112-113: the cottage, the up-north, server skills, no smoking, what's for dinner, the blahg, giant lighthouse, mooring fee, at your service, outdated, the sandman, elusive, the ab account, lgbt, unconditional, clearwater, lookout for mailbag

August 17, 2025 to August 18, 2025

Alden

You've met Carl from one of my other journals. He's from Michigan, and his family always traveled to their Torch Lake cottage during the summer. Although he and his sister are now grown, Carl and his parents still use it.

Rich, Carl's dad, very kindly offered the place for me to stay. The timing worked out well because he rents it out through AirBnB but, as it turned out, I slipped right in between two renters. That means two entire rest days, after which I'll continue on to the end of this section of the trip.

As I travel through the state, I'm learning the terminology of Michiganders. For example, just about everyone in Michigan has a "cottage." However, the Michigan definition of "cottage" varies extensively.

Another example of a Michigan neologism is "Up North" (it's also commonly referred to as "The Up North"). Elsewhere, it just means a direction - specifically, the opposite of South. Here, however, there are certain rules about it.

If you live in, for example, Detroit, the "Up North" (and it's always capitalized) can be as far south as Alden, or Traverse City.... two hours is about the minimum driving distance. If you live in Traverse City, then to get to the Up-North (which can also be hyphenated) you'll need to cross The Bridge.

And, if someone refers to "The Bridge," there's only one bridge in Michigan: The Mackinac Bridge, which links the lower peninsula of Michigan to the upper peninsula. Other bridges need more identification: The Slick Muddy Bridge, or the Giggling River Bridge.

For breakfast I went to the Muffin Tin in "downtown" Alden (pop 92), where I watched with amusement as my server worked the crowd. The skill of some wait staff is impressive, the way they engage with customers. Some can code-switch in an instant, speaking with a local accent and knowledgeable about what the best sites are in the area, then changing to a different accent and discussing literature, or auto mechanics.

My server didn't need to be engaging with the three old guys clad in overalls at the outside bar; they were apparently already well-known to her, and discussing the topic of insurance. She was clearly knowledgeable about the topic and, I believe, owns an insurance agency.

Server: "Well, if it's a classic car, the insurance is different."
Old Fart: "What if the driver is classic? Does that count?"

Server: "Once you retire, then the premium changes."
Old Fart: "What about if you’re real tired?"

2nd Old Fart: "How are you feeling?"
Old Fart: "Pretty good... until the rigor mortis sets in."

I have to admit that I felt a twinge of concern for the residents of Alden when I typed in "groceries" and got a liquor store in response.

For most of my time here I worked on the blog, interspersed with laundry, eating, and sleeping.

I'm considering whether I want to continue using the word "blog." It sounds like a combination of the words “blah” and “slog” which, come to think of it, may be the perfect description.... but still, it’s an ugly word regardless of the definition.

This is the biggest lighthouse I've seen since...

I wonder what the mooring cost is, and whether it's more than the $100.00 fine.

"Uh, yes... hi. I'm calling because my wrist is in a cast, so I'm gonna need some help cleaning up. Yeah, I had no idea a burrito could do that."

When I stopped at that Dollar General yesterday to grab some groceries for my stay here I should've inspected the expiration date more closely....

...on the peanut butter AND the jelly, both. Jeez. I'll avoid Dollar General in the future if at all possible.

I took a nap on both of my rest days. Naps are our body's gift to itself, and for these two days, they weren't optional. By the time afternoon arrived, it wasn't so much that The Sandman came over, put his arm around my shoulder and whispered, “Let me show you the way, my son.” It was more of him sneaking up behind me with a sand-filled cudgel and clubbing me into senselessness. Sometimes you simply have no choice.

At last, a photo of the elusive black squirrel. I've been trying to get a picture of one for weeks but they seem more shy than their brown counterparts. Their color is so striking up in the trees, sometimes appearing as just a shadow, or a photographic negative.

Carl gave me an accurate accounting of The AB (Alden Bar & Grill): "The food is fine (not spectacular), but it's a good example of a townie bar that makes its killing in the summer."

This sculpure, entitled "Unconditional," is a nice piece of art for those of you who have loved, and been loved by, a dog. And, I guess, it's also a nice piece for the rest of you who have no soul.

When I walked farther out on the point and saw water that's 9 inches deep and invisible, I was surprised at how clear it was.

Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes, and more coastline than any other state except Alaska.

Torch Lake, so called because the Ojibwa tribe used torches to attract fish while harvesting with spears and nets at night, is the longest and deepest of those 11,000 inland lakes, and the second largest in area.

I hung out here for a while the first evening...

It was a particularly relaxing couple of days, which means not as much to write about. I really appreciate Carl's parents for allowing me to stay there.

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Today's ride: 3 miles (5 km)
Total: 2,929 miles (4,714 km)

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Mike AylingReplace "blog" with journal.
Easy peasy!
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4 months ago

Carl B.It’s definitely among my happy places in the world. Glad you had the chance to enjoy it.
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3 months ago