The Michigan Villages is a different type of ride. You ride through miles of flat open fields to reach the first village, only to be transported to a totally different environment for the next 20 miles. Woods, orchards and vineyards along a lazy river - it’s beautiful and scenic. Then you head back home to be met by more flat open fields. It’s like they’re hiding their best kept secret. But it is definitely worth the trip.

Ten riders came together to enjoy the ride, felt like the perfect number of riders. We cruised north and west to Blissfield, alternately enjoying and fighting the SW wind. Deb Tassie bid us farewell at the point to return to Secor Park and enjoy a solo ride south of the park. 

We navigated around the River Raisin Festival and went on to the best part of the trip through Deerfield and onto our Petersburg rest stop. We found Jodie Petcoff waiting to ride with us after her 5k run in Petersburg. We rode on through the woods of Petersburg State Game Area before heading back south and east to Secor Park. Jodie peeled off at Temperance Rd to go home. (Jodie rode to Petersburg from home, ran the 5k, and rode with us part way to ride home, her own reverse mini-duathlon) At least the wind shifted to straight out of the west so we had a crosswind most of the way. 

We arrived back averaging 17.1 mph for exactly 51 miles, with smiles all around. Roads were really good, with the worst roads for the short stretches we were inside the villages. Rides like this with friends really make my day, it was fun ride all around. 

Next week - No Adventure ride. Support the Maumee Valley Adventurers Metropark Tour.  We’ll be back in two weeks with our send-off picnic for longtime member Mark Nowatarski as he moves on.