This is Day 2 of Bikes, Boat and Goats, A Western Michigan Fatbike Sand Odyssey: Fat-Bike Beach Touring from Silver Lake to Pentwater
Four days. Three nights. One ferry ride. One full moon. Over 100 miles on two wheels, with about 30 of those right on the beach sand of Lake Michigan’s stunning west coast. What more could you ask for?
We set out to explore the stretch from Ludington to Silver Lake State Park and back — sticking to the sand as much as possible. We pedaled our way past dune rides, dive bars, and plenty of burgers, carrying everything we needed for a beach-heavy bikepacking adventure.
Day 2: Dunes, Trails, and Beers – (Saturday, July 12)
Breakfast at Lighthouse Buffet in Silver Lake filled us up good. Think “endless decent food” — solid fuel for the day.
Then came a highlight of the day: Mac Wood’s Dune Rides. Tourist trap? Sure. But riding a monster dune buggy through shifting sand with a wisecracking driver and “SeaGal” jokes flying left and right? Worth every penny. Thanks, Scott!
We swung by The Woodshed Bike Shop but it was closed (on a Saturday afternoon). A short jaunt on the Hart-Montague Trail got us rolling again.
Puck’s crankarm tried to quit the trip, but an AutoZone stop in Hart plus Locktite and an Allen key brought it back from the brink.
Beer time: Big Hart Brewing was pouring some gems — the Sable Point Kolsch was refreshing, and the 5 O’Clock Whistle IPA delivered a solid hoppy kick.
Pentwater, Take Two: We hit up the Antler Bar for perch sammies and what felt like a personal Def Leppard concert. Local beer highlight: Grand Armory’s Wheezin’ the Juice. Excellent.
Camping at Mears State Park was scenic, though heavily populated by RVs. Tent campers beware: bring 12-inch stakes to survive the sandy ground.
Stay tuned for Days 3 and 4!
Who makes those fat tire trailers you’re running?
Puck modified a BOB trailer with a fork from a 20″ fatbike. Maybe he can chime in with the details.
Does the fat tire on a bike trailer track better in the rough than a skinny tire or does it create more drag in certain situations? I have a Nordic Cab that has skinny wheels and a plastic tub bottom that I thought I might try to tow on an expedition.