Bear Belly Adventures

It’s been a while since my last post.  Not much has been happening to write about. I don’t want to turn this into a daily journaling activity.  Hornbeck was able to patch the canoe.  It definitely looks patched. However, the hull is back to the correct shape. She is worthy of water once again.  It was nice not having the boat wrapped in cellophane to travel down the highway.

After leaving New York State we traveled back west towards Indiana.  We had a one night stay in the Allegheny National Forrest.  It was a nice pull off on the side of a forest service road. In the evening storms were rolling through the area.  We heard the slow rumble of thunder as the wind picked up.  No rain came down where we were.  We were able to sit outside and enjoy nature’s show for hours. 

The rest of the trip was smooth through Pennsylvania and Ohio.  We made it back to the house.  The goal was to load up the few bulky items. I don’t want to sell them but can’t travel with them. We planned to take them up to Wisconsin to store at my dad’s.  

I have a class one e-bike. I’d love to travel with it. However, the dog would not be able to keep up for any reasonable length of time.  I also have a trailer from Burley that is designed for toting a dog behind a bike.  It is very cumbersome and awkward to try to pack the dog trailer.  Although I could take the bike, the trailer would be a no-go.  I can’t ride and leave Nana behind so both those items will be left behind.  I also have a nice composting toilet.  This will be left behind. A simple bag system works just fine if there are going to be more frequent stops and travel.  When we winter for the summer in Quartzsite, AZ we will be stationary for several months.  I will consider bringing these items for that part of the adventure.

While at my dad’s we had a great visit for a couple of weeks.  Together, we hashed out a couple of projects I wanted to have done to the trailer.  These include installing the outdoor shower curtain on a slide. This allows it to move out from the trailer. It moves away from the fender when deployed.  I want to move the generator from the storage box. I plan to mount it semi-permanently on the fender of the trailer.  This keeps the generator where I normally run it. This also frees up more space in the storage box.

We enjoyed the views from the yard. We also had some fun going to the Deke Slayton Space and Bicycle Museum and the Sparta Elroy Bike Trail. We walked the trail for 5 miles. We walked through the old rail tunnel #3 which is 3/4 of a mile long. As always, the tunnel is a unique experience. They say the best camera is the one you have. I had no camera walking the trail. I am unable to share any picture’s of how cool of a place it is. A good family friend has a spot in the museum. She completed the Iditarod on her bicycle. She came in first place for the woman’s bicycle division back in 1994. Her bike and gear are on display.

Dad was able to get all the measurements he needed. He plans to make a base for the generator. The Amish will fabricate the cover out of aluminum. This will weatherproof it while traveling in bad weather.  We were not able to complete these projects during the visit. Parts need to be ordered. We should be able to put it all together when I drive back through on my way to southern Indiana.

Nana and I are currently on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  We are camping at the beautiful High Rock Bay area.  We will be here for a couple of weeks then travel somewhere near the Marquette, Michigan area.  I ordered a custom cover for the canoe from Red Leaf Designs.  Kevlar is sensitive to UV and can discolor.  From what I have heard, with enough continuous time in the sun, the Kevlar will start to break down.  The Red Leaf cover is custom made to fit the canoe.  It is designed to protect from UV rays and not flap around even at highway speeds.  I am on the road full time. The boat is always on top of the Jeep. I thought the cover would be a good insurance policy for the boat. They are made just south of Marquette. I will pick it up while in the area. This will save some money on shipping.

More to come on some of our adventures here on the peninsula. There should be a quick updates on the projects after going back through Wisconsin.