I have my pics uploaded, so will put some in this post, along with the link for the Gyros and Kabob house we went to in WI. Unfortunately the sword dancer wasn't there when we ate, that would have been fun. Regardless, the food was excellent. I had the Spanokopita, which is a spinach pie, in phyllo, served with a mint cucumber sauce. Tony had Mediterranean Shrimp, with grilled pineapple and bell pepper, with a yummy sauce. Here is a link to some pics.
http://www.gyrosandkabob.com/pictures.html
Woke up Tuesday morning to snow flurries, yes snow. Not enough to stay on the ground, but none the less, it was snow. The bearings for the trike came in about 11, and it was ready to go at noon. By then the snow had turned to rain, so we had lunch before we bundles up and headed over to the Hostel Shoppe to take it for a test ride. Man, it was like having a new trike. No hills in the area to try the mountain drive out on, but there was a big overpass that went over a rail road track, that made a good substitute for a hill. Nothing to exciting to our ride, we could tell we aren't used to riding in the city. We rode about 12 miles. We did ride past a cool looking building. I think it was a tavern. I took a picture of it.
When doing recumbent riding, the riders have more power in their legs because of the position they ride in, so it is really important to "spin" up hills rather than mashing down on the pedals with all the leg strength one can muster. Serious damage can be done to ones knees if "mashing" up a hill, instead of "spinning." Spinning is when the riders pedal fast and easy. Since we live in the hilliest area of the lower peninsula of MI, and didn't have adequate gearing on our trike for the hills that are all around us, we often found ourselves mashing instead of spinning. Not good. Our knees didn't like it. The Schlumpf mountain drive we had put on gives us the power we need to get up hills by spinning. It works like 2 chain rings with a large difference in size. It turns our low gear ring into a 15. To engage it Tony simply taps it with his heel, it can be done while stopped. To disengage, he taps with the opposite heel. That's about as technical as I will get. I know it works great. Can't wait to try it out on the hills around here. On the last 8 miles to our house, Tony was listening to the car motor, when he could hear we were going up some of the hills that are a challenge for us, he said, "Yep, I'll be kicking the mountain drive in here for sure."
Took the route across the upper peninsula home. Such a pretty drive in the sections that go beside Lake Michigan. Stopped for lunch, by the lake and walked down to take a few pics. Had someone want to come and take a peek in our "cute little trailer." We call them "looky-lews." We don't mind, it happens often. we get compliments at the gas pumps about our t@da, and people smile at us when they drive past. We're used to it. It makes traveling, fun and interesting .
I could see the iron deposits from the lake on the shore. It was a little windy crossing the Mackinaw Bridge, but I've driven across in worse winds. It's a long 5 miles across for me, when i can feel the bridge moving due to the wind.. Made that drive lots of times when Tony and I were in Massage School in St. Ignace. A couple of times we had to delay our crossing because the bridge was closed due to high winds. The bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. During the month of March 2011, 203, 417 vehicles crossed the bridge. Traffic in creases in the summer. Construction on the Mighty Mac started in 1954 and was completed in 1957.
It spans the straits of Mackinac and connects the lower and upper peninsulas of our state. It is built to sustain winds of 365 MPH. When rinds reach a sustained speed of 65 MPH, the bridge is closed. It is usually for only short periods of time. for those not brave enough to drive across, there is a number to call to arrange driver service for $2.00. I've driven across white knuckled before, but haven't needed to have a driver...yet. Each labor day the bridge is closed for a period of time for the bridge walk, which is usually led by the current Governor of Michigan. You won't find me among those waking across. I know my limits. I wanted to put some pics in here, but didn't want to buy any, so here is a link instead. It's worth checking out.
http://www.mackinacbridge.org/bridge-cam-20/
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