May 19, 2011
Woke up and had trouble starting the jeep again. Drove to Ladysmith, Wisconsin and found an all night Kwik Trip gas station with coffee. Thank you very much! Julie that works there was very pleasent.
This is decision time - south to Eau Clair if I need a new starter motor or west on US-8 to Minnesota.
I decided to wait for daylight and call Richard Howell at Shelby Tire in Utica to take him up on his offer of help if I needed it. By daylight I had thought through all of the symptons and possible causes. That toolbag of mine may end up being very handy if I have to replace the starter motor. I would have the wrenches needed or could improvise if I didn't.
The easiest to fix cause would be corroded battery terminals. I'll try that first.
Yes, they were corroded and I took care of that. It works. I'm still going to call Richard when he gets into work. I called him and he said he could next day ship parts if I needed anything and locate mechanics for me too. A good thing to know and great place to do business with. Thanks Richard!
Now on to Minnesota. Crossed at St. Croix Falls into Minnesota. Two miles downhill on a 7-9% grade with a 30mph turn at the bottom then up again. No time for pictures with all that going on but it was very pretty.
Made it around Minneapolis/St. Paul before afternoon rush hour and camped at Lake Ripley near Litchfield.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Making Up Miles
May 18, 2011
It sprinkled rain as I broke camp but stopped before I had to fold the tarp. The rope for tie downs worked and practice will help. I may have brought too many toys; that toolbag of mine was the hardest thing to find a spot for.
Time to start moving west. Manistique, Rapid River, Escanaba all those names bring back memories of my days with the Highway Dept. and Michigan Tech.
I picked US-8 as my route across Wisconsin and crossed the state line at 4:00 pm. I had recalulated the required daily average miles for the June 21st deadline and upped it from 150 to 200.
Clouds started breaking 26 miles east of Rhinelander, Wisconsin; great sunset and I couldn't find a place for a picture without a cell tower or power lines in the way. I kept driving until I got tired.
The wayside rest area east of Catawba was closed but I found a sign for for Flambeau River Campground at Hawkins. I went looking for that. Nine miles later I found the state forest. I parked, got out and started hearing noises that weren't any I was making. Recalling another sign I had seen without mileage either, pointing in the same direction, had said "Correctional Facility". I rethought tonight's plan and decided to head back to a closed gas station I had seen in Hawkins.
The starter motor on the jeep didn't sound right. It finally started on the third try.
As I was leaving the parking area I saw a deer cross the road. I didn't bother to stop and ask if it was the one making the noise.
I slept in the jeep at the station and my opinion of that hasn't changed since the last time.
It sprinkled rain as I broke camp but stopped before I had to fold the tarp. The rope for tie downs worked and practice will help. I may have brought too many toys; that toolbag of mine was the hardest thing to find a spot for.
Time to start moving west. Manistique, Rapid River, Escanaba all those names bring back memories of my days with the Highway Dept. and Michigan Tech.
I picked US-8 as my route across Wisconsin and crossed the state line at 4:00 pm. I had recalulated the required daily average miles for the June 21st deadline and upped it from 150 to 200.
Clouds started breaking 26 miles east of Rhinelander, Wisconsin; great sunset and I couldn't find a place for a picture without a cell tower or power lines in the way. I kept driving until I got tired.
The wayside rest area east of Catawba was closed but I found a sign for for Flambeau River Campground at Hawkins. I went looking for that. Nine miles later I found the state forest. I parked, got out and started hearing noises that weren't any I was making. Recalling another sign I had seen without mileage either, pointing in the same direction, had said "Correctional Facility". I rethought tonight's plan and decided to head back to a closed gas station I had seen in Hawkins.
The starter motor on the jeep didn't sound right. It finally started on the third try.
As I was leaving the parking area I saw a deer cross the road. I didn't bother to stop and ask if it was the one making the noise.
I slept in the jeep at the station and my opinion of that hasn't changed since the last time.
Carrying On
May 17, 2011
4 hours later and wide awake. The seat in the jeep is hard to sleep in when it can't be reclined. How April kicked the windshield out of Justin's while setting in the seat I will never know. The next rest area's coffee vending machine didn't work; the next one had no vending machines. This is going to be a very long night. At Mackinaw I found coffee and got one picture of the lights on the bridge. Hand holding the camera for a one second exposure was tough for me even with the image stabilizer in the lens. Crossed the bridge at 5:00am and parked at McDonald's to wait for the stores in St. Ignace to open. I need something for tie downs for the tarp. Ratchet straps are difficult to work with.
As dawn was breaking I saw a gull flying west of me. With each beat of it's wings it's white under belly would show and it reminded me of a slow strobe light or flash used in photography for multi-exposures. Then I got out of the jeep and realized it may not have been "Dawn's early light" doing that. It could have been just the parking lot lights at McDonald's. I thought I would give their wifi a try. Or, not! getting the laptop out would be a real challenge.
Refueled and shopped at Ace Hardware for tie downs. Settled on rope because I couldn't find cam straps long enough.
Heading west on US-2 I though I saw an eagle in a tree. As I turned around to check it out I remembered the gull and wondered aloud that this might just be a black garbage bag caught in a tree. Nope! It was a Bald Eagle and I got one picture before it flew.
The Cut River Bridge was my next stop for pictures. The trillium were in bloom and I took pictures of those. Walking to the bridge I saw a male Scarlet Tanager. Each time he perched long enough for a portrait something would be in the way. Amanda, does that remind you of you trying to get pictures of the one at our house?
I decided to camp at Big Knob State Forest Campground west of Naubinway and re-organize my stuff. Most used on the top and more accessible; who would have ever thought of that?
Twenty-three campsites and I was the only one there. The black flies were bad, but the bug spray that Betty had bought for me took care of that. THANKS, HONEY!!! Sportsman Extreme she had found on clearance at Meijer's.
It was a beautiful clear day, but re-organizing took most of the day. I also got a good night's sleep thanks to Betty's tulle. It kept the bugs at bay all night and didn't weigh enough to disturb my sleep. THANKS AGAIN, Betty!!! You have some pretty good ideas.
4 hours later and wide awake. The seat in the jeep is hard to sleep in when it can't be reclined. How April kicked the windshield out of Justin's while setting in the seat I will never know. The next rest area's coffee vending machine didn't work; the next one had no vending machines. This is going to be a very long night. At Mackinaw I found coffee and got one picture of the lights on the bridge. Hand holding the camera for a one second exposure was tough for me even with the image stabilizer in the lens. Crossed the bridge at 5:00am and parked at McDonald's to wait for the stores in St. Ignace to open. I need something for tie downs for the tarp. Ratchet straps are difficult to work with.
As dawn was breaking I saw a gull flying west of me. With each beat of it's wings it's white under belly would show and it reminded me of a slow strobe light or flash used in photography for multi-exposures. Then I got out of the jeep and realized it may not have been "Dawn's early light" doing that. It could have been just the parking lot lights at McDonald's. I thought I would give their wifi a try. Or, not! getting the laptop out would be a real challenge.
Refueled and shopped at Ace Hardware for tie downs. Settled on rope because I couldn't find cam straps long enough.
Heading west on US-2 I though I saw an eagle in a tree. As I turned around to check it out I remembered the gull and wondered aloud that this might just be a black garbage bag caught in a tree. Nope! It was a Bald Eagle and I got one picture before it flew.
The Cut River Bridge was my next stop for pictures. The trillium were in bloom and I took pictures of those. Walking to the bridge I saw a male Scarlet Tanager. Each time he perched long enough for a portrait something would be in the way. Amanda, does that remind you of you trying to get pictures of the one at our house?
I decided to camp at Big Knob State Forest Campground west of Naubinway and re-organize my stuff. Most used on the top and more accessible; who would have ever thought of that?
Twenty-three campsites and I was the only one there. The black flies were bad, but the bug spray that Betty had bought for me took care of that. THANKS, HONEY!!! Sportsman Extreme she had found on clearance at Meijer's.
It was a beautiful clear day, but re-organizing took most of the day. I also got a good night's sleep thanks to Betty's tulle. It kept the bugs at bay all night and didn't weigh enough to disturb my sleep. THANKS AGAIN, Betty!!! You have some pretty good ideas.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Getting Started
May 16, 2011 3:00pm; Left home for my trip to Alaska 30 hours later than planned. The rain yesterday didn't help, but today was better for the final packing, even if it was cold and cloudy. First stop was Rocks & Roots to weigh the rig. Tongue weight was a little heavy but okay for now.  I will reshuffle the load as I use stuff. Stopped by Tractor Supply to check for straps for the tarp awning. No luck there. I'll keep trying. Oops! I forgot to call the credit card company to tell them about my trip. I ask for a 120 day window on their fraud protection system. It would only allow 60 days. OK! I will call them again in 50 days or so. The weather started clearing to the northwest by the time I reached Clio. Refuled at West Branch and decided to drive to the Mackinaw Bridge. At the rest area near Grayling I pulled over to sleep. |
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Technical Difficulties.....
My Dad wanted to apologize to everyone for not posting anything yet. He's surprised at the lack of McDonald's along the route he's taking. He'll try to get something up as soon as he can.
In the meantime enjoy a photo of some ducks. :)
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