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.

Ken's final 20-mile training ride brought rain, a shoulder scare, a prayer, and a promise to carry part of his brother Don with him around Lake Michigan. Tomorrow, the journey begins, but one quiet decision at the end of this ride says more than the mileage ever could.

Ken set out on the Wild Goose State Trail with two grandsons for a demanding gravel training ride. Forty-two miles, rough terrain, teamwork, deer flies, and one flat tire turned the day into a family story worth remembering.

Ken left home in 49-degree air with nearly 56 miles between him and Oshkosh. Then he discovered the navigation route was programmed backward. See how he handled the hills, changing weather, a moving destination and the family welcome waiting at the end.

A request for help protecting Ken's lungs became a conversation about fatherhood, faith, charitable giving and 600 shoebox gifts. RZ Industries founder Steve Torbenson shared why his sons inspired his work and how his team plans to help Ken face smoke and dust around Lake Michigan.

Ken's 40.97-mile training ride included 1,673 feet of climbing, a 15 mph headwind, a stop at Richard's house and one deeply personal reflection about his brother Mike's concern for his safety. Ken's answer came down to a rocking chair, a bubble and why he still chooses to ride.

Ken rode 55.61 miles from Hartford to Lake Michigan and back, climbing 1,940 feet over seven hours while facing poor air quality, bridge construction, heat, a hard headwind and one final hill.

Ken's Saturday mask test became a much bigger story after a crash in the final mile. At nearly the same moment, Laralynn felt prompted to stop and pray for his safety. The timing left the family grateful, reflective, and calling it a "God wink."

Twenty years after biking around Lake Michigan with his brother Don, Ken looks back at the rain, detours, landmarks, and moments that still feel like yesterday as he prepares to ride again for Operation Christmas Child.

Ken's July 16 training ride brought a special riding partner, wildfire haze, Holy Hill, steep climbs, and a few feathered roadblocks. Thirty miles later, a grandfather and grandson had a story neither will soon forget.

Ken had 27 days left before his Lake Michigan ride, so he headed out on a 30-mile training ride with Duncan. The route brought hills, old neighborhood memories, Holy Hill, and one simple reminder: keep getting stronger.

Ken took his secondary road bike out for a serious training test and ended up riding 50 miles in July heat. The route included North Lake, the Bugline Trail, tree-covered paths, a quarry with bright blue water, and one more reminder that this Lake Michigan ride is getting closer.

Ken logged a 30.33-mile training ride on July 3, climbing near Holy Hill, stopping every five miles, racing the weather, and preparing for his Lake Michigan ride for Operation Christmas Child.

Ken and Richard spent the evening turning the Lake Michigan bike trip into a real plan, mapping the route, narrowing campground options, preparing gear, and getting ready for a 545-mile ride with a purpose.