I’ve been swamped by my bike book deadline so far this year. But it should be off to the printer in a few days.
I *really really* look forward to going up north soon! –Crystal clear blue water. Rivers, lakes. The Caribbean sand of the northwoods riverbanks. That spicey pine scent–that’s one of my favorites–when the hot sun hits the pines.
I’m going to drive to the Life-Applied Philosophy Camp in Minnesota in mid-July. I’m champing at the bit! I’d really like to visit some old pals on the way north. Like Gus in Petoskey. And Mackinaw Island. Hmm, it’s $20 for a ferry ticket these days. I’d really like to just paddle across. For the first time ever. I’ve always been meaning to. It’s only 3 miles from St. Ignace. Hmmm, maybe I could perfect my roll by then. I spose a small sailboat would be better. We’ll see.
But it’s that up north blue water that I need. That fresh air. The big slow shift to U.P. culture.
I plan to detour into the Keewenaw on the drive west thru the U.P. and spend the night at McClain State Park. I’ll reserve ahead. I think I’ve given up on boony camping—too many screamers out there in the woods most nights. (A sign of how far gone our world is. The remote night woods are chock full of screaming drunks. Isn’t that special. Can’t blame em: Can you imagine how hopeless you’d feel if you believed what you saw on TV? Or if you tried to get non-dangerous, non-numbing work in a rural area?) But I plan on strolling a Lake Superior beach and gathering a couple hundred pounds of gorgeous beach stones. Oh yeah!
Then it’s off to Minnesota for a week of reading Russian philosophy—Berdyaev, student of Soloviev, who we read last year. Both guys update Kant a good stretch with the idea that life and reality work only when based on freedom and creativity. Reality really isn’t full of stuff primarily. Stuff is secondary. Without freedom and creativity we’re nothing. They’re more important than we’re taught. Not optional. Of course if we choose to stand for life and reality we inevitably face conflict. Why? Because the secondary, reflected world obsesses about things and hates freedom and creativity. Quel boomaire. But that’s the drama of it all. Worth the while, too. Onward!
I’m thinking of tenting for the Philosophy Camp. We usually stay in a cabin nearby but the campground is a half-mile across the lake. What a good excuse to paddle each day! And more affordable. This photo was taken there in Minnesota a few years ago. Boy, I do like my see-thru old kevlar 1982 Winona Advantage C1, the first high-end production C1, I think.
