Across Lake Michigan yesterday (Monday) which turned out to be a long and tiring day. Then a 113 mile century today has rendered team penguin a tired and ornery bunch tonight. Yesterday was supposed to be a rest day. It started off okay and we were able to sleep late. But after breakfast our orders were to report for duty at the ferry dock at 13 hundred hours (military time for 1 in the afternoon). It was a hot day but the 6 mile ride was not the problem. The problem was arriving an hour early, then standing and waiting in the hot sun, first to get on the boat and then a delay of the boat departing while some huge wind turbine pieces were squeezed into the cargo bay, and then the 4 hour crossing combined with an hours loss entering the eastern time zone. This had us arriving in Luddington, Michigan at 8:30 still with 10 miles to ride to the hotel. On top of that we were starving because about all there was to buy on the boat was popcorn and hotdogs.

Unlike most of the others, peckish and hungry, who dutifully rode to the hotel out beyond town in the "land of Wall-mart" for a choice between McDonalds or Taco Bell, I and 2 other incorrigible friends stopped in the quaint harbor at a micro brew pub for a quick burger and a cold beer. Needless to say it was getting dark when we safely but now happily arrived at the hotel, to be greeted by the anger and hostility of the commander for having violated the rules by riding in under cover of dark.

The next morning, (today Tuesday) upon arising early the penguins were not a happy group. In addition to the previous night's late arrival, a incident from Sunday still was lingering. A middle of the group, pack of 7 riders (actually it was 2 groups who had temporarily melded), crashed in a massive, cascading snowballing heap of bloody road-rash and twisted handle bars on Sunday afternoon. Miraculously no one was seriously hurt and the bicycles all could be patch back together, but the carnage of bodies and frayed nerves, hurt feelings and even some finger pointing was psychodrama for the long ferry ride and added to today's somber mood.

Uncharacteristic of the others, though still still in the dog-house, I felt great. I spent today empathizing with the other penguins and socializing as I rode up through the group after as long a breakfast and as late a start as the commander would allow. I finished the long century up with the WTS (way to serious) folks in time to help unload the luggage, a futile effort to gain the Commander's favor.

No pictures of today's ride, it was a lot like Wisconsin but following are some photos of the crossing of the Lake.

It was a big boat and I did get my 2nd swim in Lake Michigan to keep cool as we awaited our departure.

The eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

View as we landed at dusk