Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota

This time we are in North Dakota based near Lake Sakakawea.  This is a dammed part of the Missouri River and named after a Shoshone Native America woman who was eventually living in this area with the Hidatsa people. You may be more familiar with the spelling as Sacagawea and she aided Louis and Clark on their expedition. The lake is extremely long and a beautiful blue color. I am hanging out with S and S that I mentioned in my last post. They have both retired early and are living fulltime traveling in their fifth wheel and are currently serving as camp hosts at a local campground which is owned Army Corps of Engineers. 

S, S, and I went up to Minot to search for Big Foot. The hunt took us to  the Scandinavian Heritage Park. There were a number of buildings of Scandinavian design and were replicas of what would have been seen on the plains during the period of immigration to the area. The buildings ranged from a simple cabin to the ornate church you see below. As I have traveled I have seen how the various European peoples were recruited to the United States by trying to convince them it was like the homeland. Unfortunately there was no sign of Big Foot at the park so we moved on. 

Scandinavian Heritage Park

We checked out several microbreweries in Minot. The first place, Atypical Brewery, had a really cool vibe and was the style with garage doors to the outside that opened up if the weather permitted. Thankfully that day the weather did permit and the warm breeze made the beer even tastier. We tried several of their fine brews and enjoyed talking about the lifestyle and potential sightings. We then went to Souris River Brewing for dinner and a few pints. The brews at this establishment were also excellent and the food was quite tasty too. Oddly enough there was no sign of Big Foot at this establishment either which was odd as it was a local sourced restaurant and brewery. We decided to load up on some supplies and head back to our respective campgrounds.

Souris River Brewery. Cool mug club stuff there

We (S, S, and I) toured the Knife River Indian Villages and hiked around the grounds. There is a replica of an earthen lodge and you can see how the native peoples of the land lived in the area. The trade network was quite extensive and there was a nice selection of artifacts. This site is at one of the areas where the Hidatsa and Mandan tribes were camped during Sakakawea's lifetime. It was nice to see a really well done replication and video presentation. There were no signs of Big Foot in their relics or visiting the site that day..

Earthen Lodge - summer home

We headed further south and visited Bismarck and Mandan. We went to the Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park which had a replica of the fort that Lt Col Custer was commander of during his military campaigns on the plains. The original structures were recycled years earlier after the fort was abandoned as the cost of lumber was high and it would have just gone to waste. Since they had the original plans for the buildings (this is the government after all and they live on paper) they were able to build an exact replica of the Custer house. He was an odd man but his wife did have taste and they had a large and lovely home. The fort also has reconstructed barracks and other buildings. There were other exhibits at the park but our time was running short for the day and since we had not seen Big Foot there, we decided to head to the breweries of Bismarck.

S & S walking towards the Custer House. Ok it's a terrible picture but I wanted to include something of the place and the people I was with so you didn't think I was making them up.

The first brewery we were at had a lot of promise. S and S had been there before and said the brisket was outstanding so I was really excited to try it. Laughing Sun had a huge space and I was getting hungry and thirsty after a long day. Alas, there was a mug club only event that day so we had to leave. I appreciate the benefit for their members but to shut down a normal day of business for them is a bit off putting. Big Foot is not a member and neither am I so we left. Our next stop had none of the cool vibe but it did have tasty brews and we lucked out and had the $4 pint special to go with our dinner. Stonehome has two locations and the beer was quite good as well as the Stromboli that I had for dinner. It was only disappointing when compared to a well smoked brisket but at least they were happy to serve us unlike the elitists at the other place. Since this was a well lit establishment Big Foot was probably too uncomfortable to hang out there and therefore was not to be found. We decided that we had our fill of Bismarck for the day but I knew I would be back as there was still much to be seen. Perhaps another year,

Only $4 - should have had more

Tired from so much Big Foot hunting, S and I decided to go to Teddy Roosevelt National Park (north unit) and hike around. The other S graciously agreed to stay behind as she had some errands to run and then she watched the 5 dogs (my two and their three). The drive to TR was quite lovely as North Dakota is quite hilly and there is a plethora of colors that paint the scenery. TR was amazing and the views were spectacular as we went for our 4.3 mile hike. It was nice to be able to hike without worrying about the dogs or knowing that someone (Lucy) will need to be carried in a little bit. I took several photos but the problem with expansive landscapes is that you really cannot easily capture the feeling of the place. For example, there was a a ridge between two little peaks that dropped off into valleys on both sides. The views were incredible and the wind was amazing as it pushed you. You just cannot capture that feeling via photos so I am incredibly thankful that my sabbatical has taken me to places like this.

The views are epic and there were minimal crowds. My kind of place.

After another excellent dinner, S, S, the dogs, and I settled down for a fire and star gazing, As I looked over Lake Sakakawea I was truly touched. This lake is nearly 200 miles long and has about 1400 miles of shoreline of which nearly none of it is developed. You so rarely see such beauty without a bunch of overpriced homes right on the water. This allowed the sunset and star gazing to be uninterrupted by any artificial light. As the coyotes howled on the nearby island, the sound echoed off the lake and it made it a really beautiful experience. The natural beauty of North Dakota was a pleasant surprise. I hesitate to mention this as I almost don't want people to know how beautiful this state is during the summer and just keep it as a secret.

Sunset over Lake Sakakawea

My camping trailer has been a faithful companion but I do not see this as my home for the next few years.. The large awning style windows are wonderful as they open way up and allow a lot of air flow. The downside of that design is that the screen and shade are mounted internally. This means when you open or close the window there is no shade or screen - just an open air space which allows bugs in.. It also allows for a small gap around the edge of the framing which is sufficient to allow a few more bugs through. We had a strong wind the other day and the flies came in droves, unfortunately they all seemed to take shelter inside my trailer. After swatting about 30 flies I had to get fly strips and ended up catching another 70 flies. I am not particularly fond of the bugs and Lucy is less fond of me swearing and swatting flies with pent up rage. I will need something more suitable for full time living. I am still torn between small and comfortable but I am not in a huge rush. It will either be a van or possible a fifth wheel. It really all depends upon my mood on a given day. Life is about choices and compromise and I am trying to have my cake and eat it too. This is my home and as such it should be comfortable and a place of refuge from the stresses of Big Foot hunting. Ideally I would have the comfort and homey nature of a fifth wheel with the size of a van. I'm sure clarity will come to me one day while sipping my whiskey as this is a problem best solved by Bushmills.  

We are off to South Dakota for a slightly extended period as I need to take care of some business and the dogs need grooming. 

Thor

Braxwood.com

If you have not read all of these, please at least read the welcome message as it may explain a few things about the adventure. Feel free to read all of the posts and comment. I may or may not reply to comments based upon an inscrutable set of criteria.

If you are interested in getting email notifications of these postings but have not figured out how to do that yet, you can email me at thor.braxwood@gmail.com and I can manually add you. If you are more self-sufficient, a helpful hint is to go to full web version and look on the right side. Otherwise you will just need to randomly check in but if you contact me directly and ask me what I have I been up to, I will direct you to the blog.

Alexandria, MN

Our adventure this week brings us to the middle of nowhere in Minnesota. Surprisingly, the middle of nowhere has a lot of stuff going on, who knew? For those of you unaware of Alexandria, MN, it is home to the Runestone Museum which holds treasures of unbelievable value. In particular it hosts the Kensington Rune Stone. In addition, there are several buildings from the pioneer time and the history of the Scandinavian settlers. For those really clueless, that is why the Minnesota based NFL team is called the Vikings, from that historical link. It might also explain the giant Viking ship outside that team's stadium. And much like the Vikings of old, they will never be world champions. 

Viking in a mini skirt

I then tracked Big Foot to a local microbrewery, Copper Trail Brewing. This is their new location and they have a wide selection of brews to pick from which was nice. I am feeling a bit indecisive lately so I was forced to select multiple options. As they have no food service, I also needed to check out a local restaurant as the selections at Copper Trail were piling up. I went over to Le Ferme which is described as a "Farm to Fork" restaurant. Not sure what that meant since I like my food to take a quick loop through a kitchen for at least a rinse of clean water. In any event, I brought food back and the Cuban sandwich pared nicely with whatever I was drinking while I enjoyed a leisurely afternoon waiting for Big Foot to make an appearance. Alas it was not to be. I was able to fill up my growler with their version of an Oktoberfest. Apparently fall comes early to the northlands. They also had their spent grains made into bread so I picked up a loaf of it. It tastes very hearty but was delicious. My dogs have eaten the spent grain treats from The Runaway so it was nice for me to try some too.

Cuban and doppelbock

Look, another microbrewery with the industrial vibe. How original.

 

Since I enjoyed the Cuban sandwich so much from Le Ferme, I decided to try a dinner there. Normally I avoid both retracing my steps and dining out for dinner but I wanted to try their pork ragu and I felt that with their meal selection, Big Foot might make an appearance. The ragu was delightful and I enjoyed a nice relaxing evening at the bistro. Alas, Big Foot was not to be seen but the dessert of freshly prepared angel food cake with fresh local currants sure did and it was delicious. Big Foot really missed a good meal there.

Cute little bistro

I checked out another brewery in search of my wily prey. Disgruntled Brewing spoke to me so I decided to drive the hour to check it out. The place was in an industrial park which struck me as a clever hiding place and reminded me of Wasted Degrees in Scotland. Big Foot was surely here or at least has been there. The inside was quite chill with the right mix of bar stools, couches, tables, and patio space. Any brewery that sells onesies has the right vibe. The beertender was friendly and had recently built an off-grid house with her husband. It was nice talking about batteries, power consumption, water usage, and the occasional questionable remark about choosing an alternative life path. All in all it reminded my of my home microbrewery and I stayed a bit longer than anticipated. The dogs were stuck back at the trailer until 10pm all alone, and to cap it off, there was no sign of Big Foot that night as creature did not make an appearance. 

Grumpy is good - their motto not mine. I am on an adventure and I am rarely grumpy anymore

We were able to enjoy a nice hike utilizing my AllTrails app, however the trail markings were a bit confusing. They had a trail for bikes and people and a trail for horses and people. Since the AllTrails app didn't indicate which human route to take, I split my time between the two. The result was a swooping and meandering hike but the dogs enjoyed themselves. Lucy as able to go nearly a mile and half without needing to be carried like the princess she thinks she is. Ozzy was a beast and did the full 2.5 miles. Of course he was breathing so hard it scared off all wildlife but at least he made it. 

Reminds me of an old Family Circus cartoon

Inexplicitly one day I was in the mood for chicken wings. To complicate the search as a bearded individual, I need to have a dry rub otherwise the beard gets messy and I hate washing it in public bathrooms. I searched for local bars and restaurants where one would find both tasty dry rubbed wings and Big Foot. This was not easy as the first place I picked was part of a microchain of ten locations. Normally Big Foot would avoid chains as the beast prefers supporting small local businesses (again based upon my extensive scientific research). I gave it a shot though but as I pulled into the parking lot I knew for sure the beast would not be there. The location had too easy of access to the interstate and it had the banal architecture which has come to dominate all of America. Big Foot has more sophisticated tastes and standards and would never be there, regardless of how good the wings would be. I was forced to move on and found a nicer local bar. The salad was excellent but the wings were tough and bland. There was a bar in Waukesha, WI where I had some excellent dry rubbed wings that were both tender and zippy like wings should be and that is what I was seeking. I didn't find it that day in Alexandria. The place was apparently nice otherwise based upon the seemingly happy clientele who clearly appreciate bland chewy wings. I won't name the restaurant as it was a disappointment in both the quality of the wings and that Big Foot was not to be seen.

Salad was excellent - forgot to take a picture before I ate it in fact

. 

I decided to check out some vans on a rainy day. If you have not been looking at RVs lately you will be surprised at how they have raised the MSRP on them. Thankfully some sanity has returned and you can still get 25% off that price but even then these are not inexpensive items. I also decided to reinstall the microwave in my trailer. I am not sure I am going to go the van route, but I wanted to at least get ready by having the trailer as close to normal as possible. Plus I now have a great place to store my breakfast cereal boxes so they don't get crushed. No one likes crushed cheerios. Finally, I have identified the final items to be removed from the setup. As I previously posted, I expected it would take a few months to narrow down the gear that I brought and I feel like I am about 90% there. That is good enough for this type of activity as my brother J (the bike guru) pointed out, I will be continuing to add and remove stuff as I continue to live with it. 

Cheerios and Triscuits are safe. I knew microwaves served a purpose.

People often share various images of  theoretical Big Foots (Big Feet?) with me and I appreciate everyone has their eyes looking for the elusive prey. I try to encourage a discerning mind though as there are often false signs. Unfortunately today I found a big foot but it was not the kind I was looking for. It just goes to show you that even skilled adventurers can be misled.

A big foot but not the Big Foot,

Our next adventure takes us to North Dakota where I will meet with a former scoutmaster, S, from B's troop and his wife, also S. They are full time RVers who are currently camp hosting there and they are also wonderful people. Having this extra set of eyes should help locate Big Foot, unless of course, there is nothing entertaining in North Dakota which would hold Big Foot's attention, but what are the odds of that?

Thor

Braxwood.com

If you have not read all of these, please at least read the welcome message as it may explain a few things about the adventure. Feel free to read all of the posts and comment. I may or may not reply to comments based upon an inscrutable set of criteria.

If you are interested in getting email notifications of these postings but have not figured out how to do that yet, you can email me at thor.braxwood@gmail.com and I can manually add you. If you are more self-sufficient, a helpful hint is to go to full web version and look on the right side. 

Eagle River, Wisconsin

This week’s adventure brought us to Eagle River.  This is what is generally understood to be northern Wisconsin. When I drive, I try to avoid the interstate system as much as possible and take the state highways and US routes  it makes for a more enjoyable drive albeit a bit slower. Since time is not an issue, I prefer the slower pace and as a side benefit it helps my gas mileage  

On the way to Eagle River we stopped at a very special place. Wittenberg, Wisconsin is home to Nueske’s Smoked Meats. We have been enjoying their products for years and have shipped them as gifts but we have not been to their company store. Let’s just say that it’s a good thing I have a micro freezer as I was in heaven. Further proof of their excellence is that they had a really nice dog run for the dogs to stretch their legs. We searched for Big Foot high and low but all I could find was smoked pork products. This could have been a trick to distract me and it worked. All good things come to an end just like our visit to Nueskes. 

Paradise in Wittenberg. Plenty of vegan options. Vegans eat pork, right?

Based upon a tip from a former co-worker, K, who frequents the area, I checked out Tribute Brewing in Eagle River. This was sage advice as the beer was excellent. They were no longer filling growlers, so I was unable to test my new equipment, but I am ready for the right opportunity. I didn’t see Big Foot, but I did run into two friends from my time at The Runaway in Burlington. I was searching for the Beast of Bray Road at the time and went to best local microbrewery in case that was where the beast was hiding. Nevertheless, I spent a few hours at the bar of Runaway gathering intelligence on the cryptozoological creature network. While there I met D and R who are very knowledgeable about the types of Big Foot hangouts that I am searching. Imagine my surprise at seeing the same D and R in Tribute in Eagle River. Once again, they were a fountain of knowledge and provided me with some hot tips on potential Big Foot hideouts.

Outside Tribute. Forgot to take an inside picture. What do you expect for a free blog?

One suggestion that D and R made was to check out Woodruff and Rocky Reef Brewing. This was an excellent suggestion, so on a rainy day I made my way over there. I sampled several beverages while waiting for Big Foot to show up. It was quite crowded, but I was able to take a picture during a lull as I like to avoid taking pictures in public. I don’t want my mission compromised by someone recognizing me and alert the Illuminati who may be part of the global cabal protecting Big Foot’s location. After several of their delicious barley pops, I decided to check out the nearby Mexican restaurant, Mavericks. It was a pleasant surprise as they used fresh, local ingredients. This resulted in a bit of fusion with the barbacoa enchiladas spicy and yet delicious with the right amount of heat. I sampled their version of the old fashioned which was made with Tequila and not whisky or brandy. It was a refreshing treat and well done. I failed to find Big Foot in either location, but I was pleased with the food and beverages in Woodruff.

At one point there was only one available seat. Oddly it was next to me. I did bathe that day.

Before I share this next item, I want to tell you about how I go about finding places to stay. I am a member of some groups and I have a series of apps. I use Escapees, Harvest Host, Dyrt, Campendium, Road Trippers, Boondocking, Togo RV, and All Trails. I also subscribe to several blogs and camping e-magazines. These often cater to the full time crowd, but not always. Campers are friendly and pretty welcoming to all people. For example, Escapees was created decades ago for full time RV people and has a number of affinity groups. Anyhow, I found the campground in Eagle River through one of the apps. It’s more expensive than I liked but it seemed family friendly and clean. I just don’t like people staying up until midnight getting drunk loudly which is why I picked it. I don’t mind people getting drunk, but do it quietly please. As I was walking through the campground I saw someone had put up a flag by their site. This is not unusual to decorate one’s site (I don’t since I am a curmudgeon) but this flag had an upside down pineapple on it. Coincidentally enough, I had gotten an email from one of the sites that mentioned pineapples along with other articles such as “Can You Use Drano in an RV?”, and “8 Best Campers to Tow with a Toyota 4Runner”. I hadn’t read the article on the pineapple yet and I wasn’t going to read the others (no Drano and who cares) so I decided to read it after seeing the flag. Here it is if you are interested as I was surprised by the meaning  : “What Do Flamingos and Upside Down Pineapples Mean?”. Amy always said I lived a sheltered life which I though was poppycock.  Apparently she was right.  Needless to say, campers are friendly, and some are more friendly than others.

“Plays well with others” - indeed

It's not all fun and adventuring, on occasion I have things that need handling besides laundry. The truck had some work done on it this week. The wiring to the trailer was not quite right. For those that are not familiar with trailer wiring, the wire that indicates that one is turning left is also the wire that illuminates the left brake light on the trailer. The signal from that wire was not working. That means that someone behind me would have only the right light to indicate I was braking and no indication that I was turning left. If I was turning right, there would then be no indication of me braking. This did have the potential of ending badly and I was unable to fix it myself, so I took it to a mechanic in Beaver Dam. He looked and indicated it would take longer to deal with than he had time. After calling around to six different mechanics in Eagle River, I was able to get in at Schoonover Auto Repair. He diagnosed the problem (besides Ford deciding to forgo fuses) and replaced the appropriate part. The lack of fuses caused a much more expensive item to fail but I feel comfortable knowing Ford saved $0.45 by eliminating them. Bless their hearts.

I decided to have a treat and made a fire. I have avoided this so far on my journeys as I am not camping; I am living and exploring. Nevertheless, there was a chill in the air and the smell of a wood fire was enticing. I paid the exorbitant cost that the campground charged and had several campfires. Unfortunately, it started raining early one night so we were unable to enjoy the fire fully. To make up for the disappointment that Ozzy and Lucy were clearly experiencing, I made some popcorn on the stove. Since there was no internet, we shared the popcorn as I finished reading a book. I have added a secondary SIM card in my phone, so I now have access on both the Verizon and AT&T networks.  That does no good when there is no service, but I have prepared as best as I can. Between the tree coverage and lack of service options, the places I like visit often have spotty coverage. That makes it harder to track me which should aid in my search. Yes, there are still places in this country that do not have cell coverage.

Ok, it's a fire. Only $7/bundle!

To take a break from the stresses of relentless adventuring, we took a lovely hike in the nearby national forest. I have been trying to find the right balance of hike distances for the dogs and myself. We went on one in Horicon Marsh that ended early for Lucy. I bought a small dog sling to carry her when she tires out. That happened quite quickly on that hike, so she enjoyed a nice carry. Ozzy did better but at the two mile point he threw himself on the ground and refused to move. Naturally this was in one of the few shady spots, so the mosquitos and flies were in full force. Thankfully I only had to carry him for a little bit before he agreed to walk again. This time we went in the morning when it was cooler and the trail was shaded so it wasn’t hot. Lucy kept looking for right opportunity to be carried, but they were both able to finish the hike on their own. Of course I had to keep it to only 1.5 miles but at least they walked it all without anyone being carried. 

I am still charting out my next adventures and I am covered with reservations until mid-September. I am hopeful that I will be able to go back to more boondocking then as the heat should have subsided in the north and I won’t need power to run the AC. My next stop is in Minnesota.

Thor

Braxwood.com

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Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

After leaving Indiana, I enjoyed a pleasant drive through the greater Chicago area and made a quick stop at the storage facility to unload some extra gear. The very cleaver Illinois Toll people were able to detect that I was towing a trailer while using my I-Pass (EZ-Pass) so instead of a normal $1.40 toll, they charged my anywhere between $4.00 to $7.50 based upon whim. Thankfully there is no ability to question or protest as that would require caring. Bless their hearts.

Once I unloaded the extra gear I made my way to Beaver Dam. I have not really explored this area of Wisconsin for Big Foot and I wanted to be thorough. Plus since I had already looked at the most unlikely place, Shipshewana, this seemed reasonable. The county park was quite lovely and sparsely populated until the weekend when the tourists came. That is the biggest downside of campgrounds; the weekends when people visit. Of course, the biggest upside is electricity and flush toilets. Once Sunday comes though  I have the park to myself.

Private park once the tourists leave

Amy's parents D and S came to visit to see how an adventurer and his hounds live. Thankfully they also brought lunch as adventuring and Big Foot seeking does not pay well and the Illinois Toll authority has an insatiable hunger for my money. We had a lovely lunch and they enjoyed the serenity that the adventurer life style provides. The park was very nice and is clearly in an expansion phase so they can handle bigger trailers (my trailer and truck barely fit) which is probably a good idea. There were no sightings of Big Foot at the park but there was one interesting sighting. On Friday mid-morning, a middle aged gentleman wearing only a pink string bikini (top and bottom) was walking through the park. This is rather unusual as there is not a beach in the park and between the bugs and the amount of skin showing, there would need to be a lot of sunscreen and bug spray. Most people wear more clothes to avoid that issue. I feel the need to mention that this gentleman had no beard and was follicly challenged. Clearly not dressed like a Big Foot adventurer (where the dress code is shorts and Hawaiian shirts).

The hounds and I decided that we needed to go for a ride so we checked out Green Lake. That was a lovely area but it was too warm for the hounds to hang out in the truck while I checked the local establishments for Big Foot. I made a mental note to return better prepared next time. 

There is a microbrewery in Beaver Dam, Ooga Brewing so I made a stop to verify Big Foot was not on site. There were various seating options but no bar to sit at which is my normal hangout. If you have not had the pleasure of being out alone a lot, the bar is a great place to sit as often you can strike up a conversation with a stranger and learn some interesting information. Alas, no bar so I was forced to sit in a separate seating area away from others in comfy chairs. It was not as social so I could not learn if anyone had seen Big Foot recently but it was a very pleasant way to drink my beer.

View from comfy chairs

I had a recommendation to check out a local drive-in in Fox Lake as a potential Big Foot hangout. Mullins was an old fashioned drive in with actual car hops. They were friendly and the place was packed on the multiple times I drove passed it. I did get a burger and it was so filling that I didn't need to make dinner that night. Unfortunately there was no Big Foot. 

Ok, the sign looks a little sad but it was a cute place

I made a return trip to Ooga Brewing to verify that Big Foot had not come in my absence. Still no Big Foot but since I was already there I got my growler filled. That is a 64oz bottle that holds several days of beer which is really convenient. Alas, they did not have caps and I could not find mine so I had to consume it in a shorter time frame. I failed to complete it but I gave it the old college try. I also ordered a new growler that doesn't need a cap and some extra caps for the growlers I do have so that won't happen again. I would hate to get a reputation for drinking too much. I also took the advice of the beertender and stopped at a local restaurant, La Tapatia for some tacos (al pastor). They were quite delicious but the advice was admittedly biased since it was his family that owned it. Biased or not, they were excellent and went well with the beer but Big Foot was not found at that restaurant either. Apparently I will need to look for more vegetarian and vegan options to improve my odds of finding that wily creature.

I shipped back the bike's Big Foot booster system for service work while in Beaver Dam. I will have to get the company to ship it to a camp ground in my future travels but at least I have done my part. I also had some minor service work done on the truck. More needs to be done but that will need to wait for another day. 

I was able to do laundry and I am developing a real appreciation for random laundromats. This one was the highest rated in the area and was really busy for a Monday. Of course that means it was also a bit messy as apparently candy wrappers and used dryer sheets are stored on the floor. Unlike this time, I generally have found Monday's to be slower which is why that has become my laundry day. I also check in and check out of campgrounds generally mid week as that avoids the inevitable crowding around the dump station. Little tips for those thinking of this lifestyle.

I decided to actually measure the square footage of the trailer versus estimating it. It is officially 85sqft. I figure I spent the best years of my life in a cubicle smaller than this so the small space is not too bad. As I mentioned in my last post, I still debate looking at other adventure platforms. I might revisit the trailer decision as the hounds would prefer exploring with me and I can't just leave them in a truck to bake. Plus the truck is a great vehicle and is only 12 years old but I do have the occasional concern with odd noises. Both the van and truck camper option are still small so I would still be stealthy. I also have booked out campgrounds through mid September. I head to northern WI next and then move slowly towards the Dakotas before looping back to WI before heading south for the winter. 

I realized that I promised more camper pictures. Here are a few more. As you can see there is often stacking needed to make room but the over all feeling is quite spacious due to the curved ceiling. Of course that means not all 85sqft have the same height as it does taper in the back (like a tear drop). 

Kitchen view. I removed the microwave and I am using that tote for food storage. Microwave is now in the back of the truck. 

Kitchen table. I sit on the one side and the other holds a basket of cooking spices, dog food, and garbage can. That’s a Nespresso machine on the table; just like George Clooney. 

Wet bath with sink in the down position. It folds up to give more room. Shower curtain lines the inside to keep cabinets and toiletries dry. 

In case anyone is curious or concerned, I do enjoy the adventure traveling that I am doing and don't miss work at all. Of course, I do miss the people but the people were really the best part of any job I ever had so that's not surprising. I have no idea how long I will do this, but I have not set any deadlines so I will continue adventuring as long as the mood strikes me. I am still considered mentally competent but the bar is quite low. Off to Eagle River next. 

Thor

braxwood.com

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Leaving the thumb

I spent my last week in Michigan hunting for Big Foot at this time. It is important to be flexible in your adventure plans as Big Foot is a wily prey and the global cabal protecting the beast has tentacles everywhere. I had planned on heading north back to the upper peninsula but decided to divert my route and go south instead. The bulk of the past week was still at the same remote fortress of J & M. 

One last gratuitous sunset picture

We had an additional set of visitors that came, my son B and his fiancé L. It was great seeing them and hearing about the progress they are making on their new house. In addition to the plethora of J's I have mentioned (J & M, J & K, J, J & S, plus B & L), M's sibling was in the same region and we celebrated a dinner together at Dark Sky for some excellent smoked meats (try the ribs). It was M's brother J (it does appear that all brothers are still being identified as J), his wife K, and their boys A and E along with M & J's parents L & D. All in all it was a fun night but with so many people, Big Foot was too shy to make an appearance, I am convinced the ribs were good enough to draw the beast out so there may be a return trip to that establishment.

We enjoyed many sunsets and continued with several bike rides. I did have to skip one of the rides as my electric booster system (designed to make it possible to catch a fleeing Big Foot) was on the fritz. During testing, the throttle either opted to run at full power or not respond at all. While a completely unrestrained powered bike was fun, having to reach for the power button while careening down the side of a state highway was suboptimal. That was happening at the same as the supplemental water filtration system was leaking. Finally my screen on the camper decided to lock up at the same time and was frozen in that position. Clearly even when living a minimalistic adventure hunting lifestyle, one still has work to do. I made the required three trips to the hardware store to repair the plumbing and even asked for help from someone working there (which should be a sign of how desperate I was) and the leak was fixed. I read a few posts on a forum and was able to fix the screen system (cordless blinds are a misnomer as they have cords and they get stuck). Finally I heard back from the maker of the bike motor system and they want me to mail it back. That will have to wait until I am in a place for a few days as I have to disassemble everything and find a shipping store who can package and ship for me.

We made a final visit to Pak's Backyard to enjoy the view, food, and libations. The restaurant is prime Big Foot territory as it has craft beer, good food, kayak rentals, and cute stores nearby. Once again we were unable to locate Big Foot but much like the sister location, Dark Sky, I am sure that this is exactly the type of place Big Foot would patronize. We will have to return.

View at Pak's with cute MI shaped organizer

On one of the last nights with everyone around (basically the same crowd as at Dark Sky -J,M,J,K,J,J,S,B,L,J,K,A,E), we went back to the Thumb Brewery for an outdoor dinner and a "comedy" show. I also figured that since Big Foot has a sense of humor, this would be a prime opportunity to catch the elusive creature. We enjoyed a few of the other liquid products of the establishment as we all know how important hydration is to one's health. As we sat waiting on the patio at our tables for the aforementioned hydration, it started to lightly sprinkle. I didn't panic as I figure the hard stuff wouldn't come down for a while. Apparently that was taken as a challenge and the sky opened up. The staff quickly realized the importance on not watering down their special fortified hydration and moved everyone inside for dinner and to continue the libations. Eventually the rain stopped so the "comedy" show could go on. Since it had rained, the table we were at up front was assigned to someone else and thankfully we were in the back. At this point in time, I should mention that this was a free show and these "comedians" were performing for only practice and whatever people felt like giving. I should also mention that if one has not noticed, I have a sense of humor that may border on the juvenile or bawdy. After being treated for an hour and a half to their idea of "comedy" I have to say I was more offended than amused (although the third comedian was occasionally amusing).  When people would ask Amy for free legal advice, she would always say you get what you pay for. That was true with this comedy show. The concept was great (three comedians at a micro brewery) but the execution was off. Perhaps next time they could find someone actually funny as an opening act to properly set the mood. I understand they are honing their craft, but Sisyphus would have an easier time getting that rock up the hill than the first person ever being funny. But since the company we were with was awesome, the night was still fun, albeit free of Big Foot..

Random homeless man caught in the rain

All good things must come to an end and after catching up on chores (laundry waits for no one) and a final night out at the Farm Restaurant, my time in Michigan came to an end. J and M were gracious hosts and I appreciated their hospitality and putting up the hounds. As they are trained Big Foot hunters, Ozzy and Lucy are not used to the creature comforts that domesticated dogs appreciate. They managed to  survive and I appreciate J & M's accepting the vicious hunters at their fortress.

My next stop was in Shipshewana, Indiana, I felt this was a long shot at spotting Big Foot, but my friends M and S along with S's cousin C were going to be there and I figured I could give it a shot. The tour through the flea market confirmed my suspicions as I am sure Big Foot would never be there. There was some nice produce though and plants along with a clever inventor or two.  We checked out local stores and these were more interesting for Big Foot hunting but the creature was not located amongst the tourists or the Amish. We ate like kings and I appreciated the hospitality and liquid refreshments as it was quite hot. It was interesting comparing their RV with my off grid adventure trailer. I think my trailer could fit in their living room. I guess that means it is time for me to downsize again. It was time to move back north and I am making my way around to the Dakotas before heading towards the south this fall.

A few people have taken images like the one below indicating they have found Big Foot. Clearly this is a cutout figure and not the real Big Foot. Do not be fooled by these false images as there is no sign of a beer mug or charcuterie tray in Big Foot's hands. Clearly these are not accurate depictions. 

False sighting - DO NOT BE MISLED SHEEPLE

For those interested in the adventure vehicle, there are are still a few issues. Mostly with the truck side of the setup which is odd since it is only 12 years old. Perhaps it is just a sign of aging but it has started developing nonstandard quirks (like a clunking sound when downshifting while towing on occasion) so there may need to be an upgrade at some point. I went with  the trailer to start the adventure as the barrier to entry was low and it was easy. I might finally make the move to a van or a truck camper. Both have pros and cons but so does everything in life. Whichever way I go, I will still try to keep the smallest vehicle possible to remain off the grid and radar of the Big Foot protection conspiracy.

Thor

braxwood.com

As a gentle reminder, you can subscribe to be notified of new posts but only on the desktop version of the browser and not the phone version. If you need help with this, contact someone younger than you.

 

More of the Thumb

I have been terribly busy in the thumb region of Michigan. Once again I am staying at the remote command center of J & M which is located between Caseville and Port Austin in the thumb region in Michigan. During this period there were several people coming to join the hunt. This started with the brother J who celebrated a birthday last post having some of his family come to join him. His wife K and his son J came to experience the hunt for Big Foot and I suppose enjoy some time off, the beach, and the sunsets.

Daily light show. Thanks God!

We decided to utilize bicycles several times to get around. This was thought to be a good idea to avoid detection since no one would expect an adventurer like Thor to arrive by bike. My riding companions and I have augmented bicycle technology so the ten mile ride to Port Austin was not so bad, particularly on the way back from "adventuring" as one gets thirsty and beer is on tap.

The first trip was with J & M along with J from last week's blog. We went to Pak's Backyard in Port Austin. The ride was uneventful but it was reported to me that my back tire had a "wobble". My fellow adventurer J seemed concerned and wanted to know how long it existed. I tried to point out that since it is my back tire I was unaware of it since I am usually riding the bike and looking forward and not utilizing astral projection. We had a lovely meal along with several cool beverages to ease any discomfort from the bike ride. Upon further investigation of the back wheel, it was also discovered the rear brake was positioned such that it was applied at all times. It did explain why the ride was so tiresome on the way to the restaurant. We unhooked the brakes and pedaling back was tremendously easier. Our search for Big Foot was not successful at that establishment but it was possible that Big Foot had rented a kayak and paddled out to Turnip Rock  

Another brother J and his girlfriend S came later and since J is a bike guru so I figured his assistance would be useful in addressing the wheel issue. He did his magic and realized that it needed to be replaced. He also discovered my profound stupidity when it comes to bicycle repair, maintenance, and operation. I think it was when he asked me a question about the wheel and all I could explain is that it is round and there are two of them. I took it to bike shop in Port Austin (Pak's Garage - yes same people who own the restaurant and kayak rental service). They quickly and cost effectively replaced the rim and I was back on the road. We followed this up with another ride to Port Austin, but this time to Bird Creek Farm to celebrate my nephew J's 28th birthday. It was an all male ride with brothers J, J, J, nephew J, and I. The ride was smooth and the food was excellent but again no Big Foot. Plus I noticed that the random letter generator seems to have an issue with some names and keeps assigning the letter J so I will need to reboot the supercomputer.

Another day we decided to investigate another establishment. It had plenty of craft beverages but it lacked the panache of the other establishments. This was Heck's Bar in Kinde. This was an interesting business but they did have an incredible selection craft brews.

A “classic” bar with an appropriate car

"Cozy" inside

My daughter C was able to visit for a few days which was great since we have been coming here since before she was born. She brought her puppy Sami who is a 5 month old German Shepard puppy. Sami was super happy to see Ozzy and Lucy again but my monster hunting hounds seemed to be less excited to play with a giant energy filled puppy. We were able to enjoy the lake and had a great time but it was too short. Her husband D was unable to come as he was doing his monthly duty with the reserves. Hopefully they are able to come again next year. This kept me from searching for Big Foot for a few days but I am confident that it will not impact my results.

Sami and C

Amy with C and B a couple of years ago

As I previously mentioned my brother J and his girlfriend S flew out to visit also. We now have J & M, J & S, J & K, along with their son J, and myself along with Ozzy and Lucy. There are a lot of J's being generated from the random letter generator but as I indicated I expect that to be fixed shortly. 

I was able to get a new mattress so I am more comfortable sleeping. The trailer has been great so far and I have been getting settled in. I anticipated pruning items from the trailer and truck, and I will be making a stop soon at the undisclosed storage facility to offload some gear. I installed a new under sink water filtration system with J’s help which should enable me to jettison my other water filter system for drinking water. I also upgraded my whole trailer external water filter so I feel comfortable there.

Kitchen area

Bedroom with new mattress

The trailer is like a small studio apartment. I have a bed, kitchen, dining area, and bathroom. Altogether it is about 85 sq ft so it’s plenty of room. Interestingly it is smaller than the closet in my old master bedroom and yet it feels quite spacious. I will post “a day in the life” of an adventurer along with more details of the adventure rig in the future.

Some have expressed concern on my progress in catching Big Foot. It would be ludicrous to believe I could find Big Foot so quickly when others have spent decades without success. I do believe my novel approach has a chance of success based upon the unsuccessful approach of searching in remote areas lacking quality beverages. They searched the untapped wilderness whilst I search the untapped keg. I do not believe they will find Big Foot before I do.

Also as a helpful reminder, you can sign up to be notified of when I get around to posting these updates. Unfortunately that is only available on the web version of the site. Also the blog is easily accessible at braxwood.com

Thor

Moving on - no more house and to the thumb of Michigan

After finishing up my extensive search in the Keweenaw peninsula, I knew it was time to try the search elsewhere. The drive on US 41 is very scenic and I highly recommend it if one is in the area. I meandered my way to Marquette, MI. There was a lovely waterfront area and we searched for Big Foot near the grounds of a former power plant. In addition, the downtown waterfront was truly beautiful and worthy of a further look for the mighty beast. I made a mental note that I should pass through this area again and explore the wonders that the tranquil shores of Lake Superior had to offer. The mental note did indicate to explore this area in the summer only so perhaps this year or next.

During my drive this day (actually just as I was emptying my black and grey tanks) the sale of my house closed. This was bittersweet as Amy and I designed and built the house and it held some really wonderful positive memories. Of course it also was the place of the saddest day of my life. In the end I was happy that property was sold and in the hands of new people who can breathe new life in the house and enjoy it.

The old homestead - digitally enhanced

My next stop was at the former K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in the UP. This was the home base of a bomber squadron and refueling wing until the mid 1990's base closures had this on the chopping block. I spent the night in the parking lot of the museum as part of the Harvest Host program. This allows free camping at various locations with the expectation that you would patronize their establishment. The museum was closed so I was unable to tour it but the grounds of the base were still there (more or less) and it was interesting. The area lost about 14,000 residents when the base closed in an area that has about 100,000 people. This was devastating as one could imagine. The abandoned buildings are in a continuous state of decomposition while the occupied ones are holding their ground. The apartments buildings are in really bad shape as are nearby hotels which are all abandoned. I could have taken dozens of pictures of the decay but it seemed too easy. I prefer to think of the men and women of the Air Force and their families who were stationed there for years. It is a base in the middle of forests amidst a generally undeveloped peninsula. Nevertheless, they did their duty and served for a mission that thankfully never really came. It made me think of all those who work doing their part for a functioning society that just do their duty without any real recognition and without fanfare. All of these jobs make our society hum and I appreciate those who contribute towards that. However, Big Foot didn't seem to be there as there was a distinctive lack of cafes and breweries at the base so I moved on.

Sign at the museum

Static display of a bomber

The next stop on the hunt was in Indian River, MI. There was a microbrewery that is part of the Harvest Host network so I decided to search for Big Foot there. Northland Brewing has a large patio and yard for the people visiting their establishment and space in the back for parking your rig. In addition there are food trucks that are out front so I was sure this would be the place for Big Foot. I took the beast hunters for a small walk and waited for everything to open. Shortly after 4 pm, I purchased my first beverage of the night and bought three tacos from the food truck. I patiently sipped my beer and waited for the beast while enjoying some excellent tacos (pastor, carnitas, and pollo). I even had to have a second brew as the beast was no where to be seen. Just then another camper arrived with their dog and my beasts were sent into a tizzy. I suspect that this "dog" was secretly an agent of Big Foot and was sent to distract the animals. I was forced to lock the dogs up and was able to only hang around the brewery for another frosty beverage and then head back to the trailer. I suspect that this was a plot by the secret society protecting Big Foot intended to confound and confuse us so we decided to call it a night. Global cabals are not easily defeated.

Northland Brewery

Taking advantage of the Harvest Host

We then made the drive down to the thumb of Michigan. The beasts were tired from the previous day and decided to avail themselves of the road time to rest.

Lucy avoiding the light

Ozzy and Lucy enjoying some together time

I arrived at the tip of the thumb at the remote base station of J & M. Yes, the same ones from Ireland so I knew that I needed to be prepared for some late nights and adult beverages. We met up with another brother, who shall be named J in accordance with this blog's policy. This will soon prove to be confusing as the pseudo random name generator keeps coming up with the same letter for my brothers which is odd. This J was celebrating his birthday so we took a night off from the hunt.

I was able to convince J & M and J to join in the hunt for Big Foot which was very valuable to have additional people to be on the lookout. The next search spot was at local BBQ establishment, Dark Sky, which has recently opened. Big Foot is a fan of small local eateries that have quality food and good beers so I was sure this was a good choice. I enjoyed the brisket and the beverages but alas, no Big Foot. We will need to return as this is definitely his/her type of place.

Dark Sky - good BBQ and Beer

We also checked out several other locations which will likely need additional investigations. One of these was Thumb Brewery. The porter was excellent, and I know Big Foot loves a quality porter so I kept a keen eye for the beast.. We hung out for a a little while but there was no sighting of the creature during our visit. We will have to return again to see if the wild being makes a visit.

J along with M & J

I will be in this general region for a while so there will be plenty of opportunity to revisit these and other hot spots of Big Foot activity. 


Thor

braxwood.com