Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Josh C]

Leah, 

That's awesome. I completed my first overnight trip this summer. It was 
disrespectfully hot and humid, but fun. I bought the same bag liner that 
you mentioned in your packing list, which was still too hot to sleep in, 
but it seems nice. I'm planning a couple more S24Os before the end of next 
month, and then I'm going to solo tour the Ohio to Erie Trail. I'll report 
back. It'd be too hot around here to enjoy a long trip during the summer. 
End of summer/fall is great. 

Josh, who's currently too hot just typing this, in Indy. 

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW 
Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/00389e82-0a20-4732-85af-f9dd72f267b6n%40googlegroups.com.

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Ryan]

So your son must start on Monday maybe? My MA program at University of 
Winnipeg starts Sept 2

But back on topic...fall is a great time for a trip ...less traffic, 
bugsand beautiful fall colors!I would definitely sneak out if I were 
you :)

On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 4:30:52 PM UTC-5 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
wrote:

> This is our last weekend with him, Jay. I gotta deliver him next Saturday, 
> so I don’t think we’ll be able to do another in time! But, maybe there’s a 
> fall trip we could sneak off to…
>
> On Aug 16, 2025, at 3:38 PM, Jay  wrote:
>
> I think the US starts college earlier than Canada though I could be 
> wrong, for college, but Leah, I say squeeze in another short trip with your 
> son; you're on a "role" 
>
>
>
> On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 8:57:16 AM UTC-4 Dorothy C wrote:
>
>> I downloaded and zoomed in on this last photo, so good. 
>>
>> Tracy, your shirt is fantastic. I am in SoCal and I often point out to my 
>> colleagues who are getting into stifling cars at the end of a summer 
>> workday, when they are concerned about me riding in the heat, that I get an 
>> instant breeze getting on my bike. 
>>
>> On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 3:05:46 AM UTC-7 johnrober...@gmail.com 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Leah, thanks so much for your pivot!
>>> There’s still a LOT of trails around TVC to explore and delight!
>>>
>>> Here’s the 4 Rivs, pre ride. Such a delight!
>>> Come camp in the yard next time!
>>>
>>> JRW
>>> TVC, MI USA
>>>
>>> (And 3/4’s of a dog)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM Leah Peterson  
>>> wrote:
>>>
 Wow, what an amazing trip. 

 No one really likes listening to people droning on about their trips, 
 so I’ll try to be palatable.

 1. Learn to pivot.

 I had my route and plan inked. Got an email from John Williams, 
 Traverse City, MI. He basically said, “You have to come here and ride the 
 best trails in the state. Put this on the itinerary. You can camp at my 
 place right on the water. When can you get here?” 

 We’ve never met, by the way. But this is how friendly Michiganders are. 
 I declined. Told him I was going via another trail. Traverse City wasn’t 
 on 
 my route. The offer stands, he said. 

 *Why did I feel like I would be missing out?*

 2. Run off with strangers from the Internet.

 My son wanted to see Traverse City. John seemed like a vivacious, nice 
 man. He has a purple Platypus. Green flags.

 Ok, I told him. I’m heading your way for a ride on our first day.

 Tracy, another stranger from the internet, got word. “Hey, wait, I live 
 15 miles from Traverse City,” she said. “Are you seeing John,” she wanted 
 to know. 

 YOU KNOW HIM, I said. 

 So E, Tracy, John and I gathered our Rivs, made introductions and set 
 off on a RivRide on the famous TART trail. We pedaled with John to a 
 winery, where he treated us to lunch and a “frosé” while we dined and 
 sipped amongst the vineyards. 

 3. Chuck your route, the locals know best.

 Show me your route, said John. Well, he said, you COULD go that way, 
 but you’d have a much more scenic experience if you went THIS WAY. We 
 wrote 
 down his instructions. He had all the roads committed to memory. Eat here. 
 Visit there. Make sure you see this, he said.

 We did. We pedaled along indescribable beauty. We stopped, soaked it 
 in, drank it up, continued on. I was drunk on it. (It wasn’t the frosé!) 
 Locals wanted to know where we were going. They pointed out things that 
 might interest us along the way. We found an oasis in the Tunnel of Trees 
 - 
 the most rustic, charming coffee shop; when we pulled over there was a 
 pile 
 of 20 bikes belonging to a hoarde of darling college boys on a RA team 
 building trip. They were chatty. One had some cramping so I fixed him up 
 with some electrolytes. “Bikers are way nicer than joggers,,” he observed. 
 We were faster than them, even though we were fully loaded and they were 
 fully supported. They cheered for us at every encounter, and we did for 
 them, too (we were all going to Mackinaw City). 

 Our bikes were a blessing, never giving us any trouble, keeping us in 
 perfect comfort the entire time. Our gear was also great, though E’s tent 
 did flood in a nasty thunderstorm that blew over our campsite. He had to 
 wait until the rain ceased enough for him to get out of the tent and begin 
 bailing. He was ankle-deep in water.

 We talked a little but mostly rode in companionable silence, each 
 listening to a audiobook. E loved being able to check out with a book; he 
 said biking takes no effort when you have a good book. He was sad when we 
 parked the bikes.

 Nobody locks a darn thing at the top of the Mitten (that means 
 Michigan’s low

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Leah Peterson]

This is our last weekend with him, Jay. I gotta deliver him next Saturday, so I don’t think we’ll be able to do another in time! But, maybe there’s a fall trip we could sneak off to…On Aug 16, 2025, at 3:38 PM, Jay  wrote:I think the US starts college earlier than Canada though I could be wrong, for college, but Leah, I say squeeze in another short trip with your son; you're on a "role" On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 8:57:16 AM UTC-4 Dorothy C wrote:I downloaded and zoomed in on this last photo, so good. Tracy, your shirt is fantastic. I am in SoCal and I often point out to my colleagues who are getting into stifling cars at the end of a summer workday, when they are concerned about me riding in the heat, that I get an instant breeze getting on my bike. On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 3:05:46 AM UTC-7 johnrober...@gmail.com wrote:Leah, thanks so much for your pivot!There’s still a LOT of trails around TVC to explore and delight!Here’s the 4 Rivs, pre ride. Such a delight!Come camp in the yard next time!JRWTVC, MI USA(And 3/4’s of a dog)On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM Leah Peterson  wrote:Wow, what an amazing trip. No one really likes listening to people droning on about their trips, so I’ll try to be palatable.1. Learn to pivot.I had my route and plan inked. Got an email from John Williams, Traverse City, MI. He basically said, “You have to come here and ride the best trails in the state. Put this on the itinerary. You can camp at my place right on the water. When can you get here?” We’ve never met, by the way. But this is how friendly Michiganders are. I declined. Told him I was going via another trail. Traverse City wasn’t on my route. The offer stands, he said. Why did I feel like I would be missing out?2. Run off with strangers from the Internet.My son wanted to see Traverse City. John seemed like a vivacious, nice man. He has a purple Platypus. Green flags.Ok, I told him. I’m heading your way for a ride on our first day.Tracy, another stranger from the internet, got word. “Hey, wait, I live 15 miles from Traverse City,” she said. “Are you seeing John,” she wanted to know. YOU KNOW HIM, I said. So E, Tracy, John and I gathered our Rivs, made introductions and set off on a RivRide on the famous TART trail. We pedaled with John to a winery, where he treated us to lunch and a “frosé” while we dined and sipped amongst the vineyards. 3. Chuck your route, the locals know best.Show me your route, said John. Well, he said, you COULD go that way, but you’d have a much more scenic experience if you went THIS WAY. We wrote down his instructions. He had all the roads committed to memory. Eat here. Visit there. Make sure you see this, he said.We did. We pedaled along indescribable beauty. We stopped, soaked it in, drank it up, continued on. I was drunk on it. (It wasn’t the frosé!) Locals wanted to know where we were going. They pointed out things that might interest us along the way. We found an oasis in the Tunnel of Trees - the most rustic, charming coffee shop; when we pulled over there was a pile of 20 bikes belonging to a hoarde of darling college boys on a RA team building trip. They were chatty. One had some cramping so I fixed him up with some electrolytes. “Bikers are way nicer than joggers,,” he observed. We were faster than them, even though we were fully loaded and they were fully supported. They cheered for us at every encounter, and we did for them, too (we were all going to Mackinaw City). Our bikes were a blessing, never giving us any trouble, keeping us in perfect comfort the entire time. Our gear was also great, though E’s tent did flood in a nasty thunderstorm that blew over our campsite. He had to wait until the rain ceased enough for him to get out of the tent and begin bailing. He was ankle-deep in water.We talked a little but mostly rode in companionable silence, each listening to a audiobook. E loved being able to check out with a book; he said biking takes no effort when you have a good book. He was sad when we parked the bikes.Nobody locks a darn thing at the top of the Mitten (that means Michigan’s lower peninsula, if you don’t know). Not vehicles or houses and not bikes. We walked away from our bikes all the time and nothing ever went missing. We locked if we could, but it was hardly necessary. One time we pulled off the highway, ditched the bikes on the side of the road and went swimming at Sturgeon Beach. The bikes were just as we left them, all our gear intact. E even left his bike gloves at the restroom on Mackinac Island. When we came back an hour later, they were just where he left them. I lost my Air Pods and had to backtrack 15 miles (by car, as this was at the end of the trip) to where Find My located them. A nice Michigander in the campground was holding them for me.We made it to the ferry in Mackinaw City and sailed to Mackinac Island. We rode the only car-free US highway in the nation. We did some exploring and then sailed back to the city and rode 60 

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Jay]

I think the US starts college earlier than Canada though I could be wrong, 
for college, but Leah, I say squeeze in another short trip with your son; 
you're on a "role" 

On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 8:57:16 AM UTC-4 Dorothy C wrote:

> I downloaded and zoomed in on this last photo, so good. 
>
> Tracy, your shirt is fantastic. I am in SoCal and I often point out to my 
> colleagues who are getting into stifling cars at the end of a summer 
> workday, when they are concerned about me riding in the heat, that I get an 
> instant breeze getting on my bike. 
>
> On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 3:05:46 AM UTC-7 johnrober...@gmail.com 
> wrote:
>
>> Leah, thanks so much for your pivot!
>> There’s still a LOT of trails around TVC to explore and delight!
>>
>> Here’s the 4 Rivs, pre ride. Such a delight!
>> Come camp in the yard next time!
>>
>> JRW
>> TVC, MI USA
>>
>> (And 3/4’s of a dog)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM Leah Peterson  
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Wow, what an amazing trip. 
>>>
>>> No one really likes listening to people droning on about their trips, so 
>>> I’ll try to be palatable.
>>>
>>> 1. Learn to pivot.
>>>
>>> I had my route and plan inked. Got an email from John Williams, Traverse 
>>> City, MI. He basically said, “You have to come here and ride the best 
>>> trails in the state. Put this on the itinerary. You can camp at my place 
>>> right on the water. When can you get here?” 
>>>
>>> We’ve never met, by the way. But this is how friendly Michiganders are. 
>>> I declined. Told him I was going via another trail. Traverse City wasn’t on 
>>> my route. The offer stands, he said. 
>>>
>>> *Why did I feel like I would be missing out?*
>>>
>>> 2. Run off with strangers from the Internet.
>>>
>>> My son wanted to see Traverse City. John seemed like a vivacious, nice 
>>> man. He has a purple Platypus. Green flags.
>>>
>>> Ok, I told him. I’m heading your way for a ride on our first day.
>>>
>>> Tracy, another stranger from the internet, got word. “Hey, wait, I live 
>>> 15 miles from Traverse City,” she said. “Are you seeing John,” she wanted 
>>> to know. 
>>>
>>> YOU KNOW HIM, I said. 
>>>
>>> So E, Tracy, John and I gathered our Rivs, made introductions and set 
>>> off on a RivRide on the famous TART trail. We pedaled with John to a 
>>> winery, where he treated us to lunch and a “frosé” while we dined and 
>>> sipped amongst the vineyards. 
>>>
>>> 3. Chuck your route, the locals know best.
>>>
>>> Show me your route, said John. Well, he said, you COULD go that way, but 
>>> you’d have a much more scenic experience if you went THIS WAY. We wrote 
>>> down his instructions. He had all the roads committed to memory. Eat here. 
>>> Visit there. Make sure you see this, he said.
>>>
>>> We did. We pedaled along indescribable beauty. We stopped, soaked it in, 
>>> drank it up, continued on. I was drunk on it. (It wasn’t the frosé!) Locals 
>>> wanted to know where we were going. They pointed out things that might 
>>> interest us along the way. We found an oasis in the Tunnel of Trees - the 
>>> most rustic, charming coffee shop; when we pulled over there was a pile of 
>>> 20 bikes belonging to a hoarde of darling college boys on a RA team 
>>> building trip. They were chatty. One had some cramping so I fixed him up 
>>> with some electrolytes. “Bikers are way nicer than joggers,,” he observed. 
>>> We were faster than them, even though we were fully loaded and they were 
>>> fully supported. They cheered for us at every encounter, and we did for 
>>> them, too (we were all going to Mackinaw City). 
>>>
>>> Our bikes were a blessing, never giving us any trouble, keeping us in 
>>> perfect comfort the entire time. Our gear was also great, though E’s tent 
>>> did flood in a nasty thunderstorm that blew over our campsite. He had to 
>>> wait until the rain ceased enough for him to get out of the tent and begin 
>>> bailing. He was ankle-deep in water.
>>>
>>> We talked a little but mostly rode in companionable silence, each 
>>> listening to a audiobook. E loved being able to check out with a book; he 
>>> said biking takes no effort when you have a good book. He was sad when we 
>>> parked the bikes.
>>>
>>> Nobody locks a darn thing at the top of the Mitten (that means 
>>> Michigan’s lower peninsula, if you don’t know). Not vehicles or houses and 
>>> not bikes. We walked away from our bikes all the time and nothing ever went 
>>> missing. We locked if we could, but it was hardly necessary. One time we 
>>> pulled off the highway, ditched the bikes on the side of the road and went 
>>> swimming at Sturgeon Beach. The bikes were just as we left them, all our 
>>> gear intact. E even left his bike gloves at the restroom on Mackinac 
>>> Island. When we came back an hour later, they were just where he left them. 
>>> I lost my Air Pods and had to backtrack 15 miles (by car, as this was at 
>>> the end of the trip) to where Find My located them. A nice Michigander in 
>>> the campgrou

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Dorothy C]

I downloaded and zoomed in on this last photo, so good. 

Tracy, your shirt is fantastic. I am in SoCal and I often point out to my 
colleagues who are getting into stifling cars at the end of a summer 
workday, when they are concerned about me riding in the heat, that I get an 
instant breeze getting on my bike. 

On Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 3:05:46 AM UTC-7 johnrober...@gmail.com 
wrote:

> Leah, thanks so much for your pivot!
> There’s still a LOT of trails around TVC to explore and delight!
>
> Here’s the 4 Rivs, pre ride. Such a delight!
> Come camp in the yard next time!
>
> JRW
> TVC, MI USA
>
> (And 3/4’s of a dog)
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM Leah Peterson  wrote:
>
>> Wow, what an amazing trip. 
>>
>> No one really likes listening to people droning on about their trips, so 
>> I’ll try to be palatable.
>>
>> 1. Learn to pivot.
>>
>> I had my route and plan inked. Got an email from John Williams, Traverse 
>> City, MI. He basically said, “You have to come here and ride the best 
>> trails in the state. Put this on the itinerary. You can camp at my place 
>> right on the water. When can you get here?” 
>>
>> We’ve never met, by the way. But this is how friendly Michiganders are. I 
>> declined. Told him I was going via another trail. Traverse City wasn’t on 
>> my route. The offer stands, he said. 
>>
>> *Why did I feel like I would be missing out?*
>>
>> 2. Run off with strangers from the Internet.
>>
>> My son wanted to see Traverse City. John seemed like a vivacious, nice 
>> man. He has a purple Platypus. Green flags.
>>
>> Ok, I told him. I’m heading your way for a ride on our first day.
>>
>> Tracy, another stranger from the internet, got word. “Hey, wait, I live 
>> 15 miles from Traverse City,” she said. “Are you seeing John,” she wanted 
>> to know. 
>>
>> YOU KNOW HIM, I said. 
>>
>> So E, Tracy, John and I gathered our Rivs, made introductions and set off 
>> on a RivRide on the famous TART trail. We pedaled with John to a winery, 
>> where he treated us to lunch and a “frosé” while we dined and sipped 
>> amongst the vineyards. 
>>
>> 3. Chuck your route, the locals know best.
>>
>> Show me your route, said John. Well, he said, you COULD go that way, but 
>> you’d have a much more scenic experience if you went THIS WAY. We wrote 
>> down his instructions. He had all the roads committed to memory. Eat here. 
>> Visit there. Make sure you see this, he said.
>>
>> We did. We pedaled along indescribable beauty. We stopped, soaked it in, 
>> drank it up, continued on. I was drunk on it. (It wasn’t the frosé!) Locals 
>> wanted to know where we were going. They pointed out things that might 
>> interest us along the way. We found an oasis in the Tunnel of Trees - the 
>> most rustic, charming coffee shop; when we pulled over there was a pile of 
>> 20 bikes belonging to a hoarde of darling college boys on a RA team 
>> building trip. They were chatty. One had some cramping so I fixed him up 
>> with some electrolytes. “Bikers are way nicer than joggers,,” he observed. 
>> We were faster than them, even though we were fully loaded and they were 
>> fully supported. They cheered for us at every encounter, and we did for 
>> them, too (we were all going to Mackinaw City). 
>>
>> Our bikes were a blessing, never giving us any trouble, keeping us in 
>> perfect comfort the entire time. Our gear was also great, though E’s tent 
>> did flood in a nasty thunderstorm that blew over our campsite. He had to 
>> wait until the rain ceased enough for him to get out of the tent and begin 
>> bailing. He was ankle-deep in water.
>>
>> We talked a little but mostly rode in companionable silence, each 
>> listening to a audiobook. E loved being able to check out with a book; he 
>> said biking takes no effort when you have a good book. He was sad when we 
>> parked the bikes.
>>
>> Nobody locks a darn thing at the top of the Mitten (that means Michigan’s 
>> lower peninsula, if you don’t know). Not vehicles or houses and not bikes. 
>> We walked away from our bikes all the time and nothing ever went missing. 
>> We locked if we could, but it was hardly necessary. One time we pulled off 
>> the highway, ditched the bikes on the side of the road and went swimming at 
>> Sturgeon Beach. The bikes were just as we left them, all our gear intact. E 
>> even left his bike gloves at the restroom on Mackinac Island. When we came 
>> back an hour later, they were just where he left them. I lost my Air Pods 
>> and had to backtrack 15 miles (by car, as this was at the end of the trip) 
>> to where Find My located them. A nice Michigander in the campground was 
>> holding them for me.
>>
>> We made it to the ferry in Mackinaw City and sailed to Mackinac Island. 
>> We rode the only car-free US highway in the nation. We did some exploring 
>> and then sailed back to the city and rode 60 miles back to my truck for the 
>> drive home.
>>
>> I spent the morning today washing my tent, my clothes and my bike. 

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Leah Peterson]

Wow, what an amazing trip. No one really likes listening to people droning on about their trips, so I’ll try to be palatable.1. Learn to pivot.I had my route and plan inked. Got an email from John Williams, Traverse City, MI. He basically said, “You have to come here and ride the best trails in the state. Put this on the itinerary. You can camp at my place right on the water. When can you get here?” We’ve never met, by the way. But this is how friendly Michiganders are. I declined. Told him I was going via another trail. Traverse City wasn’t on my route. The offer stands, he said. Why did I feel like I would be missing out?2. Run off with strangers from the Internet.My son wanted to see Traverse City. John seemed like a vivacious, nice man. He has a purple Platypus. Green flags.Ok, I told him. I’m heading your way for a ride on our first day.Tracy, another stranger from the internet, got word. “Hey, wait, I live 15 miles from Traverse City,” she said. “Are you seeing John,” she wanted to know. YOU KNOW HIM, I said. So E, Tracy, John and I gathered our Rivs, made introductions and set off on a RivRide on the famous TART trail. We pedaled with John to a winery, where he treated us to lunch and a “frosé” while we dined and sipped amongst the vineyards. 3. Chuck your route, the locals know best.Show me your route, said John. Well, he said, you COULD go that way, but you’d have a much more scenic experience if you went THIS WAY. We wrote down his instructions. He had all the roads committed to memory. Eat here. Visit there. Make sure you see this, he said.We did. We pedaled along indescribable beauty. We stopped, soaked it in, drank it up, continued on. I was drunk on it. (It wasn’t the frosé!) Locals wanted to know where we were going. They pointed out things that might interest us along the way. We found an oasis in the Tunnel of Trees - the most rustic, charming coffee shop; when we pulled over there was a pile of 20 bikes belonging to a hoarde of darling college boys on a RA team building trip. They were chatty. One had some cramping so I fixed him up with some electrolytes. “Bikers are way nicer than joggers,,” he observed. We were faster than them, even though we were fully loaded and they were fully supported. They cheered for us at every encounter, and we did for them, too (we were all going to Mackinaw City). Our bikes were a blessing, never giving us any trouble, keeping us in perfect comfort the entire time. Our gear was also great, though E’s tent did flood in a nasty thunderstorm that blew over our campsite. He had to wait until the rain ceased enough for him to get out of the tent and begin bailing. He was ankle-deep in water.We talked a little but mostly rode in companionable silence, each listening to a audiobook. E loved being able to check out with a book; he said biking takes no effort when you have a good book. He was sad when we parked the bikes.Nobody locks a darn thing at the top of the Mitten (that means Michigan’s lower peninsula, if you don’t know). Not vehicles or houses and not bikes. We walked away from our bikes all the time and nothing ever went missing. We locked if we could, but it was hardly necessary. One time we pulled off the highway, ditched the bikes on the side of the road and went swimming at Sturgeon Beach. The bikes were just as we left them, all our gear intact. E even left his bike gloves at the restroom on Mackinac Island. When we came back an hour later, they were just where he left them. I lost my Air Pods and had to backtrack 15 miles (by car, as this was at the end of the trip) to where Find My located them. A nice Michigander in the campground was holding them for me.We made it to the ferry in Mackinaw City and sailed to Mackinac Island. We rode the only car-free US highway in the nation. We did some exploring and then sailed back to the city and rode 60 miles back to my truck for the drive home.I spent the morning today washing my tent, my clothes and my bike. I got it lubed and cleaned up and the leather all polished. The bikes were caught in rain more than once, so they needed it. Everything is unpacked and now all I can think about is when can we do this again?If you can’t get through this wall of text, below is the Reel I made of the trip for Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNY6zFVuPml/?igsh=As always, thanks so much for your suggestions and help and goodwill!LeahOn Aug 12, 2025, at 12:07 PM, Pam Bikes  wrote:I know everything will work out.  I'm sure you have the seatcover on the saddles, right?  On Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 10:55:31 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:2nd-ever Mother-Son Bike Camping trip is underway! The weather is IFFY, my friends, but we are optimistic. We don’t know why. We are novices, and we are excited, and not even the lightning can discourage us. (Ok, we won’t ride in lightning, but it made this post more thrilling so I said it.)John Lenin (🙄) is in the driver’s seat, I am in charge of music and photography, and

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Pam Bikes]

I know everything will work out.  I'm sure you have the seatcover on the 
saddles, right?  

On Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 10:55:31 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
wrote:

> 2nd-ever Mother-Son Bike Camping trip is underway! The weather is IFFY, my 
> friends, but we are optimistic. We don’t know why. We are novices, and we 
> are excited, and not even the lightning can discourage us. (Ok, we won’t 
> ride in lightning, but it made this post more thrilling so I said it.)
>
> John Lenin (🙄) is in the driver’s seat, I am in charge of music and 
> photography, and both of us are complaining about the other’s prowess in 
> these assigned roles. 
>
> [image: image0.jpeg]
>
> The bikes are trashed. So much for living those drivetrains. Horrors. 
> Check out the stuff we gotta strap on these bikes! We tossed it all in, 
> little preparation this time. 
> [image: image1.jpeg]
> The plan was to ride from Charlevoix to Mackinac Island and back, with 2 
> nights of camping. A local to the area (whom I have never met but “know” 
> from online), John Williams, who has the purplest purple Platypus, has 
> convinced us we should come to his turf in Traverse City and add on a ride 
> with him. So we are! Because I am free-spirited, which is a new thing I’m 
> doing! 
>
> We’ll acquire some rust on this bike trip as the downpour has been 
> relentless the first 75 miles of our drive, and continuing. WE ARE 
> OPTIMISTIC that the rain will be done by the lunch hour, which is when we 
> meet our host for the Traverse City ride.
>
> Pam Murray sent a new thing I’m supposed to try. I’m still debating 
> discussing it here; it is borderline inappropriate but ALSO riotously funny 
> to me. She sent me a P Style, which you RivSisters can find for sale at 
> Riv’s website. The trial run was…I don’t know if I’m going to tell you.
>
> I’ll report back as the adventure unfurls.
> Leah
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Aug 11, 2025, at 2:45 PM, Pam Bikes  wrote:
>
> Leah, I'm so excited for you.  Now you know why you camp.  The route 
> looks great!  
>
>
> And yes, I love to help out any way I can.  
>
> I can't wait to hear all about your adventure.  
>
> I love paper maps.  It would be nice to see a page.  I like a street 
> atlas.  Is it that detailed?  If anyone has one, please post one picture.
>
> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:
>
>> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
>> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
>> in terms of weight or bulk. 
>>
>> Steven Sweedler
>> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:
>>
>>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>>
>>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
>>> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My 
>>> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on 
>>> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
>>> Meanwhile, mine sat. 
>>>
>>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing 
>>> our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
>>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake 
>>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the 
>>> Great Lakes, in as many days.
>>>
>>> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
>>> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former 
>>> trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same 
>>> problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for 
>>> points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual 
>>> cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and 
>>> forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the 
>>> bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper 
>>> - I can’t even plan my trip” 
>>>
>>> The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never 
>>> turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing 
>>> pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb 
>>> to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not 
>>> realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google 
>>> map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of 
>>> interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The 
>>> control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split 
>>> the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I 
>>> finally see why everyone loves the program.
>>>
>>> We are riding from Charlevoix on the Litt

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Pam Bikes]

Leah, I'm so excited for you.  Now you know why you camp.  The route looks 
great!  

And yes, I love to help out any way I can.  

I can't wait to hear all about your adventure.  

I love paper maps.  It would be nice to see a page.  I like a street 
atlas.  Is it that detailed?  If anyone has one, please post one picture.

On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:

> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
> in terms of weight or bulk. 
>
> Steven Sweedler
> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:
>
>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>
>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
>> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My 
>> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on 
>> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
>> Meanwhile, mine sat. 
>>
>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing our 
>> bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake 
>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the 
>> Great Lakes, in as many days.
>>
>> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
>> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former 
>> trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same 
>> problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for 
>> points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual 
>> cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and 
>> forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the 
>> bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper 
>> - I can’t even plan my trip” 
>>
>> The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never 
>> turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing 
>> pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb 
>> to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not 
>> realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google 
>> map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of 
>> interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The 
>> control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split 
>> the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I 
>> finally see why everyone loves the program.
>>
>> We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and 
>> catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take 
>> the ferry to Mackinac Island. My son has never been, so he’ll get to see 
>> how quaint and lovely it is, plus we’ll ride the one and only car-free 
>> highway in the United States, which circles the island. We’ve got camping 
>> reservations at 2 campgrounds, so we’ll get to use our gear again. It will 
>> be a great send-off before I have to part with him at the start of the fall 
>> semester again.
>>
>> L
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the 
>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe
>> .
>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to 
>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f1e1aca-028d-4261-b432-1efa7c85c3ean%40googlegroups.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>> -- 
>>
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
>> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 
>> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/C880B7A3-44BF-4B5C-9A6F-6846941AE993%40gmail.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW 
Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/7

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Lucia Matioli]

Oh man! Thats so tempting. How about a plan for next year? I’d be so down.

🥰
L

Lucia Matioli
Sr Creative Consultant
goodthinkingco.com
linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/ 







On Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 5:06 AM Leah Peterson 
wrote:

> Bring your fancy Homer, Lucia!
>
> On Aug 10, 2025, at 11:38 PM, Lucia Matioli 
> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Now I wanna move there too!
> ;)
>
> Lucia Matioli
> Sr Creative Consultant
> goodthinkingco.com
> linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/ 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM Tim Zowada  wrote:
>
>> Welcome to the neighborhood!  Don't hesitate to contact me if you get
>> stuck for anything. I live 8 miles south of Petoskey.
>>
>> Tim Z.
>>
>> On Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 11:05:47 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
>> wrote:
>>
>>> So exciting, Tom. You’re going to be at such a haven for
>>> adventure-having. I’ll be seeing more of you! Here’s to the great Midwest.
>>> Hurry, hurry.
>>> Leah
>>>
>>
>>> On Aug 10, 2025, at 7:37 AM, Tom Goodmann  wrote:
>>>
>>> Leah and all,
>>>
>>>
>>> Heading to the great Midwest, to be sure. For the present, the Madison
>>> area, which will give me access to the library to prepare for some academic
>>> events this fall, and access to riding and fishing in the Driftless.  And
>>> then I will search out a home from which to roam and ride, whether in
>>> Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa (with visits to Michigan). I'm eager to have
>>> the bikes set up in one place again.
>>>
>>> Be sure that I will have a bike and a fly rod with me! I wish it were
>>> more economical to ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin, but am glad
>>> at least that routes are maintained during summer.
>>>
>>> Tom
>>>
>>> On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:20:49 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>>
 My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from
 Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are
 planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for
 bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it).
 It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and
 fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily,
 it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but
 so are many of the lightly traveled back roads.

 Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at
 Mackinaw Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent
 campground. I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the
 campground to Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds
 impressive, but it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the
 trail south to a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west
 to the Bay. Enjoy your bike packing adventure!

 Steve in AVL

 On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
 wrote:

> Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all
> our pals!
>
> Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you!
>
> Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my
> age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these
> kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride
> out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is
> suddenly so rich
> L
>
> On Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:
>
> Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the
> lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to
> ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.
>
>
> The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south
> of there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to
> Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before
> heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice
> retirement gift (years away!).
>
> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:
>
>> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback
>> in case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no
>> downside in terms of weight or bulk.
>>
>> Steven Sweedler
>> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>>
>>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for
>>> all else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go 
>>> next.
>>> 

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Leah Peterson]

Bring your fancy Homer, Lucia!On Aug 10, 2025, at 11:38 PM, Lucia Matioli  wrote:Now I wanna move there too!;)Lucia MatioliSr Creative Consultantgoodthinkingco.comlinkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/                 On Sun, Aug 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM Tim Zowada  wrote:Welcome to the neighborhood!  Don't hesitate to contact me if you get stuck for anything. I live 8 miles south of Petoskey.Tim Z.On Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 11:05:47 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:So exciting, Tom. You’re going to be at such a haven for adventure-having. I’ll be seeing more of you! Here’s to the great Midwest. Hurry, hurry.LeahOn Aug 10, 2025, at 7:37 AM, Tom Goodmann  wrote:Leah and all, Heading to the great Midwest, to be sure. For the present, the Madison area, which will give me access to the library to prepare for some academic events this fall, and access to riding and fishing in the Driftless.  And then I will search out a home from which to roam and ride, whether in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa (with visits to Michigan). I'm eager to have the bikes set up in one place again.Be sure that I will have a bike and a fly rod with me! I wish it were more economical to ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin, but am glad at least that routes are maintained during summer.  TomOn Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:20:49 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com wrote:My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it).  It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily, it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but so are many of the lightly traveled back roads. Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at Mackinaw Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent campground. I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the campground to Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds impressive, but it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the trail south to a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west to the Bay. Enjoy your bike packing adventure!Steve in AVL On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our pals! Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is suddenly so richLOn Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice retirement gift (years away!).On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside in terms of weight or bulk. Steven SweedlerPlymouth, New HampshireOn Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!  wrote:My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. Meanwhile, mine sat. When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the Great Lakes, in as many days.I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual cycling route and I’d be op

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Lucia Matioli]

Now I wanna move there too!
;)

Lucia Matioli
Sr Creative Consultant
goodthinkingco.com
linkedin.com/in/luciamatioli/ 







On Sun, Aug 10, 2025 at 9:46 AM Tim Zowada  wrote:

> Welcome to the neighborhood!  Don't hesitate to contact me if you get
> stuck for anything. I live 8 miles south of Petoskey.
>
> Tim Z.
>
> On Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 11:05:47 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
> wrote:
>
>> So exciting, Tom. You’re going to be at such a haven for
>> adventure-having. I’ll be seeing more of you! Here’s to the great Midwest.
>> Hurry, hurry.
>> Leah
>>
>
>> On Aug 10, 2025, at 7:37 AM, Tom Goodmann  wrote:
>>
>> Leah and all,
>>
>>
>> Heading to the great Midwest, to be sure. For the present, the Madison
>> area, which will give me access to the library to prepare for some academic
>> events this fall, and access to riding and fishing in the Driftless.  And
>> then I will search out a home from which to roam and ride, whether in
>> Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa (with visits to Michigan). I'm eager to have
>> the bikes set up in one place again.
>>
>> Be sure that I will have a bike and a fly rod with me! I wish it were
>> more economical to ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin, but am glad
>> at least that routes are maintained during summer.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>> On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:20:49 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from
>>> Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are
>>> planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for
>>> bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it).
>>> It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and
>>> fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily,
>>> it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but
>>> so are many of the lightly traveled back roads.
>>>
>>> Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at
>>> Mackinaw Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent
>>> campground. I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the
>>> campground to Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds
>>> impressive, but it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the
>>> trail south to a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west
>>> to the Bay. Enjoy your bike packing adventure!
>>>
>>> Steve in AVL
>>>
>>> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!
>>> wrote:
>>>
 Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all
 our pals!

 Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you!

 Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my
 age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these
 kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride
 out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is
 suddenly so rich
 L

 On Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:

 Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the
 lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to
 ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.


 The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of
 there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to
 Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before
 heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice
 retirement gift (years away!).

 On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:

> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in
> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside
> in terms of weight or bulk.
>
> Steven Sweedler
> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson 
> wrote:
>
>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>
>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for
>> all else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go 
>> next.
>> My son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took 
>> off
>> on a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of 
>> use.
>> Meanwhile, mine sat.
>>
>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing
>> our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower
>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in 
>> Lake
>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when 

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Tim Zowada]

Welcome to the neighborhood!  Don't hesitate to contact me if you get stuck 
for anything. I live 8 miles south of Petoskey.

Tim Z.

On Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 11:05:47 AM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
wrote:

> So exciting, Tom. You’re going to be at such a haven for adventure-having. 
> I’ll be seeing more of you! Here’s to the great Midwest. Hurry, hurry.
> Leah
>
> On Aug 10, 2025, at 7:37 AM, Tom Goodmann  wrote:
>
> Leah and all, 
>
>
> Heading to the great Midwest, to be sure. For the present, the Madison 
> area, which will give me access to the library to prepare for some academic 
> events this fall, and access to riding and fishing in the Driftless.  And 
> then I will search out a home from which to roam and ride, whether in 
> Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa (with visits to Michigan). I'm eager to have 
> the bikes set up in one place again.
>
> Be sure that I will have a bike and a fly rod with me! I wish it were more 
> economical to ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin, but am glad at 
> least that routes are maintained during summer.  
>
> Tom
>
> On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:20:49 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>> My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from 
>> Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are 
>> planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for 
>> bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it). 
>>  It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and 
>> fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily, 
>> it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but 
>> so are many of the lightly traveled back roads. 
>>
>> Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at 
>> Mackinaw Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent 
>> campground. I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the 
>> campground to Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds 
>> impressive, but it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the 
>> trail south to a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west 
>> to the Bay. Enjoy your bike packing adventure!
>>
>> Steve in AVL 
>>
>> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our 
>>> pals! 
>>>
>>> Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! 
>>>
>>> Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my 
>>> age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these 
>>> kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride 
>>> out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is 
>>> suddenly so rich
>>> L
>>>
>>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:
>>>
>>> Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the 
>>> lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to 
>>> ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.
>>>
>>>
>>> The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of 
>>> there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to 
>>> Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before 
>>> heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice 
>>> retirement gift (years away!).
>>>
>>> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:
>>>
 Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
 case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
 in terms of weight or bulk. 

 Steven Sweedler
 Plymouth, New Hampshire


 On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  
 wrote:

> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>
> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. 
> My 
> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off 
> on 
> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
> Meanwhile, mine sat. 
>
> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing 
> our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in 
> Lake 
> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of 
> the 
> Great Lakes, in as many days.
>
> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our 
> former 
> trip had us on busy roads that were lou

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Leah Peterson]

So exciting, Tom. You’re going to be at such a haven for adventure-having. I’ll be seeing more of you! Here’s to the great Midwest. Hurry, hurry.LeahOn Aug 10, 2025, at 7:37 AM, Tom Goodmann  wrote:Leah and all, Heading to the great Midwest, to be sure. For the present, the Madison area, which will give me access to the library to prepare for some academic events this fall, and access to riding and fishing in the Driftless.  And then I will search out a home from which to roam and ride, whether in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa (with visits to Michigan). I'm eager to have the bikes set up in one place again.Be sure that I will have a bike and a fly rod with me! I wish it were more economical to ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin, but am glad at least that routes are maintained during summer.  TomOn Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:20:49 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com wrote:My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it).  It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily, it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but so are many of the lightly traveled back roads. Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at Mackinaw Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent campground. I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the campground to Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds impressive, but it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the trail south to a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west to the Bay. Enjoy your bike packing adventure!Steve in AVL On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our pals! Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is suddenly so richLOn Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice retirement gift (years away!).On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside in terms of weight or bulk. Steven SweedlerPlymouth, New HampshireOn Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!  wrote:My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. Meanwhile, mine sat. When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the Great Lakes, in as many days.I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper - I can’t even plan my trip” The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was t

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Tom Goodmann]

Leah and all, 

Heading to the great Midwest, to be sure. For the present, the Madison 
area, which will give me access to the library to prepare for some academic 
events this fall, and access to riding and fishing in the Driftless.  And 
then I will search out a home from which to roam and ride, whether in 
Wisconsin, Minnesota, or Iowa (with visits to Michigan). I'm eager to have 
the bikes set up in one place again.

Be sure that I will have a bike and a fly rod with me! I wish it were more 
economical to ferry across Lake Michigan from Wisconsin, but am glad at 
least that routes are maintained during summer.  

Tom

On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 11:20:49 PM UTC-4 steve...@gmail.com wrote:

> My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from 
> Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are 
> planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for 
> bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it). 
>  It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and 
> fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily, 
> it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but 
> so are many of the lightly traveled back roads. 
>
> Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at 
> Mackinaw Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent 
> campground. I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the 
> campground to Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds 
> impressive, but it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the 
> trail south to a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west 
> to the Bay. Enjoy your bike packing adventure!
>
> Steve in AVL 
>
> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
> wrote:
>
>> Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our 
>> pals! 
>>
>> Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! 
>>
>> Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my 
>> age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these 
>> kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride 
>> out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is 
>> suddenly so rich
>> L
>>
>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:
>>
>> Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the 
>> lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to 
>> ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.
>>
>>
>> The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of 
>> there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to 
>> Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before 
>> heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice 
>> retirement gift (years away!).
>>
>> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:
>>
>>> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
>>> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
>>> in terms of weight or bulk. 
>>>
>>> Steven Sweedler
>>> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  
>>> wrote:
>>>
 [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]

 On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
 jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:

 My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
 else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My 
 son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on 
 a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
 Meanwhile, mine sat. 

 When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing 
 our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
 peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in 
 Lake 
 Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the 
 Great Lakes, in as many days.

 I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
 planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former 
 trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same 
 problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking 
 for 
 points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my 
 actual 
 cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and 
 forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of 
 the 
 bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike 
 camper 
 - I can’t even plan my trip” 

 The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. 

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Steve]

My wife and I have been hauling our travel trailer - and bikes - from 
Western North Carolina up to the Straits for the past four years, and are 
planning to do it again in late September. It's a great region for 
bicycling (and kayaking/canoeing, hiking the shoreline, and you name it). 
 It's a bit of a nostalgia thing for me as I spent time camping, biking and 
fishing in the region 40 - 50 years ago when I lived in Indiana.  Happily, 
it's not changed much over the decades. The Northwestern Trail is nice, but 
so are many of the lightly traveled back roads. 

Leah, judging from your GPS map it looks like you'll be camping at Mackinaw 
Mill Creek. If you've not been there before -it's an excellent campground. 
I'm planning to reprise a ride I did last yer from the campground to 
Sturgeon Bay and back. Lake Huron to Lake Michigan sounds impressive, but 
it's just 20 miles each way for 40 roundtrip. I'll take the trail south to 
a Gill Road at Lake Paradise (aka Carp Lake) that cuts west to the Bay. 
Enjoy your bike packing adventure!

Steve in AVL 

On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
wrote:

> Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our 
> pals! 
>
> Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! 
>
> Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my age 
> in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these kids 
> are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride out 
> east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is 
> suddenly so rich
> L
>
> On Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:
>
> Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the 
> lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to 
> ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.
>
>
> The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of 
> there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to 
> Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before 
> heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice 
> retirement gift (years away!).
>
> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:
>
>> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
>> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
>> in terms of weight or bulk. 
>>
>> Steven Sweedler
>> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:
>>
>>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>>
>>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
>>> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My 
>>> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on 
>>> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
>>> Meanwhile, mine sat. 
>>>
>>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing 
>>> our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
>>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake 
>>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the 
>>> Great Lakes, in as many days.
>>>
>>> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
>>> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former 
>>> trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same 
>>> problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for 
>>> points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual 
>>> cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and 
>>> forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the 
>>> bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper 
>>> - I can’t even plan my trip” 
>>>
>>> The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never 
>>> turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing 
>>> pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb 
>>> to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not 
>>> realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google 
>>> map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of 
>>> interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The 
>>> control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split 
>>> the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I 
>>> finally see why everyone loves the program.
>>>
>>> We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and 
>>> catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take 
>>> the f

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Leah Peterson]

Tom, how north will you come? Because I’m hoping it’s within driving distance of me! Come enjoy this underestimated place on some Riv Rides! Bring a fishing pole! Hurry up and get here before spring so you’re poised for these adventures. Pam Murray is the big guns. You’ve met her - what can she not do? 🤩 We’ll invite her north, too.LOn Aug 9, 2025, at 8:14 PM, Tom Goodmann  wrote: "brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray." :)  I'm hesitant to say this out loud: Michigan is an underestimated place to live if you like to play outside. (cycling, hiking, sailing, camping, fishing, hunting, etc etc)It has also produced some very fine writers who draw on its wonders.TomAtlanta (not for much longer; heading north)On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! wrote:Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our pals! Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is suddenly so richLOn Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice retirement gift (years away!).On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside in terms of weight or bulk. Steven SweedlerPlymouth, New HampshireOn Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!  wrote:My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. Meanwhile, mine sat. When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the Great Lakes, in as many days.I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper - I can’t even plan my trip” The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I finally see why everyone loves the program.We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take the ferry to Mackinac Island. My son has never been, so he’ll get to see how quaint and lovely it is, plus we’ll ride the one and only car-free highway in the United States, which circles the island. We’ve got camping reservations at 2 campgrounds, so we’ll get to use our gear again. It will be a great send-off before I have to part with him at the start of the fall semester again.L



-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all i

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Tom Goodmann]

 "brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray." :)  

I'm hesitant to say this out loud: Michigan is an underestimated place to 
live if you like to play outside. (cycling, hiking, sailing, camping, 
fishing, hunting, etc etc)

It has also produced some very fine writers who draw on its wonders.

Tom
Atlanta (not for much longer; heading north)

On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 8:24:38 PM UTC-4 Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! 
wrote:

> Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our 
> pals! 
>
> Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! 
>
> Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my age 
> in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these kids 
> are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride out 
> east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is 
> suddenly so rich
> L
>
> On Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:
>
> Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the 
> lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to 
> ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.
>
>
> The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of 
> there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to 
> Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before 
> heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice 
> retirement gift (years away!).
>
> On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:
>
>> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
>> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
>> in terms of weight or bulk. 
>>
>> Steven Sweedler
>> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:
>>
>>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>>
>>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
>>> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My 
>>> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on 
>>> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
>>> Meanwhile, mine sat. 
>>>
>>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing 
>>> our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
>>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake 
>>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the 
>>> Great Lakes, in as many days.
>>>
>>> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
>>> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former 
>>> trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same 
>>> problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for 
>>> points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual 
>>> cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and 
>>> forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the 
>>> bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper 
>>> - I can’t even plan my trip” 
>>>
>>> The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never 
>>> turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing 
>>> pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb 
>>> to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not 
>>> realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google 
>>> map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of 
>>> interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The 
>>> control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split 
>>> the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I 
>>> finally see why everyone loves the program.
>>>
>>> We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and 
>>> catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take 
>>> the ferry to Mackinac Island. My son has never been, so he’ll get to see 
>>> how quaint and lovely it is, plus we’ll ride the one and only car-free 
>>> highway in the United States, which circles the island. We’ve got camping 
>>> reservations at 2 campgrounds, so we’ll get to use our gear again. It will 
>>> be a great send-off before I have to part with him at the start of the fall 
>>> semester again.
>>>
>>> L
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the 
>>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit 
>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe
>>> .
>>> To unsubscribe from this group and al

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Leah Peterson]

Say the word, Jay! We’ll plan a ride through Michigan and invite all our pals! Yes, two trips with my son is wild, WILD, I tell you! Today on the women’s ride I was telling Katie (the only other woman my age in the group) about wanting a riding partner for my adventures (these kids are leaving and I can’t count on THEM) and she said, “Let’s do a ride out east.” So as of now, we’re doing the GAP this fall! My bike life is suddenly so richLOn Aug 8, 2025, at 7:55 PM, Jay  wrote:Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice retirement gift (years away!).On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside in terms of weight or bulk. Steven SweedlerPlymouth, New HampshireOn Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding!  wrote:My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. Meanwhile, mine sat. When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing our bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the Great Lakes, in as many days.I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper - I can’t even plan my trip” The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I finally see why everyone loves the program.We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take the ferry to Mackinac Island. My son has never been, so he’ll get to see how quaint and lovely it is, plus we’ll ride the one and only car-free highway in the United States, which circles the island. We’ve got camping reservations at 2 campgrounds, so we’ll get to use our gear again. It will be a great send-off before I have to part with him at the start of the fall semester again.L



-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f1e1aca-028d-4261-b432-1efa7c85c3ean%40googlegroups.com.




-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/C880B7A3-44BF-4B5C-9A6F-6846941AE993%40gmail.com.





-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from thi

Re: [RBW] 2nd Bike Camping Trip!

[Jay]

Two bike trips with your son in one summer, that's like winning the 
lottery!  Can't wait to read about this experience.  I've always wanted to 
ride up that part of Michigan, looks remote and beautiful.

The first map, Ontario side, shows Orangeville, I'm 40 minutes south of 
there!  One day I want to ride up to Tobermory, take the ferry to 
Manitoulin Island, and back.  Maybe I'll keep going northwest before 
heading south through Michigan and back home.  Would make for a nice 
retirement gift (years away!).

On Friday, August 8, 2025 at 12:57:05 PM UTC-4 Steven Sweedler wrote:

> Leah, consider buying a Delorme Gazeteer for Michigan as a fallback in 
> case your electronics falter. Carrying the relevant pages has no downside 
> in terms of weight or bulk. 
>
> Steven Sweedler
> Plymouth, New Hampshire
>
>
> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM Leah Peterson  wrote:
>
>> [image: image0.png][image: image1.png]
>>
>> On Aug 8, 2025, at 12:44 PM, Bicycle Belle Ding Ding! <
>> jonasa...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> My first bike touring/camping adventure in July has ruined me for all 
>> else. When we got back, all I could think of was where I would go next. My 
>> son - the literal day we got home - headed for the airport and took off on 
>> a solo backpacking trip in the West. HIS tent has gotten plenty of use. 
>> Meanwhile, mine sat. 
>>
>> When he returned, I gave him a week to recover and now we’re pointing our 
>> bikes north and heading to the top of the Mitten (that’s the lower 
>> peninsula, in Michigan-speak) for a few days. We will dip our tires in Lake 
>> Michigan and then in Lake Huron, when we reach Mackinac Island. Two of the 
>> Great Lakes, in as many days.
>>
>> I went back to Ride with GPS, determined to have a better experience 
>> planning my route. I was set on cycleways this time, as most of our former 
>> trip had us on busy roads that were loud and scary. I had all the same 
>> problems I’d had before. I’d lose where the cycleways went when looking for 
>> points of interest on the map. Trying to route to them would lose my actual 
>> cycling route and I’d be opening Google maps and trying to switch back and 
>> forth to see around the area. It was hopeless. I threw myself on top of the 
>> bed where my husband waited and wailed, “I’m too stupid to be a bike camper 
>> - I can’t even plan my trip” 
>>
>> The next day, I brought in the big guns: Pamela Murray. She has never 
>> turned down a Zoom call about bike topics, ever. She filled in the missing 
>> pieces I needed and now the clouds have lifted and I might not be too dumb 
>> to be a bike camper after all. The biggest “AHA!” was that I did not 
>> realize you can toggle maps on Ride with GPS. You can switch to a Google 
>> map view so you can see around you - food, restrooms, hotels, sites of 
>> interest… Once I could see THAT a lot of other things fell into place. The 
>> control points remain finicky, but I understand those, too. You can split 
>> the route, add your own points of interest…so many great perks and I 
>> finally see why everyone loves the program.
>>
>> We are riding from Charlevoix on the Little Traverse Wheelway and 
>> catching the Northwestern Trail up to Mackinaw City. From there, we take 
>> the ferry to Mackinac Island. My son has never been, so he’ll get to see 
>> how quaint and lovely it is, plus we’ll ride the one and only car-free 
>> highway in the United States, which circles the island. We’ve got camping 
>> reservations at 2 campgrounds, so we’ll get to use our gear again. It will 
>> be a great send-off before I have to part with him at the start of the fall 
>> semester again.
>>
>> L
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the 
>> Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rbw-owners-bunch/lT31xPiKVKk/unsubscribe
>> .
>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to 
>> rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/9f1e1aca-028d-4261-b432-1efa7c85c3ean%40googlegroups.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>> -- 
>>
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
>> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 
>> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
>> To view this discussion visit 
>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/C880B7A3-44BF-4B5C-9A6F-6846941AE993%40gmail.com
>>  
>> 
>> .
>>
>

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW 
Owners Bunch" group.
To unsubscribe from this