 | Blogs > sabrefire45 > The Midnight Ocean > NOTES- FROM THE GREAT TREK NORTH. CAMPING ANYONE??? |
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 Pervasive dampness...check. Sweet smoke of pine tinder...check. Unseasonably bitter temps...check. 1:03 AM and the usual precursory- inebriated settlers, with an anesthetized sense of personal volume control- one site over...check. Camping in Northern Michigan. Lakeside property at less than $15/night. Taxes included...drunken neighbors too. For me the trek north is somewhat of an annual pilgrimage. Tents. Nalgene bottles. Insulated underwear- and nightly marauding raccoons. The loci may fluctuate, but the purpose and elements seem as steady as tax day. What April 15th is to the citified uneasy mind. Summer camping is- to my 'natural' summer mind . In fact, it can even make the worried mind, worry- that for the next few days, there are no worries. Well at least none without teeth. Strangely, I prefer the ones with actual teeth. They seem more capable of logic and reason. Have you ever had to dispute an errant charge on a bill??? Yikes! Literal rabid beasts- are more easily dissuaded. It's rather wild up here. Bears, wolves, coyotes, elk, deer...oh, and mosquitoes the size of pterodactyls. Dinosaurs too- even seem real up here. I have a picture of a mosquito on the lens of my camera, that looks as if it would make Mothra wince. A few miles from the camp spot I had a chance to witness a bobcat that had darted across the freeway a few yards in front of my car. Pictures of certain animals do indeed work injustice. This animal was the very personification of the words "stealth and phantom." However, this Impala (my car) at least- I have to say, would have had a decided advantage in battle. Gasoline beats squirrel as fuel any day. Then again I don't foresee a shortage of squirrel here anytime soon. So...I'll be fair... 1-1 bobcat v. Impala, I suppose right? Anyways, when I arrived late in the day our boat was already anchored offshore. I marched straightaway up the hill to lay my claim to my dusty patch next to the lake...with my beloved tent in tow...swung about my shoulder. We've been through a lot together, my tent and I. Being only about 4 yrs old...our relationship has been strikingly rocky, yes, pun intended. Marked by torrential down pour, gale force winds, and several as of yet, unidentified- large nocturnal critters mistaking us for food stuff. But, we've made it through...you know...we made it work. The erecting of my beloved tent has become a science. If there was an Olympic event in the masterful verticality of a "three man" (RIGHHHT!) waterproof Coleman tent- while under heavy mosquito and beach fly "fire"- I'd be a perennial front runner for the gold. However- having forgotten my trusty hatchet this year...I'm afraid I would have likely had to settle for silver...if only by a hundredth of a second. I am the Michael Phelps of campsite construction and engineering. I doubt it's a coincidence we both practice and train in Michigan. Something in the water perhaps?? This esoteric genius of mine remains a mystery even to me. Perhaps like Rembrandt my work can only be truly appreciated after, I'm gone. Then again- perhaps once married, with a gaggle of tired and chilly kiddies in tow...I'll get some recognition. Hmmmm...but I digress. We made to the boat soon after verticality- to capture the remaining minutes of sunlight aboard craft. I arrived in khaki cargo shorts and a black T. After the laborious wading to the offshore- anchored boat, through what felt like -arctic aquifer fed water...I donned a thick black hoodie, cargo pants, a knit cap... and a shiver. We motored across the lake somewhat quickly. Loons called out...then ducked, dived and dodged. Their ominous call- weighed nothing if not reminiscent of years past...on our hearts. We were up north. This was...at least to the citified... The Wild. There is perhaps no greater a 'natural' dichotomy of feeling- as the rushing of adrenaline and blood- feeding the most serene and peaceful mind- of an earnest admirer of the expanse of G-d's beautiful outdoors! We fished to no avail. Banter was all that revolved-on a seeming hook...except perhaps for the treacherous leeches we used as bait (they're untrustworthy at best!). Nighttime as a rule in Northern Michigan, can get particularly wild. Not in the same sense that I envision the African bush to be wild...but how someone might envision the coupling of Alaska and the HardRock Cafe to be wild. With a little give and take of course... You take some ice caps...I'll give some drunken campers. I'll take some bears...you give some pterodactyls. I'll take some Canadians...you...take some Canadians. Deal. Walleye are fascinating fish. They have marble sized eyes that are extremely sensitive due to the incredibly adept and bulgingly extreme, viscous fluidity- of their magnificently designed eyes. The only thing more amazing than their vision- perhaps is there sense of humor. Walleye largely prefer to bite only at night. Fisherman,...largely prefer to sleep at night. Speaking of which...it wasn't 10 minutes after the inebriated lunatic fringe the campsite over...cashed in for the night- that our masked mammalian visitors arrived. It was a bit after 2AM and, me as a one whom literally sleeps with his eyes open (I believe I was walking the Exodus about the banks of Lake Timsah second hand...when the nocturnal devils arrived. Raccoons in Michigan are not raccoons. They are like little elfin men with intricately nimble hands and an eerie chattering vocabulary. They can unlatch new-fangled coolers and open childproof medicine bottles- provided what's inside tickles their strikingly delicate palate. Campsite coons are notoriously prissy eaters. And even more notorious- mess makers. If a Legion of State Troopers tossed a campsite in search of a pin-head...it's doubtful they could leave such a terrific disaster- and make such a stupendous clatter- as a hungry/cranky family of Northern Michigan raccoons. It makes one wonder what, say- Jersey raccoons are like? You might even be surprised to learn... Michigan raccoons do indeed prefer Tarter Control Crest toothpaste- over competing brands. Which, should only be at most a 2-second consolation...when starving, and you realize in the morning- they've consumed only half of the last blueberry bagel. Think about that one... When the Matisyahu ringtone of my cellphone alarm went off at 5AM I was still up reading. The raccoons had essentially set up shop on our central picnic table between our two tents on the hill. They say 'a family that eats together...stays together.' I think for raccoons it's more like 'a family that eats, stays all night.' When I arose from my beloved tent it was still dark and a mist hung heavy over the dark waters below my hill. I awoke those of my party- I believe, with laughter as I shone my flashlight on the raccoon buffet that was made of our "kitchen/picnic area." They had managed to open a very large Splenda container and consumed nearly 3/4 of its sugary contents. As well as adherents to dental hygiene practices...it appeared, they were also weight conscious. One of the human party...(ahem!) failed to show for the perfunctory 'dawn patrol.' But the two dawn troopers that were game, as we were, drank coffee (ahem again!...unsweetened of course!!!!) as we watched our breaths rise from our mouths into the frosty mourning air. After a most...ummm...exhilarating wade, to the anchored out boat...we skirted across the water in my family craft- to the fishing hole. A fawn deer dawdled in the reeds near shore. A bald eagle, whom we had heard the night before- but had evaded our sight, screeched and wailed atop a very visible tall pine. The mist wafted slowly from water level- to maybe 15-20ft above. The leeches, were lethargic in the frosty temps about their small foam cooler. The hook of my 'staple jig'- however...seemed to motivate mine- slightly. It was but minutes that had passed when I silently considered Christ's instruction to Peter and his casting of the net on the right side of the boat. I mouthed my Hebrew prayer silently as I fished among G-d's brilliance of creation. I didn't have a big net to cast...but, I did have a newly inspired leech... I peered far across the barely lit water- in the yet largely dark morning, taking in the barely visible vision of the United States Military Camp that buttressed up to the lake front- far in the distance. Bald eagle atop a majestic pine tree- starboard...and Camp Grayling barracks- port side. Two guys fishing 'up and Adam'- at the bushy racoontail of dawn- and it struck me...little, could be more American. I remembered last year watching several Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters crawling low over the lake as we fished. This year the Camp was much subdued...except for what we expect was an M60 machine gun, that chattered at incredible pace mid-morning on range afar off... like a red headed woodpecker on a green-tea/grub diet. I prayed silently in Hebrew atop the water that morning. Free. In a beautiful land of abundance. Humor and good tidings- still hung as thick as the fog. And despite freely giving my shipmate- another of my exact same jig...I went on to catch exactly three times the amount of "keeper" fish that trip...as my other two fellow fishers...despite having fished less than half as many hours. I was reminded of the father/minister's line from "A River Runs Through It," as he places his exceptionally large fish next to his two sons puny fish on the bank of the river...' The Lord has blessed us all here today... indeed... some more than others." G-d is good. And He is beautiful. And His brilliance...and even humor... is all around. So, who wants to go camping with me now? If you don't die from the cold, or the bears, or starvation (raccoons!), or sleep deprivation, or the pterodactyls, you might from the laughter. If not, I'll see you in four years... my tent and I have got some training to do- we're taking gold in 2012... hmmm, now where is my hatchet? GBY, sabrefire Copyright © 2008 MAS |
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8/28/2008 2:30 pm |
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Meow ? .
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8/28/2008 4:31 pm |
I thought you said "Liberal rabid beasts" and I just about went  .  Save a life, please adopt your next pet from a shelter, pound or rescue. "Iron Chef Bobby Flay, willing to sacrifice life and limb all in the name of flavour!". Alton Brown "Well you black out lane-lines one and three, and a four-lane highway becomes a two-lane comfort cruise". Kramer, "The Pothole" "If life gives you lemons, save the receipt". Stephen Colbert
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8/28/2008 8:55 pm |
I want to go camping with you! that sounds so fun, the atmosphere seems quite inspiring from how you describe. I don't like the cold, but I can deal with bears. . .I can definitely cope with starvation! lol I've pulled some allnighters before (but be careful cause i get goofy when I'm sleep deprived but atleast I dont get pissy!), pterodactyls? Piece of cake! And everyone can use a little laughter, even if its to die for  Wonderful post! GB! GoblinQueen
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8/31/2008 7:47 am |
Nephew, As an old teacher your tante must say that I am grieved that you are not writing books and as I say all the time...you ARE a Rebbe May I gently say, young one, that it is possible that those of your age and fierce devotion to our most high and perfect Lord of all may not be destined to be married? I see in you a leader of many. Am I wrong? You see I've noticed over the years that our Abba takes specific notice of those who would give up everything as you have done and follow HIM. I say this all the time...but I will keep saying it... It is my old tante opinion that G-d has a very important destiny for you. You have the brilliance, eloquent voice and fire that could inspire many to the same devotion and joy in the Lord. Please reach out to those in their late teens, twenties and early thirties and share the fire the Lord of all has placed within you. There is something you carry...a torch perhaps...to show the way... hold it up high and raise your voice so others will see the way!!!! Blessings to you nephew! Thank you for continuing to teach me and others about serving the Lord. Shalom, tante
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9/4/2008 10:27 am |
I thought you said "Liberal rabid beasts" and I just about went . GB!
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9/4/2008 10:44 am |
I want to go camping with you! that sounds so fun, the atmosphere seems quite inspiring from how you describe. I don't like the cold, but I can deal with bears. . .I can definitely cope with starvation! lol I've pulled some allnighters before (but be careful cause i get goofy when I'm sleep deprived but atleast I dont get pissy!), pterodactyls? Piece of cake! And everyone can use a little laughter, even if its to die for Wonderful post! GB! GoblinQueen Yes it is quite inspiring up there. I heard recently that only a tiny percentage of Americans under the age of 20 have seen the Milky Way, due to all the light pollution, drowning out the darkness of night! There is so little light pollution up there that the stars literally...well shine. You can see the constellations like a planetarium, its breath-taking. On the second night at about 2Am I walked down shore- side at the base of my camp under the pines and I just relaxed on my back on the soft pine needles and stared at the stars for a good 45minutes...the water was calm as glass. It was far too cold for the pterodactyls. A tent was nuisance that night. "but be careful cause i get goofy when I'm sleep deprived but atleast I dont get pissy!)" That's the first time I think I have read the word "pissy" ever written out...lol. Kinda amazing really . Goofy definitely beats out pissy!GBY GQ and thanks my little hobgoblin friend!
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9/4/2008 10:44 am |
Well howdy there Pete. GBY!
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9/4/2008 11:40 am |
Nephew, As an old teacher your tante must say that I am grieved that you are not writing books and as I say all the time...you ARE a Rebbe May I gently say, young one, that it is possible that those of your age and fierce devotion to our most high and perfect Lord of all may not be destined to be married? I see in you a leader of many. Am I wrong? You see I've noticed over the years that our Abba takes specific notice of those who would give up everything as you have done and follow HIM. I say this all the time...but I will keep saying it... It is my old tante opinion that G-d has a very important destiny for you. You have the brilliance, eloquent voice and fire that could inspire many to the same devotion and joy in the Lord. Please reach out to those in their late teens, twenties and early thirties and share the fire the Lord of all has placed within you. There is something you carry...a torch perhaps...to show the way... hold it up high and raise your voice so others will see the way!!!! Blessings to you nephew! Thank you for continuing to teach me and others about serving the Lord. Shalom, tante You've made a good point about perhaps not getting married. I posted a Parable type thing- that I wrote- just now on this topic. Please do check that out...I think it explains some of my thoughts and emotions on the subject, better than just out-right telling it. Well thank you for always encouraging me the way that you do dear Tante! You're a blessing to me too! I sure do hope all is well in your part of the country...you should be getting some serious rain about there now I guess huh? G-d has an important destiny for you too!! GBY!!
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9/4/2008 4:19 pm |
Wait, did he say...pterodactyls?
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