The campground really quieted down last night and everyone slept GREAT!!!

. . . I woke up about 5:30am to make a nature call and when I looked out my tent I thought the mothership had landed . . .

Rod and Hugh were up and getting breakfast and lunch laid out . . . BRIGHT LIGHTS!!!!

. . . lots of goo fixin’s . . .

. . . with a ‘special’ delivery by Doc Mike . . .

. . . Cops Doughnuts . . .

. . . to big for one person to each . . .

. . . we cut them into thirds or halves!!!!

Soon we were out of camp and on the Pere Marquette Trail we would ride for the first 25 miles today . . .I hate trail riding, BORING. . . but at least this one was paved and had a little town about every 10 miles

. . . didn’t stop pedaling for 25 miles!!!!

. . . but nice facilities

. . . someone had even left some goodies . . . but I think I’ll pass!

The town of Coleman had a layout along the trail for 5.8 miles of the planets in our solar system, similar to the trail in Madison.  Here was the sun.

The planets are spaced in relationship to how they are spaced in the comsos and in relation to size.The ‘sun’ pictured above is 63 inches in diameter. Pluto, which I’m not sure is considered a planet anymore, is about 1/2 inch in diameter.

. . . here was the Saturn monument along the trail . . .

. . . the final stop with Pluto in the back ground . . .

. . . must be lonely that far out into space!!!

. . .

Stopped at the Averill Preserve which is a monument to one of the largest banking grounds in the world . . .

. . . during the great logging boom they would ‘bank’ the cut timber here until the spring when it would be floated down river . . .  how would you like to be one of the kids growing up in that town!!!

. . . it was a mess until things started floating!!!!

Along the way I met Joanie. Originally from Detroit, she now lives in Midland and handles the reservations and back systems for a local resort. She can do most of her work from home which allows her to skate almost everyday. She usually does tens miles. She can REALLY move!!!!

Along the way 5 miles of the trail had recently been asphalted and it stunk to high heaven, just like the road yesterday!!!

Along the trail was an access point to the home of Herbert H. Dow, the originator of Dow Chemical . . .

. . . nice layout but everything was closed . . .

. . . except for the smithy shop where the local boy scouts were learning how to work an anvil and make horseshoes . . . nice!!!!

. . . as we neared Midland here was a nicely restored bridge. Cost $7,500 when it was new!!!

The last 12 miles to the State Campground were on Wheeler Rd. Mark had read on several journals, months ago, to avoid this road al all costs . . .so of course we rode it.

. . . terrible surface, cracks every 10 feet, like rumble strips, no shoulder, high traffic . . . all the makings for a disaster. Couldn’t wait to get off it. I think this is the worst stretch of road we have been on the whole trip!!!.

. . .YIPPEE . . .soon the Party Store appeared and it is right near the campground . . .

. . . which is VERY nice. Good grass, no pay showers and multiple bathrooms . . . all the creature comforts old people need. Wade and Doc Mike are cooking tonight. We’ll see what they come up with!!!