Day 72 – Sault Ste. Marie to Munuscong River Campground (Total Miles = 1164.5)

Ken, Tom, and I were ready to hit the road to discover more adventures. Our route for the day was flat, and the wind was at our backs…a day made for cycling!

After a few adjustment stops, and some razzing of Tom, who lost one of his packs on the road, the three of us settled in for the ride. The route paralleled the Little Rapids Channel and had very little traffic…a great way for Tom to get comfortable on the road.

We stopped at Dunbar Park, near the Charlotte River, for a break. We met Alex coming off the river in his kayak. An interesting fellow, Alex used to work for social services in Marquette, but quit his job to become his own man. Obsessed with mushrooms, he is developing his own farm to cultivate and sell them. He knew about every type of mushroom and educated us on a few varieties. He seemed happy and content, yet still searching for more knowledge on the umbrella shaped fungi that has obviously captured his heart.

After spending a short time at the park, we rode on to Munuscong River Campground. After finding the campgrounds full all summer long, it was a nice change to find the camp empty. We chose a nice spot, set up camp, and took out our camp chairs. We had told Tom that was the one luxury he needed to have so, he too, had a fold out camp chair. We scrounged for wood, made a nice fire to roast marshmallows, and agreed we all loved our comfy chairs. After the marshmallow roast, we all retired fairly early so that we could get a fresh start in the morning toward St. Ignace.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise…except in this case it made one man, healthy, wealthy, wise and wet. Apparently, Tom had not used his tent in forever, and the rain we received that evening flooded it. He awoke to a sopping wet tent, and sleeping bag. I think it was then that Tom realized why Ken and I can never get out of camp before 10am. You just never know what you will need to deal with.

Thankfully, the rain had stopped and the sun cooperated in drying his gear so that we could leave around 11:30…which was pretty good, considering!