Jackson to Brighton( Great Lake to Great Lake)
Jackson to Stockbridge (20 Aug 26)
Up early, we grabbed hotel breakfast—fresh pastries, bad scrambled eggs and waffles fresh off the iron—then hit the trail with the morning sun just breaking through the trees. We made a short stop in Stockbridge to visit another of Bill’s relatives, this time a cousin of his wife, and met Becky and John, who welcomed us like old friends. Their easy conversation and warm hospitality made the break feel perfectly timed, a restful pause that recharged us for the rest of the day and left us smiling as we headed back onto the trail.
Then it was on to Pinckney where we found the perfect stop for lunch — the Pinckney Diner. The trail had been hot, and walking into the diner felt like stepping into a cool oasis. That didn’t last long for me; the AC vent was directly over my seat and I was freezing. I grabbed my meal, apologized to my friends, and headed out to the warmer picnic tables under the sun. The food was worth the little shuffle, and eating outside made the next stretch of the trail feel that much more inviting.
Pinckney to Brighton
Back on the trail, we welcomed the canopy’s shade, which kept the ride a little cooler and lifted our spirits as we rolled along. The path soon led us onto a raised wooden bridge that threaded through a swampy patch—boards creaked gently beneath our wheels, and the air smelled of wet earth and green growth. The bridge offered a perfect pause to soak in the marshy landscape before the trail dropped back into sunlit open stretches.
As we neared Brighton, the landscape shifted from quiet countryside to clusters of businesses and the hum of everyday life; just a couple miles from the hotel, right on the trail, we spotted Zukey Lake Tavern and couldn’t resist. Today’s journey was coming to an end and a cold beverage sounded like the perfect reward for the day’s miles, so we parked our bikes, and let the cool air and clinking glasses revive us. The tavern’s relaxed vibe—made it easy to settle in, and that simple pause felt like the best part of the ride, a small celebration before we finished the day.
We continued on to Brighton, checked into our hotel and found the local steakhouse. For us, whether we can walk there often dictates where we eat, so a short stroll made the decision easy. The guys wanted a tour of the local Costco, and since I was a member I gave them the $3 tour — a quick spin through bulk aisles and curious samples. Everyone behaved, so ice cream sundaes were the celebratory treat. Good food, good company, and a little neighborhood wandering made the day feel like a perfect travel stop.
