Nomad Life - Day 319

With my earlier bed time last night, I managed to sleep much better and woke up at 0525.  As usual, I started teleworking, with only a short break (at 0800) to pick up breakfast food in the lobby of the Superior Motel (Munising).  Otherwise, I continued working.  At 1300, I cooked and ate lunch in my room.  Taking a break from my computer in hopes of an opportunity to visit nearby Grand Island, I left the hotel at 1420 and drove (via MI-28) to the Grand Island Ferry Service location in Grand Island Township.  I arrived at 1430 and bought a round trip ticket for the ferry; while I was at it, I decided to add a bike rental too!  Actually, the whole thing wasn't too bad - the net cost for renting a bicycle (rather than bringing my own onboard) was only about $25 for the entire day (wish I'd arrived sooner...).  While I was being given biking instructions by the ferry captain, I asked him if I needed a lock for the rented bike (i.e., theft).  He replied “this is the U.P., you can take a breath!"  With ticket in hand, I went back to my car and packed a daypack with biking gear.  While waiting near the ferry landing, I met a young man who was planning to bike camp.  We had a nice conversation about the area and exchanged suggestions about fun things to do.  We boarded the little ferry (just about 30 seats with some room for bikes) at 1455, departed the landing at 1500 and made the crossing of the East Channel in less than five minutes!  The boat was only about half full (it looked like everyone else was a camper).  The afternoon was sunny and warm and the conditions for biking on Grand Island appeared to be perfect. After checking out the National Recreation Area (Hiawatha National Forest) buildings near the ferry landing, I started biking on the West Rim Trail.  These were not roads - instead, I had to contend with roots, rocks and loose beach sand.  Along the way, I passed campsites, cabins and beaches.  At times, I got good views of some small islands located deeper in Lake Superior.  There were a few other folks out on the island (most were sunbathing) but I was by myself for quite a while.  For about four miles, I made my way easily along the trail - before long, I had reached the Mather Lodge/Cabin (Interpretive Site).  At that point, I found the trail blocked (due to construction).  On top of that, there were busy trucks driving there that kicked up a tremendous amount of dust (cough cough).  This was OK because I had less than two hours of biking left before the last ferry departed the Island for the night (1800).  So, I turned east and made my way (0.5 miles) to the trail junction for Echo Lake.  From there, I had to pedal about 0.3 miles (through a small river) to the Echo Lake Observation Site.  There were some interesting birds there and a sign about how beavers might have constructed the lake almost 1000 years before.  After taking the 0.3 miles back to trail junction for Echo Lake, I rode about three miles on a big wide road (and a gradually steepening hill) until I reached the Trout Bay Overlook.  Signage in this area got a bit confusing and I had to rely on instinct and luck - by 1640, my plans paid off with a spectacular view of the East Channel and many of the sites I'd seen while paddling a few days earlier.  The wind started picking up at that point so I backtracked to a trail I'd seen that appeared to head towards the ferry landing area.  This turned out to be more of a mountain bike track and I had to be VERY careful as I descended a steep hill towards the water.  After riding about one mile since the Trout Bay Overlook, I intersected with a much wider trail and found a group of young people (mostly girls) walking south.  At this crucial moment, I made an error and missed my chance to turn north and find the beach on Trout Bay.  Oh well...  Continuing south, I pedaled about 2.5 miles in the direction of the ferry landing.  Stops along the way included visiting the boardwalk at Duck Lake, the beach at Murray Bay and an ancient cemetery ("oldest in Alger County").  At the latter location, I was surprised to see lots of American Flags and some recent burials.  The rest of the ride was punctuated by passing pretty cabins on Murray Bay and encountering walkers from the 1700 ferry who had reservations for lodging there.  Just before I reached the ferry landing, I turned down the West Rim Trail and pedaled out to the 1.0 mile marker so I could get a bit more mileage out of my bike rental.  With this extra two miles, I reached 14 for the day and was very happy to sit and wait on a picnic bench at the ferry landing (1745).  I'd done very little stopping all day and was pleased to have ridden 2.8 hours under more rigorous conditions than I usually see while riding a stationary bike in a Fitness Center.  The ferry returned at 1805 and dropped off even more campers.  In fact, there were only three passengers during the return ride to the Mainland...  We reached the dock by 1810 and I thanked everyone while returning my bike.  In my car again, I drove east on MI-28 and stopped at Muldoon's Pasties, which had later hours than the location in Munising, for a pasty combo meal (1820)  I ate outside and covered my pasty (a local "delicacy") with gravy.  The combo also included cold slaw & sugar free Sprite.  With my meal completed, I drove back into Munising and returned to East Channel Brewing Company for the third night in a row.  This time, I had a flight of beers and enjoyed some good (live) music.  The venue was much busier and there was a different bartender (not as nice).  I wrapped up my visit at 1920 and then went in search of some North Country Trail mileage.  After passing my hotel, I drove (via MI-28 to MI-94) for 1.1 miles until I reached the Wagner Falls Scenic Site parking lot.  With the day's adventures completed, I headed back to my hotel (arrived at 1935) and got back online for more teleworking.  Wrapped up my workday at 2130 and then spent the rest of the evening reading and working on Duolingo exercises.  I finally went to bed at 2330.  Another exciting day in the Upper Peninsula!  North Country Trail Today = 1.1 miles / Grand Total NCT = 191.7 miles

Nomad Life - Day 318

After my paddling adventure yesterday, I knew it would be hard to do anything else in the area that was as exciting.  Still, there were hiking opportunities and more beautiful views to find!  This morning, I woke up at 0430 (not intentional) but managed to fall back to sleep until my alarm (0700).  A little sluggishly, I started teleworking.  At 0800, I got breakfast food in the lobby of the Superior Motel (Munising) before going right back to teleworking.  I did take another break (at 0900) for a virtual medical appointment (that ended at 0930).  The rest of my morning was filled with meetings.  At 1145, I ate lunch (leftovers) in my room.  Shortly after that, the room cleaners started opening the door (no knock) but, fortunately, we had a nice exchange.  Other than that, I teleworked until 1800 (a call with colleague ran very late).  After that, I tried to catch up on some blog entries (I'm still falling very far behind...).  I also checked the North Country Trail Mileage that I hadn't fully calculated from the previous few days.  My intention had been to depart the hotel by 1845 but then I got a call from Mollie.  After chatting with her for a little while, I finally left the hotel (for the first time all day) at 1900.  Even that late, the temperatures were in the low 70s and the clear sky wonderful.  Hoping to get a pasty, I looked around in downtown Munising for the places I'd heard about - all were closed by then.  Instead, I went into Pictured Rocks Pizza, hoping for a slice.  They didn't offer those, though, so I settled for a custom pasta dish with lots of cheese and protein (it was good).  While I was eating, Mollie called me back and we talked briefly.  I was finished eating by 1930 and left Munising on my way to the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor Center at Munising Falls.  To reach it, I used CR-H58 - when I got to the junction with Washington Street, I started my odometer for some NCT (driving) mileage.  By the time I reached the Visitor Center (closed), I'd logged 0.5 miles.  I didn't have a particular plan at that point but had hoped to hike down to the Falls (which I had never seen unfrozen).  Unfortunately, the trail to the falls was closed.  Undeterred, I started walking on the NCT as it made it's way towards the northeast (1935).  Almost immediately, I was climbing the bluffs and started to see views of Lake Superior from much higher ground than was available in town.  There were very few blue blazes - instead, I had to carefully watch for brown signs with arrows that appeared along the way.  It was clear that I was walking in an extensive cross country skiing zone (lots of signage).  Despite my higher elevation, I got no clear viewpoints of the East Channel but I did get to watch the sun setting during my outbound leg.  At right about that point (2035), I reached the Sand Point Connector Trail Junction (2.8 miles from my car) and started my backtrack in the growing darkness.  Fortunately, I'd brought a flashlight... There were times when I needed to be very careful because the little waterways that crossed the trail turned into deep ravines (or outright cliffs) to my right.  Lucky me - I never lost my way or footing...  My walk was completed at 2135 and my pedometer told me I'd covered 5.6 miles total.  What a nice hike!  Back in my car, I drove back into town and stopped again at the East Channel Brewing Company for one beer.  Like last night, I had the same bartender lady; unlike my last visit, though, the venue was VERY busy.  Not only were there some lines but there was a group of loud locals singing in the outside courtyard; I learned later that they were an official "Sea Chanty Club".  They seemed quite competent and enthusiastic.  When the bar closed (2200), I left with the bar still very busy (I'm sure that the bartender was NOT happy...).  As I drove back to the Superior Motel, I encountered lots of people (including kids) walking in the street (yikes!).  Once I reached my room, I spent more time catching up on my blog, reading and doing Duolingo exercises.  Bed time was at 2300.  Very glad I managed to get some trail time today after a long day of work in the U. P.!  North Country Trail Today = 3.3 miles / Grand Total NCT = 190.6 miles (over 100 in 2026!)

Nomad Life - Day 317

Since my first visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore during the Winter of 1990/1991, I’ve been wanting to return to see the spectacular cliffs and rock formations from the water side.  Today, I got my chance during an afternoon/evening window of marvelous weather.  Before that, though, I had to deal with "real life".  Overnight, I had a very restless sleep (mostly because of highway noises) - I finally gave up on sleep and got up at 0625.  I started teleworking immediately but took a break for breakfast in the lobby of the Superior Motel at 0800.  After that, I worked for several more hours before making  my lunch in my room at 1230.  During a lull in my day, I bought a ticket for a six hour kayaking adventure in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - it was surreal that such a bucket list activity might be happening today!  I stayed online until I felt able to back away from my work day (1415).  With temps in the low 80s and a beautiful sunny sky, I left my hotel and headed east towards Uncle Ducky's Paddling.  I used MI-28 and CR-H58 for about 6ish miles and checked in at the kayaking HQ by 1430.  There was time after that for me to pack a full bag of paddling items - I also bought lunch from them because an evening meal was included in the fare for my adventure.  We ultimately departed from staging area at 1455 - I was joined by folks who had paid for both three hour and six hour tours.  We drove (in vans) north to Miners Beach, located within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - on the way, we passed by North Country Trail parking and I later saw the trail itself passing by along the shore.  Once we were out of the vans, we geared up (skirt, life jacket, dry bag, paddle).  Our trip started at 1530: I met up with an older couple from the Outer Banks (Dennis & Gretchen) who were the only other people who had (like me) selected the six hour kayak trip.  Nick was our guide and we had two tandem kayak boats.  Meanwhile, the other (three hour) group had about six boats and departed in front of us after they'd completed their safety briefs.  Once we were one the water, we paddled east for about 5.5 miles.  Along the way, we took our boats into caves under the high bluffs of the eponymous Pictured Rocks.  Highlights included “Nature’s Barcode” (iron, copper, calcite, manganese lines).  The weather was sunny and wonderful!  Occasionally, we were passed by bigger (motorized) boats - the area has lots of tours.  The water was smooth and clear and the light of the sun throughout the waning hours of the day truly brought out the colors on the cliffs - we had perfect conditions!  As we approached a prominent headland, the three hour group turned around.  We were right behind them and stopped to view the shipwreck of the “George”, which had sunk more than 100 years ago.  Nick told us that the survivors were picked up by a sister ship but later sank with that ship in Lake Michigan (all hands lost).  Bad luck, I guess.  For our part, we were having too nice a day to dwell on such tragedy...  We continued on to “Lover’s Leap” Arch, which was a breathtaking image that I'd seen on lots of promo photos, patches and posters.  Nick told us that other kayak groups don't go underneath this iconic arch because of the possibility of falling debris.  I was VERY glad that I'd selected the "right" company so we'd get to transit underneath...  After getting as many photos as I could possibly stand, I joined my new friends as we headed back (west) to Mosquito Beach.  At that location, we had a roughly one hour break for food, rest and walking on the sandy/rocky shore.  I enjoyed the meal I'd purchased and even got some of Gretchen's cinnamon apple sauce (good).  During this time, I learned that Dennis was a 30 year (retired) veteran of the US Navy who was on a mission to lose a lot of weight.  Things seemed to be going well for him and we all encouraged him in his efforts.  I met some young ladies who had a campsite near the beach - they were setting up to cook their dinner in the sand (so cool!).  Nick gave me several recommendations about places to go in Munising (Ron's, Grand Island, etc.) and Marquette (Presque Isle Black Rocks) and I filed them away for later in the week.  After getting back on the water, we started west towards Miners Beach and got a new treat: different lighting from the setting sun.  The rocks and lines of different minerals appeared much different under the new conditions and I didn't tire of observing the effects.  Another treat involved watching a Peregrine Falcon setting up in hopes of catching some of the nesting cliff swallows in the rocks above.  Later, we passed a family of mergansers - Nick said he sees them every day in the same area on the far eastern end of Miners Beach.  Meanwhile, the second three hour tour (same guide) passed us - they seemed to be in a huge hurry.  I commented to our guide that I thought they weren't really getting their money's worth and he agreed.  Sensing an opportunity, I told Nick that I was open to going farther than Miners Beach if we had enough time.  Since Dennis & Gretchen, who had mostly been lagging throughout the day, were open to the idea, we passed the "kayaks out" spot and continued west to Miners Castle.  Nick justified this by telling me that there was only one shuttle and we needed to wait for the back/forth for the three hour tour.  As a result of this opportunity, we got to see the most spectacular sunset.  At Miners Castle, we went inside some more caves (nice) and finally turned around only after the daylight was nearly gone.  We arrived back at Miners Beach at 2050, having completed about 13 miles of paddling (4.5 active hours).  After such an awesome experience, our little group was the very last to leave the water - perfect!  Nick told us that he had to stay behind to bring all the kayaks from the beach back up to the area where the vans waited (seemingly a thankless job) so we said goodbye to him.  Back in the shuttle bus, we rode back to Uncle Ducky’s (arrived at 2110).  I exchanged emails with Dennis & Gretchen (photos) before getting back in my car for the drive back into Munising.  Feeling like I needed a beer, I stopped at East Channel Brewing Company (2130) - the bartender seemed a bit put out due to my late arrival but allowed me a chance for one beer.  Since I was the only customer, I closed up the place.  Before doing that, though, I got a chance to talk to the lady (who warmed up to me) about the business and things to do in Munising.  Once I was done with my drink, I went back to my hotel (arrived at 2210).  Back in my room, I returned to telework and stayed online until 2315.  After that, I caught up on NCT mileage (complicated by conflicting maps).  During the same window, I desperately tried to catch up on blog (after getting to within one day just last weekend, I'm over a week behind again)...  Later, I did some reading and a few Duolingo exercise.  The evening was capped off with some social media posts and I finally went to bed at 0030.  Whew - today was definitely one of my Top 5 kayak trips of all time!

Nomad Life - Day 316

 Despite the pleasant accommodations at The Birch Lodge (Trout Lake), I had a restless night.  I later learned that my window had been open all night so there could have been some noise or temperature changes.  At 0500, I woke up for good at 0500 and started teleworking. A few hours later (0700), I went to find the dining area in the main building of the Lodge - they offered a good spread for breakfast!  A bit after I arrived, Juha also showed up and we finished our morning meal by 0720.  As we'd discussed the night before, we then met for kayaking at 0725.  The air was very misty (temps in the 60s) and there was a bit of wind.  We found Trout Lake to be quite shallow in the area in front of The Birch Lodge but managed to get our sit-on-top kayaks (complementary!) away from the shore.  After that, we paddled for about a mile to the east and south.  On the way, we got good views of waterfront homes.  Unlike the night before, Juha was actually very talkative and we talked a lot of "shop" during our hour (roughly two miles) on the water.  Once we reached the landing again (0825), we parted ways as friends.  I returned to my room to telework and had a series of meetings prior to the time of my late checkout (prearranged for noon).  Outside my window (which I'd never closed), I enjoyed seeing the pretty views of Trout Lake.  After about six hours of telework, I departed the hotel (1205) and drove into the center of Trout Lake.  Along the roads, I saw lots of Bigfoot signs and statues.  One place I noticed (Trout Lake IGA) claimed to have a "Bigfoot Sandwich" and I went inside to check it out (1210).  When I asked for the sandwich, the lady at the counter seemed annoyed at my request.  Feeling a bit abashed after she said "we don't have that", I chose a (large) Italian sub sandwich for my lunch.  Meanwhile, the lady started acting apologetic, explaining that the store hasn't offered that sandwich for several years but "they won't take the sign off the building, no matter how often I ask".  I offered my condolences and then went out to my car to eat.  Within about 10 minutes, I was ready to go and got back on MI-123, which had turned almost due north.  A bit later (just as I entered Tahquamenon Falls State Park), I found the North Country Trail again (there were blazes along the road).  I later figured out that the trail had exited from West Curley's Boulevard (from the east) and that I'd followed it for 5.4 miles on the pavement.  Eventually, I lost track of it (research confirmed that it had finally exited the road to the west at Tahqua Road).  Meanwhile, I was passing along the edge of Lake Superior and I took advantage of several wayside stops to get a feel for the lake I hadn't seen in more than 20 years.  The meandering road eventually took me into the town of Paradise.  They had a complicated construction zone (three ways had to wait for each other) and this could be the reason I made a mistake in picking the most efficient route for my day.  Instead of going north to Whitefish Point, I continued following MI-123 as it turned east.  This blunder added about 25 miles to my drive (dang)...  The only positive thing about the decision I'd made was that I soon (1315) arrived at the parking lot for Lower Tahquamenon Falls parking lot.  Unlike the Upper Falls, which are open year round, the Lower Falls are only open during the summer.  So this was a rare treat (and another thing recommended for me to visit by Erik and Moira).  I bought a day pass and soon found a place to park.  The weather was misty again, with temps in the 60s.  Just after I started walking in the direction of the Falls, I noticed blue blazes on the fence posts that indicated I was walking on the NCT!  I followed a boardwalk (and NCT) all the way to the Ronald A. Olson pedestrian bridge that provided access to Lower Falls Island.  Along the way, I saw several nice views of the falls and, when I crossed the bridge, I got even more.  There were guys fishing in the rapids (that seemed crazy to me) but most people were happy staying dry.  Near the bridge, I saw a sign that said it was four miles to the Upper Falls via the NCT.  Even though I was tempted to follow the trail, I instead backtracked and followed the blue blazes of the NCT all the way into the park campground (site #13).  There was a nice sign there that listed the mileage for other landmarks located to the east.  This section was approximately 1 mile in each direction (I got at least two miles of walking total) and I felt pretty good about my hike by the time I left the park (1410).  By this point, I'd realized my error in driving efficiency so headed back to Paradise so I could visit Whitefish Point.  During my walk, I'd figured out that Eileen and I had actually been at both the Upper Falls and Whitefish Point during our March 1991 visit to the U. P.  However, I wanted to visit the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum because of some new displays about the "Edmund Fitzgerald" (not there in 1991).  I got lucky when I passed through the construction zone (no delay) and found that Whitefish Point Road had almost no traffic.  By 1435, I was buying my ticket for the Shipwreck Museum and got to immediately watch a movie about the recovery of the “Edmund Fitzgerald” bell (it was replaced by a similar bell that listed the names of the lost sailors).  A bit after that (1500), I got to see the recovered bell in the Main Gallery of the Museum.  I took my time in there, reading all about the famous ship and many others that had been lost in the area over the years.  Each wreck was denoted on a map of Whitefish Point - even the "Edmund Fitzgerald" showed a mark about a dozen miles to the north (within the border of Canada).  There were lots of other buildings (related to the lighthouse and lifesaving service) in the area but I decided, instead, to walk out to see the Whitefish Bay Bird Observatory (behind museum).  Unfortunately, there were no birds there...  I then (1540) walked to the Seney NWR on the other side of the parking lot).  This time, I found lots of seabirds while walking on a nice network of boardwalks that tracked out to the beach.  While at this location, I probably walked one more mile.  I left Whitefish Point at 1550 and backtracked to Tahquamenon Falls State Park (via MI-123); I arrived at Upper Tahquamenon Falls by 1620.  My travel blog reported that the falls were frozen solid when I saw them in 1991...  From the parking lot, I walked towards a deep gorge on a paved trail, which turned out to be the route for the NCT again.  I stopped at a stairwell which tracked into the gorge itself - across the trail from that, the NCT went into the woods in the direction of the Lower Falls.  Next, I reversed direction and walked the NCT all the way to MI-123.  I did make a stop at the Falls "rim" and walked on a brand new (wheelchair accessible) ramp.  After that, I backtracked to the parking lot.  Altogether, I walked about 2.4 miles in the area.  Before departing, I stopped at Tahquamenon Falls Brewery (located right inside the park!) and got a flight of beers (1710).  The four they offered were very good and I caught up on blogging notes while I was enjoying them.  Finished at 1735, I got back on MI-123 as it continued west.  Before reaching Newberry, though, I got off the pavement on to a series of dirt roads that took me in the direction of Grand Marais.  Even though I didn't have the best (or any, at times) cell signal, my Google Maps app kept me on track as I followed Luce CR-500, CR-414, CR-410, Seven Mile Fire Lane Road (it seemed a lot like an OHRV Trail!), Deer Park Road, CR-407 (finally pavement again) and Grand Marais Truck Trail.  Along the way, I passed through Muskallonge State Park and survived the rough, narrow, scary drive on Seven Mile Fire Lane Road (yikes).  Also during this drive, I crossed and drove on the NCT multiple times (e.g., Pine Lake, Muskallonge Lake, Blind Sucker campground, etc.).  Specific driving sections I'm "claiming" include: driving about 0.3 miles on Deer Park Truck Trail (CR-407) NE corner of Muskallonge Lake / driving about 0.3 miles on Deer Park Truck Trail (CR-407) NW corner of Muskallonge Lake / driving 0.1 miles on CR-H58 near Grand Marais Creek / driving 1.5 miles on CR-H58 near Cemetery Road (crossing it) all the way into Grand Marais.  Whew!  By the time I arrived at the end of this backwoods route (1850), I was in a rather desperate gas situation.  Honestly, if they hadn't had a gas station in town, I might have had to beg/borrow/steal to get out of the remote area...  Fortunately, the Bayshore Market had some gas (whew) but it took some time for me to decide whether I wanted to pay for the 91 octane that I initially say.  I managed to calm down even further when I realized there was one pump for (rather reasonably priced) 87 octane.  When I tried to leave my credit card with the owner before I filled my tank, he laughed and said "we don't do that here, just pump it and come back in later".  Clearly, the fear of drive offs is a distant worry here...  After my tank was full, I started exploring the town, waterfront and lighthouse).  Along the way, I ate "dinner" (snacks) in my car.  By 1910, I got on MI-77 and departed Grand Marais.  A bit after that, I got on Newberg Road (dirt) and used to cut over to CR-H58.  Almost immediately after that, I found pavement again and found myself entering Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  So glad to return!  I stopped at Grand Sable Visitor Center but it was closed.  The NCT crossed the road here but I continued west on CR-H58, checking out wayside stops as I made my way towards Munising.  I stopped at Log Slide overlook at 1930 and took a short hike.  Just as I parked, I got my first sighting of a Sharp Tailed Grouse.  The walk itself took me through a small forest and to the top of a huge sand dune "slide" that the loggers apparently used to roll the logs down to Lake Superior.  I could see how it worked but avoided getting myself stuck below the rim where I was (there were signs warning people about the danger).  I left the area at 1940 but continued stopping at more waysides.  Meanwhile, I saw the NCT crossing my path many more times - in the end, I am taking credit for NCT miles in the following places: driving 0.7 miles on CR-H58 N shore of Grand Sable Lake / driving 1.6 miles on CR-H58 and MI-28 in Munising.  Speaking of that town, I arrived there by 2030.  Sadly, I ended up at the wrong address (due to an error in my calendar app) and drove all the way through the town.  Realizing my mistake, I finally arrived at the Superior Motel at 2040.  After checking in quickly, I stared unpacking.  The clerk had put me in a room in the back of the hotel but, while I was trying to set up WiFi, I hit a major snag - there were no networks that would connect!  This was not going to work for me and I talked to the clerk (a young lady), who initially seemed unconcerned ("we know that room has WiFi").  Between 2045 and 2130, though, I went back and forth from the room to the lobby in an attempt to get a stronger signal.  I was unsuccessful with this strategy but, as the young lady grew more and more sympathetic, we managed to come to an arrangement that worked for both of us.  After I tried two other rooms (the WiFi worked there), I moved to the opposite end of the hotel and set up for more (productive) teleworking.  The room was better in some ways (tub, roomier) but not as nice in others (noise from MI-28, no bedside lights).  During this time, I ended up reaching at least one more mile since I'd left the Upper Tahquamenon Falls area - that was almost 6.5 miles of walking for the day!  In the end, I was able to telework until 2300 and got everything done for my day/month.  Afterwards, I did some reading, completed Duolingo exercises and caught up on emails.  I finally went to bed just after midnight and felt VERY relieved that I wasn't going to have to reposition again for the rest of the work week.  Excited to be back near Pictured Rocks!  North Country Trail Today = 11.9 miles / Grand Total NCT = 187.3 miles

Nomad Life - Day 315

When I woke up this morning, I wasn't sure how much fun I'd be able to have because of the nasty, threatening weather forecast.  Also, for the third or fourth day in a row, I was dealing with seasonal allergies.  When I researched what could be causing all my sneezing, Google AI hinted that the culprit might be Ragweed pollen (which really gets going in late August).  The whole situation was unusual for me during my Nomad Life experience so I tried to stay positive and flexible.  Hoping everything would improve, I spent a bit of time (after waking up at 0630) reading, working on puzzles and completing Duolingo exercises in my room at the Monarch Motel (Cheboygan).  Once I confirmed there was a church service available in Mackinaw City, I departed my hotel (0910) and drove west.  The weather conditions were rainy, with temperatures in the 60s - ugh...  I used US-23 and quickly covered the 15ish miles to Mackinaw City.  Upon arrival, I parked in the pretty downtown area (located on the northeast corner of the Lower Peninsula) and made my way to the Pancake Chef.  By 0925, I'd ordered breakfast, which ended up being HUGE!  While waiting, I made hotel reservation for Monday night in Munising.  The restaurant was filled with hopeful people sporting "Mackinac Island" sweatshirts so I looked pretty funny with my plain gray Grand Canyon t-shirt...  I was done eating at 0950 and walked across the street to Shepler's Ferry Company to investigate buying tickets for a trip to Mackinac Island.  The process turned out to be very easy, since the tickets were open ended ("any day of the year").  With almost no one in the line, I decided to take a chance and buy a round trip ticket (1000).  Next, I drove west (crossed under I-75) and located the St. Anthony of Padua Parish.  I arrived at 1010 and was definitely ready in time for the 1030 Mass.  Almost immediately, I noticed how different the church was from the standard Catholic Parish I've visited over the years.  For one thing, the back rows of pews were blocked, forcing everyone to sit near the front of the sanctuary.  On top of that, there was a LOT of conversation (some of it loud) during the lead up to Mass.  Eventually, I noticed one very brusque woman who seemed to be "in charge" of things.  Right before 1030, she stood up in the middle of the main aisle and started telling everyone how the service would work.  She turned out to be a retired Nun (and a rather scary one) who made a point to make all the visitors identify themselves.  Somehow, I was spared from this ordeal when she got exited about another person who had traveled all the way from New Orleans, LA...  But then she came and sat right near me!  Beyond that, most of the service was normal but I did notice a lot more pauses than normal and some tailored/unique prayer responses.  However, everything else was familiar and didn't make me feel uncomfortable.  Afterwards (1130), I drove down to the waterfront behind the church and tried to find a few hiking items in my car top carrier.  I was successful but also managed to get a bit wet with the rain that had just arrived.  From the parking lot, the views of the Straits of Mackinac were obscured - it was very foggy but the Bridge was partly visible.  Next, I drove back into town and parked at Shepler's Lot (A) at 1150.  After confirming my daypack was completely ready, I rode an empty shuttle bus to the main Ferry Landing.  Since the lot credit card machine was broken, I had to enter the ticket queue again to pay for parking (1150).  Five minutes later, I was standing in the line for the ferry boat and, by noon, I'd departed on board “William Richard” (built in 2020 in Ottaway, MI).  At that point, it was sprinkling but we had pleasant temperatures (I was still able to wear only my t-shirt and shorts).  We had a 16 minute trip across the Strait and I weathered this OK in my seat topside (I was, however, the only one in short sleeves).  We arrived at the Mackinac Island ferry landing at 1220.  It was still misty when I disembarked on to Bicycle Street.  There are no cars allowed on the island but I saw lots of horse (Clydesdales) drawn wagons/carts - some of them were employed as porters for the hotels.  The streets were busy but not too crowded (whew).  Actually, the place reminded me of Martha's Vineyard.  At Erik's recommendation, I stopped at the Pink Pony for late lunch (soup and sandwich) and a drink - I sat at the Lobby Bar in the Chippewa Hotel.  During my time there, I enjoyed a good conversation with the nice (lady) bartender (from Connecticut).  She told me about her life (four full years) on the island.  I also met a nice couple from Florida (formerly residents of Michigan) who shared lots of good information about what I should see while I was there.  Finished with my break at 1350, I said goodbye to my new friends and and started exploring the pier behind the Chippewa Hotel.  Very swanky!  I was ready to move on by 1400 and started a counterclockwise walk on the Lake Shore Road.  I got a good view of Fort Mackinac, which was characterized by a white wall on the hill above the town.  I passed Marquette Park and explored the Mission Point area.  While there, I walked on a rocky beach.  Upon rejoining the paved road, I was surrounded by pedal powered vehicles!  At about one mile from the downtown start, I reached the stairway for Arch Rock and climbed 207 steps to get to the landmark.  Along the way, I saw the couple I'd met at the Pink Pony (they'd rented a bike).  At the top of the climb, I stood in a small line to get a photo of the iconic arch (it was worth the wait) and then visited the nearby Nicolet Watchtower.  Beyond that, I got away from the larger crowds by walking on trails in the woods and taking a paved road to the west that eventually allowed me to access the Mackinac Island Botanical Trail.  This turned out to be a nice detour because the paved streets were covered with horse manure.  To address this, I noticed that the locals use a machine to clean up the mess.  Because of the wet roads, though, the manure was just spread in a thin layer of "slurry" across all of the roads...  Before long, I arrived at Fort Mackinac.  The complex was very extensive and impressive.  However, I decided not to pay to go inside.  In that area, I noticed a sign that talked about how President Ford had once worked at the park when he was a Boy Scout.  With crowds forming all around me, I started looking for a respite.  I found this when I found the nearby "Somewhere in Time" Gazebo (from a movie set) and something called the "Ann Plate" (memorializing the local author named Constance Fenimore Woolson).  Once back out in the opening again, I started looking for Fort Holmes, which I learned had replaced Fort Mackinac during the War of 1812.  To get there, I walked on the apparently renamed Custer Road (map versus reality).  Along the way, I passed a large cemetery - wow!  I located Fort George/Holmes at 1545.  Unlike its earlier counterpart, this landmark was free and I was the only guest.  By then, the fog had gotten extremely thick.  In the distance, there were regular blasts from a foghorn somewhere along the Strait.  The weather conditions didn't deter the animals. though - I had lots of good birding all day.  After I descended from the highest point on the island, I made my way (lots of road changes) into the area called Surrey Hills.  When I arrived, I found lots of people at the horse stables, butterfly conservatory and shopping venues.  Since it's not my thing, I ignored the distraction and continued towards the western coast of the island.  Just before arriving at the Lake Shore Road again, though, I stumbled across the Grand Hotel.  All I can say is wow!  In addition to being very historical, the huge building was very swanky and offered amazing views of the Strait and Bridge (the clouds appeared to be clearing).  The biking crowds resumed at around this point (I confirmed that all bike shops were charging the same amount for rentals).  I finally arrived back at “Main Street” as it followed the shoreline on the west and south end of Mackinac Island.  Along the way to the Ferry Landing, I passed very pretty Victorian homes.  By 1700, I was back at the place where Shepler's offloads passengers and the queues for the return to the mainland are located.  Thinking I'd seen enough (I'd already walked more than six miles!), I got in line, boarded and departed almost immediately.  The ship ("Miss Margy") was not very full and I sat topside again (and, like before was the only person in short sleeved shirt).  Three ferries actually left at the same time and one peeled off for St. Ignace (north side of Strait) while the other followed our ferry in a parallel path.  We arrived in Mackinaw City at 1720 and I took a "Universal Studios" type of shuttle to the A Lot.  I was at my car by 1735 but, hoping to avoid the mad rush of people leaving the lot, I instead went walking on nearby rail trails instead.  Right away, I found the North Central State Trail (bike path) and followed it towards the north.  Along the way, I found signs and blazes for the North Country Trail.  It soon became clear, however, that the trail came in from a different direction (via the North Western State Trail bike path) on the other side of Nicolet Street.  After checking out the Mackinaw City Trailhead (very fancy), I returned to my car and exited the parking lot by 1755.  Using my NCT map, I made my way north on Nicolet Street until I was able to access I-75.  From there, I followed the trail (no bikes or pedestrians allowed) across the Mackinac Bridge.  There was still fog while I was driving but I didn't have much difficulty.  The last time I was on this long suspension bridge was in the Summer of 2004 and it was midnight - I got better visuals this time.  After I paid my toll at the north end of the bridge (1805), I quickly excited the Interstate into the Rest Area.  When I found the NCT Trailhead on the far eastern end of the parking lot, I recorded the distance I'd just covered: five miles.  I then (1810) started west on foot through Straits State Park (St. Ignace), following the NCT to Paro Street.  The trail went up and down through the woods and there was even a huge stairway (no fun with bikes) in the middle of the 0.6 mile section.  Along the way, I got my first ever sighting of a Swainson’s Thrush.  When I reached to Paro Street, I backtracked to car (arrived at 1845).  Altogether, I logged about 1.2 miles on the NCT before getting back on I-75.  I was only on that road for a short time, though, and soon exited on US-2 at the first exit for St. Ignace.  In my haste to return to the NCT, I completely forgot about a goal I had before this trip through the Upper Peninsula began: to visit the Marquette National Memorial (NPS Unit) which was very close to the location where I was searching for the next trailhead.  Oh well...  At the time, though, I didn't know about missing this chance and just located the trail at the point on Paro Street where I'd started my hiking backpack within the previous hour.  I continued east until I turned towards the northwest on State Street.  When I reached the American Legion Park (a water vista point), the NCT transitioned to a Walking Path.  As a result, I stopped following trail there (after 1.2 miles driving on the NCT) and made a hotel reservation for the night online.  With my destination now known, I continued on State Street until I was able to access Business Loop 75.  A bit after that, I got on I-75 again and followed it towards Sault Ste. Marie.  When I reached the exit for MI-123, I got off the Interstate and started driving in a northwesterly direction.  Along the way, I passed through Brevort, where I'd been told (by friends of Erik and Moira) to stop at a place called Gustafsen's, which apparently sold "delicious Smoked Salmon".  I never saw it but noticed other places that seemed to sell the same stuff when they were open (i.e., earlier than when I passed through).  Soon after that, I passed through the town of Moran and found the NCT again (it was following a snowmobile trail along the side of the road.  At 1945, I arrived in the town of Trout Lake and soon found The Birch Lodge, where I'd made my reservation.  During the check in process, I was escorted by the owner (Jim) to my room in the Motel section of the historical resort.  It was clear from the decor, location and architecture that this was a quintessential Summer Vacation Resorts - the owner told me he'd had to do extensive renovations to make things look genuine.  He hit a home run with his efforts.  After getting unpacked, I changed clothing and went inside the bar that Jim had set up in the main Lodge.  At 2015, I sat down for a signature Old Fashioned cocktail (made with Bullet Bourbon) - I also had a local red beer.  During this relaxing time, I ended up meeting a young man from Finland named Juha.  We talked about his travels in the US and Michigan.  He explained that he'd just come from Munising and a wonderful paddle along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Juha added that he was heading to Alpena for work (and then I realized he was in the military).  We talked about the drive I'd just done and he returned the favor.  We ended up staying at the bar until well after closing time (2130).  Jim joined us and I learned more about the local area and life on the Upper Peninsula.  By the time we left the bar (2200), Juha and I agreed to go paddling together in the morning.  Score!  Back in my room, I did some reading and watched a few YouTube videos - I finally went to bed at 2330.  What an amazing weekend in the Upper Peninsula!  North Country Trail Today = 6.8 miles / Grand Total NCT = 175.4 miles

Nomad Life - Day 314

With a spectacular full moon, my campsite was very well lit through the whole night.  Even better, though, the Alpena CRTC RV Park was very quiet.  I slept OK and was ready to get up by 0530.  Since it wasn't light yet, I spent some time reading, doing puzzles and working on Duolingo exercises.  When it was light enough (0645), I walked to a nearby restroom area to fill up all of my water bottles (I'd been hydrating well over the previous day).  The temps were in the high 50s so I wore a light jacket initially.  For some reason, there were a lot of mosquitos (I'd noticed none the night before). Back at my car, I repacked my "travel configuration" - I felt good about the conversion times (in both directions).   - water refill.  Since my new camp friend, Sam, had told me I could use the kayak again if I was awake early enough, I eagerly launched from the boat launch area at 0730 and paddled downstream in the Thunder Bay River.  The weather was (again) perfect (sunny and clear) for being on the water and the world was very quiet.  I passed several fish camps and saw evidence of trails and fishing spots as I continued into Lake Winyah.  There were plenty of waterfowl again - huge herons and egrets, along with several kinds of ducks.  As I passed one beaver lodge, I heard what sounded like a family of beavers inside - that was interesting.  Occasionally, I noticed some kind of shellfish floating near the surface of the water and, when I researched them later, it is possible that I was noticing Chinese Mystery Snails (invasive) or (hopefully) some native freshwater snails.  The wind really picked up on the lake and I had to fight both that and the strong current to go back towards my launch point.  Fortunately, the paddling conditions improved as soon as I returned to the "bendy" river a bit farther upstream,  I wrapped up my second unexpected kayak excursion of the weekend at 0845 and returned the boat to Sam's campsite.  By then, both he and Bill were awake and I was able to thank them for their hospitality and generosity.  Before departing the CRTC, I drove over to the Fitness Center and got a biking workout - the Dutch soldiers had just finished when I arrived.  This time, I used a recumbent machine I'd noticed late last night.  Between 0920 and 0940, I biked 9.5 km (all the equipment seemed to be using metric measurements), which translated to 5.6 miles (a personal best for the time period).  After getting done on the equipment, I took a much needed shower and got changed into some nicer clothing.  I only had to return my camp key to the Services Building before I departed the base (1000).  I'd looked online last night and determined that my last visit to the area had been back in 2007 - I'm so glad that I returned to see what life was like away from the airport flight line!   I got on MI-32 and drove into Alpena.  Before reaching the downtown area, I stopped for fuel at Murphy Gas) at 1015.  Since the price was higher than I'd been seeing in the area, I didn’t fill tank all the way.  Hope I don't regret that later...  For brunch, I went to JJ’s, a restaurant that had been recommended by Sam and Bill.  Their suggestion ended up being a wonderful one - the "iron skillet" item I ordered definitely was filling and delicious.  At 1100, I paid for my meal and departed in search of some views of the harbor area (including the outflow of the Thunder Bay River).  For the next 30 minutes, I explored sites associated with the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail, which I learned later was very prominent during my entire driving day.  Next, I departed Alpena on US-23 until I could turn east on some back roads.  These took me deep into a rural, marshy area with only limited access to the shore of Thunder Bay.  Where there were views, I very much enjoyed what I saw.  One thing I wish I'd had more time for was taking a water tour of the many shipwrecks that had settled to the bottom of Thunder Bay.  I'm sure there is good diving!  I followed the water until I got to an area with lots of private property - the roads turned to dirt/gravel there too.  After marveling at dozens of pretty homes with waterfront views, I made my way back to the west (and the pavement again); eventually, I was on US-23 again and headed north.  I was pretty far away from the Lake Huron shoreline by this point but there were some really big lakes that seemed just as good.  After a little while, though, I found an opportunity to drive east on the Lake Huron Highway - this gave me a chance to follow the edge of Lake Huron again.  I should mention that I was still attempting to add some birding observations for the northern counties of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and, in this task, I was relatively successful.  At one point, I started noticing signs for something called the Besser Natural Area and made my way there (following signage).  When I arrived (after following an old dirt road), I parked in the lot for the Rockport State Recreation Area (Presque Isle County) and started exploring the trails and beach access points.  For some reason, this beautiful shore area was nearly deserted, with only a few sunbathers and paddleboarders visible when I reached the water's edge (1200).  There were some rocks piled (cairn style) on each other and I was surprised that they stayed so steady.  I'd noticed a sign about a nearby shipwreck and, with help from a young lady who had just landed in her SUP, I figured out that a white buoy in the distance designated the spot where people could find the sunken ship.  Wishing I had my kayak at that point...  Departing from the beach, I started walking on a trail that purported to be a one mile loop that took me into an old area of the village of Bell (abandoned).  I found a monument to the man who'd made the Besser Natural Area a reality, a stone chimney (but no house) and some amazing views of Lake Huron from Bolton Point.  I got rather close to the shipwreck buoy - that was a treat but I still didn't have a way to access it...  During my hike, I found lots of bird species (including a dead blue jay).  Meanwhile, the sky started getting rather overcast - dang.  I reached my car at 1255 and started driving north in the direction of Presque Isle.  I made a stop at the Kauffman Homestead in Grand Lake - while there, I was treated to bagpipe music (a man was playing in front of a church for a funeral or wedding) and an encounter with a living descendant of Kauffman himself.  The story of the family apparently revolved around their ancestor surviving a shipwreck nearby (Bell Bay) - when the survivor walked ashore, he made his way to Burnham's Landing and settled permanently.  What an interesting story!  Continuing north, I reached Presque Isle Front Range Light Park, where I took a walk between the old keeper's home and the beach itself.  There were other lighthouses in the area and I stopped at a few, including the Old Presque Isle Light and New Presque Isle Light.  The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail signs were everywhere and I gladly digested all the historical tidbits they offered.  Most of the lighthouses were open to the public for climbing but I had places to be so didn't take advantage of that opportunity.  Instead, I stated west again (1345) and found US-23 again.  With my coastline exploration complete, I was able to open up my Subaru's motor to 65 mph on a smooth two lane road.  I did have to worry about deer coming out of the woods along the road but there was hardly any traffic at all.  The sky seemed very big because the land was flat and the trees weren't very tall.  I passed through Rogers City and P. H. Hoeft State Park before I started seeing signs for something called the "Forty Mile Point".  When I realized there was a lighthouse there, I stopped to investigate.  This turned out to be a good idea because I had a chance to walk down to the beach to see an actual shipwreck that had washed on land many years ago.  The wooden planking was gradually deteriorating but the outline was still very obvious,  I also explored the house where the lighthouse keeper managed the fog horn.  A bit further from the shore, I found signs for the Huron Sunrise Trail (which bikers can use to travel to the lighthouse over the the seven miles from Rogers City) and walked a little of it.  Before getting back in my car, I also visited the Glawe School, which had one room and lots of period relevant artifacts on display.  After I left Forty Mile Point (1445), I only stopped once (at a scenic turnout on a high bluff above Lake Huron).  I thought about attending Mass but learned that there wouldn't be any Vigil services nearby.  With questionable weather approaching, it is probably better to wait until tomorrow anyway...  I reached Cheboygan by 1520 and sought out the Cheboygan Brewing Company.  Once inside (1530), I ordered a flight of beers and had a nice time talking to the staff.  The beer was good too!  When I finished (1630), I drove a short distance out of the Downtown area and found my lodging for the night, the Monarch Motel (1645).  The place seemed to be mostly self-serve but I did end up meeting the lady who owned the little "inn" (I think it had about eight rooms).  Rain clouds were threatening and I decided not to go out for a hike on a nearby bike trail I'd learned about - by then, I'd more than met my step goals for the day.  Instead, I cooked dinner in my room and caught up on charging my electronics (they'd gotten very depleted from my camping overnight).  For the rest of the evening, I did some planning for Mackinaw Island, worked on Duolingo exercises and watched movies.  I felt very ready for bed at 2230.  What a heck of a day on the shores of Lake Huron!

Nomad Life - Day 313

Once again, it was time for another Nomad Life reposition.  Sadly, my night was interrupted several times (I woke up twice) and didn't feel completely rested by the time I started teleworking (0515) this morning.  Since the Standish Motel (Standish) offered no breakfast, I skipped the morning meal and stayed online until my (late) checkout at 1200.  On the way out of Standish, I stopped at the Burger King to get some lunch - I ate in the restaurant.  By 1215, I was on my way towards the northeast.  Initially, I got on US-23 and headed into Iosco County.  Since I'd researched several birding locations to visit prior to my drive beginning, I was quite excited for new species observations.  My first stop was in Tawas City, where I parked to watch birds in Gateway Park (1300).  The weather conditions were good again (sunny, breezy, low 70s) - nice!  Beyond this stop, I continued on US-23 and checked out several nearby beaches.  Before long (1340), I arrived in the town of Harrisville (Alcona County) and made another stop at a beach near the Springport Inn.  Like before, I mainly saw seagulls.  Moving on, I used US-23 to reach MI-72 and turned towards the west.  Google AI had made several suggestions for stops in the interior counties nearby but I decided to avoid getting too far away from the coast.  As the two lane road I was on increased speed limits up to 65 miles per hour (!!!), I entered the Huron National Forest.  The weather conditions seemed to be conducive to insects - my window was soon covered with bug guts...  At one point, I passed through the little town of Curran, which claimed to be the "Black Bear Capital of Michigan" (I never saw any, though).  By 1425, I reached Fairview (Oscoda County) and stopped for some more bird observations (nothing exciting).  Switching to MI-33, I entered the Mackinaw State Forest - very pretty.  The sky was clear and the mainly flat (some low hills) terrain was pretty easy on my gas mileage (I stayed very close to 30 mph).  Soon, I was traveling through Montmorency County and made my last planned stop for birding.  Eventually, I reached the intersection with MI-32 and had smooth sailing into Alpena County.  My destination was the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) and I arrived there by 1520.  Once I was on Post, I got help to find the billeting office.  Due to lots of other check-ins (big groups), it took a little while for me to get my key and instructions.  Everyone was very nice and the price for my "Rustic Campsite" was unbeatable.  After leaving the Services Building, I drove around to find amenities (Fitness Center, River Club, etc.).  I found the RV Park by 1545 and was pleased to see that I had a nice site overlooking the Thunder Bay River.  After parking, I immediately set up my work computer and finished up my telework day on a picnic table (the base provided WiFi).  Nearby, I noticed some kayaks but I later learned they had all been checked out by other people - oh well...  About an hour after I'd arrived, other campers started arriving.  Before long, I met the camp neighbors (some were locals from the base but others were guests).  During this timeframe, I completely forgot that I was on an Air Force Base - the 1700 evening colors was a bit of a surprise.  One of my new friends, Bill, offered me a (Stroh’s) beer and I chatted with him and another guy (Sam) for about an hour.  Nearby, I saw several young men fishing - I later learned they were from the Netherlands.  As my new camp friends started to depart (to spend time with their families), Sam asked if I would like to use the kayak he'd checked out for the weekend!  Of course, I said yes...  Starting at 1900, I went paddling upriver.  There were so many birds - at one point, I saw five egrets in one tree.  There were beavers and other birds and I was so glad to have had a chance to get on the river.  I made it almost as far as MI-32 before I turned around (the sun was setting).  By the time I reached my campsite again (2015), I had logged three miles of kayaking - sweet!  Once the kayak was stowed, I thanked my camp friends and got my car ready for an evening of sleeping with the folded down seat (first time I've done that since I was hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2023).  I spent more time with Sam until the sun had completely set - he was nearing retirement and it was interesting to hear his plans for the future.  Next, I grabbed my workout bag and walked (about half a mile) to the Fitness Center so I could squeeze in a workout.  On the way, I heard my first Whippoorwill in years!  Between 2110 and 2130, I logged four miles (20 min) on what I thought was the only stationary bike in the gym (I found another one after I'd finished).  With my workout complete, I walked back to campsite and reached two miles of walking for the day.  Meanwhile, a small party had begun at the River Club (nearby) - I hoped they wouldn't keep me awake...  Once I had sequestered myself in my car, I used my tablet for a little while before switching to Duolingo and reading.  Bedtime was at 2330.  With my car reorganization completed before I departed from New Hampshire, it feels great to be able to "car camp" without much effort!

Nomad Life - Day 312

Despite the noisy neighbor, I still got a good night's sleep (fortunately).  After waking up (0615), I started teleworking.  Like the previous days at the Euclid Motel, I skipped breakfast at the Standish Motel (Standish) because no food was provided.  At 1115, I ate lunch (leftovers from the evening before). Beyond that, I kept working online until 1600.  Immediately after my telework day was completed, I made reservations for the coming weekend; for the first time since I started my Nomad Life, I reserved a campsite!  Using Google AI, I also prepared an elaborate "birding route" route that would take me to the most interesting observation sites when I started my drive north to Mackinaw City.  At 1615, I finally left the hotel and went off in search of a hiking area I'd seen on the map.  As I made my way via US-23 and some back roads, I saw lots of signs that described my location as being in the "North Bay" region.  By 1630, I'd arrived at the Standish Trailhead, which was located in the Saginaw Bay Coastal Wildlands.  The weather was great (77 F, sunny)!  After parking near the corner of Bordeau & LaClair, I started exploring the woods and areas near the "beach" zone for Standish.  Unlike other areas I'd seen along Lake Huron, I was unable to easily get to the water's edge because the ground was marshy and filled with tall grasses/reeds.  As a result, I settled for sticking to the trails in the wildlife area.  At one point, though, I did some bushwhacking because I thought I could access a nearby gravel road (I'd seen it on my map app).  In the end, though, I gave up and returned to the beaten trail.  Along the way, I saw my first Least Bittern and several Monarch Butterflies (there seem to be a lot them in the area).  By the end of the hike, I realized I'd logged about one mile on the trails.  In my car again, I drove a short distance to nearby White’s Beach (arrived at 1720).  There were lots of gulls there and I really liked the quite little beach at the end of the rural road.  Next, I visited the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino (operated by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe).  The building was packed with lots of slot machines and nearly every one was occupied.  I'd been told that the food was good but I was deterred by the prices...  For about 30 minutes, I walked around inside the building and in the parking lot - I logged another mile in the process.  At 1800, I drove back to Standish and joined in on the dedication of a brand new bike trail.  Even though I had no "dog in the fight", I enjoyed watching the results of a local project (paid for with grant money) that appeared to be well received and had the potential to greatly improve the lives of the residents.  This was apparently mostly true for the children, who were the beneficiaries of the construction of a sledding hill on the property.  After the red ribbon was cut and the official ceremony was complete, I joined all the locals in walking the paved trails in the new "Standish Nature Trail & Walking Park".  During the course of about 45 minutes, I logged two more miles and touched on every inch of the system.  Very cool!  By 1900, I reached my car and found I was the only person who'd stayed that long.  On the way back to my hotel, I decided to stop for a drink (and some food) at The Half Barrel Bar.  I really liked the vibe of the place and talked to the staff and other guests while enjoying good drinks and food.  Finished with my late dinner (2000), I returned to the Standish Motel and spent the rest of the evening watching movies.  Bed time was at 2230.  Very glad that I explored more of Standish and got to know the locals!

Nomad Life - Day 311

For some reason, I got another early start this morning; I was up at 0500 and started teleworking immediately.  Because there was no breakfast provided by the Euclid Motel (Bay City), I skipped the morning meal.  At 0845, another aerobics class began just outside my room - it seemed a bit more subdued this time, though.  For most of the morning, I had a series of meetings that required me to request a late checkout.  This was approved by hotel manager but he still called me just after 1100 ("sorry, I forgot").  At noon, I signed off of my computer and left the hotel.  Outside, it was breezy and overcast (temp was 71 F).  Following a precoordinated plan, I drove to Auburn (straight shot on Midland Road) and stopped at O’s Pub & Grill (arrived at 1220).  Within 10 minutes, I met up with Dave A, who was the son of one of the members of the Class of 1950 that I've talked with over the years.  His father passed away several years ago but he has kept me up to date on his (and his twin brother's) activities.  We had a great meal for lunch (I got a filling club sandwich) at the nice restaurant - Dave told me I'd made a good choice - and talked Notre Dame football.  We wrapped up our meal at 1350 and, after saying goodbye, I drove north and west in the direction of a nearby county where I wanted to do some birding.  Using back roads, I made my way just inside Gladwin County and stopped at the corner of Neuman Road & Rhodes Road (1420).  My "detour" worked out well and I encountered a few interesting species during the 10 minutes I was waiting there.  After that, I resumed my drive through large (and burgeoning) farm fields.  My route was a zig zag on the roads that led towards the north and east.  Along the way, I passed through the towns of Rhodes and Bentley - after that, I reached MI-61 and headed east.  Before long, I arrived at the intersection of US-23 and followed it for a short time (to the north) in the town Standish (population of around 1500 people).  By the time I reached my new lodging for the night, the Standish Motel, I was glad to be able to check into my room immediately (1450).  Actually, I got held up by the friendly desk clerk (an older lady named Jan) who told me she had previously been the owner of  the motel but now just works a few days a month "to give the new owners a break."  During this conversation, she told me about some things to see and do in the town and I resolved to try all of them.  As I was departing, Jan expressed her thoughts on life on the farms of Central Michigan - she started listing all of the upcoming harvest milestones for the different crops and I was intrigued to learn about the things I'd just passed while driving in the fields.  Once I got in my room (1500), I spent more than two hours teleworking.  Meanwhile, outside, it started pouring down rain.  After my work day was done, I watched a new streaming service episode (they didn't have one of the VPN blocks I encounter a lot).  During the same timeframe, I also made myself some dinner in my room.  At 1830, I looked outside and noticed that the rain had mostly started - hoping to catch up on some of my steps, I went walking near the motel and ended up covering about two miles of trails and sidewalks in Standish.  Some of the interesting things I found along the way were related to the rural/sportsman nature of the place where I found myself.  For example, I found a freezer-looking box next to the DNR building that had the following text written on it: "deer heads only."  Down the road from there, I found an interesting trail depot area and outdoor entertainment pavilion.  In the latter location, I got to listen to an Elvis impersonator sharing his tunes.  At around the same time, Mollie called and we talked while I was walking.  As I was reaching the motel (1930), I noticed a spectacular (full) double rainbow to the east.  Even better, I noticed a little family marveling at it.  When I was back in my room, I spent the rest of the evening reading and Duolingo.  Just when I thought I was going to wrap up a quiet day, I realized I had a loud neighbor (slamming doors, loud music in car, etc.).  I mostly drowned out the noise by watching movies and finally managed to get to sleep at 2335.  Hope I get some actual rest...

Nomad Life - Day 310

Late last night, I finally was able to coordinate a get together with one of my college roommates from Notre Dame, Jamie F, who lives in nearby Midland.  We hadn't seen each other in over 25 years so I was excited to have a chance to meet him later in the day.  With this anticipation, I woke at 0630 (before alarm) and began teleworking immediately in my room at the Euclid Motel (Bay City).  Along the way, I (again) skipped breakfast.  My meetings lasted through 1100 and, as I was wrapping one of them up, I got a call from the front desk that I was supposed to check out ("you only had the room for two nights").  At first, I thought I was the one in the wrong, since it is hard sometimes to remember what day it is while I'm living the Nomad Life.  However, my reservation email confirmed that I was definitely set up for three nights, with checkout on Wednesday.  After getting this straightened out with the hotel manager, I felt better.  Since I'd been rousted from my work day, though, I decided to get some lunch from the Arby's that was located about 100 yards from my hotel - I walked over there and ordered lunch at 1125.  Since it had been a while since I recalled eating in the restaurant, I changed up my "normal" choice by selecting one their "Double" Beef & Cheddar sandwiches - it had a LOT of meat but wasn't even the biggest option!  I ate my food in the restaurant and returned to my room by 1145.  Before resuming my telework day, however, I made some plans for lunch with another Notre Dame friend, Dave A, on the following day and also made a new hotel reservation (in the town of Standish, to the north) for the rest of the work week.  Back online with my work computer soon after making these arrangements, I worked until 1530.  With work complete, I departed Bay City (1535) and drove west.  The day was sunny and clear (78 F) - I've been so lucky!  I used MI-20/US-10 (a fast, four lane highway) to reach the eastern outskirts of Midland and then used Business Route 10 to get to the center of the city.  By 1555, I'd arrived at "The Commons" (Pedestrian Plaza) and went into the Three Bridges Distillery and Taproom to wait for Jamie.  The staff helped me with my order of a flight of four of the spirits produced by the Distillery and I enjoyed tasting the bourbon and whiskeys.  Jamie arrived at about 1610 but sat down in a different area (i.e., the original part) of the taproom.  Since I was waiting in the "On the Corner" side, I had to go find him.  We eventually met up and had a great reunion conversation for the next hour.  Along the way, we ate pizza (dinner) and, since I'd nearly finished my tasters by the time the food arrived, I ordered a delicious house amber beer.  Jamie wanted to show me where he lived (north of the Downtown area) so we departed the restaurant at 1820.  Before getting in the car, however, we walked on a nearby trail (Pere-Marquette Rail-Trail of Mid-Michigan) and followed some paved walkways out into the middle of the Tittabawassee River on something called the "Tridge".  There was a nice "plaza" at the place where the three bridge spans met and I was impressed by the good looking active infrastructure.  Afterwards, we got in Jamie's car and he drove me to his home on the northwest side of the city.  We arrived there at 1850 and I got to meet his horse ("Trav") and take a walk on his property.  He'd just mowed the grass so there was a pleasant smell in the air.  The whole place was relaxing and rejuvenating.  Sadly, I didn't meet his wife.  Jamie next took me on a driving tour of the area near his home.  I got to see a lot of places that were important in his life, including the performing arts center.  Along the way, we passed several sites connected to the ubiquitous Dow (Chemical) Corporation, which has a major presence in Midland.  Jamie told me that the area boasted one of the highest concentrations of PhDs in the entire country.  During this time, we talked briefly about possibly driving to Mount Pleasant, where Jamie is a professor at Central Michigan University, but the 45 minute drive was a deterrent.  Instead, we returned to Downtown Midland by 2000 and then spent about an hour talking while sitting on some comfortable rocking chairs in the Pedestrian Plaza.  As the evening progressed, I nearly forgot that Jamie and I had lived together more than 36 years before - it sure didn't feel like so long ago...  At about 2100 (with just over two miles of walking for the day), I reluctantly said goodbye to my friend and started the drive (reverse of the route I'd used in the afternoon) back to Bay City and my hotel.  On the way, I listened to my new audiobook.  It was dark but I didn't need a map to find the Euclid Motel without difficulty.  After I arrived in my room (2135), I spent the rest of the evening working on Duolingo exercises, reading and watching YouTube videos.  Bedtime was at 2345.  Even though it has been a short visit, I have really enjoyed my time in Bay City and am so glad I made the trip over to Midland to see my friend!