Leslie to Perry
55 degrees this morning as we cranked our way out of Leslie. The forecast is a high of 89 today, but not too humid. Quite a change from the daily rain that pursued us on last years PALM. I don't like rain, but I like heat and humidity even less.
Hoping Rollin is truly fixed now. Forgetting that I was going to stay in the large gear ring, when we came to the first big hill, I downshifted from the large to the middle ring. Big mistake, the chain started making a noise, jerked, and then suddenly we were pedaling like mad, and going nowhere. So this is what a broken chain feels like. Kind of like when we throw a chain, except for the jerk and the grinding noise. Not sure if it broke from jamming or what. The bike lady was nearby, and Jeff was too, and after putting the chain back n the chain tube and using a master link we were on our way. Our motto for the rest of PALM is, "No more shifting on the front gear rings...no matter what!" Shifting those rings is such a habit, I will have to really be mindful to not do it. Sure don't want anymore breakdowns.
Our goal today is Perry. We haven't been there, but we do know someone who lives there. Named after Admiral Oliver H. Perry, it'sa small town with a population of 265. Located a little over 10 minutes from Lansing, 30 minutes from Flint and 1 hour from Detroit, it is a home to commuters.
The first white man, Josiah Purdy, settled here in 1836. He built his cabin next to an indian trail. Not sure if he knew it was an trail or not, but even with the cabin there, the indians continued to use the trail. Eventually Josiah befriended the indians and when traveling in inclement weather, they would sometime stop and spend the night on the floor, of the main room of the cabin, sometimes packing it from wall to wall. In 1837, other settlers followed.
First store in the township was opened in 1851 by William O Laing. In 1852 he was appointed postmaster. In the years that followed Perry Centre, as it was called then, continued to grow and soon had a Sawmill, a mercantile store, harness shop, wagon shed, Odd fellowship hall, and a Methodist church. Not sure when the first school came to the area. In 1876 the railroad came through 1 mile south, and Perry was incorporated as a village in 1893. There was an interurban that through Perry, then to Owosso and Jackson. It ran 4 times each day, mostly with one car, but sometimes with 2.
On a summer morning in 1913, a spark from a train started the Sparks and Company elevator on fire. The blaze started out small, but with inadequate equipment and a 30 MPh wind, the fire soon spread and engulfed many buildings in the town. The fire was finally brought under control at 6:45 PM. The town did eventually rebuild, but not without a well to provide water in the event of fires.
Our riding today was a gradual decline in elevation, so much easier than the previous days. Once again I took a few random pictures of riders.
Rode past another cool stone house. I wonder how many of theses there are in MI. Are they in other states as well? I spent much of my life living in the prairie states and although the farmers likely had filed stones to deal with there too, I don't recall seeing any houses like this there.
This place had repurposed old farm equipment and wheels into an eye catching fence.
The dog was too hot to pursue us or even bark, but he did watch as we passed by.
This old schoolhouse could probably tell a story or 2.
Although it was a hot day to ride, there was a nice breeze and the terrain was easier.
We had a bit of an audience as we put our cots up tonight,
and a few that wanted to see how it felt to lay on them.
We traversed the Brandon High school parking lot in Perry around 3PM. Rode 41 miles today.
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