Day 2 - 33miles - 96 total

My grandmother always used to say, "today is Tuesday unless it rains, then it is a rainy day!". Well today was a rainy day.

Keith and I woke up to rain. We got up and went to breakfast. At breakfast we discussed our strategy. We decided to wait until checkout time and hope that the rain would ease up. Fat chance, it was raining hard when we loaded up and headed out for Mackinaw City. We rode west on rte 68 for about 11 miles then turned to the north for Cheboygan. When we turned north, we turned into the wind so it made it tougher going. The berm of the road was wide with nice pavement so we were making decent time. We hit a series of rolling hills that were a lot of fun to ride even in the rain. We could get up enough speed to almost coast to the top of the next one. It was like riding a roller coaster!

Eventually we came to where the Northeastern trail crossed rte 33. There was a sign that said rough pavement. I thought they were talking about where the road had been repaired after the railroad tracks were remove but no, they meant for the next 9 miles into Cheboygan. We had to watch for rough pavement, try to avoid pot holes and watch for cars passing us. It was a little stressful.

Finally, we came to Cheboygan. Keith suggested that we might consider stopping in Cheboygan and go to Mackinaw City tomorrow. He pointed out that we were cold and wet and it would be a miserable 16 more miles in the rain. We agreed to discuss it over lunch. We stopped in Johnny's bar. All of the patrons turned to look at the wierd crazy guys riding bikes in this rain. The bartender came over and took our food orders. It turns out that he was multi-tasking as the bartender, waitress, cook and as one patron put it, therapist! The food was very good! It really hit spot!!

We were so wet that huge puddles were on the floor from our dripping clothes. My shoes were full of water and everything I was wearing was dripping wet except for my Showers Pass rain jacket ( I love that jacket).

We decided to find a motel for the night. As we realized, we don't have an itenary so we can change our plans without affecting anything. By now we were both so cold we were shivering. No way we could go another mile!

As we were getting ready to leave, another kid got up from a table and started to put on his weather gear and a large packpack. He stopped to talk  us and said that he was hiking from Mackenaw City to Traverse City. He had started from Traverse City 16 days ago. He may be the only one crazier than us.

We left Johnny's and rode to the motel. It is $60 and bigger that the one last night. Another bargain!! The owners were a little strange. I was reminded of Lurch from the Adams family.

We walked back to town for dinner and saw that the Army Reserve Band was giving a concert for the town folk. It was pretty good. It looked like everyone was having a good time.

Tomorrow promises to be dry and sunny! Can't wait.