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If you’re a long-time reader of this blog, you might remember that last August I had the opportunity to go on a work bike trip to Mackinac Island, and this past weekend I had the opportunity to do the same thing again! We take about 90 people up to Michigan, sleep about three hours on Thursday night, and then bike all day Friday!
On Friday I woke up at 6:30 am (again, after sleeping 3 hours), and got ready for a long day of biking with several co-workers. They brought in Starbucks, fruit, and donuts for us, and we were on the road by 8:30 am to bike from Petosky, Michigan to Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Pic from last year- but the same scene, except less long sleeves because it was warmer this year!
Like I mentioned last year, most people riding aren’t bikers, so the ride takes a good chunk of the day, instead of about four hours like it would take me (but seriously- I’m so impressed that people who don’t bike at all can hop on the bike and make it that distance in the day!). The first 8ish miles are slow as everyone is trying to figure out breaking, shifting gears, and getting used to biking in a pack. Honestly, the ride is difficult for me in terms of riding with a group! I love the company and having people to talk to, but I bike alone so I’m not used to watching for others swerving into me, etc. At 8 miles we wind to our first views of the lake (along with some GORGEOUS houses), and you can feel everyone’s mood lift!
Just like last year, I biked in the front of the pack, and loved getting to know the new people who were riding up there this year! At mile 10 is a long, winding hill (I don’t do a ton of hill riding, so this is a great ride for me in that!), and at the top a van is waiting with gatorade, granola bars, etc. It’s a great stop after the hill, and I grabbed a gatorade at that point.
Someone in my group took this picture as she was bringing up the rear. This is the little pack I rode with (I’m up front in the bright yellow jersey). It was a truly beautiful day!
Then it’s time to enjoy the views! Northern Michigan is so different in terms of scenery than I am used to, and it’s great to mix things up! The views of the lake are absolutely gorgeous, and when we’re not biking along the lake we duck into the woods and go on winding roads there.
We stopped for lunch at the same place we did last year, and enjoyed a picnic there. Unfortunately I got bit by some ants, so that made the time less relaxing. And after lunch we have an easy 5 mile ride to the beach, where some people get in, but I enjoy just standing and looking at the views!
Again- picture from last year. Nothing has changed.
Then we have another 12ish mile stretch to an ice cream shop that we stop at. This stretch has some really bad roads, and there were several corvettes and motorcycles that sped past really fast and VERY close to us- it was a pretty scary moment for us! After weaving around pot holes for a few miles, we pulled in and everyone I was with got some ice cream and I got skittles (lactose intolerant here…). 10 minutes off the bike and we were back on for the last 7ish miles into Mackinaw City! I think it’s around 55ish miles or so (I said 52 last year but I think that was low), and it was a really great ride!
We’ve made it!
After showering and eating dinner, we spent some time walking around the town and eating funnel cake!
That night we slept on the cement floors of a building near the water (I was so tired I didn’t even care), and then continued the bike ride the next day on Mackinac Island (all our bikes were sent over on the ferry). The views there were absolutely unreal as well! I’ll talk more about my time there soon!
This ride to Mackinac Island is by no means the most difficult ride of my summer, and is far shorter than my recent 70 miler, but it’s gorgeous and includes a lot of people, which makes it really fun! Mostly this trip makes me want to take more bike trips in the future!
Now it’s your turn to share! Have you ever been on a bike trip before?
Wow, This looks so fun and beautiful! The past couple years my parents have been doing guided multi-day bike trips with Backroads, and I would LOVE to do one someday… Until then I’m just cruising around town with my little one in tow.
It was REALLY beautiful. It sounds like the bike trips they take are fun! I’d love to do one some day.
I’ve never done a bike trip but if I did, it would be this one!! I LOVE northern Michigan and my husband and I got married in Petoskey! My favorite space 🙂
I didn’t realize that’s where you were married! It’s absolutely gorgeous up there!