We have left the West behind, crossing the Mississippi at Minneapolis/St. Paul, losing the broad vistas of prairie and sky. I feel like a building block has been taken out of my being, but I know I shall be able to return in the autumn.
When Betty—our GPS—finally unraveled the maze of concrete around Mall of America, we entered Wisconsin, a state I thought I’d never see. What a surprise! A cloudless sky complemented shades of green with farm upon farm in a manicured landscape, candy box houses made castles by the turrets of silos.
Our road to Munising, Michigan, from where I write, followed Lake Michigan
before crossing at the very top to Lake Superior. Munising is another place I’d never heard of prior to this trip. When Cristal was 11, we had sent her to Interlochen Music Camp near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. My husband and I spent some time in Traverse City, but with a looming divorce, it was not a pleasant visit, and I remember little, other than the height of the signs to allow for heavy snows and the plethora of craft and book shops, also, presumably, allowing for snow. Today’s road trip, our longest mileage of the entire journey (thankfully with lovely short spurts ahead in the coming days) didn’t give us much time for taking in the view, but what we did see and discover has got us unraveling some mysteries. There was also confusion over the time zone: while Wisconsin is still in Central time, Michigan—the part directly above Wisconsin—is in Eastern.
It’s been a long day and we are about to enjoy pizza and our lovely view of the lake. I promise more to come tomorrow.
Andrea Downing 