grahamfitter
Expedition Leader
Destination Michigan! We planned this trip for several hours the night before leaving which is uncharacteristic of us; usually we get at least half way there before thinking about where we're going.
Friday 9/18. A somewhat circuitous route from Massachusetts via West Virginia on the weekend of the Gauley River Festival. The water was white and the many spectators who made the trecherous descent into the gorge to watch the carnage at Pillow Rock certainly got what they came for. At the festival ground most vendors were giving away beer and the paddlers got what they came for, too.
Tuesday 9/21. The West Coast of Michigan in the vicinity of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the various sandy floored forests thereabouts. The trees hinted fall would soon be on the way but the daylight sun was warm as was the constant breeze off Lake Michigan which was a pleasant surprise. We climbed dunes, swam in the lake and generally relaxed after the long drive.
Generally a sign of good things to come. In this case, a sign of extreme bushwacking.
Like Cape Cod in Massachusetts without the crowds?
Green trees and clean Jeep. Neither will last for long.
A last look at a clear sky.
Thursday 9/23. Heavy rain prevented sunbathing on Mackinac Island so after a long bridge and an equally short ferry we found ourselves on Drummond Island for some car touring on interesting looking roads found in the gazeteer. More heavy rain and the road ahead became a canal but the surface was mostly rock ledge and easy going. I tempted fate by by joking “The number of people who know we're here: zero.”
Fortunately when it was time to pay the deck hand, he was standing at the leeward side of the Jeep.
According to the map, this turned from a "major street" into a "trail or railroad grade". We didn't notice much difference.
The mud must have been washed away because there was none to be seen.
3pm. A road on the map turned out to be a squelchy ORV trail twisting gently through trees. After several hundred yards the Jeep's fuel pump decided to call it quits which provided some diversion from the rain. Fortunately we weren't ten miles in so by 5pm, having hiked and hitched back to town and got a tow, we were sitting drinking can after can of beer with James the older the mechanic and some other colorful locals.
Friday 8/24. Despite a healthy hangover we ate breakfast in town before confirming the diagnosis, that a new fuel pump was awaiting collection by James the younger the mechanic, son of James the older, on the mainland on Saturday and would be installed promptly on Monday morning. I suspect more braincells will be sacrificed before then...
Friday 9/18. A somewhat circuitous route from Massachusetts via West Virginia on the weekend of the Gauley River Festival. The water was white and the many spectators who made the trecherous descent into the gorge to watch the carnage at Pillow Rock certainly got what they came for. At the festival ground most vendors were giving away beer and the paddlers got what they came for, too.
Tuesday 9/21. The West Coast of Michigan in the vicinity of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the various sandy floored forests thereabouts. The trees hinted fall would soon be on the way but the daylight sun was warm as was the constant breeze off Lake Michigan which was a pleasant surprise. We climbed dunes, swam in the lake and generally relaxed after the long drive.
Generally a sign of good things to come. In this case, a sign of extreme bushwacking.
Like Cape Cod in Massachusetts without the crowds?
Green trees and clean Jeep. Neither will last for long.
A last look at a clear sky.
Thursday 9/23. Heavy rain prevented sunbathing on Mackinac Island so after a long bridge and an equally short ferry we found ourselves on Drummond Island for some car touring on interesting looking roads found in the gazeteer. More heavy rain and the road ahead became a canal but the surface was mostly rock ledge and easy going. I tempted fate by by joking “The number of people who know we're here: zero.”
Fortunately when it was time to pay the deck hand, he was standing at the leeward side of the Jeep.
According to the map, this turned from a "major street" into a "trail or railroad grade". We didn't notice much difference.
The mud must have been washed away because there was none to be seen.
3pm. A road on the map turned out to be a squelchy ORV trail twisting gently through trees. After several hundred yards the Jeep's fuel pump decided to call it quits which provided some diversion from the rain. Fortunately we weren't ten miles in so by 5pm, having hiked and hitched back to town and got a tow, we were sitting drinking can after can of beer with James the older the mechanic and some other colorful locals.
Friday 8/24. Despite a healthy hangover we ate breakfast in town before confirming the diagnosis, that a new fuel pump was awaiting collection by James the younger the mechanic, son of James the older, on the mainland on Saturday and would be installed promptly on Monday morning. I suspect more braincells will be sacrificed before then...
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