Category: vacation

  • Lake of the Pines / Hartman Creek State Park

    Lake of the Pines / Hartman Creek State Park

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    I slept pretty well at Lake of the Pines State Park, considering I had to sleep in my van. I was hoping to sleep in a hammock, but I was not willing to brave attacks from the squadrons of mosquitoes that would have zeroed in on me while I was hanging it, so I simply Read.

  • Lake of the Pines State Campground

    Lake of the Pines State Campground

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    I spent the night at Lake of the Pines State Campground, in spite of the best efforts of a biblical swarm of mosquitoes to drive me away. Lake of the Pines is about a four-hour drive from Madison if you don’t stop. I stopped more than once, so it was more like four-and-a-half. I arrived Read.

  • Porcupine Mountains 6-12-2025

    Porcupine Mountains 6-12-2025

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    I was supposed to be waking up in a camp site beside Mirror Lake this morning. Instead, I’m back at home doinking around on the internet. Not the four-day weekend I’d hoped for. (Disclaimer: that’s a photo of Lake of the Clouds, although if you squint you can see Mirror Lake in the distant background.) Read.

  • Vacation in California 2013

    Vacation in California 2013

    I didn’t take my phone to Isle Royale because it wouldn’t work there, except as a camera, but I didn’t want to use it as a camera because it’s a pretty old phone. I was absolutely certain the battery wouldn’t last five days. Even if I brought a power bank, I was pretty sure my Read.

  • Isle Royale National Park 05-30-2025

    Isle Royale National Park 05-30-2025

    Put the picnic table in the marshiest part of the camp site. We’ll just dump some gravel in the mud underneath the table. It’ll be fine. The only time I got rained on while I was visiting Isle Royale was on Friday morning. Once, well before sunrise while it was still pretty dark, I heard Read.

  • Isle Royale National Park 05-29-2025

    Isle Royale National Park 05-29-2025

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    The holy grail of visitors to Isle Royale would seem to be getting to see a moose. If you talk to anyone you meet on the island for more than five minutes, they’ll ask if you’ve seen one, or they’ll tell you where they saw one. Usually both. It’s a hot topic. More than half Read.

  • Isle Royale National Park 05-28-2025

    Isle Royale National Park 05-28-2025

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    My Darling B was surprised to learn there are outhouses in the wilderness areas of Isle Royale. If you have to answer the call of nature while you’re on the trail, you’re allowed to poop in a cathole. I didn’t have to on this trip, and I’m pretty happy about that, to be honest. I’ve Read.

  • Isle Royale National Park 05-27-2025

    Isle Royale National Park 05-27-2025

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    My day started with a toad and ended with frogs. I’m not saying it means anything, but it’s an odd coincidence, don’t you think? Right out of Lane Cove campground, after crossing the plank bridge and just as I was starting the climb up the first ridge, a toad as big and fat as my Read.

  • Isle Royale National Park 05-26-2025

    Isle Royale National Park 05-26-2025

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    I’ve wanted to visit Isle Royale since I heard about it while I was a Boy Scout. (That was a few years ago.) I’ve been planning this trip for months. I almost didn’t make it! I booked a crossing on the Ranger III, a ferry operated by the National Park Service to take visitors and Read.

  • One of these days

    One of these days

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    We got on the wrong bus in NYC and by the time we realized it was going the wrong way and jumped off, we were three or four blocks away from our route. Walking back up the street, we came across a statue dedicated to famed NYC bus driver Ralph Kramden! Can’t just walk past Read.

photo of the author and the author's best friend