Preparation

Riding 50 miles a day for 2 months doesn't seem overwhelmingly difficult, but I didn't want to hit the Trans Canada Highway out of shape, with mechanicals problems and either too little or too much gear. So, I planned a demo ride, to test out my old bike which hadn't seen much use since the U of U days, to try out some new camping gear and to see what it feels like to ride 70 miles back to back to back to back with 35 pounds of gear.

I decided on what I now call my Sleeping Bear Tour. It gets this name because that's where I went and that's how it feels pulling a tent, sleeping bag, pad, rain fly, 2 days of clothes, camp stove, food and bike gear up and over the tiny hills of northwestern Michigan (living in the Delta and Ann Arbor hasn't prepared me for the Canadian Rockies to come). The ride went well, I learned that 85 miles into a headwind isn't that cool and that wind rain will be the major determiners of my ride this summer. Here are some pics.

All I will hopefully need.  My old Novara Randonee from 2003, some panniers, a new dry sack from REI to keep my tent nice and dry and my favorite Patagonia lightweight fleece.  Bought in high school with Josh Brown, and likely my best clothing purchase ever.

I love Pine Trees.  And warm sunlight.

Finally reached Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes.  Bumped into the Mills, who kindly took this picture.

Back to the car, with a few orange slices to spare.