I thought we were going on a paint delivery mission this morning (blue paint to blaze trees, etc., on the North Country Trail (NCT)). That plan fizzled and I didn’t really want to deal with whatever tourists were at Tahquamenon Falls. So we took off on a slow drive along the shores of Gitchee Gumee, checking out various entrances to the NCT for possible trail maintenance activities.

When we got to the Tahqua Trail, which runs along the mouth of the Tahquamenon River, we (he) found some chainsawing opportunities and here he is chainsawing at an NCT trail head. A swamper accompanies a chainsaw person to “spot” them and administer first aid and/or call 911 if needed. I am not a real swamper. A real swamper needs serious training, particularly in first aid. My training is being able to dial 911. Assuming there is cell service. Not too many years ago there was NOT any cell service in this area. Nowadays there is enough that I could’ve called for help if needed. Fortunately these were very simple chainsawing jobs and no help was needed but chainsawing is dangerous and Chainsaw Man takes that seriously.

When I was still employed and it was a work day, I wouldda shooed the GG off for the day. But I am (happily) not employed so I was like, okay… It is an adjustment but it is a happy adjustment.

After we got back to the moominbeach, two carloads of cousins rolled in to the Old Cabin. Pooh and Le Marquis were in one car and Jay hitched a ride up from The Planet Ann Arbor with her “little” sister (and the “baby cousin” of the fam) npJane. It was a little warmer today. The wind was not screaming in off Lake Superior. It was what my dad apparently called an undertaker’s wind (that means it comes out of the swamp). We hung out on the beach forever in the late afternoon and we drank all of the GG’s sniggly amount of beer he bought yesterday at Meijer. Six cans? Really? Nope. I am not a big beer drinker but I even had one. And we’ll be buying more.

In the small world category… My blahgger cousin Jay has met my longtime blahggy friend Margaret IN PERSON. They both live in the Seattle area. A couple days ago Margaret commented on Jay’s blahg to say hi to KW (meeee) and Jay delivered that to me today. So Hi back to Stargazer Margaret. And love from all of us at the moominbeach.

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