Sunrise Adventure Bike Tour bringing hundreds to RC area in June

by Amanda Polaski– Staff Writer

Last June, avid bicyclist Anne Belanger was browsing the website of the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB), searching for bike tours around Michigan, and was shocked to find not one tour listed for the northeastern side of the state. The discovery kicked Belanger into action, and her hard work will unfold June 15-17 with the first-ever Sunrise Adventure Tour, a family-oriented bicycle tour sponsored by the LMB, showcasing the ?pristine natural beauty? of northeast Michigan ? starting with Rogers City.

?I INVITED Rich Moeller of the LMB to come out and visit Presque Isle County,? said Belanger. ?I thought a visit to our area would be a great way to introduce him by bike to tour the county, see the sights, and spark an interest in a possible tour.? Belanger could not have asked for a more positive response from Moeller after his visit to Rogers City.

?It was immediate,? said Belanger. ?His interest was sparked immediately. I came up with an idea for a tour that would showcase our cultural sites, historic sites, natural wonders, and the beauty of our back roads ? all mixed into one event.? The tour was originally set up for a maximum of 150 riders, and it was not expected to max-out being the first tour of its kind in the area; however, expectations have been exceeded.

?We currently have maxed out the tour, and we have had to extend the capacity to 160 riders,? said Belanger. ?We now have a waiting list for the tour. We anticipate more than 300 people to be staying and lodging in the Rogers City area, visiting our restaurants, retail shops, services, seeing our sites, and more.?

BELANGER — USED the spokes of a bicycle wheel as a model for a local bike tour ? with Rogers City as the hub, and the tour biking out in three directions: north, south and west. Each direction would feature key points of interest. The tour ranges in routes from 20 to 100 miles per day. Check-in begins Thursday, June 14. Marcus Opie of The Tour America Bike Shop in Rogers City will host a wine and cheese welcoming reception at his store for participating cyclists. On Friday, June 15 bike tour participants will head north along the shoreline of Lake Huron. Areas of interest include Hoeft State Park, Sacred Rock, 40-Mile Point Lighthouse, the shipwreck of The Faye, Ocqueoc River, Hammond Bay Biological Station, and others. Dinner that evening, catered by Manzana?s of Onaway, will feature the ?tastes of Rogers City,? including whitefish, Plath?s smoked loin, and all the fixings.

The Summer Concert Series at Lakeside Park will provide live entertainment from K. Jones and the Benzie Playboys, a Cajun/Zydeco treat for the ears. On Saturday, June 16 cyclists will have the opportunity to participate in a 100-mile Century Ride on a southern route from Rogers City to Alpena. All participants will ride south visiting areas such as Thompson Harbor Natural Preserve, Presque Isle Harbor and The Wooden Boat Show, Presque Isle Lighthouse (old and new). In Alpena, riders will be encouraged to check out the Jesse Besser Museum and Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Saturday evening?s dinner will be catered by The Brooks Smokehouse & Spirits, a new restaurant set to open in downtown Rogers City. Presque Isle County Historical Museum curator Mark Thompson will present a historical slideshow, and Domaci Gallery in downtown Rogers City will highlight a featured artist.

On Sunday, June 17 the bike tour will head west after a hearty Father?s Day breakfast. This part of the tour will highlight Presque Isle County ?back roads,? passing through farmlands, old apple orchards, and centennial farms. The route leads to Ocqueoc Falls, Millersburg, Metz, and the mysterious sinkholes of Posen.

?THIS HAS BEEN quite an exciting time fitting all the pieces together, and working with an outstanding team of volunteers who are committed to this event, and passionate about this community,? said Belanger. ?It?s a great way to celebrate our area ? to tour by bicycle. The tour is designed for riders of all abilities. We have participants coming fr

om all over the country and throughout the state. The motels, B & B?s, and rental cottages are full, and campsites at Hoeft State Park are filling fast. The only challenge now is where to put everyone ? that?s a nice challenge to have.? The Sunrise Adventure Tour would not be possible without the hard work of its steering committee, which includes The Rogers City Visitors & Convention Bureau, Rogers City Chamber of Commerce, the City of Rogers City, the RC Parks and Recreation Committee, Hoeft State Park, and the Economic Development Corporation. Key members include Belanger, Jeff Hopp, and Randy Fairbanks.

The tour has been recognized by Governor Jennifer Granholm?s Council on Physical Fitness as a State Endorsed Program promoting the health benefits of physical activity. For more information on the tour, go to www.lmb.org and click on ?Shoreline Sunrise Adventure.? Volunteers are still needed. Please call Belanger at 734-7412.