Go East, Young Man.
Celebrexing, 540 style.
I’m currently at the Norwalk Havoc Robot League November event, so what better time to put a bow on this entry and pull the trigger? Entry 2 for yas.
August 27, 2020
The following few days include the only day of PTO I took on this adventure. I mean, what is one to do when offered a paddle on the river Au Train with the best darn gang of rootin’ tootin’ outlaws this side of the Soo Locks?
The day started with a visit to Mama Superior, the greatest of lakes.
After a proper cleansing of the soul in Glitch Gumee, a cold water thermogenesist’s wet dream, we headed East to Au Train, where the wedding gang has rented “da Big House” for the weekend. If you haven’t had the opportunity to kayak the Au Train river, I highly recommend it. Several present/past Wildcats make it an annual event.
This wily crew was a beautiful mixture of friends and family celebrating the union of Chuls and Noelle, a group I was blessed to have befriended while learning the subtle art of beer pong in the basement at 540 West Ridge St. while attending NMU as an undergrad freshman year.
August 28, 2020
While Marquette is the biggest city in the upper peninsula with its own set of restaurants and attractions, smaller towns like Munising have just as much, if not more, color to soak up. The Falling Rock Cafe & Bookstore is a great spot to refuel, recover, and caffeinate for a day of hiking around Miner’s Castle Rock and trailhead.
As we all know, whitefish in its many forms is a staple of the Upper Peninsula diet. If you’re lucky, someone has fried some for you and your friends in the yard of a high school graduation party you crashed. If you aren’t quite so lucky, but lucky enough, one of the remaining local fish markets will be open for you to buy some smoked whitefish to enjoy at a scenic overlook during a light drizzle. Chef’s kiss.
I love mostly unstructured rambling the best because it leaves you time to respond to signs for scenic turnouts and waterfalls. That’s how I came across Shoshone Falls in Idaho, literally the Niagara Falls of the West, when rambling through Idaho July of the same year. A small brown sign on the highway in the middle of the high desert said WATERFALL 2 →. “I’ve got time, let’s check it out”, I said to myself. Next thing you know, bam. Holy wah levels of waterfalls
Try to leave room for audibles. I know it can be trickier with families in tow, but it can be so worth it.
August 29, 2020
Wedding day, so it was a day about town, but oftentimes the best days don’t involve many miles. This was one such day. A quick stop at Black Rocks to wet the feet and awaken the sole, followed by a day-old donut from Huron Mountain Bakery and a cup of trunk-brewed coffee started the day. One pro-tip about vagabonding around Marquette is that certain university locker rooms aren’t behind a paywall and you can take a shower (and if you’re lucky, a sauna!) on the cheap. Don’t tell anyone! Their hours can be interesting if you’re traveling in the university offseason, so make sure to check ahead of time. The local YMCA is also a great spot to get a workout in and clean up, with reciprocity for other Y’s around the country if you’ve got a membership back home.
I’m not sure how to put the wedding and beautiful celebration of life, love, and friendship into words. I will say it did involve a fedora, dancing, and the best of 540 West Ridge from the twenty-aughts reunited, and those who were there know.
Until next time.
Alec