ONDING

newcomers hoping to seize the blossom days. We congregate at Shady Lane Cellars. The Leelanau Trail, a 17-mile paved pathway that connects Traverse City to Suttons Bay, runs right past the winery. A perfect place to start and end, with plenty of photo ops with friends in between.

We decide to ride toward Suttons Bay and back, going as far as we can, but also getting back before Shady Lane closes. As we set out, I have the fleeting thought that perhaps Luke, the tasting room manager, hopes we’ll mismanage our time and he’ll be tucked happily into bed by the time we’ve found our way back.

Sorry, Luke, I set a timer on my phone. No way we weren’t having a go at the riesling before night’s end.

We ride all types of bikes—cruisers, road bikes, mountain bikes and one e-bike. We’ll do about 12 miles, but not attempting to set any land speed records on this ride. I’ve made that clear. This ride is about stopping to smell blossoms (and the riesling). I tell anyone who wants an actual cardio workout to start ahead of us. No one budges.

Timing is everything, though. I keep my backpack zipped for the moment and lead us off through Leelanau’s farm country, admiring this and that, while everyone settles into their ride. We pass by cedar trees, maple trees, wideopen fields, thriving farms and broken-down barns— remnants of the past. The temp is a perfect 60-something and the sun offers that golden-hour glow.

A whopping four miles in, I decide we should stop for our toast. The group dynamic is still too formal, and I can’t stand it for another second. It’s time for a little shock value—a surprise drink (for the newcomers) and a little break off our bikes in the quiet evening. Those who don’t want a taste are put to work passing out the shots.

Within moments, bikes are on their side in the long grass, people are meeting each other, laughter is in the air and we’re commandeering a wooden bench as a temporary bar area.

That’s when it happens.

A sudden, loud, explosive hissssss slices through the revelry.

Everyone freezes … what in the world is it? In bike clubber Micki’s mind, an anaconda. She screams and leaps into my arms, hoping to be saved from the “snake.” Instead of reassuring her, I reprimand, DO NOT SPILL THE VODKA.

It’s no snake, it’s one of the tires on Chris’s bike—shriveling to dead flat before our very eyes. Now what to do? How could we fix it out here?

That is when Linnea, who hasn’t said a word about her backpack in the entire history of the club, whips a power tool out of it. One that inflates tires.

Off we go, heading left out of the winery’s driveway onto its namesake, E. Shady Lane, before making a quick right onto the Leelanau Trail. At the bike trail, there’s the scene we’d hoped for: an orchard with a million white petals.

For now, there’s a palpable politeness shrouding the group. Rides always start like this—a careful rolling out, everyone worried they’ll be too slow or too fast or flat on the ground. But I’m not worried, I have a backpack with some friendship-maker in it: caramel-flavored vodka and shot glasses. Somehow the idea of a mid-ride toast had taken hold over the winter when the group was snowshoeing and now, well, it is a bad idea that has persisted with joy.

To say we all make Linnea queen on the spot is an understatement. Who is this woman in our midst? Resourceful, smart and battery-operated. We bow down to her in awe.

However, Chris’s tire has a hole the size of a small child in it. No power tool can fix this. But before we panic (again), Irma offers to race back by bike (probably have a glass of wine at the winery), then race back by car to pick up Chris at the nearest road, not too far away.

After that, the group has the bonded vibe of a college sorority—the snake scare, flat tire and vodka shot as our impromptu initiation. Everyone is suddenly instant BFFs and glad to be alive. All with a gentle burn in our chests from the alcohol—because, of course, we aren’t actually college girls.

We head back to the winery then, not even hitting double digits for round-trip mileage. Because my alarm had gone off: We have exactly one hour to travel four miles and consume exactly one glass of wine before closing time. We indulge in a final photo op with the blossoms on the way back—a better group photo now, everyone high on survival—with someone’s bony knees in someone else’s back, three of the women building a human pyramid.

WE PASS BY CEDAR TREES, MAPLE TREES, WIDE-OPEN FIELDS, THRIVING FARMS AND BROKEN-DOWN BARNS—REMNANTS OF THE PAST.

Finally, we’re back at Shady Lane, rolling in with a roar, and Luke—with beverages chilled and ready—admits defeat. Between sips of wine, cider and water are exaggerated retellings of our adventure. We spread out on our gracious hosts’ back deck and toast the ride.

Kandace Chapple is a freelance writer and avid Michigan outdoor adventurer. mi-girl.com

Beth Price is an editorial and commercial photographer based in Northern Michigan. It’s here where she finds much inspiration in the color palette and light that falls throughout the changing seasons. bethpricephotography.com

Pedal Through The Petals A Diy Tour

The Leelanau Trail is perfect for a cherry blossom tour on wheels. The flowers usually pop around May 15 and last 10 days, but Mother Nature makes the final call on that. The trail is 17 miles long, flat, paved and wide and runs from Traverse City to Suttons Bay. To see the most cherry blossoms, start in Suttons Bay and ride toward TC until you’re ready to head back, as there are more orchards on the northern end of the trail.

Popular stops along the way are: HOP LOT BREWING CO. Located right in Suttons Bay, it’s the perfect kick-off or post-ride stop. Try their sweet-tart “Cherry Cider” to keep with the theme and honor those gorgeous blossoms.

BLACK STAR FARMS. About 4 miles south of Suttons Bay, you’ll peel off the trail and take Revold Road to the left. Their horse farm with its striking white fencing makes this winery a must-see. Pair cherry wine with cherry bruschetta (cabernet franc–soaked cherries, heirloom tomatoes, chèvre and crostini with balsamic).

SHADY LANE CELLARS. Seven miles south of Suttons Bay, watch for the official trailhead parking lot where Shady Lane (the road) intersects the Leelanau Trail and hang a left to get to the winery. Here, the trail runs right next to a gorgeous orchard that’s the perfect photo opp. Try Shady Lane’s Coop de Rosé, a bright, fun wine with notes of cherry, orange blossom and sweet citrus.

Another tour option:

From mid-May to the end of the month, Grand Traverse Tours offers a self-guided Cherry Blossom Bike Tour that starts in Suttons Bay. Total cycling for the day is 12 to 16 miles, broken up into 4- to 5-mile chunks between stops. You can go as far as you’d like before heading back. Use your own wheels or rent an e-bike to try something new. This tour includes a catered box lunch. grandtraversebiketours.com

Michigan Girl Bike (and Hike!) Club regulars Lisa, Micki and Deanna head down the Leelanau Trail to the first pitstop.