A new time zone

Friday, June 6 (Day 21)

Distance: 89 miles

Average speed: 10.4 mph

Max: 26.3 mph

Total: 1280 miles

This morning as I was packing up to go, a man came by to talk to me with a well-groomed miniature scottie. We were talking as I packed and he told me he goes to that campground every year for about a month to fish, and he is from Traverse City but he mainly lives in his five wheeler now. His name is Gary.

Last year, as Gary and his wife were on their way to the campground, a car turned in front of them and he was forced off the road into a big tree. His wife died in his arms. 

My heart broke for him, and I thought about him all day. How fleeting life can be, just like that it's gone...

Later in the morning, I finally got some pepper spray, which I will hopefully throw away unused in California. I also saw about 20 turkey right next to the road.

I'm starting to get into dairy farm country.

I crossed over into Central time at last! 

I was climbing hills all day and I'm much higher in elevation now. I've made my peace with hills, because what goes up, must come back down, and that will be fun. Anyway, hills make things interesting. The trees have changed, they are taller and there are lots of aspen.  

It was raining off and on today, but I really enjoyed it this time. I felt exhilarated seeing all the beautiful trees glittering in the rain and feeling the cool, clean air. There's also something about rain that makes the forest... Smell. An incredible smell, sort of like the Christmas tree section in a store.

I made it to my campground and was given a discounted rate for being on my bicycle, and there was free, dry wood to burn! I've been waiting for my shot at building a fire, which I've never done. I made a shoddy attempt and managed a little fire for about an hour before it peetered out on me. Oh well, it was something!