Bob took part in a Picture Rocks Bike Tour from August 7 through August 12.
A day-by-day journal is posted below.
Saturday, August 6
Bob, Larry and Mike got together about 7:30 am in Moraine, Ohio and headed north for their bike trip which begins tomorrow. He called about 6 pm and said they were going the whole way to Manistique rather than stopping near the Mackinac Bridge and continuing their trip in the morning. He was already nearing 540 miles when he called. Yesterday's trip ended after more than 600 miles.
Only the GPS log from lower Michigan to their destination recorded ...
All GPS plots courtesy Life360
(l-r Robert Schmidt, Larry Sabin and Mike Wuebben)
Bob says, "Our journey begins."
7:20 pm
"Into Manistique after a ten hour drive. No rooms available. Drove another 17 miles to find a place."
"Our room for the night. Larry and I bunked together in one bed and Buck [Mike] had the other to himself. I knew I might be in trouble when an abrupt thud woke us and Larry said, 'What was that, honey?'."
8:41 pm
"Our room was $50." Location: Big Bay Motel.
8:42 pm
They're being led by Rich and Michelle Scott. "We're excited to lead you on a beautiful tour of the isthmus of the upper peninsula of Michigan, featuring the Picture Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior," they wrote before the trip began.
The bike tour is sponsored by Bike Tour Vacations.
They'll start tomorrow from the Gray Wolf Lodge in Manistique.
Sunday, August 7
Location: The Manistique Lighthouse.
"Part of the group prepping to ride."
"Boarding the raft at the springs."
"Absolutely beautiful. Clear greenish-blue waters. Huge trout."
Location: Palms Book State Park
GPS-reported route for today
"A 31 mile day. Beautiful weather."
Monday, August 8
"On to Munising on Lake Superior. Just finished with breakfast and prepping to head out for 50+ miles." [8:11 am]
"Into Munising for the night. It should have been a 50+ mile day. I got only 45.2 after blowing a rear tire and trying to do some unsuccessful road repairs. Blew three tubes and had to be hauled. Finally got back into service with an entirely new tire and tube."
"Ate lunch at the Bear Trap Inn and have arrived at Beach Inn in Munising for tonight and tomorrow night."
"Some might ask just how many bikers does it take to change a tire? But truly, what comradery. Thanks to all!"
Bob told me he lost his left glove today and had to ride without it. It wouldn't be found and returned to him until Wednesday. But by then, he'd lost his right glove, too. Later, when he stopped at a restroom, he found that glove inside his helmet. So finally, on Wednesday, he had both hands covered by gloves.
GPS-reported route for today
Tuesday, August 9
"Following a short morning hike, we were driven to a trailhead for a 3.5 mile hike out to Lake Superior for a pontoon boat ride along Picture Rocks. Half the group hiked out while the other half boated out. After lunch the groups switched."
"Larry acting up by a handicapped parking block. Sometimes he does struggle. Gotta keep him in check. 'Come on, Sabin, work with me.'"
A woven sort of large bowl/basket at he museum along the walk to the falls. I wanted to use it as a boat on Lake Superior."
"On the walk this morning ... a three mile round trip from the motel."
"Along the trail to Picture Rocks National Shoreline."
Bob (l) and Larry
Larry (l-r), Kathy and Bill
Pontoon tour of Picture Rocks
Live webcams in the Munising area are available by clicking here.
GPS-reported route for today
Wednesday, August 10
Ride to Grand Marais - about 50 miles
"Larry along the trail to Lake Superior from North Shore Lodge (our accommodations for tonight). Coast Guard Point. A PDF file of history of the Grand Marais Coast Guard Station is available here.
"Overcast most of the day ... sun just now peaking out (2:42 pm). Some mist today. All day along Highway H58."
Link for North Shore Lodge provided above.
"Poor man. He's just like me ... getting old"
GPS-reported route for today
Thursday, August 11
"Breakfast this morning before leaving Grand Marais."
"A 50 mile day to Chamberlain's Old Forest Inn in Curtis, Michigan. Some rain before we got in."
"Looking out on Big Manistique Lake from the porch at Chamberlains."
GPS-reported route for today
Friday, August 12
And back to Manistique: 214.8 miles.
"Here's the truck mostly loaded. Oh, did I mention our other mishap? My mishap. When I backed over Larry's bike which had been lying in the grass behind the truck? No damage. Ugh!"
Heading back south, the Mackinac Bridge comes into view. The group spent the night at a motel in Midland.
Bob's final analysis: "Great ride!"
And back to Manistique: 214.8 miles.
Bike Tour Vacations - Picture Rocks Tour
Credit: Michelle Mathieu Scott
"Here's the truck mostly loaded. Oh, did I mention our other mishap? My mishap. When I backed over Larry's bike which had been lying in the grass behind the truck? No damage. Ugh!"
Heading back south, the Mackinac Bridge comes into view. The group spent the night at a motel in Midland.
Bob's final analysis: "Great ride!"
GPS-reported route for today
The final leg of the trip ... from Midland, Michigan to Dayton, Ohio. Home again!
GPS-reported route for today
Bob's mileage on his truck after returning from the trip
Oh no! They killed Larry!!!
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