Up North Vision Quest Blast
So I went back up north for final blowout vacation. The previous week had its own special tone, but felt confined somewhat. Too short! Anyway, then I was able to get in a couple-day attack to create and build a canoe sail rig. We also were able to appreciate the delights of life in our sweet new/old trailer. I got in a 4-hour solo paddle on the Pere Marquette in the rain. Very nice. One decent bike ride. But all in all: not quiet enough. You gotta step back from vacations and ask: What feels funny about this? …When something is a little off anyway. Let’s just say that I like having visitors, but maybe there’s just too big a price to pay to the Rest aspect of things. Maybe visitors should be part of Regular Life or of Longer Trips, but I suspect that every short trip has a limit on people.
Anyway, I definitely needed more getaway when Martha wanted to get home. So I brought her and the trailer and the pets home. Then I repacked and struck out again for The Last Blast. Another four days away….
Just got back. Whoooeeee. Did a bunch of sea kayaking, visiting of lost souls, mt-biking, road biking and naked canoeing. 🙂 I ate dinner at the Grand Hotel for the first time. Cool! Had dessert with the Lady Senator from Nebraska and two other poli-big-wig ladies. Lots of reading–alternating philosophy with dog books. Read for a whole day on a tall bank over a river. (Read down at its shore for a couple hours, too.) Slept under stars twice. Built my own fire to cook my own meal once.
Saw big red slow curving meteor. Saw lots of the Straits of Mackinaw. Chatted with wild folks from my past as well as with strict, upright characters who inspired my youth as well. Found one old wild pal on the far side of a deserted island, just sitting. Did lots of cold *brilliant turquoise* water swimming in many bodies of water. One big cliff dive into a pool of the Manistee to finish it off.
I did all this alone. I bet it’s not recommended. It gave me some pause. But I did as much safety checking and everything seemed doable enough.
Once I got rained on but managed to convert groundcloth into an effective tent without getting out of my sleeping bag! I realized on waking up that it was exact same place I camped as a teen (I found the place in the dark, had no memories of teen years then).
Locations: Mackinaw Island (had my first dinner at the Grand, dessert with 3 lady senators), Round Island, Straits, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Cross Village (Legs Inn!), boonies, beaches, Pine River, Little Manistee, Manistee, Hodenpyl Dam, dirt roads, twotracks, trails.
One town with a sense of humor: Irons. Driving in, I saw a street named ‘Our’ Street. Then a sign for ‘Flea Roast and Ox Market’.
I wondered if this town would be funny. Then saw ‘What’s His Name’s’ grocery store.
Then Java Street. Then Herps Road. Looked like any other little old boonies town near Mesick.
All in all, good trip. Good blends. Not enough length of things. But that’s my fault. I still hung around people too much. 10-hour ride turned into 5-hour ride (but it still took all day–out and about on the bike from 9am to 7pm! Not bad!!!). Long day paddle turned into hectic 3-hr paddle. It was cool that I could do the longish efforts without problem or prep. It was enlightening to realize how easily things get in the way of plans. I really missed having a Mint Julep on the porch of the Grand Hotel. But I chatted that hour away….with a fine old pal. What to do. Stay longer is the only thing! (…Laptop coming up!)
Well, now I’m back in the saddle again. New books, new projects. Fixing up the new baby room. For the new baby on the way! Our first! Bye…JP
