Day 36: Manitowoc,
Wisconsin to Ludington, Michigan
Rest (mostly) day
July 26, 2004
Miles: 7
Today we rode only far enough to get from our motel to the ferry across
Lake Michigan and then to our next hotel. Most of us wore street
clothes. I did that, but changed into my cycling shoes while on
the bike--my pedals are too small to use for any length of time with
street
shoes.
Luggage wasn't
loaded until 9 am and we didn't
have to be at the ferry dock until noon. I took my time leaving
the hotel, in part
because after changing a motel flat (first noticed at 10 pm yesterday,
long after our ride and therefore not an "official" flat as I
understand the rules) my front tire wasn't seating properly. When
I put the proper amount of air in it the bead would slip out of the
rim, resulting in a bulge. This happened once last night and then
again this morning. By the time I discovered it, the staff had
headed out to do laundry and I couldn't get at my spare tire that is
stored in Red (mechanics van). I reseated the tire once again and
pumped it up with my frame pump, figuring I could limp through the
seven miles of today's ride. When we got to the hotel tonight, I
pumped it up right and it looks like it is ok. Time will tell.
I cruised downtown Manitowoc. They have a
maritime museum and a retired submarine on the harbor. I didn't
go in those but I did find a stained glass shop where I bought several
sun catchers (stained glass pieces that hang in a window) and a stained
glass lamp.
I then went to the ferry dock, arriving about an hour early.
Seeing no food services and it being next to the town's sewage
treatment plant, I headed back to downtown with Loren. We stopped
at the Subway shop, where Andrew and Judith were already in line.
We joined them for lunch and made our way back to the dock.
The SS Badger is a large ferry, 410 feet long and capable of carrying
620 passengers and 180 vehicles.
The Badger runs on coal. At least 3 trucks backed on and came out
empty while I was watching.
Gulls were flying around the upper deck, catching popcorn tossed at
them by some of the passengers.
Today the lake was smooth and so
was the ride. Nonetheless, Lou was offering to share his
"non-drowsy" seasickness pills and several took him up on his
offer. Later he examined the label and found out that they were
"less" drowsy; several good naps were had. I took the time to
take photos, get a snack and read some papers for work.
Here is Manitowoc from the stern of the ferry:
And Ludington from the bow:
To dock, the captain dropped the anchor and pivoted around it.
The forward lookout told us that they don't have to use the anchor
often but today the winds required it. When they do, they have to
be careful to avoid a hole in the marina bottom that has been created
by years of dropping their anchors. It is about 50 feet in
diameter and 30 feet deep. If the anchor misses the hole, they
drag it along the bottom as they back in to the dock. If they hit
the hole they have to push out over it and pull the anchor up.
Sometimes the anchor drags up sunken trees, from the old logging days,
and they have to figure out how to get them off of the anchor.
Welcome to Michigan (R-L: Lou, Dan and I):
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