Jacob Friend
It’s been two weeks since we biked over 90 miles in a day. We hoped to end that streak today as we set our sights for Rapid River, a 93 mile journey from our campsite in Crystal Falls. The longer days on the road can be strenuous, but they often produce long-lasting memories, so I was looking forward to the challenge.
To start the morning, the highway did not hesitate to throw obstacles our way. The skinny shoulder forced us to become close neighbors with logging trucks passing us by. In addition to the bustling truck traffic, the rumble strips made sure to keep us in check. Michigan’s rumble strips are particularly effective at rattling every bone in my body due to their unique sinusoidal pattern. The harsh vibration delivered through my wheels up to my helmet was the perfect caffeine replacement I needed to kickstart the day. We kept a tight line, and after some quality time with the logging trucks, we passed LP Building Solutions. Here, the trucks would unload their lumber and head westbound back to the forests. As a result, the highway became quieter and our minds more eased. Good riddance.
Loggin Trucks along the UP’s HW 2
Most of today’s ride was completely surrounded by trees with little indication of any nearby Great Lakes. The persistent humidity, scorching hot roads, and lack of water really made me question why the Upper Peninsula was so hyped as a vacation destination. Little did I know today’s route went through the only two landlocked counties in the UP, Iron and Dickinson counties. To add to my dismay, a swarm of black flies decided to join our ride. It felt like a punishment for having negative thoughts about the UP. We’ve had daily encounters with black flies for almost a week now. This one was by far the worst. While Usher was pulling the line, there were nearly 20 flies circling him at one point. Usher displayed a masterclass of maintaining his composure amidst the chaos. I cannot say the same for myself. Any buzzing in my ears alone is enough to send me into a frenzy. Today the bugs got the best of me and it took me until lunch to collect my sanity again. I’m sure the flies will be back tomorrow, maybe I can practice my patience then.
The UP flies keep stay in Friend’s slipstream to prevent a breakaway
The challenges of the road kept us motivated to pedal hard and stay focused. By the time we made it to lunch we had already biked 58 miles thanks to extra assistance from a terrific tailwind. We quickly devoured lunch at the Perronville Pub and set out for Escanaba to beat an incoming storm front. Along the way we entered the Eastern time zone, a huge milestone as we get closer to the Atlantic, and the last adjustment for my Casio watch.
In honor of being in the home state of Billy Strings, and in anticipation of our arrival in Escanaba, we jammed out to bluegrass tunes. The rich melodies from the wood string instruments of the folky jams blended beautifully with the rural ambience of the UP. As the rhythm continued, we felt the air become cooler and we sensed Lake Michigan drawing closer. Once in Escanaba, we stopped to take in views of the picturesque lake. However, we kept our Escanaba visit short once we learned that our hosts for the night lived ~15 miles outside River Rapid. One final challenge to cap off a mega day.
Escanaba, MI, Easter Standard Time, and the crew’s first look at Lake Michigan
With the heat persisting into the evening and the previous 90 miles weighing on our bodies, we plugged in our earbuds and locked in to crank out the final 15. Our journey took us along Little Bay de Noc and through Hiawatha National Forest. Finally, after 104 miles of riding, our trip’s single-day distance record, we arrived at the beautiful lakefront house of Steve and Mary. We were super fortunate to be connected to them through our NC friend (Sean Harris 😍) and it made the extra miles of riding well worth it.
We were treated to drinks, plenty of vegetables, delicious burgers, a sunset over the lake, and wonderful company. After waking up in a pedal [sic] of sweat for the past three days, a home cooked meal and comfy bed has never been better. We’ve been so fortunate to have so many great hosts throughout the trip, and Steve and Mary continued this line of kindness and hospitality. 🌻
Unwinding from a long day with a swim in Lake Michigan, cold drinks with Steve, and a UP sunset