Road Trip Wednesday

Yikes, the teeny scratches sure are visible in my license plate light!

Ah, 4th of July on a Wednesday. It was nice to have a break mid-week, traffic was super light, my awesome employer let us have casual dress all week long, and we finally took a day for a road trip.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve put a decent amount of miles on my bike. And with STURGIS looming (woohooooo!!!) I really needed to acquaint my new hip with my beloved scoot. Our family was camping out at Portage Lake, so we could go out and visit, or find another route and spend the day exploring. With temps in the 90s and the humidity off the charts, we decided to keep moving and head out for a day trip and visit family this coming weekend.

Then we approached the Mt. Hope exit off 94 (where our family was camping) and Bill yells, “Is this the exit?”  I replied, “Yes, if you want to go to Portage Lake!”  LOL  I guess we’re visiting family today! Change of plans.

So we drop in unexpectedly on the campsite where everyone is nestled in their air-conditioned trailers and my sister finds a pair of shorts for me to wear. (I’d have brought my own had I known we were stopping!) Luckily, I knew to at least bring flip flops in my saddle bag.  Sooo nice to kick off your boots and socks and cool down for a bit. A fellow camper came by when she saw us ride in – she has the same model bike as mine, a Vulcan 900, just different paint. Probably the first person I’ve met in real life that had the same model bike!

We sat outside and kept moving our chairs to stay in the shade. My sister and I had our mister bottles in which we kept spritzing ourselves with water, to have it almost immediately evaporate. These things were a Godsend! I keep mine in the cup holder on my bike and it’s SAVED me on those long, hot rides. Bill and my brother-in-law declined being spritzed, so we were the mister sisters.

We got back on the road about 4pm  and still had our planned loop to finish – 94 to I-69 south to US-12 back home.  The campground was just north of 94 between Chelsea and Jackson.

I don’t know why I had it in my mind to go north on I-69 when we got there, but thank God I followed Bill. Hahaha. Somewhere along our route we stopped at a McDonald’s that was just barely open, as I don’t think the folding chairs were part of the planned decor.

It also had the new self-order kiosks, but they were closed, so we had to order the old-fashioned way!  (gasp)

Soon we were back out into the sunshine. And humidity. My arm really isn’t this huge.

I don’t remember taking this pic under this overpass, probably because I was watching the road and randomly pressing the shutter. Haha. I use a point and shoot that hangs around my neck, and shoot with my left hand, as the opportunity arises. Very carefully, of course.

My favorite barn along US-12, Cooley and Sons.

Great day. We made it back just before 8pm, and just over 200 miles. This weekend is supposed to be in the 80s, and I look forward to doing it all over again!