DAY 6 - ROTHBURY, MI TO HOLLAND, MI

Mileage: 68.2 - Total Mileage: 348.6

Margarita Count - 12

Today was a long day on the bike, but also completes my first week of the trip with 348 miles. That may not seem like much to serious riders, but when you are lugging 40 extra pounds of gear on your bike it makes it a little more of a challenge. 

I felt good on the bike and didn't have any serious problems with the extra weight or rolling hills we had today. However, my backside has gone from a little tender, to sore, to fully tenderized in the last 3 days. It's a good thing that tomorrow is a rest day and it can get a break from the saddle. This is nothing unexpected but is definitely not a fun part of the trip! 

We woke up to another cold morning - it was 55. It was cold enough there was fog coming off the lake this morning. We made quick work of packing up since we knew we had over 60 miles today and wanted to get on the road a little earlier. We said goodbye to Dave and Elie, and our great support van. I think it took at least 10 miles for me to get feeling in all my fingers and toes. I'm going to have to find a pair of gloves on my rest day tomorrow. I'm sure there will be more cold mornings to come. 

We had more bike paths to start the day, and then another bike path around Lake Muskegon. It was a good way to start the day. We planned to stop for second breakfast in Muskegon, which was about 30 miles into the ride. About 10 miles before that we went by a church having a blueberry festival complete with blueberry pancakes. We stopped but the line was really long and we decided we didn't want to wait that long. I'm sure they would have been good! So into Muskegon we went. 

We've been following US Bicycle Route 35 much of the trip so far. They've done a great job of signing the route. 

I needed some extra breaks today to keep my backside as happy as possible. Rhonda and Jon went on to camp a little ahead of me as I tried to stop every 8 - 10 miles. It definitely helped some and I made it into camp a little after 4pm. 

It's not everyday you see a bunch of turkeys in someone's front yard!

Michigan State Parks have a policy that they will find a spot for hikers or bikers that arrive, even if they are full. We are staying at the Holland State Park and used the "no refusal policy" today. We have a nice little wooded area between two campsites and have settled in. 

We walked to a little restaurant at the park entrance for dinner. That was the best burger and tater tots I've ever had! Okay - probably not. But food and drinks just always seem to taste better after a day of riding. One of the joys of a trip like this!