i've been keeping the road couch mother ship all loaded up with my gear since i've returned from out west, sort of thinking in the back of my mind I could just take off again and have everything I need right there. Last monday, I made full use of my packed motorcycle and decided to go camping at one of my favorite spots in the mitten... Port Austin.
I made my first stop about 20 miles away from work at my Uncle D's general store in Adair.
He's got these really great photos of my Grandma back in the late 50's or early 60's when she won a prize at the Michigan State Fair in a baking competition. I believe the prize was a life time supply of flower?
Going up to Uncle D's party shop is always like taking a step back in time. His building is over 100 years old, and it is one of the two establishments that make up "downtown Adair". The other being the Adair bar. I've always loved the sign at the front of his party store reading "Welcome to downtown Adair, please wipe your feet before you enter." It actually took me quite a while to figure out what the hell that meant... but i get it now... (his shop is downtown adair!)
After leaving his general store, I B-lined to the coast and rode up the rim of the state.... for about 60 miles or so, i had the throttle lock on and rode no-hands tucked into a crouch position, maneuvering the mother ship around slight curves and long straightaways with the subtle shifting of my body, letting my mind wander.
I'm always blown away at how peaceful it is up the thumb... Its a strange piece of land, because anybody who's there is there for a reason. Nobody just passes through the thumb, because it doesn't lead you to anywhere else. You have to actually go out of your way to go through it... and for that reason, it is almost void of traffic or congestion, billboards or semi's or tourists or all the things that make modern travel such a drag.
Campsite 38 is Kelly and I's jam. We camped here about this time last year for the first time, and the place is just fantastic. Big ol chunk of land in the campground pretty secluded, and ripe for a party. Here's a shot from our excursion last year:
It was so great, we decided to go back in the dead of winter. The ice on the shore froze up and formed the most amazing glacier looking things.... I wish i would have brought my camera when we went out on the ice, but i didn't..... i did however take some shots of our campfire, which got throughly ridiculous quite quickly. Proof:
But i digress.
Camping solo there was a bit different, but having the kitchen sink guitar with me made for an amazing sunset.
After setting up shop, I went down to the beach and swam for the last remaining moments of sunlight. It was just what i needed.
Woke up in the morning and got on the road just before the DNR lady could make her rounds and take my cash... Another free campsite for the Road Couch! I'm getting pretty good at this...
The clouds in the morning were crazy. Had a hard time even focusing on the road with these bad boys grabbing my attention.
I'll take passing this guy over a semi any day. Note the horns...
Great gas station/hunting shop. Very welcoming ladies room, too.
and before I knew it, i rolled up to work at 10 o'clock on the nose, just in time to start my Tuesday. What a great trip it was...
Now go maximize your monday!
I made my first stop about 20 miles away from work at my Uncle D's general store in Adair.
He's got these really great photos of my Grandma back in the late 50's or early 60's when she won a prize at the Michigan State Fair in a baking competition. I believe the prize was a life time supply of flower?
Going up to Uncle D's party shop is always like taking a step back in time. His building is over 100 years old, and it is one of the two establishments that make up "downtown Adair". The other being the Adair bar. I've always loved the sign at the front of his party store reading "Welcome to downtown Adair, please wipe your feet before you enter." It actually took me quite a while to figure out what the hell that meant... but i get it now... (his shop is downtown adair!)
Uncle D as a child and then later as an outlaw. Not sure the connection between the gun and whatever he was holding in his other hand, but that picture rules. Both of them, really.
After leaving his general store, I B-lined to the coast and rode up the rim of the state.... for about 60 miles or so, i had the throttle lock on and rode no-hands tucked into a crouch position, maneuvering the mother ship around slight curves and long straightaways with the subtle shifting of my body, letting my mind wander.
I'm always blown away at how peaceful it is up the thumb... Its a strange piece of land, because anybody who's there is there for a reason. Nobody just passes through the thumb, because it doesn't lead you to anywhere else. You have to actually go out of your way to go through it... and for that reason, it is almost void of traffic or congestion, billboards or semi's or tourists or all the things that make modern travel such a drag.
Campsite 38 is Kelly and I's jam. We camped here about this time last year for the first time, and the place is just fantastic. Big ol chunk of land in the campground pretty secluded, and ripe for a party. Here's a shot from our excursion last year:
It was so great, we decided to go back in the dead of winter. The ice on the shore froze up and formed the most amazing glacier looking things.... I wish i would have brought my camera when we went out on the ice, but i didn't..... i did however take some shots of our campfire, which got throughly ridiculous quite quickly. Proof:
But i digress.
Camping solo there was a bit different, but having the kitchen sink guitar with me made for an amazing sunset.
After setting up shop, I went down to the beach and swam for the last remaining moments of sunlight. It was just what i needed.
Woke up in the morning and got on the road just before the DNR lady could make her rounds and take my cash... Another free campsite for the Road Couch! I'm getting pretty good at this...
The clouds in the morning were crazy. Had a hard time even focusing on the road with these bad boys grabbing my attention.
Did a little side jig down some dirt roads.
Great gas station/hunting shop. Very welcoming ladies room, too.
and before I knew it, i rolled up to work at 10 o'clock on the nose, just in time to start my Tuesday. What a great trip it was...
Now go maximize your monday!
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