Day 18 - Michigan DOT, Would it Kill You to Pave Some Back Roads?: Tecumseh, MI to Howell, MI

A hard day today as we departed our ACA route to detour over to Howell to see a friend. Howell is where we shipped our camping stuff to back in PA. It seems that the State of Michigan does not pave back roads. The back roads are a gravelly/sandy mess. The available blacktop roads between Ann Arbor and Howell were mostly shoulderless with fast traffic. Not a fun day. We've got about 80 miles between Howell and Midland, MI to get back on the ACA route. Trying to figure out a way not to repeat today. May take tomorrow as a rest day.

Martha and Barney took a little bit of a beating with all the gravel, dirt and sand, but came through like champions. A good night's rest will make it all better.

Shop owner and Trail Angel Mike of SIC Transit Cycles, Ann Arbor. He was very helpful with the best way to get to Howell.  

A little bit of everything today - including single tract. That Barney - the do it all tandem.

 

 Pat Wright, Trail Angel and caterer (PrimOvations). Gave us some water and wished us safe journey. Check out those pork ribs he was prepping in the outdoor smoker!!

It was getting late and the dirt roads were starting to aggravate Martha.