Terri and Peter's RV Adventures

(Written July 3, posted July 4 morning due to Starlink labor strike (or trees)

After a quiet early morning in the woods drinking coffee, reading and meditating, we headed off to Harbor Springs once again so Peter could continue his search for the Holy Grail of Blumrosens.  I dropped him off at the Historic Society and made a half successful visit to the Petosky RV Center where I was at least able to get a 50 amp surge protector (who knew this would be on my “must have” list?).  But I was unable to solve the low gas pressure to our BBQ issue. So for now, we will be in slow mo when it comes to grilling anything.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  We’re in camping mode after all.  Some things need to slow down.

I found a nature walk with a loop to a lake that seemed to fit the dogs’ needs if not mine.  I’m ready to be out of the woods.  They’re buggy, boring and claustrophobic.  Yes, I know there are many things to admire about the woods and I appreciate them.  But I’m ready for a little more wide open spaces, like a lake or green pastures or a hill. I’m trying to enjoy the terrain and environment I’m in.  

I drove back over to Harbor Springs, this time to the marina on the Little Traverse Bay section of Lake Michigan.  Scoring the perfect parking spot (a real help when driving an F-150 truck in a village of small streets and a dog that prefers fewer steps than more), we walked to a green parkway with green wrought iron picnic tables and benches, luxuriously spread out along the green grass facing the boats docked in the harbor.  I felt like I was on a movie set for the rich and famous (or at least just the rich). 

With time to sit and observe, the place was demonstrably filled with white people, many blonde ponytails, women dressed like they’d just come off the tennis court with their mid-thigh (or shorter) pleated white tennis skirts and pullover blue horizontal striped sweaters in Ralph Loren or Polo fashion.  They could have smiled and had a little star ping glistening off their canine tooth, they were that perfect.  

The men were similarly jauntily dressed in a boat or country club kind of way.  Everyone was very friendly and relaxed, but with all of the chaos around civil rights and some white people in power (or with a large megaphone) feeling threatened by people of color I just wasn’t buying it (not that I was before).  The privilege and entitlement were too glaring to ignore.  By that, I don’t mean people are arrogant or rude.  As I said, they were relaxed and friendly, especially when their children wanted to throw balls to Lily, which she obliged until she wore out the kids. It’s just that the privilege and entitlement are so invisible they are taken for granted.  I’m not seeing white people being threatened in the least by DEI, equal opportunity programs. trans people or LGBTQ people.  I’ll leave it at that.

Picking up Peter after 3-1/2 hours at the Historic Society, he wanted to make one more stop at the Petoskey Chamber of Commerce for a last bit of data gathering.  I dropped him off and went to a viewing point of Lake Michigan.  I grew up on this lake and I am finding great comfort and soul soothing as I look out on its vast blue horizon (even if I’m facing west instead of east as I did growing up).

We returned to camp to grill our fresh caught white fish.  We’re eating quite well these days.  The campground has filled up for the July 4th holiday.  So far the space next to us is still empty so we’re feeling lucky.  The noise level isn’t nearly what I would expect it to be at our last campground so far.  It’s the height of the season and our shoulder season abundance of campground space has run out.  It’s time to accept we’re in peak camping season and to embrace it. 

Finally, Starlink is balking at being in the woods. So rather than wait for a miracle when it is working for an extended period of time, I decided to draft this post in Word. Except every time I opened up what I know is a Word document, my computer decided it’s time for me to use Pages, the Apple version of Word.  Hence, the David Bowie song title reference.  I’m not fond of changes unless I initiate them.  But I’ll take that to my therapist (when I get one). I’m looking forward to the 4th of July coming and going.  For those who celebrate, Happy 4th.