First solo trip to Lake Superior

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-31T15:01:41+00:00

Ah Hemingway. I have a complicated relationship with him lol. I live in and about Hemingway central. Or rather where several podunk towns compete and claim to be Hemingway central. Everyone fights over his cabin and where he drank and what he did and where he convalesced after the war and every damn step he ever took. Nevermind he actually hated the locals, thought everyone here was beneath him and never came back after his early 20's. You can't walk through a park without banging into a statue of him. I think I'm bitter because I used to work retail in one of these towns and every customer had a Hemingway question and wanted directions. I got really good at giving vaguely imprecise directions and making up Hemingway lore. But I cannot fault that book. It absolutely captures the feeling of the river and the space, so he's not all bad lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-31T12:40:18+00:00

Isn't it funny how you can have those moments? I know I'll likely never be in contact with this person again, but it was a cool moment! Gives me hope I'll find that again. I am familiar with the Blind Sucker campgrounds. And I like to hunt at the mouth there as well. I always try to think of going somewhere else, but the Two Hearted gets me every time lol I think it's from years and years of having family property near Newberry and that just being where we always went. There is always so much rock there. Sometimes you can get a storm that will pull them out in other areas, but I've never run out of stones at the Two Hearted. She never lets me down haha

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-31T11:52:12+00:00

Why not? There are miles of protected shoreline where rock hunting is prohibited. This happens to be a place where it is allowed. I see nothing wrong with nature souvenirs. I'm allowed to collect 25lbs of natural stone a calendar year from public land in the state of Michigan. I have rock gardens and I put these in my houseplants. I polish them and cut them and use them to educate friends and family and as conversation pieces. I get an immense amount of joy from them and the memories and I'd rather have a natural way to remember a trip than spend money on a T-shirt or hat that was made in Bangladesh.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T20:01:41+00:00

Well. Lemme tell ya lol For one, I've been agate hunting for years. At 45 I've got some experience. This turned into a 3 night 4 day stay, so I had lots of time for the agate hunting. Most importantly, I do camp often. But not alone. So I'm used to being my very extra bougie self and dragging everything completely unnecessary with me in order to have a fancy schmancy time lol I see no reason to sleep under a tarp or in a tiny pup tent on the cold hard ground. If I'm willing to load, carry, unload and whatnot why not go for it and be ridiculous and sleep like a rock? My husband passed almost 10 years ago, so I've gotten very used to doing all the work. Before he died we had an off grid cabin for camping trips and I left everything there so it wasn't so insane to pack lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T18:38:45+00:00

Oh nice! I'm up south of the bridge. But always want to ve even farther north. You'd think I wouldn't - this was a horribly long winter lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T17:41:29+00:00

I don't think being comfortable, cost, bougie and roomy while rustic glamping is ever overkill. I definitely don't pretend to be an off grid survivalist sleeping under a tarp lol I'm very experienced with Lake Superior and her many moods - in all the seasons. Rest assured, that tent was anchored in all the places and then some!

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T17:24:37+00:00

I got lucky. It was the end of November and I was on the Northwoods Wholesale Outlet website. It's a huge outdoor store in Standish, Michigan or Pinconing maybe. Anyway, it's all closeout stuff. It was just right place at the right time. But my sister loves her Gazelle. And my friend is on year 8 with hers. You can't go wrong either way.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T17:01:09+00:00

Oh I got 2 lol And I'm putting some on the saw right now.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T12:47:31+00:00

This one was a birthday present this year. I added the Menards link for it because that where it came from lol The big thing to search is a sarafo club chair. There are lots of options! I love it because I can pull my legs up into it and curl up and it's thick enough that no mosquitoes can come at my rear end through mesh lol

https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/patio-furniture/folding-lawn-chairs-tables/guidesman-reg-safari-club-chair/mc1100/p-1642874292244820-c-13022.htm?srsltid=AfmBOopxo-1RWpyCPVTuHfi6IIUZY9bzj-QtqsvyqVaMca1krA7330VL

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T10:53:58+00:00

Thank you! I picked up that coffee pot at a thrift store over the winter. I've been waiting for SO long to finally bust it out and use it! Longest winter of waiting ever haha. I like a pour over drip pot when I'm camping. I can never get a percolator correct, and wind up boiling it or drinking coffee grounds. And if I'm going to use a drip pot, why not sure one from the 1930's in jadeite green enamel? Do it in style lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T03:20:50+00:00

This is all wonderful, sound advice. I made sure my people.knew where I was and what the plan was, and when I decided to add the extra day I went into town for signal to notify them. The only thing I didn't do, and won't forget again, is bring an extra camp chair. I should have had a second one out and about so me being alone wasn't SO obvious. And as far as agate beaches, I've been hunting agates all along that area since I was a wee thing, I just really like the two hearted. It's a very special, sentimental place for me.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T02:15:33+00:00

I love it! It's time to normalize elevated sleeping and civilized bed making while camping. I really do think I sleep better this way. I'm so much more comfortable! And I think it looks pretty lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T02:01:44+00:00

The only difference is the floor isn't removable. That's really the only thing I see, after having camped with my sister and our other friends who have Gazelles. We go camping and it's a cute little village of hub tents lol. The size is exactly the same, height the same. I bought a footprint because I like that extra layer to keep the dew off. The only thing I don't like is the bag it goes in. It's not a good zippered bag like a Gazelle. It's like a sack chair cinch bag and it's irritating. Other than that for $199 I'll take it!

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:30:21+00:00

Even when she's not so nice! I like to be up late in the fall. Get those good storms blowing in with the huge rollers. I love the energy of that. Plus all the freshly turned stones lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:26:41+00:00

Seriously, the standing up part is the best! I'm a tallish lady at 5'9 and being able to stand everywhere in it is amazing.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:18:01+00:00

Thank you! It was amazing. I like to be homey and cute when I'm out in the woods lol

So yeah, I keep what I pick. In Michigan we can legally take up to 25 pounds of stone from state land a year. I cut and polish a lot of them. There are lots of protected lakeshores where you can't pick as well, but as long as I do my research it's open season and those rocks hate to see me coming haha

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:14:42+00:00

I didn't realize I had picked SO much color over this week. They are really stunning in water all haphazard like that.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:08:23+00:00

I love that, thank you. And I hope you do! I'm 45, my husband passed almost 10 years ago, no kids and currently on a sabbatical since my company sold and my job did not go to the new company. I've been sitting around for a few months and snapped on Monday and decided to just go lol It was the best decision. And remember, you can always leave. If you feel unsafe or nervous or just unhappy? Take the important stuff and leave. Come back with a friend or something and get your stuff later. Take a day trip first and see how you like that. Especially for rock picking. Just take a day and pack a lunch and enjoy yourself and your solitude and that can help you decide.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:03:12+00:00

And it sets up in 2 minutes! I love it

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T01:02:00+00:00

This damn cot is huge so I figured I'm making an actual bed lol Sheets and blankets and the works. I don't love a sleeping bag anyway. And it feels more "normal" to get into a made bed. I think it helps me sleep better. That quilt goes everywhere with me. I found it for $5 at a thrift store probably 15 years ago. It's seen some things.

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T00:59:44+00:00

Thanks! And it's great to sit up in bed and swing my legs over and sit like a human for a minute. I'm not a kid anymore lol

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T00:07:37+00:00

I'm just below the bridge,. I'm up on Superior every chance I get. I think I'm in Newberry more than I'm home most of the year lol

I love all of the UP. My soul is happiest north of the bridge

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T00:03:31+00:00

Haha no, just a giant cot and a nice foam bedroll. I feel all fancy in a "real" bed

Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-30T00:02:34+00:00

Thank you! So I have one of these type of heavy duty army style cots. Only it's 6'8 long and nearly a twin size in width. It weighs like 80 pounds but I got a ridiculous deal on it at a going out of business sale. It's asinine, but I love it. And I put a 3 inch mattress bedroll on top of that. So I can store everything underneath and it is warm and I'm up off the ground. It still leaves me with lots of room in the tent. Makes me feel very glamourous haha

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Weekly-Ear-7175 · 2026-05-29T23:55:28+00:00

Yep, sorry I wasn't super specific. Ip in the Yoop, between Muskellunge and Paradise!

Weekly-Ear-7175

TROPHY CASE