Day 41: Bessemer to Sidnaw (T.D.: 112.0km; S.T.: 5h27min)

We awoke, well-rested and unhassled by bears, to clear skies and a light tailwind – good things all. Made our way from Bessemer to Wakefield, where we hoped to find a library with internet and computers so we could post a blog entry for youse people, but to no avail. So we continued on, feeling lucky to be enjoying such fine weather as we made our way through this slice of America. This day in the western half of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula found us in mostly rural settings – with hardly a town bigger than a few thousand Yoopers (as they call themselves proudly, if strangely, here). Stopped in Bruce Crossing to get a few groceries and call my mother, who gets antsy if we go more than a couple of days without a phone call. Plus we were eager to tell her that we’d crossed into the Eastern time zone – a landmark event that was a tangible sign of the progress we’d been making.

Made it to Historic Sidnaw (not sure why it’s historic – probably something to do with lumber) in time for supper, which we made at a deserted campground and enjoyed heartily. We were faced with not one, but two ethical quandaries here. Payment for the campground was to be made via an “honesty box,” which provided the basis for the first; the door to one of two lovely cabins on the premises being unlocked gave us pause for the second. Should we upgrade our accommodations to include a warm bed and a shower, and moreover should we pay for it? Being honest and boring, we put our money in the box, and slept in the tent.

Stats:

Av. Spd.: 20.7km/h

Mx. Spd.: 44.7km/h

Cost of being honest and boring: $20 and a slightly less comfortable sleep.