43.1 miles/ +915.5 ft/ Total miles 1,251.8
Nice ride today, back on the Michigan program of 1-2 percent grades on most state highways. And 16 miles on a railroad grade bike trail to get into Traverse City. There were lots of local cyclists out on the trail, and whole families – I think today was the last day of school. I haven’t seen another long distance cyclist for a week! Where is everyone?
Traverse City is a busy place and crawling with summer visitors. For the most part, I feel like I am leaving civilization behind by traveling east to west, but every once in a while I will need to ride through a bigger town. Normally I do not lock my bike when I go into a restaurant or store but here I do. Loaded with the panniers, it seems unlikely that anyone would take it (as soon as they try to move it, they would change their mind!) but I don’t want to take a chance.
No pictures today.
On the quiet roads through farm land, I have some time to ponder important questions, such as:
- Why do the crickets in Michigan chirp all day long? Crickets are supposed to be nocturnal.
- Why are the concrete trucks in the east front-discharge trucks (see photo below) while in the west, we only have rear-chute trucks?
Judy's Bike Ride 2017 
I don’t think they are crickets. They are locust like grass hoppers. I love that sound. I think?