13 August 2015 Alas! The heat and humidity are back. As we have decided to remain on Eastern Time we up around 6:15, wakened by a light drizzle on the tent. Rather than breaking out the tarp and getting that wet as well, we pack up and head down the road. We decide we need to do something in Wisconsin since we will be passing through so quickly. The obvious choice is
Across the UP
12 August 2015 We manage to sleep in until 7:15 this am. It’s pancakes again for breakfast. Out of camp by 9:45, our first destination today is Vierling Brewery and Restaurant in Marquette on the shore of Lake Superior. We cross the central, rather flat part of the UP, and suddenly the terrain changes to rugged hills. We catch our first ever view of Lake Superior, intensely blue against the paler blue
On to Michigan’s UP
11 August 2015 Before our departure from the motel, we try to call ahead for NationalForest campsite reservations in Minnesota on Friday and Saturday. Weare told they are all “first come – first served.” So… ourplan is to get up to the upper peninsula of Michigan today with amore leisurely drive along the western shore of Lake Huron. I also manageto upload some of my blog and some photos to Tumblr. I’m
Heading North through Michigan
10 August 2015 We actually manage to wake at 6 am and get on the road by 7 am. It is still warm and humid. We are both glad to be heading north. We stop along the road in a small town to get some coffee to go with our pastries. The pie and the muffin from Ohiopyle are delicious, but the coffee may as well have been colored water. As we cross into
Falling Water and Kentuck Knob
9 August 2015 We cook up our pancakes on the Coleman stove and eat them smeared with the blackberry jam we had purchased in Ohiopyle. O has repacked the car, always seeking out new nooks and crannies in which to put our gear. The big gray bag that had been used to hold tents and tarps has been squished into the sky box. He calls this packing version 2.3. Today we have reservations for
Done with Bear Run
8 August 2015 I awake early after a delightful 10 hrs of sleep. Thermarest neoair x-lite issure luxurious after sleeping on 2 sit-upons, and a backpack. We are on the trail by 9 am. It’s a pretty, but short walk to the parking lot through more tunnels of rhododendrons. Our goals for today: showers, food and laundry. It is another hot, humid August day: sunny, but with intermittent showers.Ohiopyle is crowded when we return from our
Bear Run Day 2
7 August 2015 I wake this morning having slept amazingly well. My back is only mildly achy. It’s 6:45 am and O is already getting dressed. I manage to sit up and begin to rearrange all my gear so I can fit it back into my empty pack. As I reach into my pack to pull out the green pack liner I burst out laughing uncontrollably. There are tears in my eyes
Bear Run
6 August 2015 The scones are great! We are packed up, out of camp and at the trailhead bynoon. We set off, getting more and more damp in the gently falling“partly cloudy” that was predicted for the day. It’s not worthputting on rain gear. We would have gotten more wet from sweat withjackets on. The only people we see all day are two young architects in the area to seethe work of the
On to Ohiopyle State Park
5 August 2015 Farewell to Fowler’s Hollow and the hummingbirds that have been buzzing us for 2 days. Off to Ohiopyle State Park and the Youghiogheny River. We discover that we need reservations to visit Falling Water and Kentuck Knob. I make reservations for Sunday. We pack for our practice/ shakedown backpack trip in the Bear Run NatureReserve which is close by Falling Water. Dinner is found at OhiopyleCafe, a farm to table establishment with good
At Fowlers Hollow
4 Aug 2015 We had a rip-roaring thunderstorm during the night, but by morning the sun was shining and a pleasant breeze was blowing. It’s peach pie and freshpeaches for breakfast, eaten with our reserved little containers ofsour cream from the diner the night before. Yum!! Today is a day for getting organized, completing paperwork (yes, we still have some of that to do) making the small repairs we did not have a chanceto