Bikes and Burgers

July 10, 2008 by bobcatou

As most of you know, I have been putting quite of bit of miles on my bike. With that, parts get worn and need to be maintained. Well this last weekend, that is what I did.

I rode up to a good friend in Howell, Michigan and with his help, I did an incredible amount of work on my bike.

The main projects were replacing a steering head bearing, chains, sprockets and checking the valves. Most of this work I would be able to do on my own but my friend has many of the correct tools and with his background, I was able to get all the work done in about a third of the time that it would taken me to do it alone.

On, Monday I stopped by Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor, MI.

Evidently this is a pretty popular burger joint for University of Michigan students. I first learned about this place when I saw the restaurant profiled on the Food Network program, “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives”. Go here for the segment.

The place wasn’t hopping as much as in the show but the burgers were still pretty darn good.

I’m going to have to do some hiking to work this baby off.

After my meal I rode back down to Ohio. I’m happy to say I notice a great improvement in the handling of my bike.

End of journey

June 30, 2008 by bobcatou

From Watertown, NY I decided I wanted to start making some miles so I hit the super-slab (interstate) and headed south on I-81 until I reached I-90. From there I rode west to the Canadian border.

I wanted to see Niagara Falls and make it to a Provincial Campsite early along Lake Erie so I could enjoy the water. Lucky me though gets investigated by the Canadian Border Police. Okay…not necessarily investigated but they went through my bags and I got put off by one officer who said I was “nervous”. After about a 45 minute delay, the border police realized that I had no drugs and I wasn’t hiding a terrorist in my gas tank, so they let me pass. They ask me lots of the same questions and took down some information so I thought for sure I was going to get the same experience heading back into the U.S. Luckily that didn’t happen.

Anyway after I crossed the border, I made my way to Niagara Falls. I’m told the Canadian side is much prettier than the U.S. side. I parked my motorcycle for $8 in a $20 parking lot. One advantage of riding a motorcycle is that we usually don’t get charged as much for tolls, parking and ferry rides.

I took in the falls from several angles and enjoyed the views.

The crowds did get a little much for me so I decided to make my way to a Lake Erie campsite.

I arrived at Selkirk Provincial Park around 5pm. I set up camp and grab some dinner in a near by town. As I was riding back to camp I saw some VERY dark clouds in the distance and they were heading my way.

I rode faster than I probably should have to get back to camp. There I covered up my bike and made sure I had everything I needed off my vehicle for the night in case the rain was going to be around a while.

The storm was probably the worse I have been in since I started camping with my bike but my tent held up like a trooper and I didn’t get wet at all. The rain lasted most of the night and slept very well.

The next morning I continued west toward Michigan.

I came across this cute bike stand.

I decided I still liked using a motor over foot pedal so I continued on my way.

In Michigan, I have a friend in the city of Howell who I stayed with for a couple days. After which, I road for another half-day back to Yellow Springs, OH to end this trip.

Another 4000 miles and several states ridden.

Catskills and skiers

June 24, 2008 by bobcatou

After I left Exeter, NH and Eric’s family, I rode east toward the Catskill Mountains. Traffic was slow and I got caught behind several long lines of cars so I cut my way to “Superslab” (Interstate) to make it to the Catskills.

That night in the Catskills, I stayed the Devil’s Tombstone Campground with only one other camper. I was in spot #4

The ranger and his assistant were really, REALLY eerie too. The ranger looked like Christoper Walkin and his assistant behaved like someone out of the movie “Deliverance”.

The camp was beautiful though and I survived the night.

The next morning I looked at possible routes back to Ohio and the direct route looked awefully boring so I decided to head north to Lake Placid, NY in the Adirondack Park.

There, I got to see potential Olympic downhill skiers practice their routines. They were not practicing in the snow obviously but in a pool. I able to get quite close to the athletes to get pictures.

After I watch the skiers perform their routines, I rode to a different part of Lake Placid where I got to ride to the top ski lift where the skiers performed their long jumps during the 1980 Olympic games.

I wandered through the town of Lake Placid and stopped by The Olympic Center but nothing much was going on so I moved on to Watertown, NY where I overnighted.