Day 5 – Tuesday, September 3, 2013

 Epoufette – Harbor Springs

I didn’t sleep well that night so I woke up early the next morning, but then fell back asleep for a few hours and ended up getting a late start for the day.  It was a chilly morning, and I walked briskly to the restaurant for breakfast.  I was ravenously hungry and  had a huge stack of pancakes with sides of both bacon and sausage followed by copious amounts of coffee.  But despite my best efforts and monstrous appetite I couldn’t finish it all.  I sat and enjoyed the beautiful sunny view of the lake and sipped my coffee.  It was going to be a perfect day to cross the bridge and the scenery was so beautiful I didn’t want to ever leave.

Early morning shot of me on day 5

You can see the other side of the bay vaguely in the picture

Last year it had been a little foggy in the morning so the views weren’t the best but today was absolutely perfect.  The ride from Epoufette to the bridge goes right along the lake and has a nice wide shoulder.  It was spectacular to see the lake and watch the shoreline curve around as I made my way southeast.  Shortly into the day I could actually look out and see the bridge across the bay and I watched it get closer and closer.

Wide shoulder and beautiful view to start the day

It got a little hilly as I neared the bridge and I climbed the hills looking forward to the great views that were always at the top.  I stopped at a scenic spot overlooking the bridge to take a picture and ended up talking with a German tourist who was traveling the US for a few weeks.  He was very friendly and we talked for a while but he seemed pretty uninterested in my trip.  Since I was excited to cross I didn’t stay long and after a quick photo took off to the park beneath the bridge.

Getting ready to cross Big Mack

Picture taken by German tourist at the lookout

When I finally got to the park at the base of the bridge crossing I was really excited.  I’d made it here to the official half-way point and it was an unbelievable morning.  The sun was shining and the lake was calm.  Every color seemed to stand out in contrast between the blue sky, the green bridge, and the emerald water.  Like last year there weren’t many people at the park but I found a lady and asked her to take my picture.  I stressed the importance of getting the bridge in the picture and had her take a few to make sure they turned out. 

Park at the base of Mackinac Bridge

After she was done I enjoyed the view a little more then was ready to head out.  Before I did I decided to check the pictures to see how they came out.  Incredibly she had lined up my head with the bridge completely eliminating it from the picture.  I couldn’t believe it!  Knowing this was going to be THE iconic picture from my trip I decided to try and find someone else to take another picture.

First picture taken with my head covering the bridge 

I saw a guy down the way walking his dog toward me and waited for him to get closer.  When he was near enough to talk I asked him if he would be willing to take my picture.  He gave me a funny look and instantly asked “were you here last year?”  Surprised and caught off guard I said “Yeah??” trying to remember… I could tell we both were straining to remember how we knew each other.  Almost at the same instant we both remembered where we’d seen each other before.  We had met last year at this exact spot at this exact time and for the exact same reason.  The coincidence was unbelievable.  Last year I had stopped for a picture here at the bridge and asked the exact same couple.  They were there to for the annual walk across Mackinac Bridge which takes place ever year on Labor Day.  I just happened to run into them again two years in a row!

Norman and June Ullman who I met in 2012 at the same place and took pictures of me

Ullman's picture of me at the base of the bridge

We chatted it up for a while like we were old friends and they again took a great picture for me to share with everyone.  After a bit we said our goodbye’s and I left saying “see you next year!”  I rode up to the toll booth and walked overtop on a catwalk to avoid the traffic.  I paid the $5 toll and they radioed for a truck to come pick me up.  I waited and eventually the truck came and we put the bike in the back and I rode up in the cab to cross the bridge.  They dropped me off in a hotel parking lot on the other side.  The view from the bridge was breathtaking and I just stared out at the open water.  It was so far up in the air you could see all the way down the southern shore of the Lower Peninsula where I would be spending the afternoon.  It looked like a long way.

View from the top of the road crossing

Looking out over Lake Michigan from Mackinac Bridge

Nice rest stop on the other side of the bridge

On the other side I continued on my way after a few more pictures and a phone call to my mom to tell her I’d made it over.  The whole crossing took about an hour with all the pictures and conversations and everything.

The road was steps away from the Lake for most of the afternoon

Continuing on, the day heated up but was not too hot.  I knew in the next hour or so I’d hit the tunnel of trees and would have a fantastic afternoon ride into Harbor Springs.  This was where I took the wrong turn last year and added 20 miles to the day but this time I was on track and followed my course leading me right to the tunnel of trees.  It is absolutely an amazing ride and follows the bluffs along the lake snaking it’s way through the woods frequently overlooking the lake through the trees.  The view is amazing and with hardly any traffic was a very enjoyable afternoon.

The start of the tunnel of trees

Since today was the shortest of the trip I had no problems making it to Harbor Springs by early afternoon and relax after such an exciting day.  My mom had surprised me by setting up a massage later in the day so after arriving at Dave and Vickies I changed, took a shower and headed out for a little pampering.  I swear it was the shortest hour of my life but felt great and really helped relieve the soreness in my legs, neck and back.

Back at home I felt relaxed but hungry.  Vickie made my favorite dinner Texas Yum Yum.  If you don’t know what that is you need to Google it.  I just couldn’t stop eating.  Little by little the entire pan vanished!  I was so hungry.  I went to bed early that night tired and full, knowing tomorrow was going to be another tough day getting to Traverse City.