South Haven to Battle Creek( Great Lake to Great Lake)
Port Haven to Kalamazoo (18 Aug 26)
We started out with the usual crappy hotel breakfast, then headed back to the Kal-Haven Trail we rode yesterday from Kalamazoo — same familiar trail and the same stinky bathrooms along the way. We stopped in Kalamazoo for lunch and were joined by Bob’s fraternity brother, John Mourey from West Virginia Wesleyan College who just happened to live in Kalamazoo; together we navigated to the Crow’s Nest and scored a table big enough for all of us. The staff were great, keeping our drinks and waters topped off while Bob and John regaled us with college stories as we enjoyed our meal. After a quick group shot to commemorate the occasion, we were back on the trail.
Kalamazoo to Battle Creek
The afternoon route, conditions were pretty much the same — packed dirt, gravel and limestone with the occasional stretch of blacktop or concrete when passing through small towns. As we hit the outskirts of Battle Creek our trail disappeared and the only passage was through a construction area, so we dismounted and walked our bikes across. Battle Creek, of course, is known as the home of Kellogg’s (of Corn Flakes fame), and the next morning we planned to ride past the house where the Kelloggs lived; it had the feel of a grand estate, the kind of summer mansion you’d picture alongside the Vanderbilts in Newport, RI. That evening we stayed at a Hilton — the nicest hotel of the entire trip (thank you, Bob) — checked in, showered, and found the hotel bar. Once everyone had assembled, we paid our tabs and headed to New Holland Brewery, where the food, staff, and beer were all excellent.
