Bike Ride - White Pine Trail

Today I decided to try out the White Pine Trail with my road bike. Going on a bike ride is much more work and time than just going for a run or the gym. At 11am, I gather my heart rate monitor, 2 waters, ipod, bike shoes, bike gloves, helmet and air pump (in case a flat). So I start getting my bike out, and realize I need some major air in the tires. So, I take the front wheel off so I can fit the bike and wheel in the trunk of my car and take it to the gas station around the corner to pump it up. I deposit 75 cents for air, and the realize, I have these funky French type valves on my bike that I forgot about ( I just bought the bike in June). I have presta valves, and not your typical schrader valves like a car. So, I had already started the air, and I am trying to figure out how the air pump fits over my valve, I unscrew what I later learn is a presta to schrader converter valve and try that, but no luck. By now I am just confused and frustrated that I can't blow my tires up, and now there is someone behind me that wants air as well. I decide to pack up and go home. I arrive back at the house and google my valves and figure it out. I practice with my own air compressor at home and it works, but I am only getting 80 psi, and the bike needs 125 psi. So, decide now that I know how it works I will go back to the gas station to fill it up quicker. I head to different gas station and deposit 75 cents, determined to get to 125 psi, I struggle with the damn air pump that wants to wind back up into its pulley, and me trying to balance the bike tire, while pushing and trying to hold the valve straight. I wanted to check the pressure, I let go, and the gage doesn't pop out and tell me my pressure, I was so mad!! The gage must be broke. With my frustration, one of my presta to schrader adapters flung into the parking lot and was nowhere to be found. Good thing I have 2. So, I decide to pack the bike up, almost went home and decided not going because my bad luck. But, just decide to get on 131 and head downtown to Riverside park, and stop at a third gas station to check the tire pressure. So, another 75 cents, I put air into both tires again and check pressure, again, I could only get it to read 80, but I was good with that...I am ready to ride.

So I park at Riverside park at the beginning of the White Pine Trail, and am finally ready to ride at 12:30pm. The trail is the longest rail/trail system in the state, connecting Grand Rapids with Cadillac in the north central lower peninsula. It intersects the Pere Marquette trail in Reed City and there are plans for connections to the Fred Meijer Heartland trail and the Musketawa trail. The trail is surfaced with asphalt pavement from North Park Street at the north end of Grand Rapids north to the village of Sand Lake; a distance of nearly 22 miles. Howard City has 1/2 mile of pavement within its limits. There is also a 13 mile section of asphalt pavement between Big Rapids and Reed City. The northern most mile of the trail in Cadillac is also paved. The remaining 60 miles of the trail is surfaced with packed gravel or cinders with pavement planned for the future.

The route I took was to just north of Belmont and back. About 19 miles round trip. Next time I am going up to Rockford and back. Great trail, and can't wait to do it again. Many bikers today, but the trail is wide enough for everyone and it never felt cramped. It was shaded, scenic and peaceful. I admit I do ride with my ipod, but ear phones in only one ear, and music is not loud.

Higgins Lake Vacation

Well, I just got back from a week long trip at Higgins Lake. Higgins Lake is up north, just about 10 minutes south of Grayling, MI and near Houghton Lake. Higgins lake is so beautiful and clear. It is the 6th most beautiful lake in the world, according to National Geographic. Glen Lake in Michigan being #1, and Torch Lake in Michigan being #3. Some areas of the lake have that light green Caribbean look to it.

The group consisted of me, Keith, Amanda, Jason, Dusten and Dana. Matt came a couple nights, and he left the jet skis for us all week! So awesome! We had a bit of rain and overcast on the first two days, but the next 5 days were pretty hot and sunny. I was even able to get in some open water swim practice for an upcoming tri that I want to do. The house was great! It was an old 1960ish 2 story cottage with a cozy feel to it inside. We enjoyed the large sun room with picnic table inside to eat and of course played dominoes. Other activities were throwing the football, Frisbees, bag toss and rock band at night. We enjoyed camp fires on only 2 nights because the evenings were windy. The sunsets were gorgeous, something you see out of a movie.

There were 2 downfalls, one, the swim beach area was kind of rocky, we had to swim far out to get out of most of the rocks, and 2, I got swimmers itch. Swimmers itch is found in Higgins Lake and other Michigan inland lakes. It happens when people feed the ducks, they poop and then the snails take that in, then these parasites leave the snails and then can penetrate the skin. You are suppose to get out of the water every 20 minutes and towel dry off. I did leave the water, even soaped up and rinsed at the outdoor shower every time, because we were aware of this. But unfortunately, the little damn parasites protruded into my skin, and on Thursday I noticed I had little bumps (like mosquito bites) all over my legs, about 100 between both legs. Keith and Amanda have just found a few. Here is a link on the life cycle of swimmers itch.