The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Lake Michigan Ramble

September 6th to September 20th

Ride Director: Dorothy Stock
Ride Co-Director: Alexandra Wagner
Ride Driver: Ann Barten
Report by: Alexis Armao

Michigan is my home state so this trip report may be a bit biased; however, my husband, from Pennsylvania, claimed this was our best bike trip ever (our 14th). Northern Michigan is fresh, beautiful, and almost traffic-less. The small towns exude charm and the lakes are so clear you can see the bottom at unimagined depths. Cherry orchards abound as well as apple groves and vineyards. We indulged in all sorts of cherry treats – pies, cookies, ice cream, dried cherries in salads and other dishes. Most important, we had terrific tour leaders and a very cohesive group of riders.

We parked our cars in Mackinaw City and were bused with our luggage and bikes to begin biking in Ludington. After a decadent breakfast, we chose to ride 33 miles to Pentwater or 66 miles to the Little Sable Point lighthouse. On Day 2, our 44-mile ride to Portage Point passed through Manistee, with its Ramsdell Theater, and Onekama (“1,”), where we viewed the channel that converted a drowned rivermouth lake into a waterway into Lake Michigan. We lodged at the Portage Point Inn, a 1902 resort hotel at the tip of the bay.

On Day 3 we rode to Frankfort, passing through Arcadia Lake and Elberta, where some of us enjoyed a delightful lunch overlooking the river from the Cabbage Shed patio. There were three riding options – a 30-mile direct ride to Frankfort, a 9.4-mile detour to the Gwen Frostic Studio, and an additional 5-mile ride to the Point Betsie Lighthouse. Day 4 was 46 miles to Glen Arbor. Nine plus miles were on the Betsie Valley Trail along beautiful Crystal Lake that ended near the Cherry Hut, offering delicious cherry pie and cookie treats. Most of us stopped on the way to Empire to see the salmon congregating at the fish weir then rode past (with the opportunity to climb) the incredible Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. In Glen Arbor, we sampled cherry products at Cherry Republic.

Day 5 took us through Glen Lake narrows, with a fantastic view at Inspiration Point, and around Big Glen Lake. Our 30-mile ride ended at the historic fishing village of Leland, an old Ottawa village where mail boats depart for the Manitou Islands. From Leland we rode to Traverse City on Day 6 following various routes – some venturing to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Northport, and Suttons Bay and others shortcutting to ride along the shores of Lake Leelanau. Almost all of us stopped at Pat’s for delicious cherry pie and local ice cream before arriving for a 2-day stay on the shore of Traverse City’s West Bay. The next day was an optional rest day or a 43-mile ride to the lighthouse on Old Mission Peninsula. Day 8 was a 51-mile day to Shanty Creek golf and ski resort. We passed through Elk Rapids and along the southern portion of Torch Lake to Alden and then Bellaire. The 1.7-mile climb to Shanty Creek was long and tedious, BUT we did it!

On Day 9, we rode 37 miles to beautiful Charlevoix where we toured Earl Young’s historic and whimsical boulder houses. Day 10 offered options – a relaxing, partial NW State Trail path to Petoskey (19 mi), an extension to Alanson (37 mi), or a 46-mile challenge “the Wall,” an 18% grade and passing Boyne City and Walloon Lake.  On Day 11, we rode 52 miles to Mackinaw City and took the Star Ferry to car-free Mackinaw Island. We enjoyed an inner island tour and a yummy final meal at the Jockey Club, part of the magnificent Grand Hotel, proceeded by a stroll on the impressive hotel porch and a drink in the cupola.