The Road to Bliss...

...Not really but the proposed solution to the Hwy 17 East cycling prohibition was solved this summer intentional or not.  The township finally paved the last 4-5 km of Government Road providing a significantly better alternate route to the busy 4 lane road to St Joe’s Island turn off. Letters were sent, suggestions were made but it seems that the township of Tarbutt decided to pave the infamous road giving cyclists a much better alternate route to St Joe Island and beyond.  There is rumor that they plan to pave all the way to Desbarats in the next few years which would be sweet indeed.  You can now ride all the way to the St Joe Island turnoff via Garden River, Echo Bay to Bar River Road and on to Government Road completely avoiding the 5 lane road.  Best of all, the alternate is more or less the same distance but dramatically more scenic with a stretch of winding road through a grove of mixed hardwoods along the edge giving it the same feel at the famous Harbor Springs to Cross Village "tunnel of trees".  Along with the almost total absence of traffic, this is now, in my humble opinion, one of the best road rides of the area.   But hey, don't take my word for it, go out and find out for yourself.  And if you are not so sure where to go you can join our annual 200 km brevet next spring.