New Route New Maps

Adventure Cycling Association, in Missoula, Montana is the place to go for maps. Because of our route changes for 2012, I ordered a three map set called North Lakes. These new maps will direct me through parts of Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. They include services, emergency numbers, campgrounds, hostels, motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, law enforcement offices and phone numbers, libraries, local information, road conditions, weather, average temperatures, bike shops, post offices, mile by mile directions, topographical information, tourist hot spots, and more. The only thing I could not find were the locations of dogs that chase bikes! The directions are even provided for travel both ways: east to west and west to east.

The route we will take from Maine to Ohio and Indiana will be much the same as the last ride. In Monroeville, Indiana, I will pedal on a new route toward and through Michigan. Heading north, Margaret and I will go between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, through Saranac, Traverse City, Petoskey, and into Mackinaw City where we will cross the Mackinac Bridge into the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). There we will ride west on Route 2 out of St. Ignace and across the U.P.

Another option for the State of Michigan is to pedal to Ludington where we could take the S. S. Badger and ferry our way to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. That would eliminate a hefty number of miles and would make the trip a little easier but I really am looking forward to riding the Upper Peninsula. Margaret and I have taken the Badger before, even spent a night on the ship in what seemed like a solitary confinement cell. Sure, we would like to do that again but I really want to go the U.P. route. I especially like the ride from Petoskey to Mackinaw City along Lake Michigan. According to the Adventure Cycling maps, the temperatures in April and May range from 40 to 60 degrees: perfect pedaling temperatures. I'm going for it.

More people have expressed interest in riding part of the cross-country ride with me on the next ride. Maybe someone will take the challenge to ride Michigan. In the future I will post a list of who is planning to ride what part of America. By the time this is finished, perhaps I'll have riders for the entire ride.

Maps are great. We'll even have a GPS or two. I would not want to make the trip without maps and directions. That would be crazy! A lot of people try to live their lives without maps and directions. That's okay if you don't know or don't care where you're going. One of my favorite quotes is, "If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there!" Personally, I want the best route possible from the Atlantic to the Pacific and I want directions from those who have gone before me. That's why I use my Adventure Cycling resources and state road maps. That's also why I use my Bible.

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." God's Word is a lamp and a light. It's a lamp so I can see what's close and a light so I can see what's before me in the distance.

When I'm pedaling in the dark, which I don't often do, I want to know what kind of surface my tires and wheels are rolling on and I want to know what's in the road or trail ahead. It makes my ride safer, that's a fact. Last thing I want to do is finish a day with a crash. That's not good. Road rash hurts and and can be very uncomfortable for days ahead.

Same thing with life . . . I don't want to finish a ride with a crash. I want to know what's at my feet and I want to know what's on the roadway ahead. God's Word provides all the light necessary, even when the day is foggy or the night is darker than ever.

Of course, we don't pedal alone. We don't crash alone. And . . if we ride and live with lamps and lights, we won't finish alone either!