Michigan Tour of the UP-day three

Sunday 9/8-44 miles

We were eating breakfast by 7:00 and had everything at the truck by 8:00.  I forgot to mention that on this tour they carry everything but you and your bike so we headed out with just a pannier for our personal stuff.

The first leg was short, a couple miles.  We were going to cross the Mackinaw Bridge, but in a truck since you cannot ride a bike across the Big Mac.  By 10:00AM we were riding on the UP.  The ride to our next camping site was fairly flat but the ride was chilly, about 60.  A little over forty miles later we pulled into Trout Lake Campground and picked our site.

It was a great site.  Thick grass.  Trees giving us some protection from any wind or rain.  A picnic table right next to us.  Just one problem.  We did not realize the bathhouse was at the other end of the campground.  It was a ten minute hike to get there.  Checking bathhouse location first was added to my pre-tent setup list.  After biking to get a shower I was talking with some locals.  They set me straight on the UP.

First of all it is the Yoo-Pee.  Not “up”.  The people here refer to themselves as yoopers.  They are also considered the northern equivalence of the redneck, so I fit right in.  I found them to be really nice folks.  They are also a hardy bred that thought the 60d high was warm.  Of course their summer shirts were wool plaid.  It’s the only place I have ever seen someone wear shorts and a parka.  They say they shovel snow in the winter and swat mosquitoes in the summer.  In the spring and fall they rest up from shoveling and swatting.  We spent a lot of time swatting.

Bear Butt or Bear butf? and what the heck is it?

Taking a break along the way

Chimney Rock in the UP

Max ready to roll.

Lake Superior

Camp.  We are way at the end.