June 17, 2024
Rainier Rain Stories Than Yesterday's
Houghton
Just outside of the state park campground there was a convenience store. I stopped there to buy a snack. At the same time, a pick-up truck arrived. The woman who got out of the passenger side came up to me and asked, "where are you headed?"
"To Houghton," I replied.
"Oh, that's not too far," she said.
"Yeah, I just hope I can get there before the rain."
She looked at my bike and added, "old school too."
I thought she was referring to my old, worn out handlebar bag or something. "Old school?" I questioned.
"Yeah, no motor."
"Has it come to this," I wondered, "a world where pedal bikes are 'old school?'"
She continued, "You should be able to make it before the rain. I rode there a couple weeks ago and it only took a little over two hours. But I have an e-bike. It has a motor . . . but you still have to pedal!"
"Yes . . . yes, I'm familiar with them," I replied.
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From the convenience store, I started riding at a higher rate of speed than I normally do while on tour. My instincts, which I trust more than weathermen, told me rain was imminent. My instincts were informed by the dark clouds in the southern sky combined with some wind blowing from the south. I believed if I really put my feet to the pedals, I could stay ahead of the rain.
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Along with the mountains and view-blockers, I noticed more small lakes and swampy bogs today. There were a lot of frog sounds too. It was quite pleasant. I just wished the sun would come out.
There was another thing I noticed too. Besides being gun enthusiasts, Upper Michigan drivers are some of the worst I've seen in regard to giving a bike rider a little space. I'd estimate that less than 50% of them veered even an inch to the left, much less move into the other lane. In the midwestern driver courtesy hierarchy, Iowans, Wisconsinites, and Minnesotans have a much better average than that.
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I took the last two pictures at the Finnish named town of Toivola. I called The Feeshko from there because it was the first place I could find cell phone reception since I started riding. I thought T-Mobile covered everywhere, but apparently not much of the rural part of the U.P.
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I hate to make a big thing of the rain. It's just one of those things we have to deal with, but I will say it seems to give me extra energy to pedal harder.
About halfway to Houghton, I got some EXTRA-extra energy when I heard thunder behind me. I pedaled harder. I was glad that I had a hotel to go to in downtown Houghton. Yup, I made another reservation.
Suddenly, the thunder caught up to me and it started to rain harder. Then I saw lightning streak across the sky. Oh boy, that gave me SUPER-EXTRA-extra energy to pedal at speeds I thought I could only attain when I was in my 30s. Thank goodness I was on a downslope into the town of South Range, where I spotted a park with a picnic shelter.
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I knew the rain wasn't going to let up for another four hours, but I hadn't seen any lightning for a while, so I put on my waterproof gloves and continued my ride to Houghton. It was fun. Even the last couple of miles where I had to squeeze my brakes down the very steep hill down to Houghton was fun. Then I discovered the steep hills were even steeper in the downtown area.
I was soaking wet when I checked into the Comfort Inn, so I was thankful they let me into a room at 1:00 p.m. I must have looked so pathetic to the front desk clerk that she assigned me to a room with this pleasant view.
Today's ride: 25 miles (40 km)
Total: 210 miles (338 km)
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