August 17, 2014 - Sunday evening
59 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

No time for commentary and idle blather tonight. It's past 9 PM and I want to go to bed. No faster than I drive, I'll need to be on the road between 3:30 and 4 in the morning so I can catch my ride to Grand Marais, Michigan, on Lake Superior to begin my Picture Trails hike.

I made 13 quarts of pickles on Saturday.

Bread and Butter Pickles. My favorite.

I added another truck load to the wood pile after I finished making pickles. This particular batch will heat the house a year from this coming winter.

I began packing in earnest on Saturday afternoon while listening to the Packers game.

Yooper Brother Mark came out on Sunday afternoon and we built the last wall of the storage shed.

Sargie mowed the lawn while we were working.

We installed the roll up door. There are still a few adjustments to be made, but at least it's in.

It's been a busy busy weekend. My backpack is in the Blazer, ready to make the trip north to Munising, then onto Grand Marais. The hike, officially forty-two miles (but more like 45) is my official shakedown for next spring's attempt at the Appalachian Trail. The weather is to be cool and rainy and that's okay. I need to test my foul weather gear. 

I start in the upper right hand corner and will end in the lower left hand corner.

It's time to turn in. I'll be awake during the wee hours of the morning and thankfully, will be driving into daylight as I head north. 

A quick shower first, then onto bed. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The pack without food or water weighs 17 pounds, 27 pounds with.