.   So we got about 82 miles in and beat them by about five minutes.   I felt terrible all day but we still managed a nice pace and rode about five hours in the saddle.  It was very cool and windy so I wore a jacket the entire ride.