Day Four: 83 Miles Through the U.P.
- Richard Webster
- Aug 10
- 6 min read
Before Ken even started Day Four, we had a few moments from the night before that were too good to leave behind.
Jeremiah took on a two-and-a-half-inch jawbreaker, Richard and Jeremiah stopped for ice cream, and the family squeezed in a quick round of miniature golf. Ken even tried the campground's giant air blob. He said he had heard that jumping could help support the lymphatic system, so he gave it a try. That was Ken's personal reason for jumping, not medical advice, but the result was certainly memorable.
Richard and Jeremiah took an ice cream break after a long day of supporting Ken on the road.
Then morning came, and Day Four became serious very quickly.
Ken rode 83.8 miles, climbed 1,244 feet, and spent 9 hours and 29 minutes on the bike. By the time he reached Campfire Shores, his total for the trip had climbed to 286.19 miles. He is now nearly halfway around Lake Michigan.
Cold Air, Bugs, and a Prayer
Ken began the morning bundled up against the cold, wearing the mask Steve from RZ Industries had given him. Ken said it was comfortable to breathe through, kept his glasses from fogging, and helped with the cold air and insects.
He did not want to say the day's exact mileage out loud yet. He knew it would be long. Before he rolled away, Ken and Richard prayed for safety, stamina, and a good day on the road.
Richard watched Ken leave St. Ignace just before 7:00 a.m.
It did not take long for the Lake Michigan bugs to introduce themselves. Ken pulled on his head net and found a humorous benefit to keeping his mouth covered. Watch the video for his explanation.
The shoulder along U.S. 2 was much wider than Ken remembered from riding this route with his brother Don about 20 years ago. The added space made a noticeable difference, even with fast traffic passing nearby.
Sand, Water, and an Unexpected Pasty Stop
The early miles brought beautiful views across the lake, but some sandy stretches were better suited for walking than riding.
Then a sign for pasties caught Ken's eye at Dune Shores Resort. He stopped and met Michelle, who explained that their pasties are made from scratch and follow the tradition brought to the region by Cornish miners. The one Ken tried included beef and Hungarian sausage.
Two devotional pages at the stop also caught Ken's attention. The August 9 reading began with an invitation to rest and be still before God. The August 10 reading focused on trusting Jesus and becoming an overcomer. On a day that would require patience, strength, and perseverance, those words mattered to him.
The August 9 devotional page that caught Ken's eye, beginning with the invitation, "Come rest with Me, beloved."
The August 10 devotional page focused on trusting Jesus through difficulty and becoming an overcomer.
Familiar Ground and a Roadblock
From the shoreline, Ken could look back toward the area near Mackinac that he had crossed earlier. The route also carried him past small towns and a church he remembered from the ride with Don about 20 years ago.
Then the road closed.
Ken stopped to study the construction and spoke with a worker about the safest way through. The interruption became a lunch break before he continued.
Remembering Heath Michael Robinson
Near the Cut River Bridge, Ken stopped at a memorial honoring Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Heath Michael Robinson, a U.S. Navy SEAL who died during Operation Enduring Freedom on August 6, 2011.
The bridge sign records a structure 641 feet long and 147 feet above the river. A nearby plaque explains that the bridge was named in Robinson's memory and dedicated on October 10, 2015.
The sign for the Heath M. Robinson Memorial Cut River Bridge, including the bridge's dimensions and construction details.
The memorial plaque honoring Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Heath Michael Robinson and his service and sacrifice.
Kindness Along a Long Road
At roughly 20 miles, Ken stopped for another break and tried to settle the proper pronunciation of "pasty." You can hear his ruling in the video.
A young tourist stopped to make sure Ken had enough water and food. Later, Richard caught up with him on the road. They talked about the pasty stop, the hills, the calls Ken has been receiving from Ron, and the encouragement people have been sending.
Another bridge and construction area forced Ken to dismount and carefully walk the bicycle through tall grass beside a steep drop. It was slow, cautious work, but he made it through safely.
Small Towns, Big Hills, and Fast Traffic
Ken passed another town whose name he was not willing to pronounce without help. He invited readers to tell him how to say it in the comments.
The scenic overlooks were worth stopping for, even while the miles kept adding up.
One speed-limit sign earned its own Ken-style commentary.
At 37 miles, Ken paused for lunch and recognized that he was closing in on the halfway point of the entire Lake Michigan ride.
At 47 miles, even the road signs seemed unable to agree about how far he still had to travel.
Meanwhile, Richard and Jeremiah documented the center of Jeremiah's enormous jawbreaker. This photo provides the context behind the jawbreaker video from the night before.
Jeremiah shows the colorful center of the two-and-a-half-inch jawbreaker featured in the earlier video.
Then came a long climb, hot pavement, and traffic moving at 75 miles per hour. Ken described one stretch as a ten-mile climb. It was exactly the kind of hard riding he had knowingly signed up to face.
With 22 miles remaining, shade became a priority.
A kind couple allowed Ken to rest beneath a tree in their yard. That small act of hospitality came when he still had about 15 miles to go and needed it most.
Campfire Shores at Last
After 83 demanding miles, Ken finally rolled into Campfire Shores. Richard met him with a high five, and the first order of business was simple: food.
The final numbers show just how much Day Four demanded: 83.8 miles, 1,244 feet of climbing, and 9 hours and 29 minutes of riding. The planned route had estimated 82.7 miles and about 7 hours and 28 minutes, but the road, construction, stops, and real-world route added both mileage and time.
Ken's completed Day Four activity: 83.8 miles, 1,244 feet of climbing, and 9 hours and 29 minutes.
The planned August 10 route estimated 82.7 miles, 1,164 feet of climbing, and 7 hours and 28 minutes.
Across the trip so far, Ken has now logged 39 hours, 3 minutes, and 3 seconds of riding, covered 286.19 miles, averaged 8.49 miles per hour, and burned an estimated 15,820 calories. Against the roughly 597-mile route, that puts him at about 48% complete.
Ken's cumulative trip statistics after Day Four: 286.19 miles and more than 39 hours on the bicycle.
And then there was the bear.
Ken and his bicycle meet a much larger resident at an Upper Peninsula wildlife park. Watch the surrounding videos before deciding who won this encounter.
Day Four, in Ken's Own Words
Before calling it a night, Ken and Richard sat down beside the support van for one last conversation about the day. Ken explained why 83 miles felt even harder than the previous day's 96, including a ten-mile climb and a steady headwind. He talked about the people who encouraged him, the humor that helped him keep moving, and the ways he continued to see God throughout the ride.
Richard shared how the support routine has improved from a two-hour pack-up on the first morning to about 40 minutes, and both men thanked Jeremiah for the work he has been doing behind the scenes. They also looked ahead to a shorter recovery ride and ended with a new possibility to laugh about: 700 miles at age 70.
Ken and Richard close out Day Four with an honest recap, a look at tomorrow, and one ambitious idea for the future.
Help Turn These Miles Into Shoebox Gifts
The fundraiser has now reached $3,489 of the first $6,000 goal, which is about 58% funded. That leaves $2,511 to reach the first milestone.
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 the shipping and handling for another Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift.
[Support Ken's Lake Michigan ride and Operation Christmas Child (Click here)](https://fundraise.samaritanspurse.org/fundraiser/7346307)
Encouragement matters on a ride this long. If you can, please do all three: leave a comment at the bottom of this post, like or comment on the related Facebook post, and text Ken directly at 262-707-4253. If you cannot do all three, please choose at least one instead of only reading and moving on.
I’ve been reading and listening to each days post and gosh Uncle Ken, I am still just in shock and so impressed by your daily rides. Such an accomplishment. Keep pushing and inspiring! Love, Courtney
Another day in the books! I put a purple marker cross on the inside of my left wrist every day as a reminder and a thank you to God for waking me up again. I got that from Tim Timmons. He tours with the band Mercy Me. It’s a constant reminder to me to be grateful for all I have each and every day.