Rolling along through Michigan

Michigan has the country's most extensive network of bike trails, the proud Michigan contingent of our group has informed us.  We rode another 40 miles of trail today, as we covered a total of 58 miles between Rockford and Alma.  Traveling by bike trail is a bit like driving the interstate highways, as you have to venture off the trail to see the towns.  Consequently, my impression of central Michigan is that there are not very many people here.

We do meet interesting people on the trail.  Yesterday I rode for a while with a man from just outside Madison, WI, who started a cross country ride in Oregon and plans to end in Bar Harbor, Maine.  Today I met a jolly group from the Chicago area who are spending a couple of weeks riding Michigan's roads and trails.  

A great example of paved bike trail and unpacked roads.  A grocery store magnate named Fred Meijer is responsible for many paved miles of trails.

Part of an abandoned factory

Small town garden scene.  I love hollyhocks.

Treat for the day, an excellent molasses cookie.  With temperatures barely in the 70's, it was a bit cool for ice cream.  If you can find the Facebook page for Cops and Doughnuts, the name of the bakery, see if we are on it.  My brother would have loved this place, both the name and the size of the cookies.