Summer Dream 2006

From a sleep like the dead, 8:30 saw the start of a new day, AND an intense thunderstorm (in the morning??) ran rivers through the sleepy motel parking lot. A sudden storm is soon over – sometimes. A slow breakfast and planning for the day eventually saw the storm pass and sunny skies prevailed (for a while). Southward to Detour, a quaint little village on the shores of St. Mary’s river; birthplace of my father. And on the way, a search for the old family cabin on Caribou Lake. Following great directions from Aunt Mary and the ancient navigation methods of the Ojibwa Indians (and a GPS), I found it with minor searcing. It was very nearly what I remember from a last visit circa 1955. And the big disappointment; Aunt Mary said to take the screws out of the lock and make myself at home….. someone finally repaired the lock and concealed the screws. Well, photos of the outside, a long wade on the sandy bottom of the lake, and a visit to the former Tallion property next door. Grandpa and I used to walk that path together, talking and whittling. And I think he was there today. And the smells of old cabins in the woods.

Onward to Detour to explore; my dad’s birthplace. I stopped at the museum and chatted on and on with Julie, a resident of Detour. Spying a copy of the history of Detour on a table I located the photo of my grandparents, dad’s parents. Dr. Edward Oswald was a dentist plying his trade from his tugboat on the waters of St Mary/s river to service the residents of Drummond Island. Aunt Mary has the original of that photo. Julie was suitably impressed to see a grandson. She’s sweet to humor this older gentleman:)

And we talked about Goetz, my maternal grandmothers name. And Julie suggested that a visit to Thatcher Goetz up in Goetzville might yield some branches on the tree. Perhaps tomorrow. And an article about another Goetz, first name forgotten, who was building a spacecraft a few decades back. A five page news article and photos talked about limitless free energy, tapped from the forces of the universe and Veneutian designs and a truly remarkable spacecraft under construction. And the story goes on, but it never left Earth. And beyond belief, there was a portion of that craft in the back yard of the Detour museum. Plywood and gears and interesting construction…. now I wonder about my own sanity…and I come by my intrigue of the cosmos honestly.

Checking on local accommodations from the museum phone, deciding they were all too pricy, Julie determined that I looked scroungy enough to appreciate Detour State Forest Campground, from whence I write these notes. It’s hot, humid and buggy. The bugs vanish with “Deep Woods Off”. A spacious Alpine Ultralite from REI dominates the campsite, the waves of Lake Huron add to the symphony of the evening. Both Joe and I are hoping for no repeat of this morning’s thunderstorms. Lil’ Joe is enjoying a warm JD in a titanium cup; no ice is uncivilized. Dinner of handful of trail mix, too hot to run the camp stove. The only food since breakfast and it was enough.

Another good day (and dirtier than I have ever been and gone to bed). Campground is unimproved.