Michigan - thank goodness for forests and cool nights

Well, it's been a while. I'm in Munising, Michigan, on a computer at the high school library. The end-of-day announcements went off a few minutes ago, and the buses rolled by outside the window. I'm not allowed on Facebook. Whatevs... That'll speed me up.

I've spent two nights on Vermillac Lake, a bit west of here. Someone recommended it to me at a little cornerstore nearby. In the morning, it was covered in a thick fog, and looked wonderful for swimming. It was, warm and shallow. While I was frying up some pancakes, Wayne came by and said to come over for some leftover ribs if I wanted. He was camped out just a little ways down the shore, for the summer. One of his friends offered me his canoe, and I took it out for a couple hours. Really peaceful on the lake, very quiet except for the water sounds and far-off noises from the shore.

Lake Superior is the bomb, too. Much colder and wilder. I met a fellow (named Dan) outside the grocery in Marquette who took me for a boat ride, and they ended up feeding me and giving me a place to camp out. Wonderful company at the cottage, even though the four other people there were a generation older than me. I also spoke some Swedish to a woman whose mother came from close to Pajala. The smell of the red pines reminds me of Sweden, and I haven't smelled them since Itasca State Park, where I camped out with a wonderful couple from Grand Rapids (I think) - Jewell and Dave. We spent an afternoon biking down there together, and shared a multi-course meal. Pretty basic courses, but courses nonetheless. It was super to have company on the bike.

There are blueberries, Saskatoons and wild apples around here - delicious, and varies my diet a bit. Last night I camped out illegally at a scenic lookout, and had a numbingly cold swim in the sunrise. Figured no one would bother me there, with the thunderstorm and driving rain. I stayed dry, though, no Wakefield this time.

I've heard a deer sneeze - that was a strange thing to experience. And I forgot to mention to Matt/Alex especially - when I was in Minot, ND, I saw a Happy Panda Chinese restaurant! It made me chuckle, and if they'd had a buffet, I would surely have eaten there. I also have these urges every so often, courtesy of Dave and Matt, to shout "biking for a reason!" or "Swedes for life!". You'd be surprised how often this feels appropriate...

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone when I get back home - I suppose you're all in school by now. Anyway, some photos:

Jewell and Dave in Itasca

State Park roads sure are nice to bike on

trees - a common sight, to say the least

I suppose you'll recognize me

Vermillac Lake

sunrise this morning, pre-swim