Day 36 -- "The Badger"

July 25, 2005

ROUTE: Ferry across Lake Michigan

DISTANCE: 67 miles, 60 of those by ferry

WINDS: Warm and welcome

WEATHER: Muggy

TERRAIN: Calm water; urban cycling

TOTAL CLIMBING: Maybe 60 feet on foot up and down stairs

RIDE OVERVIEW: Our ride today consisted of maybe 3 or 4 miles to the ferry and then about 3.5 miles to the motel after debarking. Mike doesn't create a page on rest days, but I thought I'd download some of the photos he took of the ferry ride below.

Here are some quick facts about the Great Lakes and The Badger.

The Great Lakes

• The Great Lakes can be remembered with the acronym, HOMES: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior
• The GL contain 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water.
• The GL contain one fifth of the world's fresh surface water. 
• The GL are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world. 
• The GL have a combined area of 94,230 square miles -- and area larger than the states of NY, NJ, CT, RI, MA, and VT combined.

The Badger

• The Badger was built in 1952.
• It is the last steam passenger ferry serving the GL; it is powered by coal.
• The Badger runs between Manitowoc, WI and Ludington, MI.
• The Badger travels at a cruising speed of 18 mph and takes 4 hours to make a 60-mile crossing.
• The Badger has a crew of 60 who work in rotations.
• The Badger has 42 state rooms, 84 berths, and accommodates 620 passengers and 180 automobiles, tour buses, RVs and semi-trucks.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: