Okemos to Dansville

The countdown of days to the MUP tour has dropped to less than 20. With Cindy's work schedule, we haven't had quite the training program we'd planned, but I think we'll be ready for 60 miles a day for a week. I think it will be more about keeping Abbey and Quinn entertained and happy than it will about the physical effort. Let just hope for good weather.

Yesterday, Sunday 29 June, we headed out of Okemos on our usual route to Mason, but for something new we road on down to Dansville. Dansville is southwest of Mason, and is the approximate location of Abbey's 3rd grade teachers house and farm. We found Dansville, but we didn't find Mr. Mowry. We'd been to Dansville once before (see it here) but on a ride from Chelsea, not from our house in Okemos.

We even found a Bison farm!

 

It was a wonderful day for a ride, even if the sky looked rainy. The big puffy clouds made for nice pictures late in the day.

 

 

 

Cindy's trip to Mackinac Island

This what you get to do when you work for the best running shoe store on earth. The owner of the company takes small groups to his cottage on Mackinac Island. Located between Michigan's peninsulas, it's the largest car-free city in the country (or something like that).

I won't go into details of the trip since I wasn't there, but it was a team-building and company history and company philosophy education sort of thing. It was pretty short, but nice. They left Wednesday morning, drove up and took the passenger ferry over, spent the night in the cottage, and came home the next day.

Car-free! We'll be going there on the first day of the MUP with our tandems.

So this is the ferry ride...


This is the Mackinaw Bridge that links the upper and lower penisulas of Michigan. How many ways can you spell "Ma-Ki-Na?"


Bikes everywhere...


Rental bikes on the island all have fenders because the roads are shared with horses. Hmmm, figure that one out...

Winkin', Blinkin', and Stinkin'

On June 22 we rode the Lansing River Trail to the Eckert Power Plant, where Winkin', Blinkin' and Nod (aka Stinkin') tower over Lansing. We've ridden there previously, but I don't think I've posted it. Let me know if I have, and I'll add a link!

Much of the Lansing River Trail is very nice, following the forested borders along the Red Cedar and Grand Rivers, and after their confluence, following the Grand River north through the city.

This year there has been quite a bit of tree damage from a windstorm we had a few weeks ago. Downed trees have closed parks and in some places blocked the River Trail. It's all clear now, though.

 

 

 

 

Lake Lansing North

On June 22nd we went to Lake Lansing North Park for a fund-raising event to help raise money to purchase some private land that's adjacent to this park. The trails extend throughout park and the private land, and have for many years, but the private portion is now planned for sale for development. There's been a big community effort raise enough money to make it possible for the private land to purchased and added to the park property.

The kids ran in a half-mile run, which I think was more like 600 meters. Cindy did the 5k.

 

Look closely and you can find Q&A...

 

Abbey coming up the final stretch...

 

And Quinn, followed closely by his friend McKenna (and her mom on the left)...

 

Cindy finishing the race with her best time this year, which is pretty good considering that it was a really challenging off-trail course, and that she hasn't run any other timed events this year...


Lunch was delicious...

Happy Father's Day

Violators will be toad.

We're still here - just so busy trying to keep up with life that we haven't found much time for blogging around. We had a great Father's Day ride today and we even took some pictures! Look for the toad...