Driving north from Minneapolis we didn’t have a solid idea of what our plans were for the night and we didn’t really care. We were happy to be back on the road and charged up to see more good friends who we hadn’t seen for a while. Along the drive we went thru Duluth which isn’t all that representative except for a conversation Jessica and I had somewhere along the miles on the road. She said that if she could be named after any city it would be Duluth. I picked Phoenix. It’s not always the most interesting conversations that pass the miles we’ve found but sometimes they’re the funniest. On the way to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan we passed through Wisconsin (new state for both of us) where we saw the fall colors really starting to set in. The area is heavily wooded with picturesque farms and homesteads dotting the landscape. We spot a few bald eagles along the road sides and lots of small glassy lakes. We’re tipped to a great state park just inside the UP border but the weather forecast is calling for rain and we decided to camp after visiting with our friends Chad and Nancy who live not far from the park. Chad is originally from Michigan but was living in Santa Cruz and was one of my first friends when I moved there sometime around 2000. He’s a great guy and a dedicated Red Wings fan God rest his soul! Hahaha…
I’m surprised we’re still friends after all these years because while he used to be at work all day in Santa Cruz I’d get done with soccer practice and go over to his house and drink his beers until he got home usually only leaving one or two, ahhh the good ol' days. After a quick call we once again realize that we have great friends who are willing to go out of their way to accommodate us on our travels and it’s not a problem to show up a few days earlier than expected. They live in near Marquette, a cool little university town on Lake Superior. Again we pull in at night but this time early enough to catch the tail end of dinner. Steak and potatoes, SCORE! We meet Chaz, their 10-month-old son, for the first time—the cutest blue eyed boy around. We also meet another Stella who is their 2 year old dog and the biggest bitch around! Sorry guys if you read this!! : ) Ophie is constantly tortured by her and she starts several fights with our dog which kinda keeps the visit on high doggie tensions the whole time. We manage to keep them apart and enjoy the visit thoroughly. The next morning Chad, who works from home in many IT arenas, takes us for a hike around the back of his house which just happens to be hundreds of acres of great multi-purpose outdoor activity land. We hit a 5 mile loop that takes us by several lakes where the dogs swim and along a few mountain bike single track trails that look technical and great. Later in the afternoon we head to downtown Marquette which has a great waterfront and meet up with his wife Nancy, a local school teacher and one of the biggest sweet-hearts you‘ll ever meet, for happy hour I.P.A.’s.
Yes we do order I.P.A.’s everywhere we go!! Leaving there they take us for a drive along Lake Superior and to one of their favorite cliff jumping spots. The day is cold and breezy but I decided (more like get pressured by everyone) that I may not be back for a while and strip down to my boxers and jump! It’s cold but refreshing and by the time I swim in 100 yards or so my body feels it. We head back and Jessica whips up a great pasta and salad dinner and we have a great evening drinking wine and chatting it up. The next morning we decide to let them get back to their busy lives and get ourselves back around the campfire. We say our goodbyes and off we go. I’m really happy we were able to make it this far north to visit some good people!
—Patrick
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