I downloaded and zoomed in on this last photo, so good. Tracy, your shirt is fantastic. I am in SoCal and I often point out to my colleagues who are getting into stifling cars at the end of a summer workday, when they are concerned about me riding in the heat, that I get an instant breeze getting on my bike.
On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 3:05:46 AM UTC-7 [email protected] wrote: > Leah, thanks so much for your pivot! > There’s still a LOT of trails around TVC to explore and delight! > > Here’s the 4 Rivs, pre ride. Such a delight! > Come camp in the yard next time! > > JRW > TVC, MI USA > > (And 3/4’s of a dog) > > > > > On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM Leah Peterson <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Wow, what an amazing trip. >> >> No one really likes listening to people droning on about their trips, so >> I’ll try to be palatable. >> >> 1. Learn to pivot. >> >> I had my route and plan inked. Got an email from John Williams, Traverse >> City, MI. He basically said, “You have to come here and ride the best >> trails in the state. Put this on the itinerary. You can camp at my place >> right on the water. When can you get here?” >> >> We’ve never met, by the way. But this is how friendly Michiganders are. I >> declined. Told him I was going via another trail. Traverse City wasn’t on >> my route. The offer stands, he said. >> >> *Why did I feel like I would be missing out?* >> >> 2. Run off with strangers from the Internet. >> >> My son wanted to see Traverse City. John seemed like a vivacious, nice >> man. He has a purple Platypus. Green flags. >> >> Ok, I told him. I’m heading your way for a ride on our first day. >> >> Tracy, another stranger from the internet, got word. “Hey, wait, I live >> 15 miles from Traverse City,” she said. “Are you seeing John,” she wanted >> to know. >> >> YOU KNOW HIM, I said. >> >> So E, Tracy, John and I gathered our Rivs, made introductions and set off >> on a RivRide on the famous TART trail. We pedaled with John to a winery, >> where he treated us to lunch and a “frosé” while we dined and sipped >> amongst the vineyards. >> >> 3. Chuck your route, the locals know best. >> >> Show me your route, said John. Well, he said, you COULD go that way, but >> you’d have a much more scenic experience if you went THIS WAY. We wrote >> down his instructions. He had all the roads committed to memory. Eat here. >> Visit there. Make sure you see this, he said. >> >> We did. We pedaled along indescribable beauty. We stopped, soaked it in, >> drank it up, continued on. I was drunk on it. (It wasn’t the frosé!) Locals >> wanted to know where we were going. They pointed out things that might >> interest us along the way. We found an oasis in the Tunnel of Trees - the >> most rustic, charming coffee shop; when we pulled over there was a pile of >> 20 bikes belonging to a hoarde of darling college boys on a RA team >> building trip. They were chatty. One had some cramping so I fixed him up >> with some electrolytes. “Bikers are way nicer than joggers,,” he observed. >> We were faster than them, even though we were fully loaded and they were >> fully supported. They cheered for us at every encounter, and we did for >> them, too (we were all going to Mackinaw City). >> >> Our bikes were a blessing, never giving us any trouble, keeping us in >> perfect comfort the entire time. Our gear was also great, though E’s tent >> did flood in a nasty thunderstorm that blew over our campsite. He had to >> wait until the rain ceased enough for him to get out of the tent and begin >> bailing. He was ankle-deep in water. >> >> We talked a little but mostly rode in companionable silence, each >> listening to a audiobook. E loved being able to check out with a book; he >> said biking takes no effort when you have a good book. He was sad when we >> parked the bikes. >> >> Nobody locks a darn thing at the top of the Mitten (that means Michigan’s >> lower peninsula, if you don’t know). Not vehicles or houses and not bikes. >> We walked away from our bikes all the time and nothing ever went missing. >> We locked if we could, but it was hardly necessary. One time we pulled off >> the highway, ditched the bikes on the side of the road and went swimming at >> Sturgeon Beach. The bikes were just as we left them, all our gear intact. E >> even left his bike gloves at the restroom on Mackinac Island. When we came >> back an hour later, they were just where he left them. I lost my Air Pods >> and had to backtrack 15 miles (by car, as this was at the end of the trip) >> to where Find My located them. A nice Michigander in the campground was >> holding them for me. >> >> We made it to the ferry in Mackinaw City and sailed to Mackinac Island. >> We rode the only car-free US highway in the nation. We did some exploring >> and then sailed back to the city and rode 60 miles back to my truck for the >> drive home. >> >> I spent the morning today washing my tent, my clothes and my bike. I got >> it lubed and cleaned up and the leather all polished. The bikes were caught >> in rain more than once, so they needed it. Everything is unpacked and now >> all I can think about is when can we do this again? >> >> If you can’t get through this wall of text, below is the Reel I made of >> the trip for Instagram. >> >> https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNY6zFVuPml/?igsh= >> <https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNY6zFVuPml/?igsh=NnV6Z3JkZzZld3pl> >> >> As always, thanks so much for your suggestions and help and goodwill! >> Leah >> >> On Aug 12, 2025, at 12:07 PM, Pam Bikes <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I know everything will work out. I'm sure you have the seatcover on the >> saddles, right? >> >> >> >> On Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 10:55:31 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! >> wrote: >> >>> 2nd-ever Mother-Son Bike Camping trip is underway! The weather is IFFY, >>> my friends, but we are optimistic. We don’t know why. We are novices, and >>> we are excited, and not even the lightning can discourage us. (Ok, we won’t >>> ride in lightning, but it made this post more thrilling so I said it.) >>> >>> John Lenin (🙄) is in the driver’s seat, I am in charge of music and >>> photography, and both of us are complaining about the other’s prowess in >>> these assigned roles. >>> >>> [image: image0.jpeg] >>> >>> The bikes are trashed. So much for living those drivetrains. Horrors. >>> Check out the stuff we gotta strap on these bikes! We tossed it all in, >>> little preparation this time. >>> [image: image1.jpeg] >>> The plan was to ride from Charlevoix to Mackinac Island and back, with 2 >>> nights of camping. A local to the area (whom I have never met but “know” >>> from online), John Williams, who has the purplest purple Platypus, has >>> convinced us we should come to his turf in Traverse City and add on a ride >>> with him. So we are! Because I am free-spirited, which is a new thing I’m >>> doing! >>> >>> We’ll acquire some rust on this bike trip as the downpour has been >>> relentless the first 75 miles of our drive, and continuing. WE ARE >>> OPTIMISTIC that the rain will be done by the lunch hour, which is when we >>> meet our host for the Traverse City ride. >>> >>> Pam Murray sent a new thing I’m supposed to try. I’m still debating >>> discussing it here; it is borderline inappropriate but ALSO riotously funny >>> to me. She sent me a P Style, which you RivSisters can find for sale at >>> Riv’s website. The trial run was…I don’t know if I’m going to tell you. >>> >>> I’ll report back as the adventure unfurls. >>> Leah >>> >>> >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Aug 11, 2025, at 2:45 PM, Pam Bikes <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Leah, I'm so excited for you. Now you know why you camp. The route >>> looks great! >>> >>> >>> And yes, I love to help out any way I can. >>> >>> I can't wait to hear all about your adventure. >>> >>> I love paper maps. It would be nice to see a page. I like a street >>> atlas. Is it that detailed? If anyone has one, please post one picture. >>> >>> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote: >>> >>>> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in >>>> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside >>>> in terms of weight or bulk. >>>> >>>> Steven Sweedler >>>> Plymouth, New Hampshire >>>> >>>> >>>> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png] >>>>> >>>>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all >>>>> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. >>>>> My >>>>> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off >>>>> on >>>>> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. >>>>> Meanwhile, mine sat. >>>>> >>>>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing >>>>> our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower >>>>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in >>>>> Lake >>>>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of >>>>> the >>>>> Great Lakes, in as many days. >>>>> >>>>> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience >>>>> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our >>>>> former >>>>> trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same >>>>> problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking >>>>> for >>>>> points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my >>>>> actual >>>>> cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back >>>>> and >>>>> forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of >>>>> the >>>>> bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike >>>>> camper >>>>> - I can’t even plan my trip!!!!” >>>>> >>>>> The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never >>>>> turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the >>>>> missing >>>>> pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too >>>>> dumb >>>>> to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not >>>>> realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google >>>>> map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of >>>>> interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. >>>>> The >>>>> control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split >>>>> the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I >>>>> finally see why everyone loves the program. >>>>> >>>>> We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and >>>>> catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take >>>>> the ferry to Mackinac Island. My son has never been, so he’ll get to see >>>>> how quaint and lovely it is, plus we’ll ride the one and only car-free >>>>> highway in the United States, which circles the island. We’ve got camping >>>>> reservations at 2 campgrounds, so we’ll get to use our gear again. It >>>>> will >>>>> be a great send-off before I have to part with him at the start of the >>>>> fall >>>>> semester again. >>>>> >>>>> L >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe >>>>> . >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>> [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f1e1aca-028d-4261-b432-1efa7c85c3ean%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f1e1aca-028d-4261-b432-1efa7c85c3ean%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/C880B7A3-44BF-4B5C-9A6F-6846941AE993%40gmail.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/C880B7A3-44BF-4B5C-9A6F-6846941AE993%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe >>> . >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> [email protected]. >>> >>> To view this discussion visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7b87a84a-9a4d-4c0c-94fb-ae7c7e06e274n%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7b87a84a-9a4d-4c0c-94fb-ae7c7e06e274n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >>> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe >> . >> >> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >> [email protected]. >> To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a318b41d-2407-4356-91f4-8c7f862aeda1n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/a318b41d-2407-4356-91f4-8c7f862aeda1n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "RBW Owners Bunch" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/F11EF855-7444-46C2-82D1-9B1EFFF564F6%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/F11EF855-7444-46C2-82D1-9B1EFFF564F6%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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