We packed up and bid farewell to the majestic forest of Courtney Lake. Only the plentiful mosquitoes detracted from the beauty of the area. Huge hardwood trees, large secluded campsites and absolute solitude made for one of the most pleasant campground experiences we have had yet on this trip. We wanted to make it to Van Riper State Park today leaving a short ride to Marquette tomorrow so once again we took a State Highway. We have learned that there are 4 kinds of roads in the UP (Upper Peninsula). Interstates, which have nice shoulders and insane amounts of high speed traffic. State Highways, which usually have a rideable shoulder and light to moderate traffic. County Roads which while usually paved often have no shoulder and are hilly and winding and can have as much traffic as the State Highways. And Quad trails which are often churned up ankle deep sand. The State Highways we opted for today took us through Alston, Baraga, L’ Anse and most of the way to Marquette with reasonable traffic and generous shoulders. With a lunch stop in Baraga we made it around the bay to L’ Anse and began the long climb south out of town into a moderate quartering headwind, the first for many days which thankfully became a quartering tailwind as we turned east again. Van Riper State Park had room for us and we were able to use their laundry facilities for some sweaty bike gear and then settled in for the night. Tomorrow, a short day into Marquette where we hope to spend a couple of days checking out what we have been told is a very interesting little city. Oh, and Boo-boo did not make another appearance! 😁