Michigan, Day 12...Beating the Rain

 Monday, June 12, 2023

    There was never anything scheduled for today.  With all the hiking trails in the area, there was plenty to keep me occupied.   Last night the weather forecast was for cold and rain all day.  This morning, the chance of rain started going up around 11A and continued throughout the day.  

     Two days ago, I did a stretch of the North Country Trail along the cliffs.  There's a parking lot near Miners Castle with access to the western end of the trail.  Three and a half miles up the trail is the turnoff for Mosquito Falls.  If it wasn't for the impending rain, that would have been a perfect turnaround point.  Instead, I decided to hike an hour and a half up the trail, then turn around.  If the rain started early, at least I'd be close to the car.

     The parking lot adjacent to the trailhead was closed to all non-commercial vehicles.  The far lot was open, but the trails there were all closed.  The busy season is about to start here and the Park Service is replacing stairways and trail bridges.  No problem, just a little further to walk.

     I left the car at 8:15A and started walking.  I was actually enjoying the chilly 47 degrees, even with the wind.  At 9:45A, I'd turn around.  Easy enough.

     Turnaround time came and I did consider it.  What's one more overlook?  A few minutes later and I was atop this staircase.  I could hear what sounded like waves crashing on a beach.  So, I went down.  

      The crashing wave sound wasn't typical.  Imaging this if you can.  You're listening to waves crashing, but all the bass part of the sound is gone, it's just the high end... slightly distorted and played through a cheap speaker.  It was really bizarre.  

     I was far enough out of town that I wasn't getting a cell signal.  If I had, I would have seen the revised forecast.  The rain had been pushed back until mid-afternoon.  I would have loved to go a little further.   But, I didn't know.  No complaints thought.  

     Back at the trailhead, there was another short trail down to the beach.  No rain yet, so off I went.

     The rain did roll in shortly after I left the beach.  So, what do you do on a cold, wet afternoon midway through a roadtrip?  Easy.  Laundry.