Day 52- Cleveland to Fairview (to Erie)- 96 miles

After waiting out a mean rainstorm in Cleveland Heights, with two breakfasts and lovely conversation with our gracious hosts, Edie and Marty, we were on our way at 11:15. We had hemmed and hawed, considering taking the day off, doing fifty miles, or trucking all the way to Jamie's grandma's  house in Fairview, Pennsylvania. The latter didn't seem very likely, as it was already late, and Fairview was "84" miles away. Well, obviously, we went for it. It was epic, and it was more than 84 miles. Along the lake we rode, the terrain fairly flat and enjoyable. 

Rode through the charming establishment of Geneva-On-The-Lake, a 1950's-style tourist destination. 

Stopped at a farmer's market stand for peaches and plums. Stopped at Subway and wolfed down sandwiches, trying to beat sunset. Sunset came, and we were movin'. At the top of an exhausting hill, Jamie's brother, Brian, was pulled over with Gatorade for our burning legs. Six more miles, and dusk was turning into darkness, but with our lights flashing and legs trucking, we pulled into Fairview in record time. 

After chicken stir fry, rice, rolls, peach pie, and a Bud Light (thanks Grandma!), we threw our panniers into Jamie's mom (Debbie)'s car, and rolled out to her house in the Erie area. 

Ah, PA. Ah, sleep. 

Expenses:

$7

Day 51- Avery to Cleveland- 63 miles

We are in Cleveland. This place is RITZY. 

Today's ride was good. We are all looking forward to 4 days in Erie, PA, where Jamie's family lives. So we were all a little tired. 

We are in a home in Cleveland heights. I have never seen a house so neatly packed with color and character. 

Expenses:

$8

Day 50- Bowling Green to Avery- 69 miles

Delicious breakfast.

 Homemade donuts at a small town bakery with Jamie and Jeremy's friend. A nice, flat ride with a tailwind. It was a good day.

Expenses:

$6 food

Day 49(?)- Paulding to Bowling Green- 66 miles

I'm way behind on this whole blogging thing. Don't judge. 

Today was weird. Got a bit of a late start. Had some headwinds. 

We went to an ice cream shop (oh, excuse me, it was an Olde Fashioned Ice Cream Shoppe), where a nice lady gingerly balanced a few tablespoons of ice cream atop a plain old cake cone and charged us $2.25 for it. 

^this is after exactly 2 licks 

Plans to meet a friend of Jamie and Jeremy fell through, after we booked it to Bowling Green.

But our very hospitable hosts got us pizza, tomato bread, and stuffed breadsticks for dinner. 

I'm really tired. 

$8 groceries

$2.25 ice cream

Day 45- Grand Rapids to Deep Lake Unit- 40 miles

$5 camping

$14 food

Day 44- Wales to Grand Rapids- 70 miles

I am so done with Wisconsin bike paths. They're great, but WHERE ARE THEY? AND WHERE THE HECK AM I?

Fortunately, a guardian angel on a recumbent met me at a crossroads (as I stared in disbelief at an unlabeled map trying to figure out where I was) and rode with me 10 miles to the ferry terminal. He even got a flat tire a few hundred yards before we got there, the dear heart. 

Thanks, Chuck! 

I was at the terminal at 10:30- plenty of time to spare. Checked in at 11, my bike was cleared, and rolled through the terminal in all its dirty glory. I was loaded up by 12:10, and we were off by 12:30. 

It was pretty cool, but I had been waiting for the ferry to eat lunch, and that was a mistake. A greasy hamburger from a package served on a white roll with a slice of American cheese dripping down the sides was going to cost me $9. I was starving, though, so I paid a ridiculous amount for a banana, a cup of yogurt, peanut M&M'S, and a chocolate milk. At least it didn't make me puke. I'm used to Washington ferries, where there are nice refrigerator cases full of snacks, and soups and salads and awesome sandwiches... Also, there was no wifi. I could swear I read somewhere there was going to be wifi. 

On the other side of the lake, in Muskegon, I checked in with my mom, who had said we had connections there. But Jamie and Jeremy, my old riding buddies, texted me and said they were in Grand Rapids, with dinner and a place to sleep. I double-checked my map to find I was only 40 miles away. It was 4:30, and I was hungry. But I decided to go for it. I raced through Muskegon, hoping to a. find the bike path that went from Muskegon to Marne (near Grand Rapids) and b. find something to eat. Well, I soon learned that when you are in Muskegon, you do not stop. For anything. Finally I got to a patch of grass not on the edge of the 'hood (okay, it wasn't that bad),  ripped open a package of fruit snacks with hungry-shaking hands, and shoved them all into my mouth. I followed this up by eating some peanut butter with my finger. Don't judge, cars. 

Then Google maps said there was a grocery store three miles away, so I kept on trucking, ran inside, grabbed a yogurt, bananas, and Raisin Bran, checked out (the checker was definitely checking me out, if you know what I mean), and scarfed down in the parking lot. 

I was in beast mode for those last 30 miles. I was a little worried about it getting dark, and so far, Google maps hadn't done a great job of taking me through neighborhoods I'd want to live in. So I was Wild Woman, Racer of Daylight. I actually growled a few times, to get my adrenaline pumped up. 

I arrived just as dusk began, was fed dinner, enjoyed s'mores around the fire, and ESPECIALLY WAS REUNITED WITH MY PRECIOUS CHUMS; JAMIE AND JEREMY. 

Yay.

Expenses:

Trail pass $4

Food $12

Day 43- Blue Mounds State Park to Wales- 90 miles

Man, today was hard. The last 20 miles were rough. All my ride today was on the bike trail, which was pretty cool. 

Arrived at my host's by 6:20, showered, was fed Farmer's Market Stew and ice cream, and had an awesome time chatting with Mary Jo, and Pat, who plays the tuba and invented and patented a tuba stand. It's awesome! We got along just fine. 

Saw these crazy big heron-like birds with red bands on their beaks. 

Ahh, my bedroom. 

Expenses:

$4 trail pass

$13 food