9/3/2025. Wednesday
Stats: Miles: 26 AIS: 2:35 Speed: 9.9 mph Elev. 603 ft
Kewadin to Traverse City MI
Our gracious WarmShowers hosts Ann and Gary, had a nice granola, fruit and coffee breakfast for us before we departed. On the road at 8:30am trying to get as far as possible toward Traverse City before the heavy rain started. The wind started sometime in the night… I could hear it blowing in the early morning hours. Other than the wind the temps this morning were comfortable.
Gary suggested we follow a Bayshore Drive to Elk Rapids avoiding Highway 31 as much as possible. It was the busy highway we were on yesterday. We had a serious headwind for the first 15 miles before we were on a dedicated paved trail into Traverse City. The good and the bad…we changed direction a bit heading west on the path so the wind wasn’t wicked but no sooner than we were on the trail and the rain started. We’ve ridden enough to know just about how many raindrops we can stand before it’s time to get the rain gear on BEFORE you get really wet! Our timing was perfect, within 30 seconds the clouds let the rain go and it was pouring on us! We rode for about 6 miles with the rain easing off and on and we decided to stop at a coffee shop to get out of the rain for a bit.
Last night Jim reached out to his sister who has a friend in Traverse City asking about a place to stay the night. To our good fortune Annette (sister) let us know at 9am this morning that her friends Katy and John welcomed us for the night! Lucky us!! John was home all day so we arrived around noon. Fortunately the rain had subsided all the way (5 miles) to the house.
John had an extra car and let us use it all afternoon. We explored out to the end of the peninsula (15miles) between East Arm Traverse Bay and West Arm Traverse Bay). There was lighthouse at the end and orchards and vineyards galore in between. Also a delightful old General Store.
to answer calls!
Last stop was a local brewery or two… this one was good. Mostly I really like the name…MiddleCoast. With the size of Lake Michigan and the beautiful beaches and sand dunes it feels like the ocean.., without salt and sharks (of course)!
Throughout our day today we experienced 3-4 more downpours while we were out and about. I’m so happy I’m not riding throughout the day today. We’re very thankful for this nice place to stay, the wonderful Cincinnati Chili (with spaghetti) that John made for us, the car to see Traverse City (a little) and the kindness of strangers.
Tomorrow we head up north on the West Arm of Traverse Bay then west over to Lake Michigan heading south again along the shoreline to Glen Arbor. I believe we will be back on the TART Trail to the Leelanau Trail. We hope to have a favorable tailwind and no rain.
cinnicrew 