Cherry Festing is an annual event – big here in Traverse City and we were lucky to have the TART Bike Trail Entrance right from our campground for access to the city in 25 minutes. Evidently Traverse City has a top bike trail system in the state, and we found that to be the case, riding at all times of day and night into the city.
A $5 Cherry pin got you in and out of the festival and this is like other festivals except they are big on the Cherry Pit Spitting contest and Cherry Pie eating contest, none of which we observed or partook. Similar to not being into amusement parks, we are also not into the fair fare and being in an enclosed area, but we found a nice seat in the shade and talked with a delightful couple, Sharon and David. They do a farm experience at AirBnB called BuckWild Farm just north of Traverse City.
Our days were spent bike riding and chasing breweries. And yes we found some favorites during these very humid hot days. The FIlling Station, old railroad station right off the Bike Path where Piper’s Porter was John’s favorite and the create your own pizza firesauce, brie, spinach and chicken was superb.
After making our way downtown into the crowds we found the Taproot Restaurant which had an excellent Monk Fish entree, and John had Brussels and delicious pulled chicken sandwich.
The earthenware mug regulars above was really interesting looking. One of the best meals in Michigan so far and the selection of Ciders was amazing.
Boardman Lake Loop starts right at the Filling Station and about a mile into it, comes Right Brain Brewery where Pin ball machines abound and from a photo Mackie even recognized the World Cup Soccer machine as one they had before the house fire.
And we even met four British Colonials who were critquing the Right Brain beers. We will need to save the Boardman Bike Loop for next time because it was just too stinking hot and, we snuck into Kilkenny’s Irish Pub which was basement level and very cool and perfect to weather the downpour which was happening and riding through neighborhood after the rain.
An afternoon nap with the AC was in order, so back to Vinny we rode. 4th of July ended up being a 20 mile day and our undercarriages were complaining by evening. Lovely fireworks from the beach and a night ride home with many people on the trail tonight.
A sailing schooner adventure was the finale of our Traverse City experience, and John even got to help hoist the mainsail. The wind was brisk to start, but then died down as we got out into the bay, and needed to enjoy the libations and conversing with the crew for the most part on the way home.
I was told to try and book the Scout Yacht for a smaller, more hands on cruise, maybe next time. Wanted to stop back at Silver Spruce Brewery and here we met another couple, Jill and Bill from Denver who also had 3 girls and were attending a family reunion in Traverse city.
We stayed there for quite a while reminiscing, and on the way back I took a small spill on my bike. And won’t you know it, I have bruised a rib again, not nearly as bad as the jumping from log to log incident at Baker Lake, but about the same as Duke pulling me down to chase a cat a few months ago. I got new bike tires as mine were getting bald and I don’t want any more slippage. It’s already feeling better.
Well it was about time that we made our way back I to town and finally got some cherry pie, and dark chocolate covered cherries, and some cherry barbecue sauce.
Travels with Vinny VanGo 