What's this one all about?

Here I go again, off to upper middle America and lower middle Canada & various places that lie in between. Why, oh why do I continue to subject myself to these journeys where I ride hundreds of miles in order to visit places many would consider remarkably unremarkable?

I guess there are elements hidden deep within me that drive me toward the northern forest that I used to believe (before the beginning of time)extended all the way to the North Pole. I also seem drawn to large inland bodies of water. And something about middle America fascinates me, mostly the little town squares with breakfast spots that have pickup truck parked outside.

I'm not sure where all that comes from, it's not like I never go to the ocean, or never venture into woods that are not part of the northern boreal forest. And I do sometimes go places that, at least geographically, are not middle America. Last year it was Lake Huron, Michigan's UP, and Ontario. The year before it was Le Fleuve St Laurent, Lac St. Jeane & les bois de Quebec. Before that Lake Champlain and a bunch of woodsy places up that way. I'm not going to apologize for these journeys, however misguided it. It's just the way it is so get used to it or read someone else' blog!

For those who are sticking with this beyond the cleverly inviting opening salvo, the deal this year is to spend more quality time circumnavigating Superior. Which, for the geographically challenged, comprises big waters up north of the UP, south of the western Ontario, east of Lake Wobegon, west of the Soo Locks. Superior is the tomb of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which broke in two and sank in 500 feet of water off Whitefish Bay on November 10, 1975, taking 29 crew members to their deaths.

Superior is also home to Isle Royale National Park, which I flirted briefly with sticking onto the itinerary, but the logistics just got to be too much. These waters are cold, so I anticipate that whatever immersion takes place will be fleeting and bracing. These and other nearby waters are home to voracious man-eating insects. Plus moose, bear and all manner of other wildlife. I will duly report & provide photodocumentation of encounters with these elements to the extent that I survive and am able.

I'm staging this journey from southern Michigan near Grand Rapids. Planning on taking the ferry across Lake Michigan from Ludington & traversing Wisconsin to Duluth, Minnesota where I'll rendezvous with Superior. The rest will unfold as it unfolds (as always)...same rig as in previous journeys:

There have been technological breakthroughs in my world over the past few months such that this year I'll be using one device to do several tasks that required multiple devices in previous years. My trusty but aging Garmin 76C GPS unit, equally trusty FM radio, and PocketMail composer are all being replaced with an HTC EVO phone. I will also be dispensing with an AA battery charger and multiple rechargeable AA's, but gaining a solar charger for the phone, that can also suck up juice from a 110V outlet (for those rainy days along the lake).

I'll be posting as regularly as Sprint and local WiFi permit. This year I will try to put a few pics up there too while on the road, though I expect I'll still be using my trusty old digital camera to store more images for uploading as I complete the online journal after my return. I'm not totally comfortable with the EVO camera yet.

I do like hearing from folks while I'm on the road (and meeting up with you if you happen to be in the vicinity of where I happen to be), I can be reached through the guest book on this site, and / or by email at nickonthebike (at) gmail (dot) com. Thanks!