The Travel Affect

Michigan's Upper Peninsula- the part that does not look like a thumb or a mitten- was the destination for a 3 day rustic
camping trip. The tree filled UP home to among other things pasties, a logged over past, and the setting of some of Jim
Harrison's stories is a great camping, hiking, wild places destination.

I camped just south of Lake Superior and just south of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Somewhat amusingly AP dispatches on the Sleeper Lake wildfire consistently use miles north of Detroit as a reference. Suffice it to say that this traveling Toto was nowhere near Kansas!

I hiked, slept in a tent, swam, waded, took pictures, cooked minimalist camp food and more. What was more
important is what I call the travel affect. Getting out on the road just puts my mind in a good, observant, creative place.

Townes Van Zandt said "Living on the road my friend, Is gonna keep you free and clean." I felt both of those things:
free to make my days and carrying a sharper, cleaner pair of eyes. Here's the results of the sharpened perception of the travel affect.

The state forest campground I stayed at (Kingston Lake) had men's and women's outhouses. The men's had no urinal so I am not sure why they would delineate facilities by sex?

I did have a little media exposure and while listening to a NPR story about the Utah coal mine disaster, along with the
usual reports about Iraq it came clear to me- energy is the root of most of our troubles. The miners
used risky techniques due to high demand for electricity. Why are we in Iraq? I'd think it's because there is more oil
in it's region than elsewhere.

There's traveling- the putting on of miles the getting there perhaps best expressed in On the Road and there's tourism,
getting to know a place preferring the landfall over the voyage. Where do I fit?

A side trip to Munising by vehicle where I ate up miles made me think I'm more or a road tripper than a lover of
details. Having said that I return at least annually to Central UP along Lake Superior and continue to learn details about the area.

While on a hike I realized I am better at seeing what man has done to nature than what nature does to nature. I observe
a beer can in a stump, but when I see a turtle I don't know what kind it is. I can think avidly about what the logging
industry did to the land, but not what the plants and trees do for each other.

Passed a property that stated it was 'under TV surveillance'. Perhaps an admittance that many security guards watch out
more for what's on the tube than what's happening outside that bright meaningless glow?

Being late August we are seeing occasional signs of fall. During my trip it was cool enough that I had to consider my
clothing. Perhaps a long sleeve shirt and pants over shorts and t-shirt? Having to think to dress is a sign of changing seasons.
Once the season has changed the thinking about what you wear goes away again, but it's there a few times a year as a sign of seasonal switch.

Guess I've watched too much Man v. Wild. I'd hiked around Kingston Lake ending up across from my camp site. I saw a
sand bar that led back to my camp. Normally an easy swim. However, I had my digital camera with which gave me pause.

Soon I'd taken the camera and wrapped it in my socks and then stowed it in the tow of a Gore Tex hiking boot and hung the
boots around my neck. I held my backpack high and waded across the distance in skivvies only. Necessary? No, but fun anyway.

The U. P. is big and empty for the USA. The weather forecasts do not mention cities. Rather they use the cardinal directions, rain in the West, clouds to the East, Sunny South, High Winds north etc. Even if you were unfamiliar with the area these directional forecasts might give you a hint at size.

From outhouses to the weather the travel affect had me thinking, now it's onto the next trip.