I have to agree. Although, until I took a 900 mile loop through the lower part of the state I deserted almost 50 years ago, I would have said, "it is a good place to be from." Our plan when we started our tour last summer was to circumnavigate Lake Huron starting at my brother's place in southern Michigan. Due to the desire to visit a long-time friend in Rose City and the weather that was north and east of us when we reached Mackinaw City, we decided to turn west and follow the Lake Michigan shoreline.

We arrived in Mackinaw City on one of the two times a year that bikes are allowed over the Mackinaw Bridge. However, we did not find out about the opportunity until it was too late. I think if we would have ridden over the bridge we would have gone with our original plan. There is always next time

The scenery was beautiful in October, the drivers were courteous, the roads were clean and litter free, and the people we encountered were really great. On one of our motel nights at Wolf Lake, the motel's owner asked us if we had any clothes that needed washing. She actually did a load of laundry for us. At that point we happened to intersect an ACA route. She mentioned that they were included in the ACA information--Day Star Motel.

I'm really glad that I was wrong on all the negative perceptions I had about my home state, and even at my age a person can experience a major "paradigm" shift.