Teaching Family Homes - Tour Da U.P. 2008 Tour

-2008 TOUR-

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“Along the River and Through the Woods"

Tour Da U.P. 2008 Bike Tour Pictures

The 2008 Tour da UP is in the books as another memorable experience for everyone, including the staff from Teaching Family Homes. Every summer for the past 18 years staff from our administrative office work together to host a unique bike tour in a different region of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. 2008 was no exception. We were once again blessed with awesome weather that could not be beat. The temperatures were on the mild side with minimal rain and a tail wind the entire week. Ok, maybe not a tail wind the entire week, but two out three aint bad, as the song goes. The theme for ’08 was “Along the River and Thru the Woods”, which we managed to live up to. Group Homes

The weeklong tour began in Menominee, MI, traveling north along the Menominee River to our first overnight at Shakey Lakes campground. It truly gave you the feeling you where in the middle of nowhere as we left the last small store/tavern and no-tell-motel with 7 more miles to go before we got to the campground. Tucked deep in the woods we found the oasis of three lakes and our campground. It’s just another amazing thing about the Tour da UP; we continue to find these out of the way places that many seldom venture to. But that’s what makes it a unique experience.

Rain fell lightly at 6:00am, just enough to settle the dust as the cyclists got up and met the day with hot coffee, cereal, an array of fruit, yogurt and juice. Day 2 was upon us as participants talked about the day’s route ahead with much anticipation for the ride and the scenery that lie ahead. Everyone was excited to get going so the camp looked like a ghost town by 8:00am. With a few hills between Shakey Lakes and Iron Mountain it would prove to be a challenging day. Our lunch stop was in the small village of Faithhorn, which was once, like so many other villages in the UP, a thriving logging town. The Long Branch Saloon sounds like a place you would only go to if you were riding a horse in a time long ago. But this saloon was recently renovated, exceeding our expectations with a private room, lunch buffet and carved watermelons made to look like fruit baskets. Back on the road through miles of country side and farmlands, the route brought us to the hills of Dickinson County. Our destination was Lake Antoine and the county park.

As the riders slowly filtered into Lake Antoine Park it was obvious that the day’s ride was long but at the same time fulfilling. The route provided a little ofeverything and ended with a nice swim in crystal clear waters of Lake Antoine. After everyone had their campsites located and their tents set up it was time for a little relaxation, socializingfollowed by a dinner right in the campground. The Iron Mountain/Kingsford and Norway/Vulcan Lions Clubs provided a cookout atthe lake front pavilion complete with deserts and drinks. Lions Clubs throughout the U.P. always offer meals when they can. It is one way they support TFH and our fund raising efforts

Group Homes Our traditional ‘off day’ was Tuesday, Day 3 of the tour. After a light breakfasteveryone decided on activities that theywanted to do for the day. Some folks took a bike ride into Iron Mountain and checked the shops and historical sites such as the international ski jumping site or toured the back roads around the lake. A favorite activity for others was to just relax on the beach and find a shady spot to read a book and take a nap. We also offered Whitewater Rafting in the Piers Gorge, a mine tour of the Vulcan Iron Ore Mine, and an off-road ride on the trails of nearby Fumee Lake. This rest day allows everyone to do something at their own pace, catch lunch and dinner at a restaurant of there choice or as some veteran tour participants have found, just relax at camp and cook food over an open fire.

Wednesday, Day 4 the group woke to a hot breakfast buffet with a wide variety of choices. After fueling up for the day, we broke camp loaded the SAG wagon and got on the road riding north. This 68-mile day would be the longest of the tour and put the participants to the test. The day’s route would include the “Through the Woods” portion of tour and a great deal of flat terrain with a gentle downhill grade from the Foster City area back down to US 2. Our final destination would be the Carney-Nadeau School, a small town with great northern hospitality. Like many tours before, we met a couple of cyclist riding across the country from the West coast to the coast of Maine. It just so happened that when some of our riders saw the direction that these two guys were going, they thought it was a short cut. However, little did they know it wasn’t the marked route and they rode several miles out of the way until they finally figured out they were chasing two bikers with full panniers and packs heading to the east coast!. There is always a funny story to be had on the Tour da U.P.

Once everyone reached the school, set up tents, showered, and socialized it was time for dinner at the local Legion Hall hosted by the Carney-Nadeau Lions Club. We had several guests join us for the dinner and short presentation by staff from Teaching Family Homes. In a short period of time we were able to cover a great deal of ground about what we do at TFH. Lots of great questions about the services our organization provides were also asked. Everyone left with a better understanding that everyday we are repairing the lives of children and families through support, care, compassion and teaching useful skills that can enhance and make the lives of our clients better.

Our last day of the tour was an easy 35 mile ride back to the start area at Menominee High School. Once again we started the day with a hot meal before navigating our way back to our starting point. With the end in sight after our last aid station and SAG stop the group looked in anticipation of what may lie ahead. Some folks stayed another night and took in the local area festival while others were off to visit friends on the return home. We finished the tour with a traditional pasty lunch (Sorry about forgetting the gravy this year!) and a fun awards ceremony. It also gives everyone who would like to stay an opportunity to exchange email addresses and phone numbers, take last minute photos, and make plans for 2009.