Maine. Fact or Fiction?
Entry 1 of many in this chapter. Wheels on the ground research into the existence of Maine. Still coming around on object permanence
This is the first in a series of blogs documenting friendship and adventure to the East. We will make our way slowly from Minneapolis to the UP, along the southern edge of the Great Lakes (thanks, COVID), spending some time at our destination of Bah Hahbah, Maine, before heading back West to the Uptown of Minneapolis.
In late August, 2020, I was invited to the union of a pair of my beautiful friends in Marquette, MI, with a follow-up invitation to eat some local fried whitefish in Trout Lake, further east in da yoop. This was obviously the universe telling me that I should ramble further east and confirm my long-held suspicion that Maine is, in fact, real.
August 26, 2020
After continuing to add to my car-camping kit with mobile power, solar, and window blinds (I am the Batman), I head East to Marquette, preparing mentally and spiritually to celebrate the wedding of Noelle and Chelsea and to (wild)cats up with so many old friends.
As unsexy as it may appear, the back aisle of a Walmart parking lot is (almost, but we’ll come to that in a future story) always a safe and well-lit spot to catch some shut-eye. Just make sure you set yourself up for success with ear plugs, eye mask, and window blinds for security as well as light management. Strategic positioning under the lights is something to keep in mind, as you set up “camp”. I generally try to find a parking spot between lights or, if unavailable, point my windshield at the nearest light, as my windshield heat shade blocks out 99% of the light through the windshield. Another pro tip is to buy a gear net to both store things above your head, but also give you a place to drape a blanket to create a security wall/light block behind your front seats.
One of the nice things about Axles Rose, my VW Jetta Sportwagen TDI in Tornado Red, is that I can crack my panoramic sunroof while leaving the sunshade closed to get some ventilation and prevent humidity build-up overnight while keeping the bugs at bay. I also travel with window screens that stretch over the frames on every door where, weather permitting, you can crack your window and prevent mosquitoes from buzzing around. These tend to be unnecessary moves in Walmart parking lots though, as the bright overhead lights are generally more appealing to bugs than you are. Ventilation is important, even (especially) if you’re in cooler weather. You give off a lot of water, and a humid environment will feel much colder than a dry environment.
This ability to camp in the back of a Walmart parking lot is an incredible resource, as you can wake up in the morning, amble in with your Dopp kit, use the restroom and brush your teeth. Maybe even grab an apple or a protein bar for breakfast! Thankfully, Marquette is chock full of delightful coffee shops to caffeinate before taking on the day.
Next entry coming soon! Thanks for rambling along.