Thursday, June 6th, 2024

Spent the last couple of days at Joanne's house, as I mentioned earlier, because of rain. She fixed some food for us for the next several days, and we headed to Crystal Falls via 141 past Amasa. This is a quicker route to where I left off - while a little busier.
When we got back to the park, paint River Forest Campground, we loaded up the bike. I had no intentions of going any further on Gibbs City Road, as it is narrow with no shoulder and a lot of rises, which can take someone on a bicycle by surprise when a car zooms over a hill. In Crystal Falls we had a delicious breakfast at the New Leaf Bistro of Swedish pancakes, with imported lingonberry jam. I highly recommend this place and their food.
From Crystal Falls, we headed on M69 to Sagola. On the way you will come up on M69, and if you follow it, you will get to the small village of Felch. The previous time we had been there we had a nice meal, the very day that the bar burned down. That was sad for the owners and the patrons.
We unloaded the bike after waiting out a rain storm and I headed east on the Felch Grade Trail. This beautiful stretch of trail is mainly very straight with few twists or turns, going over several delightful streams that I would have loved to have fished if I had more time. The trail part parallels the highway; it probably was the original course through this vast wilderness. I was headed to Stromberg Park, a county park several miles north of 69. I will give you more direct assistance on mileage in my book after it's published.
When I got to the corner of Ford Ville Road there was a large cadre of young ladies playing softball, a tournament I suspect. Heading north on Ford Ville Road, I came to the park, which is tucked away onto a quiet lake. I noted that this lake had little motorboat activities, which to me was a recommendation. This was proven correct when I was awakened at 8:05 the next morning by the haunting tremolos of a pair of loons. This small lake was a peaceful Place for a respite from my arduous bike ride. I will try to write more tomorrow. Hoping everyone knows their place in the universe. God is smiling down on you.
Copyright for this upcoming book belongs to Hilton E. Moore. All rights reserved.

Hardwood Community Recreation Center. I would assume this might have been a school at one time, but that's just a guess.

Another shot of the Hardwood Recreation Center.

Sign to Stromberg Park.