day 2
[this entry is dated by when it was written, not when it was
posted]
I've done a little over 90 miles today so far and
the best description I can give to those miles is "uncomfortable." My
back is sore, the left side of my neck is sore, certain male
body-parts that weren't well accounted for when the seat on my bike
was designed are sore, and my left knee (and only my left one)
keeps stiffening up.
I woke up at 9:45 this morning and started the day off
with an IHOP breakfast: a 3-egg steak omelette and 3 pancakes. Well, I
ate at 11am so I'm counting it as brunch.
For some reason, I expect that as soon as I leave Ann
Arbor people will be more friendly. This may not be true in general, but
this morning as I was waiting to be seated as a single, I met another guy
trying to grab some breakfast before church. We decided to sit together
as a twosome, this African-American 36 year-old Benton Harbor police
officer and I, and we talked about movies, actors, the definition of
"Art," and music. Jerrell was indeed a very friendly fellow.
After I checked out and left the motel, a woman in a car
started questioning me about my bike, my bags, and my trip while we were
stopped at an intersection. It turns out she has a similar bike and was
interested in my preparations for my journey. Maybe it's like Honda used
to say: "You meet the nicest people on a Honda." Except I ride a
Kawasaki.
It's surprisingly difficult to navigate on these country
roads. North, south, east, and west is easy to figure out, but unless you
memorize a specific route, it's hard to tell how far north, south,
east, or west to ride before changing direction. I've had to turn around
twice already. But the air smells sweet out here! So much farming and
there must be a lot of some indigenous plant that's flowering.
One of my favorite phenomena is riding into and out of
cloud-shadows that are moving in the same direction that I am. I may be
doing 55 mph and the shadow is moving at 45 mph, so I can watch the shadow
race down the as I slowly enter or exit it's sheltering area. Quite
whimsical, really.
A bee got stuck in my helmet. It was scary. I don't
know how it got in there, but I didn't want to be stung in the face
at 60 mph, so I immediately pulled over on the gravel shoulder and
gently opened my visor so as to not agitate a bee that might
already be angry. Thankfully it just flew away. That's one of those
dangers they don't teach you about in the safety course.
I'd like to find a gas station and a bathroom right
now.
* * *
It's been another 115 miles today and I've finally made
it to the Kuhls' home in Grand Rapids. And what a welcome it is [the
Kuhls have become a close family to me since I roomed with Nick Kuhl in
college and stood in his wedding]. I rode up Lake Michigan after
leaving Benton Harbor and then turned inland to explore Yankee Springs
recreation area. Some nice roads, nice water, lots of motorcycles and
vacationers. I decided to head to Muskegon and check out a
horse-racing facility. It was deserted. I could ride the bike into
one of the spectator areas and could've walked onto the sandy track if
I had so desired. They were grooming it, though, and I thought it'd
be rude to muss it up.
I'm tired and sore and ready for food and rest. And the
Kuhls are the most welcoming family I know. They show Christ's love in
their hospitality - especially in their food. I didn't expect that I'd be
staying here tonight, but this beats a motel and fast-food hands down.
After I ate and phoned [my girlfriend], I played Rummikub with Nick's
little sister, got ready for bed, and then she and I just hung out and
talked while we waited for Dr. and Mrs. Kuhl to return from helping a
neightbor. I don't think I could imagine a warmer and more appropriate
end to the day. Especially considering that getting here required
navigating numerous urban detours, road closures, and a couple of turns
onto dead ends. But all's well that ends well, and all is well right now.
odometer (guestbook)
cloud watching