After the overnight rain stopped, we had our instant oatmeal and strawberry mini-yogurt breakfast at the very expensive Super 8 (along with all of the tractor folks who had driven up motel prices for the weekend), got our bike out of the motel garage (which was very nice of them to do, even if only to save their new carpets). Loaded up, we headed into the wet, with thunder rumbling over the lake. We planned a short (26 mile) day, based on our previous performance.

It didn’t rain on us, and there was only one hill steep enough to have to stop and push a bit. Our meager breakfast ran out at Brevort, where we found an excellent restaurant with all-day breakfast. As we were finishing our meal, two couples about our age exited the restaurant and surrounded our bike, which was parked in a car space in front. As we watched through the window, the men peered intently at all the electronics and controls, while the women focussed on the rear cockpit. One of them actually reached out and pinched Judy’s saddle to see how hard or soft it was. I imagine they were thinking how someone could possibly ride cross-country on such a spindly machine.

Pressing on, we followed the Adventure Cycling route away from US2 on the Cut River Road, thus bypassing the high (and narrow) bridge across the Cut River Canyon. The crossing on the bypass was anti-climactic, as the river ran through a culvert where the narrow but still shallow canyon was filled. The bypass came out about 300 meters past our motel in Epoufette. We were able to check in at 12:30, making our short day almost a rest day. The Skyline Motel and adjoinging restaurant sits on a high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, with spectacular views, despite the fog and haze over the lake.

The next morning dawned clear and cold, 45F (7C). We took the tarp off the bike, secured to the porch post outside our room, and under the runoff from the office roof. A breakfast of oatmeal at the restaurant, as the first customers on a quiet Sunday morning, and we were off on the longest day yet of our tour.