Day 18. Small town America

Posted bycinnicrewPosted inGreat Lakes

9/11/2025. Or just 9/11

Morley to Evart MI

Stats: Miles: 44. AIS: 4:12. Speed: 10.4 mph. Elev. 472 ft.

We noticed immediately leaving Morley the flag was half-staff. It took awhile to realize the date today. An Aha moment! Then there’s always the remembering that horrifying day… and the many days after.

We are in the heart…the middle of Michigan. We have been traveling through small town after small town. Riding on rail trails takes you through the middle of every little small town. They seem to be spaced about 12-15 miles apart the last couple of days. You see the old railroad depots that most communities have revitalized because of the trail. These trails put them on the map! They are proud of their little towns and proud of the trails and the people it brings to their town. Without the trail you would whizz by them on the interstate and big highways that you have to exit to see these towns. I guess that’s what we love about bicycling to visit places… you really SEE everything at 10 mph. All the good, the bad and the ugly.

Today was chatty… we met so many people today that were curious about us even though they were bicycling too. Seemed like every town we stopped for a snack and water there was someone that was interested in our mode of travel, where we were going… where we started… where we’re from. Even when we got to the campground our neighbors came by to visit. I think that’s pretty special. It’s not typical when you’re in a car.

This is Alan. He was doing a 2 day ride. We met him yesterday on his way to Big Rapids from Cedar Spring. So this morning he was in Big Rapids ready to return. He has toured quite a bit but usually about 10 days or less. He’s from Michigan.

Leaving Morley this morning we came across more of the Amish community… mostly we saw them busy working in their farms. There farms were adjacent to the trail today.

No horses signs for miles
Harvesting corn stalks
The corn stalk wagon.
Looking down the long trail you’ll see 4 figures. We passed these 4 children dressed in green shirts and black pants or skirts. All had hats/bonnets on and lunch boxes. Maybe headed to school at another farm? It was about 9:15am or so. We said hello and were smiling and they said hello. When we went past them… I could see in my mirror… all 4 turned their heads to stare at us riding on. It occurred to me that we were just as strange to them as they were to us! Such a fascinating lifestyle they live. We did hear the teenagers like e-bikes! They can use them or any power that’s not connected to the grid. Solar, generators etc.

It seemed like the fall colors just really started popping the last 2 days. The gold leaves along the trail, the ferns turning golden brown. More trees turning red in the distance.

We don’t get fall colors like this in the Montana countryside. Much more yellow up high and the reds closer to the ground
Sumac turning red along the trail.

This afternoon we intersected another trail. We left the White Pine Trail and started on the Pere Marquette Trail. We are now heading east toward Bay City and Lake Huron.

I’m sorry to tell my sister-in-law Linda that we will not be going to Mt Pleasant where she went to college. 1. It’s not on the trail. 2. It sounds like it might be hilly (Mt). 3. She said it was a boring place🤣. We will be travelling both north of it tomorrow and south of it next week.

Anyway, at the trail intersection two railroads really did intersect in the railroad town of Reed City

The railroad intersection.
Reed City brand new rail trail station and staging area.

Heading east on Pere Marquette was not in a tunnel of trees like White Pine Trail. It was a warm sunny day so we could feel it. After last week being cold we kept our mouths shut about feeling hot… just stopped in the shade a few times and drank more water!

A quarry at a sand and gravel area
The trail was a bit rough for about half the day today. Jim says tomorrow we will be on brand new trail after about 20 miles. Peanut butter smooth!

Things I saw today…

How some homes decorate
RV campground.
Odd place for the Eiffel Tower
Just a barn in the woods… lovely all alone
They snowmobile on these trails all winter. Meeting place
Very odd western village setup along the bike trail today. No clue why here?

Our campsite tonight in the town of Evart is part of a city park. Seems like most of the RV’s are here all summer and winter someplace warm. It is also right on the Muskegon River

The Muskegon River we’ve been following all day.
Tonight’s resting spot.

We’re going to try for an 8am start tomorrow. Another 50 mile day and it’s suppose to get to 80’. We will be on a trail all the way. Hoping for that new smooth trail as soon as possible. We might camp at a State Park 3 miles outside of Sanford or even better see if we can camp at the Fire Station in town! Wish us luck.

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