Yesterday’s ferry ride was a lovely, feet up, punctuation mark in the journey. Did you know that Lake Michigan is so big that, from the middle, you can’t see either shore. It’s like being at sea! 

The steamship was built to carry railway carriages across the same route. After the line closed the ship was converted to carry cars (though the crew drive them on and off – its very tight!). 

Ludington was a lovely holiday port, with a matina, nice shops and restaurants. Unlike industrial Manitowoc, where they used to build subs for the US navy.  Unfortunately I read too much on the ferry and flattened my phone battery – so no pictures! 

At our meal last night we met a couple of enthusiastic cyclists who wanted to tell us all about cycling in Michigan. It was a really friendly evening.

Today we spent the morning heading east on a highway, with our second breakfast  overlooking a lovely lake.

  
In the afternoon we rode 65 miles along the Pere Marquette trail – this section of the rail line to Ludington having been tarmaced for cycling. It was perfect. It cut straight through woodlands, and large areas of wetlands and nature reserves. Fantastic flat cycling with no traffic noise. Just a few other cyclists for company.

  
Pulling into our hotel just now we found a London bus parked outside – with no explanation!

  
Sorry I have not been responding to comments. I can’t. The server is going offline for several hours immediately after I post anything – so its one posted item at a time. And sometimes I can’t post at all (e.g. yesterday). When I get home I’ll move it to a better host server.