Pokagon State Park

Yesterday we left our campsite really early. There was a heat index warning and strong winds predicted for the afternoon. Temperatures were expected to reach triple digits. We had about 55 miles left of the Wabash Cannonball Trail. Our plan was to get an early start and find a stealth site at the end by the time the wind and heat got too bad. I set 3 alarms on my phone for 4:00, 4:05 and 4:10. I of course slept right through them, but they woke Rose up and she came over and shook my hammock. We were on they road by 4:30. I had made coffee the night before and put it in one of our water bottles. I have always enjoyed riding a nice trail in the dark. My front wheel is a dynamo hub that charges my phone or runs my fairly bright headlight as long as I’m going 6mph or faster. It’s fun to see all the eyes reflecting and try to guess what animal it is. I’m not sure Rose enjoyed the eyeball guessing game quite as much as I did though. There were a lot of eyes! We saw quite a few deer 1 coyote 1 red fox 4 raccoons and an opossum. Those were all clearly seen, not just their eyes.

We had completed 20 miles by sunrise.The paved part of the trail ended in gravel and grass. It was pretty rough going so we hopped on an adjacent road just in time for a spectacular sunrise.

We stayed on the road for another 4 miles until a gas station where we bought water and some more coffee. After that we got back on the Wabash Cannonball to give it another try. It was still tough but we took our time. I turned on some music. I had to hear Boxcar Willie sing Wabash Cannonball. I thought it was very fitting since I was on the rail bed that that train used to run on.

By 10 am it was hot and windy. We tried roads a few more times but they were always more exposed so we kept heading back to the trail. It was partly shaded and that was appreciated. Right around noon at a road crossing, I could just barely read a sign in the distance. It said Jumpin Beanz. I thought it had to be a coffee house. With all the shimmering heat waves coming off the road I was afraid it was a mirage. Not willing to risk riding that far in the wrong direction, we googled it to make sure. It was a coffee shop! We headed straight there.

The air conditioning itself was worth the extra distance. It was a great resting place and we spent at least an hour there. The barista was awesome and gave us cups of ice water. But the best part was what they called a chiller. Mine was a vanilla latte of course. It was like a shaved ice and a vanilla latte together! Completely awesome. I have never had one before.

The trail ended shortly after that and we had a relaxing afternoon napping and reading. Around evening a few storms came through but not sever. Mostly just a few downpours.

We got off to a later start today. The weather was much nicer. A lot cooler and the wind had died down. Still some scattered showers but we welcomed the cold rain.

We didn’t have a destination in mind, just see how far we go and see what the road would offer for the night. One thing we did want to see was what we had been calling the three corners. Ohio, Indiana and Michigan all come together in one spot. It wasn’t too far off our vague route. We thought we would eat lunch there. It wasn’t marked as good as I was hoping. I guess I was thinking it would be more like Four Corners, where Utah,Colorado Arizona and New Mexico meet. It’s a tourist atraction there. Kinda funny how it’s a big deal in one place and just a rock with a plaque at another. Maybe because it’s only three and not four corners! There wasn’t even a welcome to Indiana or Michigan sign. ☹️

We didn’t eat lunch at the state lines. We were going to but I got separation anxiety with my bike being two states away. Haha. In all seriousness though, my bike is rarely out of my sight. It’s odd because it’s not that I think it will get stolen. As a matter of fact I have only locked it once this whole trip. But if I can’t see it, I worry. If we are in a store , I make several trips up to the doors just so I can stick my head out and check on it.

Rose needs a new back tire. Hers is about wore out.

For over a week she has been calling bike shops along our route looking for a replacement. It’s a common size tire, 700×35. Every bike shop has that size but none had the Swchalbe Marathon touring tire that we both use. The great thing about the Swchalbe tire is flat protection. We run over lots of glass,nails, and screws. Today she located one in the town of Fremont Indiana. So that’s where we headed. The bike shop closed at 5 so we needed to pick up our pace a bit. Unfortunately the passing rain showers and freshly graded dirt roads were not conducive for going fast.

Realizing we would not make it, we came up with plan B. And that was to stay at the Pokagon State Park for the night and ride the 6 miles back into town in the morning.

Dinner was grits and sausage.

There is a nice gentle rain falling. It sounds so relaxing in my hammock. Its putting me to sleep, so that’s all for me tonight!