On my FJR 11 Days, 8 States, 3.500 miles

Just back from eleven days on the road riding from Texas over to Indiana, up to Michigan, down to Wisconsin and back (to Texas).

My Route more or less:https://www.google.com/maps/dir/San+Antonio,+TX,+USA/Lake+Catherine+State+Park,+Catherine+Park+Road,+Hot+Springs,+AR/Hoosier+National+Forest,+Bedford,+IN/Pentwater,+MI/Rapid+River,+MI/Mt+Horeb,+WI/San+Antonio,+TX,+USA/@34.8192418,-97.4189613,6z/data=!4m69!4m68!1m15!1m1!1s0x865c58af04d00eaf:0x856e13b10a016bc!2m2!1d-98.4936282!2d29.4241219!3m4!1m2!1d-97.7120045!2d29.8518464!3s0x8643540e52d3f747:0x36332a2ecef6ec85!3m4!1m2!1d-95.9413723!2d31.5430236!3s0x86489c561e53849d:0x834ec5203c72fe9a!1m5!1m1!1s0x8632cd9e4050424b:0x23fa53b931f3b0c7!2m2!1d-92.925086!2d34.42657!1m5!1m1!1s0x886ea44eed35fc87:0xaa0f94693aa1a420!2m2!1d-86.540067!2d38.476104!1m5!1m1!1s0x881c08844db882b9:0x36be72f82e07400c!2m2!1d-86.4331355!2d43.7816728!1m5!1m1!1s0x4d4dc61b8b268445:0x9dbe137252e0f145!2m2!1d-86.9670603!2d45.9266383!1m20!1m1!1s0x88079777e411ad6d:0x39a5ce3e16cd82a!2m2!1d-89.7384562!2d43.008608!3m4!1m2!1d-91.5382921!2d39.6826506!3s0x87dd95207866b8c5:0xcc3ae1d906c2a69e!3m4!1m2!1d-92.3931501!2d35.2237459!3s0x87d27e6f9936355b:0xab48f47d285c44ad!3m4!1m2!1d-95.6062405!2d31.7659082!3s0x864864328a0094a3:0xcb7604ee01571225!1m5!1m1!1s0x865c58af04d00eaf:0x856e13b10a016bc!2m2!1d-98.4936282!2d29.4241219!3e0

I left early Saturday morning and headed for the 85 mph toll road 131 that begins near Seguin. I would have left the day before, but was rained out. Which brings up two things I should have brought, new rain gear and a way to keep my visor from fogging up at inopportune moments. But I digress temporarily. I managed to ride all day covering 550 miles or so before stopping at the Catherine State Park 12 miles off I-30 in Arkansas. There was a sign posted that said the park was filled, but I, ever the optimist, went in and was told there were no campsites available. Just like the sign said. They called somewhere else and I shuffled my feet and thought about riding another hour when the lady in charge said she was going to cancel a reserved spot because she did not think the person was going to show up. So I was lucky and got a spot.

Campsite.

https://flic.kr/p/tsvxBr

Turns out it is a popular place with lots of families, sounds, and movement. A large gathering across from me was nice enough to invite to partake of their huge crawfish boil so I added a few of them to my soggy sandwich.

https://flic.kr/p/sN8hP6

Sunset at the campground

https://flic.kr/p/tsvLs6

My camping gear was mostly new stuff including a mountain alps tent, a four pound typical sleeping bag, and a thermarest luxury map self inflating air mattress. All worked well enough, especially the Thermarest. Don't know how I ever managed without it.

I also brought a gps, 7 inch tablet, and a sony a3000 camera.

The next morning I set out for the Hoosier National Forest campground of Tipsaw Lake, but first the rain, the rain. I packed up my gear and hit the road only to be hit back by pouring rain during the 12 miles back to the interstate. I holed up for a while at a waffle house until the rain let up and then rode mostly in the rain for about three hours until I started going north. I 30 and I 40 are busy semi filled highways, but they may be necessary to make a little time. I rode all day and somehow made it to the town of Tell City where I knew I was fairly close. I ordered a burrito to go while a nice group of people gave me instructions to the campground. It was a relief to set up camp and eat my dinner.

Campsite at Tipsaw Lake campground, Hoosier National Forest.

https://flic.kr/p/tGCw7b

https://flic.kr/p/tsnqAu

Continuing on I spent two nights at this campground and practically had the place to myself since it was the week before the Memorial Day Monday. The facilities are nice and the shower and bathrooms worked well. The sites are $27.00 per night. I would visit again. There are places to eat a few miles out. I mostly hiked and sat around in shorts. When I left early Tuesday morning I noticed the temps had dropped considerably and I would spend the day riding in mostly 50 degree weather. It was a choppy day with constant wind. I stayed on the mostly two lane roads up the middle of Indiana. I took highway 37 north until I passed Indianapolis and then stayed on 37. This is a slow route filled with cars and little towns. But after Kokomo 37 clears up and is fairly fast and tranquil. I made it to Benton Harbor and then continued up until I was tired and wanted to camp. I ended up in Pentwater MI. and stayed at the Charles Mears State Park on the lake.

https://flic.kr/p/tJYnZr

A closer look at the sandy campsites

https://flic.kr/p/sMXpWo

There is little cover here and it is more park like than camp like, but then again there was almost no one there. Nice views of the lake.

https://flic.kr/p/tJX8hH

One thing that irritated me here was having to do everything by phone as far as paying and then being told I also needed some kind of camping permit that was going to cost me another 9 dollars per day on top of the 31 dollars for the site alone. The town of Pentwater is nice and there are a few places to eat close by.

I left early the next day when the temps were in the 30s. Hard to get started in the cold like that. I headed for Traverse City to eat and then made my way along the coast, over the bridge and onto the upper peninsula. I was headed for Hiawatha National Forest, Rapid River to be more precise. Another fairly long day, but made nice when I found the recommended restaurant where I had a nice dinner and an interesting conversation before riding 7 miles or so to my next two day camping stop.

Jack's in downtown Rapid River MI.

https://flic.kr/p/tGANnS

My campsite in the Hiawatha National Forest campground of "Little Bay de Noc".

https://flic.kr/p/sMVQLh

If anyone knows if I can post photos without the links please let me know.

Nice ride report !

I know Perry County Indiana well. When my kids were growing up we would visit Tipsaw Lake to swim.

Did you like 37 through English and Paoli. Some of the best Indiana has to offer right there.

Later

Scooper

DSC00061 by Edward Roja, on Flickr

Go to your Flickr page with the photo.

Click the share button (arrow) at the lower right.

Select BBCODE and copy the string

Paste it into your posting.

May have to turn off the light switch in the upper right of the reply box if using IE. Chrome generally works better with this board.

Practice in the "Test" area of the forum - bottom of the page.

I think you can edit the BBCODE string so your name and link don't appear beside the picture.

Yes, you can - see below.



Another one. You can also choose the photo size

Remove links

Turn on light switch in upper left hand corner when editing post, screen goes a little funky on my computer at least but don't worry.

Click wear needed and recopy the link again while the switch is on.

Save post

Walaaaa, behold the new picture.

repeat as needed

I now do my reports in word with the links (using the IMG link)

When done in word I just cut and paste to the forum.

Seems to work better for me.

Dave

Thanks for the help, but I am unable to do anything more with my posts. No way to edit that I can see.

I think you need to have a certain number of posts before you can edit. Practice in the test area and post again in your thread with the pictures.

As I now understand it a time limit is placed on the edit feature. Please delete this post. I will not be back.

Well that sucks. Your going to leave over that? Oh well, I was enjoying the trip.

Nativeson said:

As I now understand it a time limit is placed on the edit feature. Please delete this post. I will not be back.

Click to expand...

Why?

Don't let a little posting frustration keep you from sharing.

Time limit on edit is good. Means that after you reply to some jerk, it's harder for them to rethink what they said and go back and change it.

Nativeson said:

Please delete this post. I will not be back.

Click to expand...

You've got to be kidding.....

Nativeson said:

Please delete this post. I will not be back.

Click to expand...

Funny, I just went for a post-dinner walk with my son, and we were talking about a kind of symptom where a person has "low persistence," which involves becoming easily frustrated and giving up quickly. It made us realize how fundamental the ability to persist in a task and overcome frustration is to just basic living....

Nativeson said:

As I now understand it a time limit is placed on the edit feature. Please delete this post. I will not be back.

Click to expand...

You're welcome to stop coming. As for deleting posts....please reread the terms you supposedly read and agreed to when you signed up including:

You agree that once you post something it becomes property of the forum. Your contribution is a critical part of a threaded discussion and the context is important to retain. If for some reason you depart the forum don't expect that your account and material will be deleted.

Click to expand...

I will close the thread for you though.