On the Road

Dad came home a few miles short of the number he wanted, so he put his helmet back on and rode again with his granddaughter Ariel. Their 22.3 mile Holy Hill outing brought the official RideWithGPS total to 614.3 miles and turned one last goal into an unforgettable family ride.

Dad made it home after nearly 100 hours and just under 600 miles around Lake Michigan. The final day brought a TMJ4 report, Jeremiah's jawbreaker surprise, a police escort, an emotional homecoming, and a fundraiser that surged to $8,441.

Dad rode 66.2 miles through construction, gravel, hills, churches, and unexpected conversations. One piece of Uncle Don's original ride disappeared along the way, but Dad reached the final campground with one ride left and a 600-mile promise still to keep.

Dad expected an easier 42-mile ride into Green Bay. He finished 52.6 miles later after family surprises, a beautiful Fox River trail, plenty of laughter, and an ending he says readers need to watch for themselves.

Ken crossed 400 total miles on Day Seven, but the moment that stayed with him happened while sitting beside the road eating lunch. From a Lake Michigan sunrise to construction, gravel, faith, and a long-awaited Wisconsin finish, every turn carried a story.

Day Six began with two broken bicycles and a race to find help in Escanaba. A generous bike-shop owner, a meaningful stop from Ken's ride with Don about 20 years ago, and a beautiful finish on Lake Michigan turned 16.5 easy miles into a day worth remembering.

Rain, a loose mirror, a stranger with the right wrench, miles of construction, hot asphalt, a surprise sprint, and one final safety decision shaped Ken's 57.3-mile Day Five ride toward Escanaba.

Cold air, lake bugs, a pasty stop, a Navy SEAL memorial, road construction, unexpected kindness, and one enormous bear filled Ken's 83.8-mile Day Four ride through Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

After a 96.7-mile record day, Ken expected an easy 40 miles to Mackinac Bridge. The hills, a roadside recliner, an unexpected supporter, and one important realization turned Day Three into much more than a recovery ride.

Day Two became Ken's longest bicycle ride ever: 96.7 miles in 13 hours. Wrong turns, rough trails, lake views, family support, and a high-five from Jeremiah carried him all the way to Petoskey.

Before Ken's first 74.2-mile riding day could begin, a missing wallet nearly stopped the trip. Prayer, family support, difficult roads, fresh fruit, a brake repair, and a determined finish carried him from Ludington to Interlochen.