Ann Arbour, Michigan

Ann Arbour during the day...

The original plan was to head into Detroit, Michigan. Detroit is America's most violent city, where police officers sometimes tell civilians to enter at their own risk. However I didn't come to the US just to see the pretty places, I really wanted to experience the shitty areas as well.

From what I'd read, some areas of the US were almost third world, I thought it'd be interesting to experience that first-hand. Unfortunately, I deemed the risk a little too high judging by the opinions of various Americans I talked to as I approached Michigan. What really put me over the edge was the road surfaces were apparently really bad, and I didn't want to fuck up my bike to see some ghettos. Looking back on it now I regret not seeing Detroit, but it's easy to say that from the safety of my home country. Maybe next time.

Instead I went with a well know beautiful city instead of a well know ugly city; Ann Arbour. This small town is surprisingly close to Detroit and home of the University of Michigan, one of the largest Universities in America with almost 43,000 students.

... and at sunset.

Riding through Michigan was actually quite stunning, the leaves had started to change for autumn. I met up with my host Riitta in the late afternoon.

Riitta was originally from Finland, she came to live in Ann Arbour on a green card and worked as a nanny. She was trained as a dental hygienist, but apparently her qualifications are not recognised in the US. But it sounded as though she enjoyed staying in Michigan, as there was a lively night life scene (college town) and she loved to dance.

That night we wandered around part of the University and got some dinner, then went back to her place and chilled on the couch. Later we hit a few clubs which were all packed. Riitta seemed to know a whole heap of people from Europe in the clubs, including memorably Boris from Russia. They all seemed like a pretty chill bunch of dudes. I'm not much of a dancer, so I spent a lot of my time on the side drinking (this eventually changed as I hit Austin and New Orleans).

Blurry clubbing photo! Riitta is on the right.

The next morning I set off for Cleveland.