Not all days start the same. Some I relax into. I wake and lie still listening to nature. Today is not that day. The sun is up and I am in a tent under a rain fly. I hear the morning waking up. There is much to do to break camp. It rained yesterday and overnight. I see beads of water resting atop the tent. It looks cool, the sunlight illuminates the drops through the translucent fabric. It is peaceful but I know the chore ahead.
I unzip the tent and face reality. Outside the air is cool and damp. Splashes of sand left behind on the tent’s bottom three inches. The sun begins to shine through the leaves and the rain fly dries. I pack it into a pannier. The tent is dry, that is put away. The ground cover is wet on the underside and damp above. It is placed in the sun to dry.
Nancy is now up and outside cleaning the screen tent and stowing it away. When all is packed we hitch the camper and head to the next campground.
It was fifteen miles to the closest gas station. While the tank is being filled I go inside looking for things to eat. And , ice for the coolers.
We head east then southeast along the Rainy River, Canada is on the far bank.
For miles and hours we are on a road in a forest with only tall evergreens on both sides.
And then we enter the town of Ely. This is a great small town with shops and bakeries. I go into a package store to find some local beers. I leave with much knowledge of the brewery in Ely and the owner offered a few choices. I walk out the door with some pints.
Nancy and Moe are outside a bakery talking with a couple. She bought some pastries to enjoy while the laundry is being cleaned.
The final ten-mile drive begins. The scenery becomes interesting.
We are now in Birch Lake Campground. The setup is over, we are settling in as the light fades.
