Is it because the northern peninsula is *up* above the lower peninsula? Is it because on a map the northern peninsula appears to be on top of the LP? Hmm. I ask these fairly shallow and random questions because last week I spent in a cabin on Foote Lake in the UP. I loaded my bike on top of my trusty midnight green Jetta, and away we went, on the dustiest of backroads, through some of the most gorgeous scenery this Chicago-born boy has ever seen. Could there really be that many trees on Earth? Wow.
Much solo biking (with 2-way radio for safety) was done along several little inland lakes. Wildlife, you ask? Yes. Several sightings of deer, doe and getting-older fawns–no bucks. Many wild turkeys (who didn’t seem to appreciate the human company). No bears, I don’t think. Although, as I was attempting to photograph a group of fairly large trout in the Indian River, I heard what I thought to be another biker cruise past my back on the trail. However, when I turned around after a couple of seconds, there was no biker in either direction for a couple of city blocks. Hmm. Bambi? Or Smoky?
In any event, I made a trek to Escanaba in search of a jewelry artist’s store that my wife likes quite a bit only to be told that she had moved to St. Louis, MO, in May. Rats!
Another trip was made to Marquette, a city I have always liked–in the summer, anyway. I rode through town and on Presque Isle. To my utter amazement and delight, I came upon two outdoor art exhibits, both using doors as the medium. The first exhibit was downtown on the harbor park walkway. People had adorned old wooden doors with pictures and artwork devoted to their grandmothers. It was very cool. So much so, that I took nearly forty photos.
The other door exhibit I discovered on my way out to the island (Presque Isle). This was just off the bike trail on the campus of Northern Michigan University. This exhibit seemed to be focused on personal qualities. Things like creativity, trust, humor, love, etc. Here, I took maybe 50 or 60 photos. I am working on putting some of these on the blog using a software called Flickr. Stay tuned for that development.
Currently, I am working on getting my wife’s bike loaded on my trusty Jetta (I should name it, yes? The car, not the bike.), so that we can take some day trips around the state and combine travel with exercise (and so that I can justify eating ice cream).
I greatly appreciate all the comments that have come in! Remember, you don’t have to go anywhere to share a story. Maybe you watched a turtle make its way across your driveway, or watched the rain slide down your family’s van window, all the while making weird shapes that reminded you of your grandmother’s favorite sweater. Or, you went to a friend’s house and saw a movie that really had you thinking about…
Or, maybe you have started your own blog, and you want to share the news.
Or, like me, you needed to let your cat in, only to have it get a quick drink and demand to be let out again. And you stood there, holding the door open, and wondered how such a little creature could manipulate a grown human person.
Well, I feel as though this rambling needs to be nipped. So, I will sign off for now, hoping that your summers are giving you fun, food, books, family, and friends.
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