Today's ride was relatively long and hilly, and definitely hot. However, I had great roads, which made for a nice ride. I also had a quartering tailwind for most of the way, which made it even better. I didn't realize how much the wind was helping until I left Roscommon and had a headwind for the last 5 miles. (If I'd had that headwind all day with the hills and the heat, I may have had to call Jeanna for a bailout.)
Shortly after leaving Gladwin, the farms disappeared, and I was riding through the Michigan woods which limited my views of the countryside (but provided much appreciated shade) so there aren't a lot of photos.
When I first got on this road just outside Gladwin, I thought it was a relatively rare stretch of smooth Michigan road, but to my pleasant surprise, I had roads like this all day long.
I did have a mile of unpaved road today. I knew about when I planned the route but could not find a way to avoid it. As fate would have it, I got 3 of the best photos of the day on this stretch.
I picked up M-18 about 13 miles into the ride and stayed on it clear to Roscommon. Although somewhat busy, it had a decent shoulder the entire distance, which made for comfortable riding.
Another Michigan courthouse that doesn't look much like a courthouse. If fact, I had to stop at the adjacent sheriff's office to verify that it was the courthouse.
