The Spokesrider

Before Michigan became a state, a national military road was built to connect Chicago with Detroit. Territorial roads were also built. I presume they were financed by the federal government because there was no state government at the time, but I must confess that I don’t know quite how they were financed. I’ve seen old [...]

On the ride to Mongo on May 31, I tried something different when I got to the south end of Farrand Road. Every time before I’ve turned left. This time I turned right to go to the spot on the map called Findley. I was surprised to see that there actually is a community at [...]

I’ve already written about the surprise of my first-ever ride to Topeka in LaGrange County, Indiana. This was the road by which I rode on that day in 1997. The above sign about “Life in the Past Lane” wasn’t there back then. This is downtown Topeka, facing west (again). Just down the street and on [...]

Most of the buildings along Hawpatch Road are neat and Amish white. But there are a couple of derelict buildings. One is a church. The other is this old school. At least I presume it was a school. There is also a newer-looking Amish school down the road. This derelict looks like it never was [...]

Over at Amish America, Erik was commenting on how the part of the LaGrange-Elkhart settlement that lies east of Emma (in LaGrange county) is one of his favorites to visit. Well, there’s a road through it that rates high on my list of favorite roads to ride. It’s the Hawpatch Road — part of a [...]

I had a nice overnight bike ride this weekend. Yesterday afternoon I rode 65 miles to Mongo, Indiana. Today I did a leisurely 39 miles to Ligonier. Yearly mileage to date: 837.7. I took several gravel roads today, which is one of the things that made it leisurely. I’m glad I took the one on [...]

On my Sunday ride back home, I passed through a small Amish settlement in in the southeast-most township of Calhoun County, Michigan. I took this photo of what I take to be an Amish business as one to use when I try to explain that the Amish people are not anti-technology. They’re constantly adopting new [...]