2020 Big Truck across the Upper Peninsula, Day 9

Day 9 started with a somewhat early morning ride from the campground, meaning whatever downhill stretches I was going to ride, I was going to earn every bit of it by climbing my way to the top first.

The climb was fairly uneventful, except that the dewpoint may have been 100 (is that even possible?) as the humidity was insane. This was me 10 feet into the ride.

Stairway to Heaven was my goal to ride before we left. I was coming at it from the top going down for the first attempt.

Here is the grin of an idiot who has accomplished a very minor thing, but is also not on his way to the ER.

In keeping with the idiot theme, I decided to climb it and ride it again, increasing the chances of injury knowing that I needed to pack up and head out for another week of vacation momentarily. What's the worst that could happen?

Nothing, actually. I rode with old man prowess and caution, and made it back to tell the story. 

The end of the ride proved that the high humidity and cold Superior made for some eerie scenes. I felt like I was in a Stranger Things trailer.

When I arrived back at the campsite to regale the family with tales of honor, I was greeting with braying laughter.

The humidity and helmet hair had turned me into a poor man's Coolio, and no matter what I tried to say to describe the ride, it was met with "I can't look at you."

We packed up, said our goodbyes to Copper Harbor, and started the journey to Union Bay Campground in the Porcupine Mountains. We had been here once before several years ago, so we knew a bit about the drive. Since it was taking us back through Houghton, I decided on a quick pit stop at the Keweenaw Brewing Company taproom downtown. We got a pretty good parking spot.

The taproom:

Beer garden:

With a fresh 6er of their Wequetong in hand, we headed back out to our destination.

We got the site set up, and the weather was definitely starting to turn. Jordan and I set out to find the site of one of our favorite family pics, and we grabbed this shot to document the impending storm and confirm the size of my massive dome.

As we got back to the campsite, a very polite park ranger was walking around recommending that people take down their awnings as there was 'quite a storm' on the way.

With zero cell signal but an adequate warning, we packed up our stuff, put the awning in storm mode and hunkered down. We actually made it another hour or so, thinking we were in the clear (ignorance is bliss), but this was the scene for the next 20 minutes or so.

Summoning all of my intelligence, I figured this would be the time to drive up to the visitors center to snag some wifi and connect with the outside world to see how long we would be in this storm.

My first clue:

Second clue:

Using intense powers of deduction, we decided a movie night was in order. Storks was the choice, and it was actually not terrible, until you realize you are watching it with an only child and the general message of the movie is that you are cruel parents if you don't allow your only child to mail order a sibling. Quality family time.

Tomorrow, some wander across the western UP. No definitive plan, as is the best plan for these trips.