Writing this entry rolling along in Northern Minnesota, about 100 miles from the North Dakota border. I can assure you, gentle readers, that on a cold early November afternoon, with the grey clouds ominously threatening snow and the trees completely bare you’re not missing much. Still, there is something appealing about it all the same — everything possesses its own beauty if you look in the right way. This shot captures it.
Yesterday was another perfect weather day – not a cloud in the sky. Was greeted by the customs officers in the usual powertripping manner…Welcome to the U.S. of A, please keep your hands up by the dashboard where I can see them, buddy. Never mind, I was in a good mood and it was smooth sailing through the Michigan peninsular appendage (which I had never seen before)…Even in the sun, it looked a little cold. Hitting the north shore of Lake Michigan was amazing…Pretty beaches and some really spectacular “cottages”. Clearly election season is well underway, and signs promoting people running for all manner of public office abound. There was even some non-partisan (or at least unendorsed) signs — “If you want to live like a Republican, vote Democrat,” was the most memorable. Love that one.
Found an interesting historical marker I’m sharing, since it continues my collection of tragic nautical historical moments (funny, since I don’t even like boats…). This one is about the……
Christmas Tree Ship
“The Rouse Simmons was one of the last schooners on the great lakes. Built in 1868 to carry lumber, the three-masted vessel became Chicago’s “Christmas Tree Ship” when Hermann Schuenemann purchased an interest in it in 1910. Around 1876 the Schuenemanns had begun transporting trees from Northern Michigan and Wisconsin to Chicago. In November 1898 Hermann’s brother August perished in the wreck of the schooner S. Thal, but Hermann continued the business. Bound for Chicago on November 22, 1912, he boarded the Simmons, which was loaded with trees from the Thompson forest, and sailed into a fierce snowstorm that plunged the ship, and its crew and passengers, to the lake bottom. Hermann’s wife and daughters delivered trees to Chicago each Christmas until around 1934.”
Morbid and cheery all at once. Took it into record in the late afternoon on the shore of Lake Michigan, near Escanaba. It was sunny, but there was a stiff wind and some choppy water. I could certainly imagine a boat sinking on the stormy lake in November. Spent the evening rolling through rural Wisconsin on dark two-lane blacktop and ended the day in Wausau.
We’re stopping near Fergus Falls, MN (always wanted to do that) so I’ll sign off and say that if the motel tonight has wireless this will be up before the end of All Saints’ Day. Funny that…We went across the St. Croix River, through St. Paul, and even a town called St. Cloud today. All saints indeed.
If the motel has a hot tub half as good as the one last night, then maybe the road will melt away for a few hours, till tomorrow, when we will again be rolling……
