Whitney!



I made it to the UP, the Upper Peninsula, of Michigan, with some of the most beautiful scenery thus far. I drove Tin Shrimp straight into the town of Calumet, MI and the Keweenaw National Park, where I found Ranger Whitney! 




My incredible friend is now an official National Park Ranger.  She's the real deal and I am so proud of her accomplishments.  Whitney gave me the full docent treatment and just like everything else, she is so dedicated to her work and expressive talent of her engagement with all people.  She doesn't stop learning, always curious and open to all the opportunities presented to her.  I learned so much about the area as well.  Who knew all the copper in the USA once came from this historical spot.  This sleepy town seems to be held back in time, yet you are immediately immersed in it all and feel a part of the community.  It was so much fun to meet her work colleagues and hang with the NPS crew.  













Whitney and I unleashed our inner former Girl Scout skills spent the week lakeside camping, sight seeing, hiking and cooking.  We needed to make up for lost time and got right to it.  One night, while swinging into a cool bar for some to-go dinners, we managed to avoid being part of the local bar fight between a local woman, some ex-lover, and her father.  The girl said, "I got it Dad", and bounced the guy right out of the bar herself.  I wished I had a photo of that!


Rye and Mr. Henry Jones had a great reunion too and got some special together time doing nose puzzles, hiking and snoozing.   

Whitney told me her heart was full by the end of my visit.  I told her, to look for all the signs.  We found them.  Cardinals, the hearts and more.  There is nothing like a gathering of the best girlfriend power that will fill up your soul and carry it with you until the next time and you pick up where you left off.  I am already looking forward to our next reunion destination, when our tanks will need another fill.




Location: Calumet, Calumet Twp, MI 49913, USA
Like Homer, coming out of a many year journey of what seems like a Trojan War, or PCSD (post COVID stress disorder), I am on a significant life journey. Literal or metaphorically, I am about to soak in some transformative days, filled with experiences that will hopefully redefine my understanding of life and the world around me, without any distractions of other's human conditions. ME TIME.

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