Michigan! I finally made it. It's one of only three states I've yet to visit out of our 50, so crossing this bridge in Sault Ste. Marie Saturday night was really exciting.
North Dakota & Alaska... you're next!!
We arrived in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Saturday night and promptly missed our exit toward Marquette (where we planned to search out some climbing the next day). We finally got ourselves pointed in the right direction and found some National Forest land to park for the night.
The mosquitos & biting black flies were everywhere. Annoying, buzzing, biting little guys.
I'd gotten up in the night to pee and apparently let a couple inside the van. At 5:23am I was battling the second mosquito when Bracken joined in the hunt. By 6:00am, defeated (and awake), we were on the road again, keeping a sharp eye out for the wily mosquito (Bracken finally got him).
We stopped for a run and coffee at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore:
My run along Minor's Beach was accompanied by biting flies (fun!) and more mosquitos (hooray!).
We didn't last long.
Between lack of sleep and general annoyance with the buzzing paparazzi, we surrendered and drove onward.
Lake Superior is HUGE!
We arrived in Marquette in time for a late breakfast at a wi-fi hot spot. We did some final research into the climbing in the area and after a delicious breakfast sandwich, headed to the local crag.
It's on the property of the ski area, so we were prepared to be asked to leave. However, we didn't see anyone there (and it didn't look like anyone had climbed there in quite awhile, judging from all the grit and spiderwebs on the holds).
The climbing was beautiful and fun... just not enough of it.
On the other side of the hill was the ski area. Lots of potential for mountain biking, but alas, they haven't figured that out yet.
Our last view of Lake Superior before pushing south toward Minneapolis.
Final weekend mileage was roughly 1,230 miles in three days.