Day Five: 57 Miles and the Road That Disappeared
- Richard Webster
- Aug 11
- 6 min read
Day Five began with rain, a flat tire, and a choice. Ken could split the next stretch into two easier days, or he could keep riding toward Escanaba and make tomorrow even lighter. He planned to listen to his body and let the road decide.
Ken and Richard open Day Five with the morning plan, Faith's daily prayer, and a reminder that God has this ride.
Ken's safety vest now carries a simple invitation: scan the code and follow his 600-mile journey.
Richard shows how the route app tracks Ken's distance, speed, elevation, and turns. The bigger question was how far Ken would choose to go.
A Wet Start and a Timely Wrench
The rain had mostly passed by the time Ken rolled out of Campfire Shores, but the roads were still wet. A flat tire kept one bicycle at camp, so Ken switched to his road bike and started west.
Rain gear on, bicycle covered, and cool air all around him, Ken starts Day Five.
It did not take long for the next problem to appear. His side mirror would not stay in place. Then Ken noticed an open garage and stopped to ask for help. The man tightened the mirror and handed Ken the Allen wrench so he would have it if the problem returned.
A stranger repairs the loose mirror, hears about the 600-mile mission, and sends Ken away with the tool he may need later.
The road also offered a sight Ken found too funny to pass without recording. Watch the short clip and see what made him stop.
Ken's first unexpected roadside laugh of the day.
Halfway Home
Five miles into the day, Ken crossed an important line: 300 miles. He had now spent 40 hours actively pedaling and had burned about 16,000 calories. The halfway point was no longer somewhere ahead. He had reached it.
Forty hours on the bicycle, 300 miles completed, and the halfway point behind him.
Ken kept noticing the small churches that mark tiny Upper Peninsula communities. One stop had little more than a church and a post office, but it still gave the road a sense of place.
Another small-town church catches Ken's eye.
Ken looks around a community so small that he cannot even find its name.
At about 20 miles, a rest area appeared just when he needed water, food, and a short break.
A well-timed place to rest, refuel, and keep moving.
Miles of Construction
Then the road narrowed. Traffic had backed up for miles while a construction crew managed one open lane. Ken moved carefully past stopped cars and lumber trucks until he reached the flagger and asked where a bicycle should go.
Ken works his way through the traffic queue and asks the road crew for a safe line.
The flagger points Ken to the right side and sends him through.
For a moment, the construction zone gave Ken what felt like the widest bicycle shoulder of the entire trip.
Three lanes of open pavement feel almost luxurious from the saddle.
Passing the stopped vehicles gave Ken a chance to tease the drivers who had passed him earlier. A few miles later, they caught up and returned the joke.
The traffic jam briefly puts Ken in the passing lane, and the drivers make sure he hears about it later.
The cones and fresh pavement keep stretching ahead.
A quick thank-you to one of the workers helping everyone move safely.
After roughly five miles, Ken finally reaches the end of the construction.
How Far Today?
The original plan called for about 40 miles. A sign gave Ken several options, including continuing all the way toward Escanaba. He knew Richard could pick him up wherever he stopped and return him to that same point tomorrow. Every extra mile today would make tomorrow easier.
Ken talks through the choice and decides to keep riding until his body says otherwise.
Heat From Below, Sun From Above
Fresh black asphalt covered a long section of Highway 2. Ken could feel its heat rising beneath him while the sun pressed down from above. The smell made the stretch even harder.
After about 15 miles of fresh asphalt, Ken explains what the heat and smell feel like from the bicycle seat.
The instant Ken leaves the black surface, he can feel the difference.
By 45 miles, the planned ride was already behind him. Escanaba was about 15 miles farther, and Ken decided to go for it.
The day was supposed to be 40 miles. At 45, Ken still wanted more.
One surprise on a country road suddenly turned the next few seconds into a sprint. Ken tells the story best himself, so watch the video to find out what came racing out of a yard.
An unplanned burst of speed gets Ken's heart pounding.
At 50 miles, a small fire department offered a shady place for another break. Soon after, a cool breeze came off the lake at exactly the right time.
Ken finds a convenient place to sit down after reaching 50 miles.
The cool air off the lake feels like a gift after the heat.
Highway 2 also brought fast lumber trucks and clouds of roadside dust. Ken pulled on the RZ mask Steve had given him and thanked him again for helping protect his lungs.
The mask comes back out as semis and lumber trucks kick dust into the air.
The Support Van and a Safety Call
Near the end of the ride, Richard and Jeremiah caught sight of Ken from the support van.
After hours of leapfrogging ahead, the support crew finds Grandpa again.
Ken explains the highway dust, credits Steve's mask, and says he has about six miles left.
The support van was waiting ahead, and seeing it brought visible relief.
Ken sees the support van near Escanaba and calls it a pretty sight.
Richard had driven ahead and discovered that the wide shoulder disappeared completely. Cars were moving about 55 miles per hour beside a curb with no safe bicycle space. Ken wanted to finish the remaining three miles, but Richard made the call to stop there. Those miles can wait. Getting home safely cannot.
The next stop was Walmart, where a tired rider received four wheels instead of two.
After 57 miles, Ken lets a shopping cart do the rolling.
Day Five by the Numbers
Ken completed 57.3 miles in 6 hours and 52 minutes of riding time, with 993 feet of climbing and 916 feet of descent. The ride was supposed to be about 40 miles, so tomorrow's remaining segment should be much lighter.
The cumulative bicycle computer showed 343.71 miles, 47 hours and 52 minutes of ride time, and 19,062 calories. Ken believes the true distance is about 10 miles higher because one earlier segment was not recorded.
Ken and Richard close Day Five with the final mileage, the kindness of a stranger, the heat, the headwind, the vanished shoulder, and the plan for tomorrow.
The Ride with GPS map and summary for Day Five: 57.3 miles from the Manistique area toward Escanaba.
Day Five elevation details: 993 feet gained, 916 feet lost, and 6 hours 52 minutes of riding.
The cumulative route now reaches the Escanaba area on the northern side of Lake Michigan.
The cumulative bicycle computer shows 343.71 recorded miles, 47:52:36 of ride time, and 19,062 calories.
Help Turn Miles Into Shoebox Gifts
The live fundraiser has reached $3,698 toward the first $6,000 milestone. That is about 62% funded, with $2,302 remaining to reach the first goal.
If you have been planning to donate, now is the time. The $6,000 goal is the first milestone, not the ceiling. Every additional $10 can help cover shipping and handling for another Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.
Give Ken Some Encouragement
Encouragement matters on a ride like this. If you can, please do all three:
1. Comment at the bottom of this blog.
2. Like or comment on the related Facebook post.
3. Text Ken directly at 262-707-4253 with a word of encouragement.
If you cannot do all three, please choose at least one instead of only reading the update. A few sincere words can carry a rider through a lot of hard miles.
Kris Patton is my former neighbor here in Fond du Lac, WI and sent me your Day Five information. What a pleasant surprise to find someone else who totally believes in OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD!!! My hubby and I lead our church's OCC program each fall and we finally made it over our goal last November with a collection of 306 shoe boxes FILLED and PAID SHIPPING BY DEADLINE. May the Lord bless you in your next day's ride and we will be praying for your safety as well.
You know I have to leave you a comment! What a great day you had! Each day I read about you and I’m more impressed and inspired! You truly have been helping me through my pain and helping me to push forward! Thank you so much! Have a great day tomorrow and may God bless you and keep you safe!
Kris