JULIA Miedema and SEA to SEA 2013 : To Grand Rapids we go!!!

JDay 4
Thursday, August 1: Lansing, IL to Benton Harbor, MI. Click to view route map and turn by turn directions.
Total distance: 142 km

Elevation: + 1681 / - 1696 ft

Overnight location: Lighthouse Ministries

Today was a wonderful ride :) it started out on trails and paths for a better part of the morning and then lakeshore riding along Lake Michigan. Very beautiful and scenic.

Threes states today...left Illinois through Indiana and into Michigan.

The ride was nice and shady along with lightly breezy. Some of the roads were busy but we were given enough Room to safely cycle.

I very much enjoyed this day!

Day 5
Friday, August 2: Benton Harbor, MI to Holland, MI. Click to view route map and turn by turn directions.
Total distance: 72.6 mi/116.9 km

Elevation: + 1948 / - 1953 ft

Overnight location: Hope College

Well well well!! No photos and not much to say! The rain sucked!! It rained and them poured then drizzled then rained and finally when you thought it was good it rained some more!! First 2 k and your thinking this isn't so bad ... I think I can stay warm if I pedal enough... With in the next kilometre the water that has been inning down your legs is now pooling in your shoes... Soggy feet day 2 of this week, and once your warm dry feet are wet it's "bye bye happiness, hello loneliness... I think I'm going to cry"

Truly! You know it's bad when 5 k into your ride to the next destination, you are sopping wet despite your rain jacket and there is no coming back from it until you AFTER you shower and are towelling off.

I am so thankful to be in a dorm tonight! No rain :)

Although my gear bag with tent, bedding, pillows, some clothing, runners, towel and sweatshirt did not fair well :( it was on the gear trailer which is a big open trailer hitched to a 1 Tonne van.... It was sopping just as bad as I was- almost enough to put me over the edge :(

I am in my dorm room now hanging all my stuff up and hoping it dries so I do not worry about it this weekend.

This weekend we will stay in dorms at Calvin! Loving this part of it!

I have now acquired a few garbage bags ... And once everything is dry will put my stuff in them and then into my hockey bag. This is the second time my gear is soaked through :( don't really want to repeat it again.