Growing up in Alpena, Michigan, on the shores of Thunder Bay, we always heard of the splendors of Manitoulin Island and the North Channel of Lake Huron. My wife, Jean, had visited the North Channel many times as a child with her family, during their frequent summer cruises.

In 1981, I joined the family on a sailing cruise to the North Channel, enjoying the ports of Little Current, Gore Bay, Meldrum Bay, Clapperton Island, and ET. Al. It was a wonderful 10-day cruise that has been described by countless authors before me. During the cruise, we asked ourselves; "What is it like in the center of this marvelous island?"

So it was that in July of 2002 we loaded our bicycles onto the Chevy and left Sarasota, Florida heading North to the longest fresh-water island in the world, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. After stops in Tawas, Rush Lake, and Mackinaw Island, MI, we drove across the International Bridge at Sault Ste. Marie, into Canada and around to Little Current at the North-Eastern end of the Island. There, we stayed at the Hawberry Inn. Are you a Haweater? That's someone who was actually born on Manitoulin Island.

The next morning, we left our Chevy at the hotel and mounted our bicycles to cycle West following Route 540 to Gore Bay. Along the way, we visited the Bridal Veil Falls in M'Chigeeng - well worth the stopover. In Gore Bay, we stopped for the night at the Queen's Inn B & B. The hospitality of the Inn was only surpassed by the wonderful fare.

Day 2 of our cycling adventure took us on to Meldrum Bay. Along the way, we saw

amazing scenery and wildlife, including Golden Eagles, deer, hawks, and small game. The final miles into Meldrum Bay from the East were a cyclist's dream - miles and miles of quiet country road that, for the most part, we rode in solitude. The Meldrum Bay Inn B & B was every bit as remarkable as our previous night's stay. The only thing missing was old Ivan Trick, the perennial dock master at the Marina. He had passed away just recently, and was still remembered as a true character of this excellent Northern Port.

Our return trip to Little Current spanned another 2 days, following the same route returning, with many fine friends and adventures along the way. In all, we cycled 200 miles in 4 days, covering a good portion of this wonderful Northern Island.

After an overnight in Little Current we bade farewell to Manitoulin Island as we drove over the old wooden swing bridge, onto the mainland and back to Sault Ste Marie for the Agawa Canyon train tour, but that's another story. If you're ever in the neighborhood, the visit to Manitoulin Island will remain among your fondest memories, as it has for us