Tag: adventure

One Week to PALM!!!

June 14, 2026 / michelletuckerman / 2 Comments

Good morning fellow PALM friends,

I can’t believe we are but a week away from PALM 2026! I would like to take a moment to welcome all of you to this year’s adventure. Attached are videos explaining what to expect when you arrive at 7:30 am in Oscoda to start your journey or after 12 noon in Pentwater and a typical day on PALM. Parking in Pentwater is not all located at the school. Please be sure to follow the signage and map to ensure that everyone is parked in the correct location for the overnight and week long term parking.

Find your perfect overnight camping spot and pitch your tent. CPAP users can find the designated CPAP camping area for access to power squids (please use the power for only CPAPs). If using the Comfy Campers tenting service, check in at their awning/tents for the night. RV/camper parking is available on the road in front of the school. Note that campers cannot be plugged into the school, though generators are allowed but must be turned off during quiet hours from 10 PM to 7 AM.

Registration check-in will be from 3-5 pm arranged by rider bib numbers. All participants must have a signed waiver to check-in; blank waivers will be available on site. If traveling with a minor without a parent or guardian, their waiver must be signed by a parent beforehand. After check-in, dinner is on your own. The first nightly meeting is at 7:30 pm for riders and volunteers to find dinner in Pentwater, with subsequent meetings at 7 pm for the rest of the week. Check-in will reopen for an hour after the Saturday meeting and again from 7:30-8:30 am on Sunday. Note that it is not a water bottle gift year, so please bring your own from home.

As we prepare for the week, remember that Michigan’s weather is unpredictable, so pack accordingly. A suggested packing list is available on our website (All About PALM section). To keep your clothing dry in case of rain, use plastic baggies for packing (wet tents in the trucks can get everything wet). Ensure bags weigh 40 pounds or less and are manageable by one person. Don’t forget to bring cash in small bills for tips, bike shops, and some stores along the route. As an early childhood educator, I enjoy spirit week (during the ride and/or at camp), and here are the daily themes: Nature Made Sunday (nature-inspired shirt/jersey), Make a Joke Monday (shirt/jersey with funny sayings), Talk About It Tuesday (wear something representing an organization), Wear It Wednesday (previous PALM gear), Theatrical Thursday (be creative!), and Friday is for PALM 2026 shirts and parade gear.

Don’t forget your helmet! Helmets MUST be worn by all riders at all times while on your bike, including in school parking lots. Riders may be asked to leave the ride for helmet violations, as this can void our ride insurance coverage.

✨✨ This year, we will have a share table. Bring clean, good-condition bicycling clothing to offer to other riders. ✨✨

For those riding the bus from Oscoda, please arrive by 7:30am to start loading bicycles before the busses arrive. Riders must remove pedals (wrenches available), computers, bags, water bottles, and other removable items. Ebike batteries should remain on the bike and not be loaded under the bus due to fire hazards. Once the busses arrive, load your luggage beneath the bus and board. Get comfy and enjoy your ride to Pentwater.

I look forward to riding the northern route with all of you! These routes are my favorite, and with them come more hills. As Gene says, hills build character, and I can’t wait to build character together this year.

See you Saturday,

Jess Rasmussen (@JessRasmussen-bikemom on YouTube)

2026 PALM Chair

Just Over 4 Weeks Until PALM 2026 — It’s Almost Time to Roll! 🚲

May 20, 2026 / michelletuckerman / 0 Comments

The countdown is officially on — in just over four weeks, riders will gather at the shore of Lake Michigan in Pentwater to begin an unforgettable journey across the mitten.

Soon enough, tires will dip into Lake Michigan, friendships will form (or pick right back up where they left off), and six days later riders will celebrate together at Lake Huron in Oscoda.

PALM has always been about more than miles. It’s about community, adventure, traditions, and making memories one pedal stroke at a time.

Whether this is your first tour or your twentieth:

Pull your bike out and give it a quick once-over.
Start thinking about packing lists.
Get a few rides in to wake up those cycling legs.
Check your registration details.
Tell your friends — there’s still time to join the adventure.

And don’t forget…the famous PALM moments are waiting:
🍉 Watermelon stops
🍬 Licorice breaks
🚚 Friendly SAG support
🛠️ Route mechanics
🏕️ Camp conversations
📸 Scenic views across Michigan
🚲 The satisfaction of crossing the state under your own power

Before you know it, we’ll be watching riders line up, hearing freewheels click, and beginning another incredible week together.

June 20–26, 2026 is coming fast.

Your bike is ready. Michigan is waiting.

See you at the lake!

Less Than Four Months Until PALM XLIII — The Countdown Is On!! 🚴

March 8, 2026 / palmbiketour / 0 Comments

Are you registered?

We’re officially inside the four-month window until the next Pedal Across Lower Michigan — and that means the adventure is getting real.

In just a few short months, hundreds of riders will roll across Michigan’s lower peninsula together for a week of cycling, laughter, watermelon stops, and the kind of memories that only happen on the road. If you’ve been thinking about joining PALM this year, consider this your friendly nudge — now is the time to register and start preparing.

The good news is you don’t need to be a professional cyclist to enjoy PALM. This tour is designed to be family-friendly, welcoming, and supportive for riders of all experience levels. Along the route you’ll find:

Regular water stops to keep you hydrated
Fresh watermelon and licorice stops (a PALM tradition)
Bike mechanics ready to help with unexpected issues
Educational opportunities for both new and experienced riders
Activities to keep young riders entertained
An incredible volunteer team keeping everything running smoothly

Between now and tour week, riders can start building endurance, tuning up bikes, and maybe convince a friend or two to join the fun. A few training rides now will make those summer miles feel a whole lot sweeter.

And if riding the full route isn’t in the cards, PALM still runs on volunteers. SAG drivers, truck drivers, and support volunteers play a huge role in making the tour safe and enjoyable for everyone. If you are interested in volunteering please email palmbiketour@yahoo.com.

So mark the calendar, dust off the bike, and start the countdown!

PALM will be here before you know it.

See you on the road. 🚴‍♀️🍉
Michelle Tuckerman
PALM Registration Representative

PALM is a family-friendly, scenic and affordable bicycle tour across Michigan’s lower peninsula. Included are support and gear (SAG) service, overnight facility use for tent camping with showers and bathrooms, transport of luggage between sites, road markings and GPS cues for routes, daily fruit stop, bicycle education, and children’s activities! Optional add-ons include meal plans, transportation from the end to the start, and third-party campsite setup service. E-bikes are welcome!