I can see Canada from here
I'm posting from a friend's laptop as I can't get past the damn university network security to use my own, so no photos for now. But it sure is nice up here in the UP, specifically Sault Ste. Marie (or the "Soo" as the locals call it). And yes, it's true, I can see Canada out the window. Funny ... it looks just like here.
The trip up here was fairly easy. I took my time this morning, had a nice hot bath which loosened up my back a little, and I made a makeshift backrest for the bike out of all the gear I'm hauling. I'd still prefer Dr. Johnny (my chiropractor / acupuncturist) to stick a few needles in my back and hit me with a little electric stim. But he's in Brooklyn, and I'm not, so I'll deal with it.
OK, after a little riding, a little catching up with my good friend MJ (who I've not seen for years) and some lunch, we took a short ride to the Soo Locks, a fascinating piece of engineering courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers. I'd tell you all about it, but if you're into that kind of thing you can google it and learn more than I could relay here. And if you're not into that kind of thing, then you wouldn't want me going on about it ....
Oh ... and I had a little run (2 miles) on an indoor track here. It was great to stretch my legs and work up a sweat.
And I just love that it doesn't get dark here until 10 pm. If the winters weren't so cold and long, this could be my kind of town.
I'll be staying the night here in the Lake Superior State University student housing complex. It's spare, but nice. I can't believe they stick 4 students in this 2 bedroom apartment. That must be why students drink so damn much, to forget they live with 3 other people in a 900 sq ft, 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment. Fortunately, I don't have that problem, I'm just a guest for the night and then I'm on to the next town.
And just where is the next town? I'm not sure, but I plan on riding about 300 miles tomorrow - at least to Marquette (which is about 250 miles via the scenic route on the map). I may go a little farther than that, but not too far. I think it's best for my back and the bike (which has been running a bit rough the past few days) if I scale back to 300 mile days instead of 400.
Why not ... I've got the time.
This next leg of the trip will be a long stretch of days and roads with nary a familiar face until Spokane, WA. But I'm looking forward to this part of the trip, as I head hard west and make for big sky country to see all the things I've never seen before.
I'll probably post once more from Michigan, then I hope to be through a few states fairly rapidly (Wisconsin, Minnesota and into North Dakota and no more than a day to get to each). I'm thinking of changing up a bit when I hit South Dakota. Originally the plan was to go back up and ride the width of Montana, but now I'm thinking it might make more sense to roll west a bit and hit Sturgis and of course, I have to roll through Deadwood (and curse, spit, get into a fight and get run out of town on a rail). but instead of heading straight north again, I'm thinking I may put Wyoming into the trip and hit Yellowstone N.P. (say hi to Yogi and Booboo), then wend my way north west through Montana to Glacier N.P. I haven't worked out the mileage, but it makes more sense and I can get 2 national parks in that way instead of just the 1 (Glacier). So we'll see.
Until the next posting ...
The trip up here was fairly easy. I took my time this morning, had a nice hot bath which loosened up my back a little, and I made a makeshift backrest for the bike out of all the gear I'm hauling. I'd still prefer Dr. Johnny (my chiropractor / acupuncturist) to stick a few needles in my back and hit me with a little electric stim. But he's in Brooklyn, and I'm not, so I'll deal with it.
OK, after a little riding, a little catching up with my good friend MJ (who I've not seen for years) and some lunch, we took a short ride to the Soo Locks, a fascinating piece of engineering courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers. I'd tell you all about it, but if you're into that kind of thing you can google it and learn more than I could relay here. And if you're not into that kind of thing, then you wouldn't want me going on about it ....
Oh ... and I had a little run (2 miles) on an indoor track here. It was great to stretch my legs and work up a sweat.
And I just love that it doesn't get dark here until 10 pm. If the winters weren't so cold and long, this could be my kind of town.
I'll be staying the night here in the Lake Superior State University student housing complex. It's spare, but nice. I can't believe they stick 4 students in this 2 bedroom apartment. That must be why students drink so damn much, to forget they live with 3 other people in a 900 sq ft, 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment. Fortunately, I don't have that problem, I'm just a guest for the night and then I'm on to the next town.
And just where is the next town? I'm not sure, but I plan on riding about 300 miles tomorrow - at least to Marquette (which is about 250 miles via the scenic route on the map). I may go a little farther than that, but not too far. I think it's best for my back and the bike (which has been running a bit rough the past few days) if I scale back to 300 mile days instead of 400.
Why not ... I've got the time.
This next leg of the trip will be a long stretch of days and roads with nary a familiar face until Spokane, WA. But I'm looking forward to this part of the trip, as I head hard west and make for big sky country to see all the things I've never seen before.
I'll probably post once more from Michigan, then I hope to be through a few states fairly rapidly (Wisconsin, Minnesota and into North Dakota and no more than a day to get to each). I'm thinking of changing up a bit when I hit South Dakota. Originally the plan was to go back up and ride the width of Montana, but now I'm thinking it might make more sense to roll west a bit and hit Sturgis and of course, I have to roll through Deadwood (and curse, spit, get into a fight and get run out of town on a rail). but instead of heading straight north again, I'm thinking I may put Wyoming into the trip and hit Yellowstone N.P. (say hi to Yogi and Booboo), then wend my way north west through Montana to Glacier N.P. I haven't worked out the mileage, but it makes more sense and I can get 2 national parks in that way instead of just the 1 (Glacier). So we'll see.
Until the next posting ...
posted by DJ at 7:26 PM
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