Day 5 was basically me singing “Back in the USA…” about a thousand times because it meant I was back on my US data plan and I cannot express how happy this made me. Free google mapping!!! Except for that construction going through some town about 10 minutes before the campsite, where Map Lady and I got confused and I ended up seeing a very, ah, unused set of roads to get to my destination. Before that, though, all smooth sailing. I decided to challenge myself to slow down and savor the journey, so I went 55 mph or less 95% of the day. Amazing how I felt like my great-grandma jaunting along while people sped by me but I did get used to it, and it bumped up the gas mileage nicely as well. I even stopped at a few scenic vistas along the lakeshore.
McLain State Park on the Keweenaw (pronounced like “kiwi-na”) peninsula is fantastic! Just 4 campers here (2 Altos, 1 tiny t@b, and a tenter) so we mostly have the park to ourselves. And starry skies so beautiful last night, I would have watched them forever except for that cold lake wind.
Day 6 was another day off from driving, and this time I went for it, acting like a tourist in a place that won’t open for tourism for another month. I went for a drive up to the northern end of the peninsula, up one road and back down the other. Yep, only two roads, and about as many cars, which suited me just fine because I could pull over whenever I saw a good shot. I decided to create a new section on my website for places and so I’ll put most of my Keweenaw photos there later. For now, here are my favorite three.
Today’s quotation
Trip stats (Sault Ste. Marie to McLain State Park)
- Miles Driven: 288 (1148 overall)
- MPG: 17.7 (16.0 overall – To contrast, today’s 95 miles without a trailer = 28.3 mpg)
- Side trips: Scenic vistas (2)
- States/Provinces: Ontario, Michigan
Map
I feel like I’m late to the party but I’m so enjoying you, Annie! You have a way with words and life itself that is just so intoxicating. You go girl!!!
Thanks, Sue, that was so nice to read! I hope you continue to enjoy my adventures, and eventually I’ll show up in Santa Cruz 🙂
Yes, please do! I’ll look forward to it. And in the meantime I’ll be in Seattle end of July. Would love to see you if the stars align 🙂
Would be great to see you, I’ll probably be south of Seattle in a campsite, either Dash Point or Saltwater. My strategy is to get everything dialed in (or something like that) the last three months I am working for a living so I am out of the apt and into the Alto in June.
I go that speed on my electric car on the highway in California – talk about being passed by! I conserve my battery and I have discovered it is the antidote to road stress. I can never be in a hurry so I plan ahead and enjoy the ride,
Jack and I always keep the cruise control at between 55 and 60 mph when towing (except when the limit is lower, of course) and I cannot tell you how much more relaxing that is. It takes a bit of “getting used to” having everyone pass you, but it removes that “gotta get there” sort of thing in the back of your mind, and you can just enjoy the ride. And, as you note, it’s much better on the mpg. Happy Trails!
Mak and I were offered teaching jobs in Marquette many many years ago. We did not take them for a variety of reasons – including the weather in the winter and the remoteness of the area. We took teaching jobs in North Carolina instead. We lasted one year there – and we moved back to MA. It was 1968-69, we were an interracial couple – and we were against the war in Vietnam in a very white and conservative part of the state. I have no idea if that would have mattered in Marquette – maybe I will get to see that part of the US one of these days. Looking at the map of your drive brought back those memories.