Roadtrip 2024: Week 2 "The Inland Oceans"

I realized last week I needed to drive more or I'll never make it out west. This country is so huge and I hate driving! I achieved 1,500 miles this week so 2,450 in total. Right now I am in "mini-soda" on the western shore of Lake Superior. This week I drove to Buffalo, Niagara Falls then through Canada along the north shore of Lake Erie into Michigan then up along the shore of Lake Michigan across the lakes onto Michigan's northern peninsula. Then headed west along Lake Superior into Wisconsin and finally Minnesota. Tomorrow, I will leave the lakes for good. Main highlights of the week were of course the shorelines of the lakes with their lighthouses and waterfalls, but it was also very interesting to see the landscape change from the farmlands of Ontario and Michigan to the endless forest of northern Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. These forests look exactly like in Germany and southern Scandinavia. No wonder these folks settled here. However, I'm sure the winters are much harsher here. It was also interesting to learn how this area is rich in iron ore and copper and how the lakes were (and still are) used to ship the ore. My camper and I are doing well. We two have grown very close. This is what it must have been like going for months in a wagon train heading west. Every night we pull in together at the campground to protect us from wild animals and who knows what else. I know I could probably park in towns or on side roads to save some money, but to me the $30 a night camping fee is worth it. I like to chill around nature in the evenings, have a campfire and the shower close by. I am also very glad I took my bike along. It's great to park the van and then just bike around... like to the brewery last night.