July 5, 2026 – Union City, MI – The quiet country roads traveled on a cross-country bicycle tour normally pass through some very small communities that carry treasured history, a slower pace, and not many of the customary amenities we may be used to. That’s why Union City, Michigan was my stop for the night. The people were great and the solution to a cool, comfortable place to stay turned out to be JoJo’s Barber Shop on Hammond Street.
JoJo Wilkins from Union City, MI, is the very definition of a Rotarian – Service before self. I’ve never seen a guy cut hair and work the phone like he did. JoJo let me sit in his third chair and cool my heels after a tough 95-degree day on the bike. Made it 37 miles from Richland, MI, to Union City. JoJo was trying to find a church or cooling center where I could spend the night. After an hour of conversation about the history of the shop (laundromat, tanning salon, video store), the Detroit Tigers vs. Milwaukee Brewers, and the resurgence of mullets we settled on his shop. He dropped the key in my hand, gave me a big bear hug and told me to keep in touch. “Just lock the door when you leave and put the key under the recycling cart.” I went to sleep under the watchful eye of three trophy bucks, a lot of Detroit Tigers memorabilia, and the remote to control the air conditioning.
Trying to find my groove and get in some good miles. The secret was to leave at 6 a.m. That means cooler temps, an awesome sunrise, and great country roads that smell like sweet freshly cut hay.
Prior to Union City was the cozy community of Galesburg. Small, tight-knit city of 2000 people between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, MI.
The saying on the sign at the city limit is “A great place to raise a family.”
Found the Galesburg Meat Company. Set to celebrate 50 years in business. “We’ve always been at this location,” said Audrey, still working the till at 88. “We built new about 10 years ago after lightning struck and fire destroyed the building.” Audrey worked alongside her son Mark and grandson Jake.
“I had a bike growing up. It was blue and had a bell,” she said… her voice rising an octave with excitement.
I bought some of their homemade special, dill pickle jerky.
Onto Coldwater, MI, designated the county seat of Branch County in 1842. From 3 miles out of town you can see it. A pure white church spire piercing the sky.
The steeple is 185-feet and part of First Presbyterian Church which organized in 1837, the same year Coldwater became a village. The church was Romanesque revival style brick, built in 1869 at a cost of $40,104. Sojourner Truth, a slave who escaped to freedom in 1826, spoke at the church in 1877.
Way up top and to the right, when no one was looking, a tree started… read more at TheBiKeWriTer.com
