2014 RAAM

Well, we're off again.  Kelly and I are signing up for the 2014 RAAM. No! Not the Race Across AMerica,   that is nuts.  Our RAAM is the Race Almost Around Michigan.  On Sept 11 we will be taking the train from Sacramento, CA to Milwaukee, WI and riding up and around Lk. Michigan.  The next three weeks will be spent exploring the Wisconsin coast of the lake with a nice loop through Door County, a very scenic peninsula east of Green Bay, and continuing up to the  Upper Pennisula (UP) of Michigan.  We plan to stay pretty close to the lake and will be crossing back to the Wisconsin side via the ferry in Ludington, MI.  We missed this part of the world on our cross country trip due to the fact that we didn't want to battle the summer mosquitos (they've been known to carry off small Yuppers, as the folks of the Upper Pennisula are known) and our butts were sore.

On our cross country trip we had taken the train to escape the wastelands of  N. Dakota and the madness of the fracking operations that have taken over that part of the country.  We so enjoyed that phase of our journey that we decided to include another train trip in this adventure.  It should be an interesting trip as the route goes through Nevada (ok, so I guess it's not all going to be interesting. Nevada brings to mind a futuristic penal colony...with less gentile inhabitants) Utah and Colorado before hitting the corn belt for the final leg into Chicago where we will change trains for the commuter run into Milwaukee.  We'll be staying the night with old friends from NJ, Bob & Susan Peschel, who live just north of Milwaukee.  Bob has graciously offered to guide us on our first day of cycling from the Milwaukee area to a campground near Sheboygan.

Getting in shape for 3 weeks on a bike has been a bit challenging this summer.  We seem to be situated at ground-zero for the worst wildfires in the US this summer.  We've got firefighters here from all over the country.  Just today, I saw a fire rig from NEW JERSEY...I didn't even know they had forest fire equipment.  Drought conditions were exceptionally bad to begin with and, once the fires started, they took off with a vengeance.  We have also had a very hot summer with temperatures hovering in the mid to upper 90's most days.  Usually, from our back deck we can see Mt Shasta (40 miles to our southeast) as if it were in the backyard.  This year we have had days when we couldn't see the other side of the valley, less than 1.5 miles away.  Some days, we are also treated with falling ash which rides the air currents and sifts down like snow on everything.  Riding your bike for an hour in these conditions is somewhat like smoking a pack of Camels.  Not great for long distance riding. 

Our gear for the trip will be similar to our previous trip with a few exceptions.  Kelly will switch from the BOB trailer to standard panniers.  She didn't feel the bike handled well with the trailer and that it was extra difficult on hills...like it was always pulling her backward.  We will also be carrying a much trimmed-down kitchen setup.  Instead of a Coleman backpacking stove (pretty heavy) we will be bringing a simple alcohol stove.  Not so good for cooking meals (which we ended up not doing much anyway) but plenty good enough for instant coffee (Starbucks of course....we ARE from the Northwest after all) and oatmeal.  A single pot and a plate, cup and spork for each of us rounds out the kitchen.  We'll be bringing mostly warmer clothing as temperatures should be in the 60's during the days.

We're very excited about this trip and are anxious to get on the road.  It's always great to see new country and, by all counts, this is one of the most picturesque places you can ride.  Add to that the wonderful, courteous mid-western people and it should be a great trip.  We'll take lots of pictures and will provide a full blog-report on our return.  We will not be taking our I-pad this time and will have no way to blog during the trip but will be sure to keep our journal notes to fill you all in on our trip.  So, wish us good road-vibes and we will see you on our return in early Oct.