Previously, I wrote in Planning the Route Home – Part 1 about going from New Jersey to Niagara Falls. This post is about the route through Ontario and back into Michigan.
This will be an interesting segment of the journey. Unfortunately, the party will be splitting. My support vehicle and fellow riders aren’t going to be crossing into Canada. They will be following the Lake Erie shore line to Cleveland, and then drive a lot of territory until they get North of Detroit. I haven’t planned that route for them yet, but they will be using the Lake Erie Loop details that I found on YouTube posted by CJ Hoyle. They have 3 days to meet me in Algonac, Michigan.
My route is what you see above. I’ll give more details when I get there, but this is the summary:
1) Summit Haven Bed & Breakfast is an old church. It was started by a group including my great-great-great grandfather. The building is directly across Power Line Road from the 100 acres that was settled starting in 1802. My great-great grandfather was born on this farm.
2) You can’t ride your bike across either the Ambassador Bridge (Windsor to Detroit) or the Blue Water Bridge (Sarnia to Port Huron). But I did find a ferry that will take a bike across the St. Claire River from Walpole Island to Algonac.
3) My cousin doesn’t know we are coming — yet! But we are planning on staying the night at his place.
4) On the way to Otter Lake, we will be stopping by my great-great grandfather’s farm. He moved from Ontario in 1870 with 3 of his 4 kids. The youngest was born in Michigan.
5) The last stop is my summer place in mid-Michigan.
As I write this, my traveling companions have arrived at my place in Michigan. We’ve got 2 days to get organized and load up the vehicle with everything we need. We’re getting so close to kicking this journey off, I can’t believe it! It’s been a lot of planning, training, and anticipating, so let’s do this!!!
At least this leg has a hotel, a cabin and a bed & breakfast. I was wondering what was the deal with all of campgrounds! Isn’t the bike riding punishing enough?
Ha! One month of riding/camping. One month to recover. 😁
Dennis, when you are on the Walpole Ferry please wave to Russell Island. It will be the land that separates the North and South Channel of the St Clair River. Many good memories there for me. Great Job!!!!