Jacob Friend
There were isolated thunderstorms throughout the night and into the morning. This made it especially comforting to be inside with gracious hosts away from the weather. Even better, in the morning we woke up to the sound of our host Julia cooking egg McMuffins in the kitchen. Starting the day just got a whole lot easier. We mapped out our travels over breakfast sandwiches, rhubarb pie, and coffee. After wishing our hosts a farewell (thank you for everything Julia and Marko!), we headed into the rain and towards a long-awaited break day in Kalkaska.
Michael previews the ride out of Petoskey, MI
The morning rain was the strongest we’ve biked through in weeks. Our goal was to make it to a bike path quickly where we could find some reprieve from traffic and natural protection from rain. A section of the bike path was washed out, but after taking a 2 mile detour, we found our way back on the path and the skies began clearing up.
Friend and Usher hit a closed section of the Petoskey greenway
A couple hours on the bike path led us to Charlevoix, another beautiful, ritzy, lakefront town. I have thoroughly enjoyed biking through some of the nicer neighborhoods around Lake Michigan, daydreaming about living in one of the mansions. However, we sometimes don’t feel the most welcome in these places. Some neighborhoods are packed with Mosquito alarms. These are high pitched noise-emitting devices to prevent loitering outside of one’s house. Interestingly, the pitch is typically set to a frequency only audible to people 25 years old or younger, which makes it difficult for us to enjoy some of the sights to the full extent. I understand people appreciate privacy, but we’re not the biggest fans of these alarms.
*pic of cool house (from mackinaw)*
One of many ritzy waterfront houses along Lake Michigan
We got off the bike path after Charlevoix and took rural roads all the way to Eastport. The riding was flat, pretty, and quiet. In Eastport we stopped at a well-stocked grocery store with indoor seating. While shopping, in typical Usher fashion, he made friends with three strangers as they asked about the trip and he responded enthusiastically. After his encounters, he arrived at the lunch table and presented us with a hand drawn map gifted to him by one of the locals. His new friend had suggested we go along the east side of Torch Lake, instead of the west, to avoid busy roads and shave off some miles on the way to Kalkaska. The random act of kindness was very appreciated and we adopted the alternate route.
Usher’s map to Kalkaska
Biking along Torch Lake delivered us shaded roads and great views of its turquoise waters. As we were getting further into the afternoon, the break day in Kalkaska felt within reach and our excitement grew. After traversing a few gravel sections, we arrived to our Airbnb where my dad and his best friend, Chad, greeted us with smiles and hugs.
It’s been 6.5 weeks since I’ve last been with family, so enjoying this break day with my dad is very special. We celebrated our first night in Kalkaska with a mega grocery run, laugh-filled family dinner, and a thrilling movie about a fur trapper. Looking forward to sleeping in!
Brian chefs up enchiladas for a break day eve dinner
Two Friends, three sons, and one father