PAGE SEVEN: Day Three. Part One

July 10, 2025

A Detente With View-Blockers and a Last Chance to Regain My Edge

Along with all the other outdoor opportunities I've enjoyed over the last couple days, the Perkins Park Campground was one more reason to praise Marquette County's Parks & Recreation Department. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there. It was relaxing and fun all afternoon, all evening, in the middle of the night, and into the next morning.

There is one thing I forgot to mention in yesterday's post when I went on and on about Anatomy of a Murder. Near the end of the movie there is a campground scene. It was filmed right here in Perkins Park. Pretty cool, right?

The moonlighty night (thanks again to Frank Zappa for that phrase) at about 1:00 a.m.

It's a little creepy to wake up and the first thing I see is G-2 staring at me.

I have a well-established weakness for campsite coffee consumption. I have a morning routine while camping. The first thing after emerging from my tent is to gather up my stove, iso-butane gas cannister, cooking pan, water bottle, Bic lighter, and coffee grounds to start making cowboy coffee. Only after that can I rub my eyes, shake the last vestiges of sleep out of my body, stretch my legs, and start breaking down camp.

While waiting for my coffee to boil, I saw some activity out on the lake. This time it wasn't bikini-clad women; it was a family of ducks. Such a vision was certainly worth a picture, I thought.

I carried my coffee over to the public beach. It was indescribably relaxing to sip on the hot beverage on a cool morning while keeping an eye on the fishermen out on the lake.

I did have to get back to Marquette though. I went back to my campsite and quickly packed up my gear. I was regretting having to leave, but maybe a little more than the regret, I was looking forward to another day on the road.

To my surprise (and disappointment), the first five or six miles out of Big Bay were paved. It wasn't like that back in 1980, and neither Rand-McNally nor my homemade crayon map indicated anything other than gravel. I worried about how I'd be able to regain my edge while biking on paved roads.

At least the first five or six miles were almost all climbing. And there were a couple of edgy stops along the way.

This wasn't one of the edgy stops, but I do like the ferns around here.

My first attempt at regaining my edge was at a mountain biking complex that seemed to be provided by an Ojibwa Indian community. It was a very nice area, with trail maps and interesting trail options.

After downing some water and a beef stick, I decided to try pedaling on one of the trails. It looked pretty innocuous at first, but things changed quickly. Son of Bing Bong, fully loaded, was not up to the task of rising to the heights of the front range of the Huron Mountains. I admit I have to take some of the blame. My legs weren't up to the task of propelling Son of Bing Bong all the way up there either.

You'd think a tough guy like me could ride a trail called Old Lady Lucy. That old lady must have been one strong rider.

I redeemed myself a couple miles further up County Road 510. My hiking legs proved stronger than my biking legs as I was able to climb the short trail to the summit of Thomas Rock. From there, I got some of the great views I was hoping to see at the top of the mountain bike trails.

I locked my bike to a tree at the trailhead, applied 100% DEET, and started walking.

The hiking trail was a little too well-groomed for my taste, but I got over it.

Looking down toward Big Bay, I could see millions of view-blockers. Good thing they were too low to block my view of Lake Independence and Lake Superior beyond that.

Looking to the south, I could see another million view-blockers, some Huron Mountain magic, and a tall radio tower.

I spent quite a while up there and I had Thomas Rock all to myself the entire time. Eventually I had to hike back and resume my cycling. To my relief, my bike was still locked to the tree and hadn't been stolen while I was hiking and gazing at the scenery. Thankfully, this remote part of the Upper Peninsula is not a high crime area.

I rode back down to the main road and then continued pedaling uphill for a couple more miles. I felt great. I really like climbing early in the day when the air is cool and I'm well rested.

Wonderful 4-to-6% climbing through the view-blockers.

When I reached the top of the climb, I stopped for another beef stick and a photo. Since the high point of this road does not have an official name, I'm going to call it "G-2 Pass."

G-2's smile indicates he approves of the name.

From G-2 Pass, there was an exciting, high-speed downhill ride. Near the bottom, I had to squeeze the brakes for a tense moment when the smooth pavement suddenly changed to gravel.

I can't lie. The gravel was pretty tame for several miles. I had major fun on this stretch.

I didn't even mind that the view-blockers were closing in on me.

"Thumbs-up to gravel roads and view-blockers," is what I was saying at this point.

I am often inconsistent in my inconsistency. For sure, my greatest inconsistency is my opinion of view-blockers--AKA, trees. I adapt my opinion depending on where I am. I praise them on one tour and then I denigrate them on the next. When I've toured under the hot desert sun, I've written that I'd give anything for the shade of a few view-blockers. When I've toured in forested areas, I curse them for blocking my view of the lakes and rivers that I know are beyond the view-blockers.

Maybe I can't be satisfied when it comes to view-blockers. Maybe I need to see a Cycleblaze psychoanalyst regarding my irrational view of view-blockers.

All I know is that I'm liking them today. I am getting the best of both worlds--shade from view-blockers when I need relief from the sun, and the opportunities to rise above them when I need a scenic vista.

************

I hate to say it, but I'm getting tired of typing now. Also, I feel like I've rambled on too long about view-blockers and other useless information about coming to the U.P. for a bike tour. Therefore, I'm going to divide this day into two parts like I did the previous day.

I apologize for that, but I'm learning the advantages of not posting a journal in real time. There is much less pressure to produce something every single day. It can be pretty stressful to write with a deadline. I'm not sure if I could be a newspaper columnist.

So, I hope you'll come back for another page of this journal. Some interesting things, and a few boring things, are yet to come.

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Today's ride: 42 miles (68 km)
Total: 98 miles (158 km)

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