2026 Hog Hunt Day 6 & 7 - Letting Him Walk

Rick and I went out to feed on a very cold low-country South Carolina morning.  When we got to Fish Snatch, Rick looks at me and says, "Take a look.  Don't get lost."  I wasn't too happy that he wasn't going to help since I'm just colorblind enough that finding blood trails is a challenge, let alone dry blood trails.  I understood the pig is likely still running around, and even if not, the chance to find it is remote given the pig's reaction after the shot, but respect for the animal requires a good faith effort.

I spent a chunk of time looking for blood, then following what looked like a scurrying-type path and general small-grid searching.  I would have liked to have spent about 10 times the amount I did, but there were places where it was so thick that a hog could be 10 feet from me and I wouldn't see it; the unrealistic part of me was hoping it would be in one of the open areas.  After a while, I realized it was futile.  

I was surprised that there were a couple of dead hogs in the form of old scattered bones - I know locals often shoot and leave lie since they don't care about hogs (I strongly disagree with this), but there are other interpretations.  I grabbed an old lower jaw bone off the ground and told Rick that it was all that was left of my hog.

With a mix of new people coming in, I moved my stuff around once back in the lodge and had the usual down-time.  Then it was time to head out for the last night of hunting.

I was dropped off on the Zombie Hog Stand.  It was another gorgeous blue-bird day - cool with a biting breeze; I  was dressed well for it.

As I sat down and got situated, I began to have a confidence crisis due to my miss the previous evening.  Part of me was almost hoping not to see anything.  I tend to overthink everything; I swear my brain needs a good therapist more than anything.  I have definitely been overthinking my shooting recently.  And while I had shot hogs at this stand more than once, the distance felt oddly long.

For most of the afternoon, absolutely nothing was moving.  It was a nice afternoon and I was just enjoying the afternoon.

As it started to get dark, movement on the left turned into a boar walking out to the corn.  What to do???  With my setup, I was rock-solid and I did have enough light.  But shooting while a bit unsure of myself???  I put the cross hairs on the pig's head, then backed off, on, off, on, off.

I was not in the right frame of mind.  At some point indecision becomes a decision.  I settled for a picture.

(and yes, I realize this isn't a clean head shot, but gimme a break - lining up the rifle and camera while not dropping either is a bit challenging)

Ethically this felt like 100% the right thing to do; I was at peace with this as darkness claimed the situation.

I was going home with a good chunk of hog meat (room in the freezer at home remains a question).

Some deer came in a chased off the hog which ended my 2026 hunt.  Back in the truck, Claude hadn't seen any pigs.  Denis had seen a bunch, but was holding out for a big boar.

Back in the lodge, Rich and Rich were in camp from Ohio.  They seemed pretty nice, but I only had a chance to talk to them for a short time before Rick and I went to Denis' house for dinner.  It was fun having all of us there to BS and talk about the week (and just about everything else in life).  Denis got a bit distracted and the ribeyes were, ummm, extra, extra well-done.  We all made the best of it.

As I was getting ready to go to sleep, I remembered Rick had not cut my shirt tail.  This may come back to bite me at some point in the future.  Karma is a bitch.

_____________________

I was awake early and ready to be home.  A quick shower and I was out the door.  One of the Rich's was sleeping on the couch so I tried to be extra quiet as I scooted out.

The interior of the Maverick had the lingering smell of smoke from my hunting clothes.  And it wasn't a good smoke smell - a serious cleaning and deodorizing was going to be needed for my camo.

I was glad to be on the road.  I had the roads to myself for several hours.  Bridges and roads appeared to have been pretreated for snow even if the forecast had changed to make freezing precipitation unlikely.

I was listening to River Man by Ben McGrath for most of the ride home.  It was an OK book, but definitely not as good as the review I had previously read about it.  I didn't find Dick Conant (who it is about) as even remotely compelling.  And while McGrath is a good writer, the tone of the book was like that of someone who had worked in New York for far too long and had only recently discovered that there exists people, places and things in flyover country.  As a journalist, McGrath didn't call out as even potential-BS some of what was shared in the book.  I can't believe he hasn't talked to enough people to see this?  I've certainly met my share of characters on some of my epic road trips enough to nod my head at the main-character syndrome half-truths (or sometimes less than half).  The book may factually represent what McGrath saw and heard, but should have been a bit more careful in bleeding reality out of it.

As the book ended, I did reflect a bit more on Dick Conant.  Society is very quick to celebrate eccentric people who throw off the shackles of work-a-day life and travel the world in a canoe.  But we don't often acknowledge that the higher likelihood is eventual tragedy like what almost certainly happened to Conant.

He had saved [100,000 straightened] nails and wasted life. - Donald Hall

And yet (there is always an "and yet"), whether we are talking about Dick Conant, Hall's Washington Woodward, myself, or Ben McGrath, I'm not sure it is fair to call a life wasted if it is/was lived deliberately.

I continued motoring on.  The Saturday traffic was highly tolerable all day.  I was home before 2:00.

S/O and I took care of the pigs shortly after I got home.  Loins were packaged for the grill, all eight quarters will be dynamite on the smoker, and there was enough good trimmings for eight burgers.

Until next year, I'll have some reflection to do after this year's hunt.  Two pigs with one shot.  A miss.  Maybe the first time I've let a pig walk...

2025 Bear Hunt Days 10,11 - Post Hunt Scramble

I was up early and with almost everything, especially my now frozen bear, packed up, it was a quick shower and I was ready to go.

I walked down to the bay to say goodbye and was struck with an absolutely astonishing moonlit goodbye.

But all things really, really must come to an end.  I jumped in the Maverick and headed out.

There was some fog as I made my way through Manitoba, but it was never bad enough that I had to slow down very much.  In a few spots the temperatures had dropped to well below freezing.

I stuck to paved roads and made my way through the two towns, before the final stretch toward the border.  Traffic was light and the final goodbye to Canada was once again stunning.

The border took a few minutes to fill out the form to import my bear.  The form was different from the example they gave me to follow, but I did my best.  The rather bored-looking border guard said, "Perfect!" and I was on my way.

I was listening to Cormac McCarthy's The Road.  I don't read much fiction, but I've heard several references to this book recently to the point I felt I had to listen to it.  It was good, but only good - brutal, dark.  The end was predictable.  It was worth listening to.

I made my way to my sister's in Wisconsin.  It was a long 12 hour drive to get there.  Because I left early, we had quite a bit of time to catch up.  It was great to see her for a bit.  Around dark we called it a night.

______________________

After coffee with my sister, I was back on the road for the final leg home.  I was out of books, so I was just listening to podcasts.  Hidden Brain was oddly refusing to hold my attention.

I have planted several paw paw trees as well as given away seedlings.  I knew there was a Paw Paw in Michigan, but I did not know (more realistically did not remember) that there is one in Illinois as well.  I didn't stop...

Traffic was tolerable most of the day.  I timed Indianapolis well.  Working my way toward and down the familiar roads near home, I was looking forward to the familiar.

Once home it was a scramble to take care of the bear and get it in the freezer.  It was a late night (by my standards) and there was still much to do.  But work starts in the morning.

As I went to sleep, I relived many of the past week's amazing moments.  I thought back to bears and fish and the people I hung out with.  I am truly fortunate to be able to pursue my outdoor interests.

2025 Lake Ontario Fishing Day 4 - Home

After getting up, I was ready to head home.  I spent a few minutes choosing my route.  Since I was leaving early, I decided I would risk the 401 to avoid the tolls on the 407.  I also had a quick couple cups of coffee, hopefully giving me just the right amount of caffeination for the trip.

As promised, Denis was up around 4:00.  We loaded up my fish and a few Coho salmon for me to try.  The amount of fish was truly shocking - I've had hunting trips with less (but then again, I've had hunting trips with nothing in the cooler).  I tied down the cooler and I was on the road by 4:15.

I followed the GPS to the 401 and it was the right decision.  It was a bit busy nearer Toronto, but there were no slow downs.  I did have to pay attention - mostly because I was on unfamiliar roads.

I listened to the end of The Secret Life of Groceries.  The end of the book was probably the best part - if also a bit sad.  It got into the psychology of buying, which was interesting.  It also got into the food supply chain - specifically a lot about the seafood supply chain; every time I read about seafood and all that goes into it - I'm appalled at humanity.  The world is doomed and humanity might deserve this.

I guess I did feel a bit better that the fish in my cooler were obtained ethically and in a conscious manner.

After finishing Groceries I listened to Ologies podcasts for the rest of the day.  I almost gave up after the first one - which wasn't very good.  But I was in a hairy spot so I just started another one as the easiest thing to do, rather than find one of my other podcasts.  I was glad I did, since most of the rest of them were good - which just enough humor to get me to laugh a few times in each one.

I avoided buying fuel for the Maverick in Canada, but the level was lower than I was comfortable with.  I did get absolutely fantastic mileage the whole time I was there - even more surprising since my speeds wouldn't suggest it should be this good, but I'll take it.

I crossed the border back into the US at Windsor since this would put me mostly south of Detroit.  The line was moderate, but it was still the right decision.  It was mildly infuriating when a dude forced his way in two cars ahead of me.  But we already know that a small percentage of the population has no redeeming qualities (the internet has reinforced this...).  The border itself took 30 seconds to get through.

I continued my way towards home.  Traffic was actually worse in places than near Toronto.  

Soon enough I was home with enough time to unpack and take the dogs on a quick walk.  Fish were still frozen so it was just a matter of transferring them to the freezer.

I know I'm very fortunate to have friends like Denis and now Julie.  Fishing for big salmon is something I've always wanted to do.  I hope to be able to do this again.

And barring anything unforeseen, I'll be back in Canada in a few weeks!

2024 Bear Hunt Days 9&10 - Home

I had partially packed up the evening before so I was able to have a quick cup of coffee while I finished getting ready to leave.  Dave had said to text him before I left and he would help me load up by bear.  I felt a bit bad about this - these guides seem to work 24/7.  But he met me near the freezer and I loaded up before a quick goodbye.  I pulled out onto the road at almost exactly 5:00.

I decided to avoid the gravel road on the way home.  This added about 20 miles, but no time and lessoned aggravation.  It might have been partially negated by some construction, but it made the dark morning a bit easier.

I was listening to Congratulations, Who Are You Again?: A Memoir by Harrison Scott Key.  It was pretty good.  I got a bit annoyed by how he kept talking about how funny he was.  There were some funny bits, but much of it felt a little bit forced.

As I motored through south Manitoba, I got one more sunrise, no doubt it would have been better if viewed through something other than a windshield; I did feel like I was one of the only people on the road.

I breezed through the border.  "Have any alcohol or tobacco?"

"Nope and nope."

"Have a nice day."

I finished Congratulations and overall it was good.  I liked the way his narrative told the story about how dreams change as he discovered he was already living his dream.

I find it frustrating how Ford allows me to sort of search for what I want on my USB stick, but then only teases and disables the ability to scroll.  This is more dangerous than letting me quickly find what I want since I try and fail ... and try and fail ... and try and fail...  

I may have to move up a few years and put my books and podcasts on my phone before I leave on my adventures.  Or, heaven forbid, stream them...

US2 was surprisingly tolerable before I worked my way down to the interstate which was annoying, especially when I neared Madison.  My sister texted me to suggest I go an alternate route since there was some kind of bike/marathon thing near where she lived.  I got to her house with time to get caught up.  

In the morning I was once again on the road for the last leg toward home.  The final part of the drive went smooth enough.  Indy sucked, but what else is new.

At home, SO had mowed the lawn.  She is wonderful.  This made the final work of unpacking, taking care of a bear and cleaning up much easier.  

The next adventure is only a few weeks away.

2023 SC Deer Hunt Day 6 - Mental Reconnaissance

I was up early and out the door before 4:00.  Despite the early hour, there were quite a few cars on the road, but it was still a work day for most.  

I finished the last half hour of Quiet; it was mostly about raising introverted kids so I let my mind wander.

I've already replayed that shot on the hog over and over at least 1000 times and I'm sure I'll do it much more in the next few days and weeks.  I think a lot about what I could have done differently.  I could have waited a few more seconds to possibly steady myself just a bit more.  I could have gone for a body shot instead of a head shot and hoped there wasn't swamp or impenetrable jungle around.  I could have gone for a shoulder shot since I probably would not have been able to eat a large boar (big hogs that come in alone are usually boars).  I could have paused and not taken a shot in the dark at that distance.

It is pretty incredible.  Under range conditions, it isn't a difficult shot.  I calculated I was probably off by 0.03 degrees (1.78 minutes/MOA if one prefers that kind of thing).  That is an incredibly small margin of error.  I know I'm not the greatest shot, and I do wish I had more time to practice.  

I'm not sure if there was a car show or what, but there were several stanced (stupid!!!!) cars with fart-can exhausts driving like ass hats near Spartanburg.  I felt like I was in a sophomoric version of Fast and Furious.  They all got off at the same exit so I suspect it wasn't a coincidence.  I was happy to see them go.

After finishing Quiet, I moved on to Freakonomics by Levitt and Dubner.  There is quite a bit of controversy around this book, but I'm not sure why.  I didn't find many of the conclusions that far fetched.  I enjoyed the way they talked statistics and the book was quite funny in places as well.  There may be some confirmation bias since I do believe much of history can be better understood not as the result of historical planned actions but as the result of unintended consequences.

The fog was once again intense and pretty through the mountains.  My coffee stop was also better than my drive south.

Given the number of deer I've seen while hunting hogs, I wasn't expecting the deer hunting to be quite as challenging as it was.  I think I'm going to go back to give it another go next year.  Most of the guys I met on this trip were fun to hang out with and I did enjoy hunting deer with Rick more than at home.  Longer term I need to figure out where deer hunting fits in with everything else (and finances).

I'll have more time to do mental reconnaissance over the coming weeks and days.  The last time I missed a big game animal was back in 2013.  I was due for a miss and it does come with an appropriate level of humility.  But not everything needs to be a lesson - sometimes I just fail...

2023 Bear Hunt Days 9 & 10 - Perspective

After a very late night (for me), I woke up and packed everything up as quietly as I could.  I met Vance and Dave by the boat house and got my bear loaded up.  It definitely wasn't frozen yet, but it was between cool and cold.  Since it was fully boned out, it easily fit into my two better coolers - including the hide and head.

Once settled up, I was sadly on the road.  Normally I like to be on the road crazy early, but the late night made that impossible - plus a couple extra hours of time in the freezer would help.  Leaving always comes with the somber reality that weeks like this past one must come to an end.

It was getting light soon after I left but I still saw one last hazy Manitoba sunrise.

I again took the 30 miles of gravel a bit to fast, but the Maverick handled it like a champion.  Traction control may be nanny-state, but it is probably a good thing sometimes.  At one point I saw an enormous feline in the road which I am still wondering what that could have been.  Maybe a lynx?

The border crossing was the easiest one I've ever had getting back into the US.  I think the border guard was more concerned that I didn't have a front license plate than anything else (this is no longer a requirement as of ~2020).  He asked if I had a license for my bear and walleye and said, "Have a nice day."  

I was listening to Ann Patchett's These Precious Days - I don't remember when I got this.  I had read her essay on getting rid of things and found it very good.  This was repeated in this book and unfortunately was one of the only good parts of the book.  Too much of Precious comes across as poorly attempted introspection, but falls into being self-centered instead.  As the book droned on, I was desperate for it to end and glad when it finally did.

Temperatures through the day rose steadily.  At one point I looked down and saw a temperature of over 100F and thought that my temp gauge must have been malfunctioning.  Nope...

This had me worried about the not-frozen meat in my cooler.  I talked with Little Sis a bit back and forth and she was able to find a grocery store that had dry ice - and! - went and got some for me.  She is absolutely the hero for the day.

Soon enough I was at her house and we moved my coolers out of the broiling outside.  Meat was cool, so it will be OK.  Even with the late start, we had a chance to visit for a while before letting the day end.

_______

After a couple cups of coffee with my sister, it was time to make the final leg home.  I packed everything up and hit the road.

The final drive home was uneventful.  There were only a few spots with moderate traffic, but being a holiday and relatively early, the roads were mostly clear.

There must have been some kind of Jeep gathering at a vacation area near home.  I realize jeeps handle like crap on the road, but live a little and use the right pedal a bit more...

I spent some time while driving reliving some of what was a very memorable bear hunt.  I've never been down to the wire like that.  While I never saw anything, I did like hunting the two mornings, although I don't think I'll immediately volunteer for this in the future.

I think for me, the short bit of time between when the sow with cubs had left and my bear came in really defines the hunt for me - as well as me as someone who hunts.  After the sow and cubs left, I said to myself that seeing them was a good way for the hunt to end.  And I meant it.  I'm still glad I was able to take a very large bear, but perspective is something which is helped by occasional reminders.

Once home it was a mad scramble to take care of all the bear meat, clean and pack thing away.  The next adventure is only a few weeks away.

2023 Family 350 Day 5 - Home Again

VRBO House to Home:  517.3 Miles

(oddly exactly 1 mile difference than the northbound trip - which is about the same as the extra distance traveled to get gas at one stop on the way up).

I woke up at my usual too-early hour.  I tried to get back to sleep, but it was hopeless.  I thought about making coffee and putzing around, but decided I was already in go-home mode.  I packed up and cleaned up and got ready to leave.

The garage our VRBO host was kind enough to let me use had a light - or at least a light bulb in the ceiling, but I couldn't figure out how to turn it on.  The garage door opener light was inoperable.  So all my packing was done by braille.  This made me a bit nervous that I would leave something behind.

Almost convinced I had everything, I was on the bike making my way through deer-infested roads by 4:00AM.

Temperatures were in the lower 50s which was too cool for my mesh jacket.  I was wearing my rain liner which helped, but it also made everything feel clammy.  Between that, the dark, intermittent fog and not knowing the area very well, the first few miles were uncomfortable.  But I was the only vehicle on the road so I was able to take my time.

Once on the larger roads I settled in much quicker than I had for the ride north.  There was one heinous construction zone in Alanson, but I found a quick way around that and was on my way for the easy routing for the rest of the day.

Because it was dark I missed the best scenery of the moosey, boggy North.  But the pay-off (in addition to getting home earlier) was a beautiful sunrise as I motored on.

I spent a lot of time thinking about siblings and how great it was to see them for a few days.  I suppose we are all getting older, but I still end up feeling like a little kid around them and my mom.  Maybe that is true for everyone?

Traffic hadn't picked up by Lansing yet so it was easy to get around it.  Then a straight shot south.

Once off the interstate in Indiana the Amish were exceedingly busy.  I had never seen so many buggies out buggying around.  No harm though - just slow down and pass on by.  Sometimes rear-facing kids even wave at me.

As I got closer to home, I went past the land I hunt deer on, then onto the roads I bicycle on, then onto my dog-walking roads.  Soon enough, I was home with enough time to get some things done.  It had felt like Sunday all day, so it was good to know I had a day to unwind before returning to ... that other thing.

2023 Pig Hunt Day 6 & 7 - Sea of Pines (and Home)

Morning came with Denis, Claude and I all piling in Rick's truck to feed stands.  Most had been hit hard so there was hope for the final night in South Carolina.

During lodge down time, a couple from North Carolina came in.  They seemed nice enough if a bit unevenly matched as far as hunting.  Hopefully the upcoming shift in wind will allow both of them to get pigs.

Mid afternoon rolled around and I went out for my final hog hunt for the year.  I was in a "young" pine farm on a stand that was a little bent up - if still perfectly serviceable.  

Once I got situated, all the pines to my right were nearly uniform in height giving me the feeling of hunting (fishing?) in a sea of pine trees.  It was almost a little disconcerting.

The afternoon was warm, sunny and breezy.  I did my best to not move as I waited and hoped for pigs.

Around 4:30 something jumped out very briefly into the 2-track.  My mind wanted to say it was finally a bobcat, but I think it was actually a big rabbit of some kind.  Or maybe that is sour grapes since if it was a bobcat, it would have been impossible to get a shot unless I happened to have been pointing my rifle at exactly the right spot when it came out.  Whatever it was, it was there and gone.

I found my mind slipping into thinking about the trip home which is almost acceptable.  I also started thinking about everything which might be waiting for me back at work which I effectively squashed.

As it started to get dark I found myself getting my hopes up.  I saw the briefest flash of a deer down by the corn pile.  About 10 minutes later the deer came back out and fed for less than a minute before it ran huffing and wheezing toward me and diagonally toward my right.  Whatever was going on, the animals were jumpy and I knew that could mean that big pigs were in the area.

But once it got too dark to see I unloaded my gun and packed up my stuff.  Hog hunting was done for the year.

Nobody had seen hogs so it was a quiet night all around.

Back in the lodge I packed up most of my stuff.  I was not able to fit my sow - now fully frozen - in either of my coolers so I had to double-bag it and put it in the bed of my truck.  This was fine with the cool temperatures and may even help so I can finish cutting it up once I am home.

We all talked a bit before eating and saying goodbyes.  With a long day of driving, I turned in early.  Since the NC couple was in camp, Denis and Claude were my bunk mates.  We made room for each other.  I'll be looking forward to seeing them in 2024.

___

I woke up before 3:00AM and decided pretty quickly I was not going to get back to sleep so I got up, quickly got ready and was on the road.  Since I took a slightly new way home, I missed one turn but got back on my route and down the road.

The drive went OK with good road conditions, little traffic and nice weather.  I was surprisingly tired at first so I ended up eating more junk food than I would have liked.

The afternoon brought a bit too much caffeine so it was not my favorite trip I've made.  The trip home is always a little tougher than the trip to South Carolina.  But I was still glad to be headed home to see the dogs (and SO).

I pulled into the driveway almost exactly one week from when I left.  My hog was just starting to thaw so hopefully I'll be able to cut it up Sunday.  Once that is done and things are cleaned up, it is sadly back to the doldrums of work.  So it goes.

2022 Bear Hunt Day 10 & 11 - Home

I woke up a few minutes before my alarm and got ready as fast as I could.  It took me a few extra minutes to get my bear in a cooler since it had finished freezing in a slightly different shape, but I still made it all fit in one of my bigger coolers.  After triple checking the cabin, I was out the door.

Temperatures were cold, and the early morning drive was nice.  I'm familiar with the roads and knew the early route.  I saw some animals - likely a fox (although it could have been a small wolf) and a lynx.  A doe later in the day had me slowing down as well.

The sun rose right as I got to the sleepy border crossing, and I spent a few minutes there as the guard read questions from his computer screen - yes the gall bladder is left with the rest of the guts; yes the paws are still fully attached to the hide.  He had me fill out the declaration form differently than I had seen previously, but as long as I get through, I'll fill it out however they want.  And I was back in the United States.

I listened to Jonathon Franzen's The Discomfort Zone, which was an interesting take on the concept of a memoir.  His writing was once again pretty good, but he comes across as self-indulgent.

Then I listened to podcasts the rest of the day.  I had some older Planet Money podcasts that I finally got around to listening to and I liked them, but they seemed frustratingly abbreviated.

My mind drifted home quite a bit as I thought about my prodigal dog, now returned.  We will have a lot to figure out here.  I'm a bit concerned she may have heartworm and/or tick-born diseases.  But I guess that will only be one thing among many to deal with now.  At least she didn't get hit by a car or chased into the next county by a coyote or...  I really wanted to actually see her and pet her to know that she is actually home.  I think I'll have to take her on a combined thank you and apology tour to all the people that were involved with her over the last 141 days.

The early part of the drive in the US was pretty with many very moosey areas.  Traffic remained light with few evil motorhomes.  

This changed as I got to US 2.  I survived Duluth before heading south and finally getting on the interstate.  The area around Madison had more traffic than I expected for a Sunday, but it was a holiday weekend.  I got to Sis' house and spent some time catching up with her and Liz.  I had a tex-mex tempeh bowl for dinner which was quite good - if a bit unusual - and a really nice change from the crap I had been munching on most of the day during the drive.

______________________

Up early the next morning I started the coffee maker and sat with Sis' dogs.  They were up soon enough and we finished catching up.  I was out the door fairly early since I was also going to lose an hour going home.

The drive went fast enough.  Traffic remained relatively light all day.  Even getting around Indianapolis wasn't too bad.  I had to take a snaking route once I got near home to avoid the many Indiana construction zones.  It took dueling GPS units to figure out the right route.

Back at home, my bear had thawed more than I expected so I took care of it right away.  I guess that is a blessing of a small bear that it went very quickly.

More importantly, I got to see my run-away dog.  She didn't seem happy, but she was quite calm which is probably good enough for now.  There will be plenty of time to try to get her to learn that life with people can be good.

The Start of Something Big Day 4 - Home

Madison, Wi to Home:  476.9 miles

After waking up to cats all over me I had one too many cups of coffee before saying goodbye to Sis and her SO.  It's always great to see them and I was glad they could make the time.  With the oil and tires checked, I headed out of Madison on nearly-empty Sunday-morning roads.

As I left I found my mind wandering back to the issues at work and home, and I realized looking back 40-50 years can be like peering into a box of broken toys.  Stuck in the netherland of work-eat-seep-repeat for too long is soul-crushing.  I miss boundless curiosity for curiosity's sake.  I would like to explore all the possibilities of where the Mississippi River starts, and decide for myself.  I would like to follow my stick down the Mississippi River and watch it enter the Gulf of Mexico.  I'd like to create my own runestone.  But I'll have to settle for exploring the cultural starting point of the Mississippi River - which is still a great thing to be able to do.  I'm very fortunate to have been able to do this.

I motored south to Bloomington then headed east towards home.  Temperatures were cool, but not cold and it was easy to stay comfortable.  This can sometimes be no small feat after four long days on the bike.

Sometimes the ride from Sis's house to home goes by fast, on this day there were spurts where it felt like I wasn't getting anywhere.  I let my mind wander as I rolled along.  A north wind at times gave me chills, but it is better than an east wind - nothing good has ever come from an east wind.

Back at home Tibbit was really happy to see me and quite curious about all the smells.  I contemplated going to to work on Monday, which would have meant mowing the lawn after getting home.  That just felt like too much.  So a quick wash of the bike was in order allowing me another day to own my own time.

2022 Hog Hunt Day 4 - So It Goes

"Robert Kennedy, whose summer home is eight miles from the home I live in all year round, was shot two nights ago. He died last night. So it goes." - Kurt Vonnegut

I woke up and had no reason to dither.  I thought about taking a shower, but even that seemed like a waste of time.  I was on the road a few minutes after 3:00.  I made my way out on the dark roads.  I saw lots of deer, but they are mostly not too stupid this time of year so they stayed where they should be.  There was quite a bit of traffic for how early it was, but the morning was still quite nice.

I was listening to The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer.  Or at least I tried to listen to it.  It jumped around and I thought it was going to be about fighting/hiding from terrorist Islamic groups.  It started out as mostly history of writing in Africa.  The description of the physical books was fascinating, but I just could not get excited about the books.  Should they be preserved from a historic perspective?  Of course, but it seemed like forcing it to make it sound like these books were centuries ahead of anything.  It is sad how little the owners cared about the books - keeping them in goat skin bags to be ravaged by water or allowing them to be eaten by termites says something about the current culture.  Character development was somewhere between unsympathetic and non-existent.  It did sound like the book would have gotten better later, but rather than skip part of the book, I think I'm better off deleting it.

Thankfully I had tons of podcasts saved -mostly Hidden Brain - many of which were really good.

The evidence of the winter storm started a little over 100 miles from camp.  South Carolina High Country looked like it got hit hard as did Central Kentucky.  Oddly, the Appalachian area didn't look like it got near as much.  The snow did make the mountains very pretty though.

I continued driving and stopped to get gas at the same gas station I usually do right off I-81.  Why oh why do I buy pickled sausage?  I question my life choices sometimes.

I think I woke up SO and her sister when I got home.  I watched my sister-in-law help SO get moved into another room.  If SO doesn't have any mountain goat (she does not), I don't have the caring gene (I do not).  I'll have to develop this.

We talked for a bit about both the current situation and a few other things before Sis-in-Law had to leave.  I am incredibly grateful for what she did for us.

I'm disappointed that my hog hunt was cut short.  Sometimes life happens.  So it goes.  At this point, I can only hope that I am prepared for the next few weeks.  It will be stressful enough that I may need something like a hog hunt after it is all over.

Chrisapalooza Day 3 - Home

Mark's House to Home:  About 310 miles.

It seemed like I slept really well, but I woke up and felt absolutely exhausted.  I tried to get back to sleep, but could only fitfully rest until I gave up and got up.  Mark was already up so we solved a few of the world's problems before daylight called and told me it was time to go.

The morning air was cool enough that I debated wearing my sweatshirt underneath my motorcycle jacket.  But I knew the dry air was going to warm quickly with a bright sun and only a few clouds.  I was on the road by a few minutes after 8:00.  As expected, the construction was easy to get through with the non-existent Sunday morning traffic.  Even the construction in and around Charlotte was tolerable.  Early mornings on the road are simply the best.  I continued South, crossing into Indiana.  I'm not sure what was in the water, but even the trucks and the vehicles pulling campers were (mostly) hoofing it.

South for Fort Wayne I was glad to be off the interstate.  I took US-127 since US-27 had so much construction.  I wasn't expecting it to be much better.  But for all the construction in Indiana on Friday, Ohio had very little.  I'll take it!

I really pushed the fuel gauge on the bike, but chickened out near I-70 and got gas.  From there it was a quick jaunt home.  I got home in time to take a dog for a walk and armor up my psyche for another hateful week at work.

After bear hunting, I said that if I could squeeze in one more mini-adventure this summer, it would be a very good year.  Chrisapalooza definitely counts.  It was great to get to spend some time with Mark and see Chris.  I'm glad I can keep in touch with them.  Quite simply, it has been a very good year.  I still have a few days of vacation I have to use, but I doubt they will be used for travel.  With fall chores coming up and deer hunting several weeks away, I still have much to look forward to.

Delta Bear Hunt Day 1 - COVID(s) Negative

Some background context is in order here.  In 2018, I went bear hunting.  There was a group in camp that week from the Missouri/Kansa area.  They were a good group and I was in the fishing boat with them various times through the week.  Shortly after getting home, Mark asked me if I wanted to join them in 2020 - with enough people, they could take over camp and were looking for another person or two.  Just when I'm sure that I'm one of the biggest jack-wads in the world, I get a nudge that maybe I'm not the worst?  I won't let it got to my head.

But I had already scheduled another bear hunt for 2019.  The intangible pull north is impossible to neglect - toward wild places and good people.  And bear hunting for three years in a row seemed excessive; regretfully I had to turn Mark's offer down.

2020 came and ... well ... Mark's bear hunt did not happen.

July 19, 2021 Canada announced the border would open to "non-essential" travel on August 9.  Of course bear-hunting was quite essential all along.  I emailed Vance - Any chance bear hunting can still happen this year?  No.  Too many people in the queue.  I understood and was almost relieved since the border crossing would not be trivial.  But within a few days I got an email from Mark - one of their crew had dropped out since he didn't want to be vaccinated.  Did I want to join them?  I did!  They were to be the fist group in camp after 18 months without any bear hunting.  I really did!  I was shocked he still remembered me after three years.

The Canadian Border Guards threatened to strike.  Clearly this was a moment where labor had a full house to the government's pair of 3's.  On the weekend before the border was to open, the border guards began "work to rule" - essentially following the letter of the law at whatever pace they wanted.  Lines at the border grew to miles and wait times were over 12 hours in some places.  A labor agreement was quickly reached.  The border opened August 9.  Wait times on that first day were long, as United States residents seemed eager to head north, but this was short lived and after that first day, border delays became minimal.

As the time to leave approached, I didn't let myself get excited.  While not unreasonable, the extra steps to get into Canada were not insignificant.  With Delta variant spreading and vaccination rates stubbornly low in the US, I wasn't sure the border wasn't going to close again.  The most difficult step was getting a PCR COVID test within 72 hours of crossing the border.  I got one a few days before as a disaster check, then another on Thursday.  I wasn't sure when I would get those results, so Thursday afternoon I got yet another PCR test (getting results of my first one around that same time).  All results were negative, so I didn't end up in a sticky situation.  The clock was ticking on my 72 hours, but it was finally time to get excited.

I took Friday off from work and after a ritual morning dog walk, I packed and then finished mowing a yard which was still very soggy from Thursday's torrential rain.  A little after 1:00, I was on the road headed west.  I stayed on 2-lane roads all the way to Indianapolis since there was a really slow construction zone on I-74.  I don't know that this was faster, but it was less frustrating.  Getting around Indy was...  Then it was a slog west to El Paso (not Texas).  The text messages from the other hunters were going like crazy; it was hard not to look at them a few times.  The hotel was OK, a little grungy, but tolerable.  Dinner was an Annie Chun's noodle bowl and a couple zebra cakes.

There was a lot of loose ends to tie up over the last few days, but it is starting to get real now.

50/80/50 Trip Day 11 - Home

 Jacksonville, IL to Home:  347.1 miles

I got a later start than usual, but not late as I was still out the door before actual sunrise.  I decided to wait for free hotel waffles and they did not disappoint.  They even had chocolate chips for them.

After eating, I was glad to be out the door toward home.  With Covid killing hotel breakfasts for the last 18 months, this was the first time I've had gratis hotel waffles in a very long time.

I jumped on I-72 and headed east.  There was very heavy rain to the Northwest.  It was moving slowly, but I still did not want to get caught in it.  The morning was temperate and cloudy.  Instead of a sunrise pushing me down the road, I was moving toward it.

I made my way east.  I thought about jumping off the interstate and taking US-36, but there really wasn't anything I wanted to see and the thought of dealing with traffic was too heinous.

I spent time trying to decide if I should work the next day.  The weather forecast doesn't look too good, so rather than sit around all day, I may clandestinely work from home and at least clear out my inbox.  I suppose I can decide in the morning.

Getting around Indianapolis was ... Indianapolis.  Jumping back on I-74 I got caught in construction that came to a standstill a few times.  I'm not sure why I can drive thousands of miles, at times on busier highways and have the construction beat me up so close to home.  At one point I yelled, "People, I just want to get home!" and traffic started moving.  I never knew I had that power.

I got home early afternoon.  The dogs were quite happy to see me and the lawn was ugly long.  With rain forecast, there wasn't any choice but to mow immediately.  While I didn't really want to do this, it did allow me a chance to replay many events of the past 11 days.

50/80/50 Trip Day 1 - On The Guilty Road

The Plan:  COVID does still dominate ... almost everything.  But with things like vaccines and better guidance, my family made plans to get together at my sister's in Utah.  There have been a couple "big" birthdays during the past 18 months of craziness and another coming up.  SO and my plan was to head west on the motorcycle for a long-overdue real road trip, apexing in Utah before returning home.

The Reality:  About two weeks before leaving the younger dog stopped eating.  After about a day of this I took her to the vet.  Some tests showed something was wrong, but not clearly what.  This set off several rounds of tests/procedures/specialists until immune mediated hemolytic anemia was diagnosed - basically her immune system was attacking her red blood cells.  By Independence Day weekend, she was on several medications and seemed to be feeling at least a little bit better.  But with uncertainty and needed follow-up testing, there was no way she could be kenneled.  Since my family was gathering, we decided I was to head west alone while SO abandoned her vacation.

The weeks before leaving were quite difficult.  I can think back to one of the many trips to the vet, worried about the sad, sick dog and really frustrated about a big issue at work that I could probably solve quickly if I wasn't working from home thinking, "If I had known this was what mid-life was going to be like..." - Thanks but No.

If there is a silver lining (there almost always is), if it weren't for the upcoming trip, we may have waited a bit longer to take her to the vet.  The earlier first visit gave us enough time to get a diagnosis before it turned much more critical.

I decided to take the GL instead of the Triumph to have a bit more room.  Then I changed/rethought/updated/overthought what gear I was going to bring, ultimately deciding to wear my vented mesh jacket and bring extra rain gear.  It seemed almost like cheating to not wear my trusty TourMaster jacket, but it just made more sense for traveling during the hottest part of the year - especially since I was solo.

So right around sunrise I said goodbye and hit the road.

Home to Osceola, IA:  562.3 miles

There was just a hint of fog at home, but it got heavier and patchier in spots as I rode along the familiar two-lane roads by home.  I jumped on the interstate and headed toward Indianapolis.  I guess that the observed Independence Day Holiday had everyone in Indy at home since I think this was the easiest I have ever had getting around that city.  I'll take it.

As the morning continued however, the interstate got much busier.  It wasn't terrible, but there was considerably more traffic then when I went to Minnesota a few weeks ago.  I must not have a very good imagination because I took nearly the same route I did then as well.  

I got off the interstate near Peoria, IL and it was none too soon since I was tired of it.  At first this felt like a mistake, but within a few miles traffic disappeared to almost nothing.  Rural Illinois may not have mountains, but it is pretty in its own way.  It also felt like home.

Once into Western Illinois, I saw evidence of the recent flooding and severe wind.  I saw one farmer tilling in his ruined corn - likely to replant.  At another farm I saw a huge silo sitting askew on top of a barn.  Neither of these are good situations.

I settled into the ride pretty well, but it was unsettled at the same time.  There was an overwhelming aura of guilt in this trip since it was supposed to be an adventure for both SO and I, and she was home with the dogs.  It was the right decision to make, but some things are not easy.

I crossed the Mississippi River again at Burlington and stopped for the obligatory picture.  I'm not really sure why, but I was making good time and wasn't in a hurry.

Then it was the long stretch across Iowa.  Iowa was nearly devoid of traffic.  Southern Iowa is really pretty with maybe just a hint of the Ozarks.  On a number of the hill crests, I looked over the windshield at a verdant valley and thought, "Wow, that is pretty."  

But it was also hot.  Temperatures fluctuated around 90F for most of the afternoon.  When I crossed over into Iowa, I was wishing I had picked a city farther along.  As the last few hours went on, I was looking forward to getting out of the heat and humidity.  I was thinking that the decision to wear the mesh jacket was the right one.

I stopped a half hour outside of Osceola to grab a beverage and ended up talking to a guy waiting for his wife for a while.  He was a former Harley rider and missed his riding days.

Soon enough I was in Osceola.  I got gas and went to my hotel - a locally owned operation.  No one was there, so I called the number and they checked me in remotely.  My "key" was a code on the keypad for the lock.  Often these smaller hotels still have cut keys, so this was a new one for me.  I liked it.  The room itself was super clean even if a bit old.  I do love the personalities of these types of local hotels.

Snacks and a very questionable dinner from the Hy-Vee Market ended the day.  What was less questionable with the Til the Cows Come Home Dough-Mo Arigato Mr. Roboto Ice Cream - nearly as good as Ben and Jerry's but much cheaper.  Calorically it may still have been unwise.

Back at home all still seemed to be going well with the dog.  I'm hoping this continues so I feel less guilty and am able to enjoy the time as the adventure progresses.

2021 Hog Hunt Day 5 - A Final Day and Drive Home

Rick and I went out to drop kids off at school while Gary went to hunt quail.  My wingshooting isn't good enough to justify any kind of guided hunt for birds, but it did sound like Gary enjoyed the morning's hunt.

All the pig stands had been hit well.  The stand where I shot my sow was also hit - I'm always glad when I don't disrupt stands after taking a hog.

It rained most of the morning - not hard, but just a steady, spitting and cold rain.  The precipitation was lightening in the late morning so I walked Dixie down to the river - she is a handful.

Back at the lodge Bo and Harrison (father and son) came into camp.  They seemed nice enough even if Harrison seemed slightly unprepared for hog hunting.  Bo had a wizbang video scope on his rifle which made him look a bit like a weaponized TV videographer.  Still, the simplified ability to sight it in was neat and apparently the night vision capability is quite impressive.  I was surprised the cost of it (ATN 4K Pro) wasn't more expensive.

There was still rain in the area with some drizzle as we all left to go out for the afternoon so at the last minute I grabbed my rain gear.  This proved a good idea if not only for the rain, but also the wind since I was in an open "world-famous" ground blind.  I liked the spot I was at since it had showed really good activity all week.  The tripod gun stand was set up well.

The stand was close enough to a slightly more busy road to the point that the road noise was annoying at times.  I was able to sit quietly for most of the afternoon without squirming which was surprising as it was the end of the week when I'm usually more restless.

As the afternoon went on, the weather cleared and wind seemed to die down.  The sun descending to the horizon along with the fast moving and pretty clouds made an almost surreal sky.  I enjoyed the afternoon in the blind.

Right near dark four deer came out.  I have been very surprised on this trip how late I am seeing deer.  Usually I have at least a couple nights where I am covered up in deer, but this trip seems to only show me a few deer right before dark.  My hog hunting ended as it got dark with only those deer to keep me company.

It was difficult to walk out since I had to skirt a pond instead of walking down a 2-track.  I probably should have used my flashlight, but in the dark it seemed like I ended up walking through every sticker-bush.

Neither Bo nor Harrison had seen any hogs.  Gary had shot at a hog and had a tale where the hog hit the ground and flopped like well hit.  Then it jumped up and down ("like it was catching butterflies") then ran into and out of the woods a few times.  He did not take a follow-up shot.

Back at the lodge, I packed up most of my stuff in the truck and moved everything else into Gary's room so Bo and Harrison could bunk together - additionally both Gary and I are fairly early people.  Gary was once again very generous to share his meatloaf and taters with me.  Rick stopped by and we said our goodbyes before I turned in for the night.

___________

I woke up a little after 2:00 and decided I probably wasn't going to get back to sleep so I was on the road by 3:00.  Getting home was easy enough as my mind wandered back to the real world and the craziness of coronavirus...

I listened to Janesville by Amy Goldstein.  I'm not sure why this book originally ended up on my USB drive, but it was, at best, tolerable.  I wasn't really sure what the point of the book was.  It tells the stories of several families after a GM plant closes in a small Wisconsin town.  While the situation is sympathetic, and the closing of the plant devastating, it is not a new story and with Janesville situated on an interstate between Madison and Rockford, IL, it seems there may have been more palatable or less difficult options than those presented in the book at times.

The drive went fast enough.  Getting through Asheville, NC was still frustrating.  I stopped a few times for snacks that were increasingly odd (pickled sausage?) which I took as a sign I needed to be off the road.  Back at home the beagles were thrilled to see me.  I unpacked and did a much-needed oil change on the Ridgeline.  I made arrangements to drop off my pig skull to be cleaned out.  Given that it was a boar with pretty good tusks, I want it to be done right.

I had a good time and the night hunting was a new, and exciting, experience.  I probably think this every year, but I do miss Georgetown.  More than that, I miss hunting with Nathan and Rachel or Rob and Jessie.  I also realize the world is not a static place.  

Every year has something new.  I can look forward to what next year might bring.

Coronavirus Crazy Trip Day 3 - Home (already)

Weston, WV to Home:  334.2 Miles

I woke again to a sticky hotel room.  I'm not sure why since the air conditioner was running all night, but everything felt damp.  No matter - it was time to leave.

We got ready and were out the door by 6:10AM.  We wanted to take advantage of the cooler weather; mornings are always the best.  I was prepared for it to still be a bit dark but it was also foggy.  The fog persisted, but decreased, throughout the morning.  I decided to skip any interesting roads and just make tracks for home, taking the interstate up to US50 before heading west.  Much like two days previous, traffic was negligible, but there was a bit more truck traffic.

It was a pretty morning.

And I let my mind wander.  Not that I don't have opportunities to do this during my normal routine - walking the dog, riding the bicycle, even commuting.  But it isn't the same.  

I really did need a road trip.  And golly did the mind wander, maybe making up for lost time.

It usually takes at least a day on the road to mentally get rid of the normal troubles of work and home.  That coupled with the late start and heat made the trip to West Virginia a bit more of a struggle.

The trip home started early morning (as it should), temperatures were very pleasant (even with the dampness) and even the scenery looked better.  Time passed quickly.  The dull headache I've had for at least a week subsided.  I was where I needed to be.  Compared to the last few months, it was a perfect morning.

What I realized is this was the first time since March when things felt normal.  No coronavirus, no crazy work schedules; I was on the road where I belong.  I didn't want to go home.  I wanted to turn and go another direction, any direction.  But this was all BS too.  As much as I might want to head to some distant arbitrary location, an extended road trip right now would not be the same as it was last summer.  All those little things that make road trips are either missing or unrecognizably altered.  I'd miss finding some local restaurant and not even question whether it was the right place to eat a greasy cheeseburger for lunch.  I'd miss walking too far in the early evening to eat a steak somewhere.  I'd miss finding some local novelty to look at, simply because I'm there.  I'd miss free hotel waffles saturated in cheap syrup.  I could end up a slave to hotel rooms.  As much as I felt normal on the road, I knew it wasn't.

We crossed the Ohio River into Ohio.  The day was starting to warm slightly and dry out.

My mind continued to wander.  I found it too coincidental that after touring a defunct asylum, I questioned my sanity for what the present pandemic might be doing.  And I wondered how many other people are going about the day-to-day routine in a similar state - thinking everything is fine but knowing normal is still a long way off.

It started to get dramatically warmer as we got closer to home.  We made our way to SO's work and I dropped her off at her car to get the beagles.  I continued on familiar roads toward home, resisting the urge - for now - to turn the handlebars in another direction.

Patagonian New Year Days 9&10 - Heading Home

I felt bad when Abi's dogs started to make noise when I woke up.  But it was hard to avoid and since she has workers in her house at times it probably isn't the only time this has happened.

We had some time before we went to the airport so I finished reading Back to Cape Horn by Rosie Swale.  It tells of her travel by horseback down the length of Chile in the mid-1980's.  I guess it is a good story, but it was also somewhere between troubling and pointless - these kind of books are often really good if there is a reason for the travel or if it explores history in some kind of new or even just relevant way.  This was just a trip to write a book about; the reason was the end.  The completion of the journey as a vanity passenger on a military ship was utterly pointless.

After a bit of a slow morning including a final brief walk about Abi's property, we headed out.  We stopped by a store for some real empanadas and treats for the trip.  Then it was off to the airport.  Traffic was almost bad which was a first for the trip.

Whether I am ready to leave or not, it is time to head home.  And I am at least partially ready to be home.

Once at the airport, I tried to check in.  There was lots of furrowed brows before I was told that it was too early to check in.  Old Sis was walking behind me and had a boarding pass so I asked again.  More furrowed brows, "It says you missed the flight to Balmaceda?  Your ticket is cancelled."
"I didn't miss my flight.  I'm in Balmaceda."
"You can use the phone over there to call and see if this can be fixed."
I was not happy.  My stomach suddenly hurt.  My loathing of commercial air travel came back, compounded by being in a foreign country.
This led to just under and hour on the phone with Latam.  At least the person I talked to was very helpful.  I am very, very glad we got to the airport early so that Nephew could leave on his next adventure!
Problem solved and I went back to the counter and successfully checked in - with the minor hiccup of needing to fix my seat assignment for the flight to Miami since I paid for the extra leg room.
Every problem, no matter how nerve wracking, has a solution.  Latam should realize that if I had waited to check in, there likely would not have been time to fix this and my flights would have been in permanent jeopardy.

Once through security, which was more like US security in the 1980's, we had a bit of time to wait until boarding the flight to Santiago.  And I was blessed with an empty seat next to me.

On to Santiago where we had some time.  We all tried to spend our remaining pesos since the exchange rate at home would be terrible.

As I boarded the flight to Miami, I found I was "blessed" with a new seat assignment and not a window which is the only way I can sleep on a flight.  It was "because of some kids."  The plane was packed so I hope those fricken rugrats enjoyed my seat.  The flight was painful but tolerable.  Once again the food was pretty good and I was able to at least doze a little bit.

The plane landed on time, and I double-timed it out to the concourse.  Passport control was bonkers and quickly got bonkerser.  If I hadn't gotten out of the plane quickly, I would have never made the final flight of my journey.  I'm sure many people missed flights standing in a line which stretched for hours. 
At least a few other larger planes landed around the same time - and I'm sure ICE knows when planes are scheduled to land - so it was troubling that there were only two ICE agents working and one was dedicated to the Global Entry (and once that line was empty he stopped taking people).

Then it was through the maze of Miami airport and security, watching my wristwatch all the while.  But it did make it to the gate with just enough time before jumping on the final plane of this journey.  The flight home was good and the wheels blessedly touched down on the tarmac of my home turf.

On an excursion that is relatively short in real-time, but immensely long in mental-time, it is a bit hard to think back to those first few hours just after Christmas when this Patagonian New Year was just starting.  I suppose some adventures are awe-inspiring and some are transformative - this was the rare one which was both.
Being able to do this with my sisters, seeing my nephew as he helped maneuver through the foreign parts of foreign travel, meeting Abi and other Chileans, seeing amazing scenery, flora and fauna - I am unquestionably fortunate to have been able to do this and have it turn out the way it did.

It really is a huge amazing world out there.

Great Lakes 2018 Day 7 - Home

Lexington, Michigan to Home:  358.9 Miles

I woke up in end-of-vacation mode which means it was time to head home.  After getting up and making coffee, I started picking stuff up and putting things away (my Mom later complained about the noise of putting dishes away).

As it started to get light, people started filtering downstairs.  Everyone was eating breakfast, talking and starting to pack and clean and get ready to leave. 
SO even found a few minutes to watch the sunrise through some hazy Huron clouds.

I kind of liked the fishing pole I bought at the garage sale, and rigged up a way to take it home.  I took the reel off and packed it away.  I strung the pole between the helmet holders on the back bag, using zip ties to secure it in place.  It worked much better than I anticipated even though the pole halves stuck out a little bit to either side.

It seemed like there was more dithering than there needed to be.  And dithering was definitely not compatible with my being ready to leave.  First thing in the morning on the road is always best.  And it was a long drive home.

My younger sister and Mom were the first to leave.  My sister was dropping off my Mom at home, and had the longest drive.  

My older sister and two nephews were next.  They had to fly out.

My older brother, his wife and my youngest nephew (the now master fisherman) were last to leave.  Little kids do take time.  

Once everyone was gone I took a few minutes to make sure the house was left how it was supposed be.  The letter from the landlord asked us to put the garbage out at the far left of the property opposite the leaning trees.  I didn't see any leaning trees (only some crooked stumps?) and left is ambiguous - left from where and while looking at the house or from the house?  Hopefully the garbage cans were left in the right place.  They are at the NW corner of the property - which is a much better description than on the left corner of the property.

We were on the road around 10:00.  The trip south started out well enough.  We caught a few glimpses of Lake Huron, but it was time to go home.

The area around Detroit was lousy with construction, including an I-75 closure.  If there is any benefit to leaving on Sunday it was that traffic wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.  But it would have been better had I left at first light...

The drive went well enough even though I did start to get quite tired.  We got stuck in one traffic situation which lasted about 15 minutes.  It wasn't too bad but wasn't too good either.

As we neared Dayton, I remarked to SO that it looked like rain off to the East.  She checked her phone and said it looked like a few miles of "green" rain - meaning the radar was green which usually means light to at most moderate rain.

Nope, it was several miles of the worst rain I've ever ridden through.  Cars were pulling off the road or slowing down (slowing down was fine with me).  Idiots were even using their hazard lights.  Water was pooling over the interstate.  The tractor-trailer next to me was throwing huge amounts of water onto us.  I could tolerate this as it was also blocking some wind and hail.  Yes, hail.  It was hailing, and not lightly.  At one point I looked down and between my leg and the bike was a small pile of hail.  We wear open-faced helmets and the hail hurt my lips.

Pulling off the road would have been the smart thing to do, but I plugged along.  The heavy rain waned and for the rest of the trip home it was anything and everything from hot sunshine to more rain and wind.  Both SO and I were completely soaked through.  But we did eventually get home.

The home alarm had a SNAFU, so it may have been screaming for a time while we were gone.  I'm a little disappointed the neighbors didn't notice.  Or maybe they did.  But everything else looked good.

I got dogs from beagle jail.  SO made a quick grocery trip, and we unpacked, getting ready for another work day in the morning.  I hate not having a recovery day after a vacation, but that is how it works sometimes.

For a short vacation, our trip to Chicago a few days ago seems like a very long time ago.  It was definitely not a motorcycle tour about hauling for miles and miles across the country or about crossing many state lines.  The SS Badger across Lake Michigan was a lot of fun.  It was good to see family at several stops as was spending several days with my siblings and Mom.

The dogs are back at home so things can get back to normal - for at least a few weeks.

2017 Eclipse Day 7

Cambridge, Wisconsin to Home:  474.3 Miles

I was up before anybody else and found a way to make coffee.  It is funny how little things like where the coffee filters are stored can sometimes seem so personal.  I'd never heard of Vanilla Life Cereal before, but it was pretty good too.

We were on the road around the same time as my sister left for work, heading south.  Traffic was heavy but tolerable, especially near the interchanges that led to Chicago.  But with a mix of Wisconsin and Illinois drivers, it wasn't too bad.  The Illinois drivers weren't even trying too hard to kill each other.

SO paid our toll at the most hateful toll booth on I-39 just across the border into Illinois.  Traffic lightened up considerably around this point.  The weather was cool but comfortable, mostly sunny with periods of clouds.
Making our way to I-74 felt like we were getting close to home.  As usual, traffic on I-74 was very light, even through some construction zones.  We passed a few more wind turbines and a couple trundling military convoys throughout the day.

We were making good time, so we decided not to stop for a real lunch, grabbing some food at a gas stop.  The bacon cheddar dogs sounded good to me, but the first slippery one I grabbed bounced off of the counter and onto the floor.  There is absolutely NO 5 SECOND RULE AT A TRUCK STOP - that hot dog went into the trash and I grabbed one of the dogs from the "Still Cooking" line on the automated meat roller.

Soon enough we were on two-lane roads familiarly close to home.

We got home in time to get the dogs and they seemed happy enough even if the older dog did seem to be in wandering mode.  Things will settle down to normal soon enough.

All my motorcycle adventures have been amazing.  Some of them are about the journey, some of them are about the destination.  This adventure was about an event.  The event.  Two minutes and thirty-seven seconds of darkness.
At one point on the way home I starting thinking about how fortunate I was to be able to do these things:  motorcycling across the country, seeing fantastic scenery, meeting interesting people, staying with family,  seeing a bit more American history and kitsch, and having everything work out to witness a rare celestial event - the 2017 Eclipse.

Oh dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,

Irrecoverably dark, total Eclipse

Without all hope of day!

— John Milton