Well, as I ended last night, I knew we had a decision to make. Out itinerary for the next several days was set long ago with the benefit of the almanac which said the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is generally pleasant at this time of year. I should have considered the full meaning of the word "generally" in that sentence. Here's what we had planned (with thanks to Google Maps for plotting our course):
Starting at our current location in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, we were to spend tonight and tomorrow night right on Lake Superior at the base of the Keweenaw Peninsula. That;s the thing that sticks into Lake Superior like a wagging finger saying "you'll regret this!". On Sunday we were to travel a bit east and camp at Bay Furnace then Monday on to Straits State Park where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet for two nights including a day wandering around Mackinac Island (the Great Lakes answer to vacationing at Nantucket).
The challenge is that the weather is not it's "generally pleasant" self. It's "specifically awful". Here, let me show you...
Here's what the Weather Channel is showing for the Saturday forecast...
The Sunday forecast...
The Monday forecast...
And the Tuesday forecast...
Do you notice an area that is expecting rain every day for the next four? That's right... precisely where we were planning to be. And if the rain wasn't enough of a deterrent, the temperatures are forecast to be in the 30's or low 40's over night and the low 50's during the day. I could have that kind of trip if I checked into a Holiday Inn and took a shower then went to the restaurant kitchen and asked if I could step into the walk in cooler to dry off. Those of you who were Rocky and Bullwinkle fans in the 1960's may be interested to learn that Houghton, Michigan -- the gem of the Keweenaw Peninsula -- was the model for "Frostbite Falls" on the old TV show... who knew?
So... after the coffee started to take effect this morning we convened a meeting of the Board of Directors to consider our options. The contenders were: a.) press ahead with a 4 1/2 hour drive today to reach the Keweenaw Peninsula b.) toss the idea of the UP of Michigan entirely and start heading south and east (note that campsite reservation windows close 2 or 3 days ahead of time... heading anywhere unplanned today meant putting ourselves at the mercy of finding a "walk up" site open or driving until we found one or gave up and camped at a WalMart or Cracker Barrel) or c.) staying in St. Croix Falls for another day and reconsidering our options tomorrow. You probably guessed already that we picked option "c". Luckily, nobody had this site reserved for tonight, so we were able to pay our $30 and sit it out hoping the weather man is wrong and the UP forecast clears and warms. So far, no luck. We'll reconvene the Board over coffee in the morning.
So what does one do on a grey, cold day in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin? Not much. We elected to feed ourselves breakfast and lunch in the trailer while generally being lazy. Somehow, this town of 2,000 and something souls manages to keep an 8-plex movie theater in business. We saw "Aliens Covenant" (save your $8 and watch the original Aliens on Netflix unless you are stuck in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin on a grey, cold day in which case you must get out and see it!). Dinner was a "one pot wonder" cooked on the galley stove (chicken breasts with brown rice and peas... it received better reviews than "Aliens Covenant") followed by strawberry shortcake cooked in the galley oven (two thumbs up!). We also refilled an empty propane tank, because with weather like this, one can never been over-prepared to deliver heat!
The propane place was in the next town south (Osceola, Wisconsin... also a town of 2,000-ish souls). It has a cute, old downtown mercantile district. The cleanliness and pride of place shows through even on a dreary day. I had a chance to chat with a few locals (not surprisingly, until I told them, they were not aware that they are free to leave and that there are places like Florida where an American can travel without a passport... I feel I did my duty to advance civics in America).
So, that's how you waste a day to buy time and hope for better news. Tomorrow we'll face the same three choices... press on, replan or hunker down. I'll let you know how that turns out tomorrow night!
Later...
SC'
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