A three day escape

      Rain and thunderstorms had been predicted for the three days I chose to take a bike ride.  During the approaching days the probability was rolled back a little here and there. (This is important to the story).  I went ahead and decided to take the risk, by the time I was ready to ride, the probabilities had diminished to a little rain at night and maybe a thunderboomer some time, some where.  I said screw it and left without rain gear.  It was warm enough that if I got wet, it would be a relief.

                             

I don't get tired of riding the Kal-Haven trail.  34 miles of shady rambling through the forests is an idyllic afternoon anytime.  The weather was just about as gorgeous as Michigan has to offer.  Riding along with temps in the '70's seemed effortless compared to many trips.  At the end I went downtown in South Haven for a couple beers and Calamari for dinner.

I decided to skip the campground trailer parks and stay at Eagle Point since it was vacant.  By then the forecast was perfect and I left the rain fly off to enjoy some open air sleep.  

A few hikers and bikers came up through the evening and chatted while they enjoyed the view of the sunset over the Black River .

                                   

      With the restaurant selection in South Haven I loaded up in the morning and enjoyed breakfast at The Bakery downtown along with the throngs of tourists crowding the the town, even on a weekday.  The simple plan is just to toodle down  US Bike Route 35 along the coast to St. Joe

which was also filled with people escaping whatever urban trap they've got themselves into.  The park and beach are a well developed entertainment center with the largest splash pad I have ever seen.

There are all kinds of historical markers and I don't know what the cannon was all about, but the cannonballs were impressive and looked good with the new black color of the Hunq, so I parked it there for a while.

Leaving the lake shore, I followed the highway inland to Berrien Springs.  The city has developed a very nice campground on the St. Joseph river

where they keep the primitive sights segregated from the trailer park that most  consider a campsite.

They're a bit pricey for rustic campsites but there is a shower at the end of the day rather than a sponge bath.  That means something now and then.

     The roads back through Dowagiac to Portage are a mismatched conglomeration of paved county roads turning to gravel and back again through forest

and between the fields.  It's almost all flat and that's a good thing because the temps were getting into the 80's and I was getting weary and low on water.   By the time I reached Texas Corners I took a break for water supplemented with beer at Fletcher's Pub.  While I was there I caught up on social media and remarked  that all the rain had failed to materialize.  Feeling refreshed and ready to make the last 8 miles through town, I headed to the parking lot, felt a few sprinkles falling, laughed and headed off.  Within 100 yards I was drenched.  It must have come down at about an inch and hour.  Buckets of rain were poured on me.  Fortunately there was no lightning, and I shrugged it off and felt refreshed as my body temperature dropped.  

       All in all, it was a great three day ride.  Trails, designated bike route, and an assortment of gravel and asphalt it was just...

for a three day escape.