OUR MONTH WITH THE LAKE: A Pilgrimage Around Lake Michigan by Bicycle: Day 1.2

Today's Route: Portage, IN - St. Joseph, MI

Finally got back to the shore at Indiana Dunes State Park

A Tail Wind Day full of sunshine through surprising Indian then up the east cost of Lake Michigan to Michigan City, New Buffalo and St. Joseph

Departed:	May 18, '15, 09:24AM
Starts in:	Portage, IN, US
Distance:	64.6 mi
Elevation:	+ 1681 / - 1676 ft
Max Grade	6.3 %
Avg. Grade	0.1 %

Total Duration:	07:45:56
Moving Time:	04:37:47

Max Speed:	23.9 mph
Avg. Speed:	14.0 mph

Highlights

Its hard to put into words how absolutely perfect this day was. Everything: the temperature, the sunshine, the tail wind, the people, the Dunes, THE LAKE, the tail wind, the view of Chicago from the Dunes, the route on various Lake Shore Drives, the tail wind, the food. And oh did I mention the tail wind? For those of you who don't ride a bike long distances, a tail wind is a gift from the gods. It makes your riding easy, almost like having a sail attached to your bike. A long 65 mile day becomes a "breeze." Well not quite, you still have to work at it, but it makes the whole day much more pleasant and it turned our great day into a perfect one.

After a short 15 mile ride through the last of Indian's Duneland trail we finally get back to Lake Michigan at Indiana Dunes State Park. Several months ago I'd gotten in touch with a group of people who are working on getting a US Bike Route designated and signed for the entire circle around the lake. One member, Christine Livingston the Assistant Director for Indiana Dunes Tourism, asked if we won't mind being interviewed while at the Dunes. Perfect day for it and in we rode. Stay tuned for some press releases and maybe a local news article. But here are a few of the great shots they took while we were there.

From there we proceeded east to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore for a look at some 1936 Century of Progress Homes that had been moved there by barge after the fair ended. Strange to see a pink Floridaesque building right there on the south shore of The Lake.

We all agreed, the most surprising thing of the day was how BEAUTIFUL and bike friendly Indiana was. Months ago we decided to do a counter clock-wise rotation of THE LAKE because we wanted to get what we thought would be an industrial waste land out of the way first. How WRONG we were. This is so lovely! As we only got to sample a little, Will and I are already planning a return trip - say offering a four day self-supported Evanston Bike Club ride down here to see the Dunes, travel up the Michigan coast a way, with the possibility of a train ride back on the South Shore Line. Now that's a great dream too.

Turning the corner and crossing from Indiana into Michigan we're moving northeast and the warm tail wind takes on a light coolness as it comes across the lake before it hits us. Did I say PERFECT or what!!

The rest of the day proceeded in kind as we got blown from one lakeside town to another each with their stately lake side homes, picturesque harbors and oh so welcoming while sand beaches. If ever you wanted to drop say a million or two on a house I guess this would be a great place to do it, especially if the weather were always as today.