#orv could have been one of the options but that feels like too much of a life long commitment

[thegh0st-of-ingrid]

EDIT: since I'm at it, I bet that Nevermore is gonna win this poll

[orphiclovers]

okay here's my actual orv sexuality headcanons (awful but I actually believe all of this. also this is just for fun don't @ me)

kim dokja - technically bisexual however way too emotionally repressed to connect with another person so functionally aroace. yearns sometimes but denies himself out of some self destructive need to suffer. Any fellas out there who repress their emotions KNOW that it absolutely ruins your love life and makes you undatable

han sooyoung - stra*ght 🤢 I'm so sorry. That one scene where she goes on the date with a random guy gave me SUCH a clear impression of the straight dating life. Finds guys on dating apps but never succeeds in a relationship because all the men are imature rich asshole types and she is too rough around the edges feminist with her own beliefs and doesn't bend or soften her personality for anyone. Asshole men don't like that in a woman. Friends say to just change herself but she ain't doing that so nothing works out (until two certain someones come and match her freak.)

yoo joonghyuk - into women who hurt him and himself exclusively. yes I'm fr I actually believe this. Only normal girlfriend he had was Seolhwa in 0th and that was very clearly a lavander marriage (and I'm saying that as someone not into joongdok. In 0th they could have just as easily written one pragaraph saying 'and as the years passed they fell in passionate love with each other, a sudden romance that did not fade' and I would have been like 'ok' but they did NOT do that. they said 'they were compatible' and 'their personallities matched' and 'they wanted to raise a hundred orphans together' <-all real btw. it SOUNDS like a marriage of convenience, and what's so bad about that?) Actually, lee seolhwa - very very aroace. and autistic (the beach episode arc bfffr)  only cares about her medicine and saving people and not much else. If someone is there who can support her she's like cool stay in my life. Likes the idea of marrying a gay man who's good with children (SHE'S JUST LIKE ME FR THATS THE DREAM!!) and growing old with him.

okay back to yoo joonghyuk - less funny answer is technically bisexual however not currently including men as an option due to trauma 😬 yikes sorry for that. anyway selfcest is the only exception, both actually himself and people who FEEL like himself including anna sooyoung dokja nirvana etc etc all the people he has canonical weird tension with. NOT SP, he doesn't like him very much and SP is very much in cringe unrequited love here. rip my guy

[freya-rat-face]

Gotta vent, no one to talk to.

So...

I don't want things very well. I didn't notice for a long time, but if I catch myself wanting something, or liking something too much, if I don't have a sense of 'not supposed to have it', I stop myself. Turn off the desire, find the shit about it that makes it suck, never let me have it and only ever look longingly.

Things I liked in front of people got me laughed at. And not in the good way where I was trying to make them laugh, but in the, haha check out this jackass who doesn't even know they're a freak way.

Things I liked privately at home were taken from me when I got grounded. I lost them forever when they inevitably broke or got stolen by siblings or lost.

(I can permit the forbidden because you can't really take it from me. I already took it once, taking it from me again just means I have to get it back.)

I could embrace it ages back and I liked it unashamed and could flip them all off and roll in my weird shit.

Until I tried to be slightly less unapproachable and had to learn how to act normal and remembered that I'm not allowed to like shit aloud and that I have to change clothes and smile and shit.

(it didn't work. Don't do this. Do not do this to yourself, do fucking not. If you're the kind of person who has to pretend to be normal, don't.)

So I started liking something maybe ten years ago. I was doing something with someone. They seemed to be having a good time. And then they asked me why I was having a good time.

And now I feel like they've been playing along for the sake of tricking me into showing enthusiasm so they can laugh at me. It doesn't help that this person gives me this sense a lot.

And it's not their fault. They were talking about one tiny part of the thing, and they really just don't get what about that part I like (I couldn't tell you anyway, it's more compulsion than desire), but the set up apparently takes me back to literally every other time that happened.

Which, I told them already. Asking why has never been a good thing. Asking me why I do a thing has always been an insult or at least an expression of annoyance. When I was little, I was bullied horribly. This didn't change much as an adult, it just got easier to avoid because adults have better things to do than throw rocks, and staying home all the time became an option.

Being tricked into showing enthusiasm and then being mocked was a go-to for lots of them. And of course it had to be people I mistook for well-intentioned, and I can't tell you how hard it was to escape. Even friends, real ones, made fun of the things I liked even if they didn't pick on me directly.

so it's pretty well a guarantee that enjoying anything in front of anyone is a huge risk. Talking to be anyone is a huge risk. Meeting new people and admitting you enjoy anything is a huge risk.

And it's never been worth taking. I've never had a situation arise where it was worth talking about orv sharing.

And I thought I had a thing to share and like and I thought me and person were having a good time....

And I was wrong

And stupid.

I don't know why I thought it was safe.

[katcadecascade]

ORV DND Main Scenario One

This might be a good (read: horrible) way to keep track of my notes for this Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Dnd styled game. 

Anyway here’s how it goes.

It’s the GM and five Player Characters. 

On a bus ride from the airport to Disneyland is when the world goes dark and a dokkaebi pops in to start the main scenario. Canon script happens, as in NPCs freaking out, one even offering money, the president’s emergency broadcast only for the dokkaebi to blow up their heads. 

Then a message appears in the air. 

Main Scenario # One: Prove Your Value - Kill one or more living organisms

Roll for perception. 

Each PC takes notice of something. A spider with a fly caught in its web. A cockroach by their feet. A potted plant. Someone’s cat is looking a rat. 

Everyone on the bus still hasn’t moved and thus the dokkaebi returns to yell at them and show them another channel’s successful scenario. A screen appears to show a classroom of girls’ heads blowing up for failing the scenario. There is only one survivor, a girl pushes another out the window.

An NPC shakily says ‘I hope they’re on the first floor.’

Yeah, they weren’t on the first floor. The screen displays the name of the sole survivor, an NPC we may potentially meet in the future. 

That’s when the GM ask me to roll. No clarification to what for, just asks me to roll.

I do. I got a natural one.

The GM was either frowning at me or silently laughing, I could not tell cause I was too busy feeling like a failure. 

Anyway, the GM nicely tells us that I learn nothing from this.

That’s when I remembered, when the GM first started brainstorming this game, I suggested that what if I have the prophet attribute and I have to roll to get a good divination, that way I control myself from knowing too much for reading ORV. 

I honestly didn’t think my suggestion would make it in the game cause the GM is changing the formula or something. I dunno, we’re only getting started. 

Back to the game. 

Two PC easily squish the insects. A third is making their way to the potted plant. The last two, me and the other PC, share an uneasy glance together before looking at the cat. 

That’s when a fight breaks out. The GM bluntly describes that a guy with the nazi tattoo and a confederate guy is kicking the shit out of some defenseless person. An NPC yells at them to stop but there’s like canon script dialogue about new world order or survival of the fittest and stuff and that NPC gets shaken up. 

With time running out, me and the other PC decide not to kill the cat and go start attacking the two NPCs. As we’re beating them up, that third NPC pulls out a gun.

Four out of five PCs proceed to jokingly whine/complain to the GM about how  we couldn’t bring a gun too. This was about pregame shenanigans about what’s in our inventory. Where four us were basically all dogs trying to steal shoes but the GM kept taking it away from us. But like with guns. 

And so the two other PCs decide to get the gun while me and the other PC finish killing off our own targets. 

Time runs out, the dokkaebi returns and starts blowing up the heads of those who didn’t kill a living organism. 

Four of us PCs start freaking out about our last party member. Agonizing and fearing the worst as all the heads are blown and bodies collapse onto the bus floor. 

The fifth PC just stares at us and says, “Guys, I’m here. I smashed the potted plant.”

Apparently while most of us were occupied with killing people, we did not notice when that PC fulfilled the scenario.  

So us five survive the Main Scenario. 

Canon script proceeds to happen, the dokkaebi congratulating us, awarding us coins, the coin tutorial, the outside world has monsters, and how we get the chance to become incarnations to sponsoring constellations. 

As the GM prepares to send us our Constellation Sponsor Selections, we are asked to roll for something else first.

GM tells us, “Roll for emotionally instability check.”

Collectively, we all went ‘oh no.’

We do and basically if we roll low, we’re super depressed, if high, we’re super panicky. I think this is just to get more an idea on how to roleplay our characters. I got the depression roll by the way. 

So for the Constellation Sponsor Selection, my character got three options.

Two were original characters/constellations and the third was the Savior of Corruption.

We all took turns on talking one on one with the GM. When it was my turn I immediately asked if they knew about the Savior of Corruption. Last time I recalled, the GM was around the Absolute Throne arc so I was surprised to see the archangel this early. 

Anyway, I decided to go for one of the original constellations, Little Light Dragon of the Sunshine, a reference to Yang Xiao Long from RWBY, but here her name is Goldilocks. 

So keeping in mind that only me and the GM know about ORV, a bunch of different theories are swirling in my head.

I end up galaxy braining, “Are we going to see Kim Dokja?”

“What no,” GM pointed out, “Wrong continent, you’re in America.”

“Oh right... Wait, is Anna Croft here?”

With a Cheshire smile, GM asks, “I don’t know is she?”

I proceed to internally scream. 

So in character, we introduce ourselves, loot the bodies, push back any existential crisis in our heads, and make our ways to Disneyland because that’s where the plot is leading us. 

On the highway exit before reaching our destination, the bus is out of gas and stops moving. 

That’s when the GM happily begins Main Scenario # Two but that’s also where we called it a night. 

I am so nervous about everything in this game like omg. The coins are so stressful too. I only have 900 but I want to use it for my status, either for strength or stamina. I still can’t believe I got a natural one for the prophet roll, that would’ve been so useful but like it’s probably a good thing I did so I won’t expect anything from the plot. 

Anyway this is gonna be so much fun. Thanks for reading!

[mr-smichaelis]

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"Why are you being like this?"

Sebastian finally spoke up, after the entire day of Ciel fussing and talking back to almost everything he says. The curvy road they were driving down seemed to go on forever, seemingly even more with the tension trapped in the truck. Ciel kept his head turned to the right, watching all of the trees pass by, as well as the small chunks of snow that are in the midst of melting. His eyes were glossy, and slender hands folded neatly in his lap.

Sebastian slowed down on the road, fully aware that it will take about another hour until they reach their destination. He reached his hand over, placing it softly on top of Ciels thigh. "Hey, I'm talking to you. What are you thinking about?" He said, wishing he could take his eyes off the road to look at the beautiful boy next to him. His voice was gentle, a bit louder than the music coming out from the radio speakers. He flicked his blinker on, turning down a wide dirt road towards the shoreline.

Ciel felt the warm hand rest on his petite thigh, his tense shoulders falling. He looked at the dashboard, then back at the window, trying to find the right words. He, himself, didn't even know what was bothering him. His mind felt blank, but also was full of never-ending thoughts of everything. He rested his elbow on the trucks interior door, leaning his head on his hand. "I don't know." Is all that spilt from his shiny lips. He squinted his eyes, the sun shining brightly through the window.

The older man gave Ciel a reassuring squeeze on his thigh. The road forked off into three different directions. He glanced down at his GPS, seeing it was directing him to go north. "I'm sorry if I seemed insensitive by asking. Have you been tired these past few days? Taking your medication?" The words that rolled of his tongue were full of care, along with concern. "I could sleep all day if you'd let me. Yes, I've been taking my medicine. You remind me every day after I eat my first meal." Ciel said, rolling his eyes. He has only missed two or three days these past two weeks.

His daily medication helps regulate his anxiety levels, which a some points can be fine, or too much to handle. Even accidentally missing a couple of days can affect him in some way, whether it be simple irritation, panic attacks, or just wallowing in irrational worries.

"I know you've missed a couple of days these past few weeks. I'm glad that other than that, you're pretty good at being on top of it. The pharmacist says you should not miss any days." Sebastian explained, knowing he has already lectured Ciel on this subject more than once. The younger man scoffed softly, which Sebastian heard. "Don't even start on that again. I don't want to hear it," Ciel abruptly, "I've heard it one too many times."

The back-talk made Sebastian sigh, hearing the GPS say to travel north for another two miles. He stayed quiet for the next couple of minutes, before seeing the gravel parking lot in the distance. He parked his truck slowly, before unbuckling and getting out.

Ciel never got a response from Sebastian, and he felt a small pang of pain hit his heart. He knew he was being blunt and grumpy, but he really couldn't help it. If he were anything else, he'd probably just cry. He got out of the truck on his own, before slamming the door shut, opening the rear one to grab out his beach bag. He slid his tennis shoes off, replacing them with his slides so it would be easier to walk through the warm sand. He glanced around the parking lot, seeing there were no other vehicles, nor ORVs.

When he walked around the truck to head onto the beach, he saw Sebastian waiting patiently for him, his own bag resting on his shoulder. The taller man held his hand out, and Ciel reached out, intertwining their fingers. Ciels gaze never reached Sebastian, knowing he would feel immense guilt if he did have to look at him.

They walked over the sandy, wooden bridge, before both stepping foot in the warm sand, seeing sticks, rocks, and even logs all around the remote beach. Sebastian gave Ciels hand a loving squeeze, leading him over to the fire pit, which was a couple feet from a picnic table. Ciel let go of his boyfriend, before placing his bag down on the table, sitting down on the bench.

"Why don't you go feel the water, Darling? I'm going to get our bonfire started." The smooth voice spoke up, which practically made Ciel melt as he sat on the bench. He only nodded, swallowing harshly, standing onto his feet. "Wouldn't you like help getting sticks, though?" The blue haired boy asked, which caught Sebastian off guard, but made him smile, nonetheless. He already knew Ciel was sorry by the way he spoke.

"Your help would be lovely. Some rocks would made the fire pit look nicer as well, hm?" Sebastian chimed, which made Ciel nod and begin to walk around, picking up sticks of all sizes, while Sebastian picked up some decent sized rocks, and a few twigs. After a few minutes of collecting the resources for their fire, they met back at the pit and set it up together, putting the sticks into a tent shape. Sebastian pulled newspaper out of his beach bag, balling it up and sticking it beneath the sticks, before tossing a match in there.

Ciel sat back on the picnic bench nervously, watching Sebastian's every move carefully. When he lit the match, Ciel bit his tongue softly, knowing in his heart that Sebastian would be perfectly fine while lighting a match. He couldn't help but have the urge to remind him to be careful. Sebastian glanced up after lighting the newspaper, seeing the anxious look on Ciels face. He sat next to him on the bench, pulling him to his chest. "I'm alright." He assured, feeling Ciel grip onto the front of his shirt.

The strong arms wrapped around his frail body were more than comforting. He listened to the quiet crackle of the fire spreading to each stick, each twig, slowly growing to a suitable flame. The sun wasn't too hot, as there were a few clouds over the top of their heads. Ciel threw his legs over Sebastian's, sitting in his lap, feeling secure with him. The both of them wearing only shorts and t-shirts, since the weather was perfect.

"I didn't mean to get snippy with you. I'm sorry." Ciel blubbered out after a few minutes of comfortable silence. Sebastian knew his apology was coming, he just needed a little bit to think it over. The older man rested his chin atop of Ciels head, shutting his eyes. "I forgive you, I wasn't mad at you, or anything of the sort," He reassured, fingers running soothingly up and down his spine, before continuing. "I'm happy you apologized. I only get on you for things because I love you."

The words made Ciel sigh contentedly, curling his toes.. "I know you do, I appreciate the things you do far more than you realize..." Ciel said quietly, a gentle breeze blowing through his hair, relief washing over him. He didn't realize how tense he had been. Sebastian placed a soft kiss to Ciels head, before deciding to stand up, carrying Ciel closer to the water. He placed the boy onto his feet, before taking his hand.

"I've heard that you can find fossils right next to the water. If you don't want to look, why don't you put your feet in the water, maybe go for a little swim?" Sebastian suggested, and Ciel nodded. The younger boy wasn't even sure on what a fossil was, so he decided to go with the other option. He walked into the water, ankle deep, watching the small waves come up every couple of seconds. Sebastian walked slowly along the shoreline, seeing where the rocks naturally littered along. He looked down as he walked, making sure to glance back at Ciel every so often.

He walked about about two hundred feet, no luck in finding anything, but it may have been because he wasn't truly focused on what he was looking for. His mind was elsewhere. He turned around and walked back to his little lover, hugging him from behind. He placed a soft kiss on his neck, nestling his nose there.

Ciel leaned back slightly, his feet deep in the wet sand beneath the water. He felt so at ease, knowing he was miles away from anyone, besides the one he cared about most. His hands resting on Sebastian's veiny forearms, and he gave them a soft squeeze. He shut his deep blue eyes, listening to the soft sound of the waves, along with the strong heartbeat of the one he loved.

[inanxterra]

End of Plowed Road: Winter camping for the New Year!

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things about winter, outside of those dreadful family get-togethers with the side of the family you’ve spent the last 12 months avoiding, is cabin fever. There’s nothing on Netflix funny enough and no channel on YouTube catchy enough to feed that desire of exploration that often just sits and grows when the daytimes shorten and the temperatures fall. If you’re like me, you take a bunch of awful tasting Vitamin D gummies in the morning, but still find that even One-A-Day vitamins have a serving size of two if you look at the back of the bottle. Although it’s only been a few months since our last expedition, our tolerance for the rude people of Ann Arbor has reached it’s breaking point. It’s wonderful that many dress their leased Ford Escape up like Rudolph, but at least reindeer have the fucking decency to park on the roof, rather than in the middle of an entrance to a parking lot like these assholes. Wait, maybe I’m the rude one? Regardless, it was time to escape mindless-consumer-copia, to a part of the world that haven’t been told cars are driving themselves nowadays. Michigan’s beautiful upper-peninsula.

The ride up, all 4300 pounds of truck, drove against some intense winds on US-23 that began in Brighton, and lasted even after we crossed the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace. The fuel mileage on this truck is already bad. Like less than 15mpg bad, but taking 15mpg and pointing it against 30mph winds for 4 hours, well, I had friends in college that wouldn’t even drink that much.

On the way up, we saw an amazing rig at a gas station fueling up. Picture a lifted Ford E-Van, with some minor exo-skeleton welded around it, an empty roof-rack, a rear spare-tire carrier, ARB-like bumper armor, and a huge tool box in the back. The license plates said Washington, but the rig looked like it was ready to go across the world. We didn’t have a chance to stop the owners for a chat, or take photos, but with a rig like that you could easily live out of it and call the whole world your backyard (ignoring vast portions of ocean of course)!

Another good sign of things to come were the number of trucks hauling snowmobile trailers. Although there are plenty of trails in the lower mitten, the real fun happens in the UP, where portions of the state become accessible to snowmobiles only.

Our plan from the start left us with 3 options for a place to stay once we reached St. Ignace (4.25 hours north of Ann Arbor): Mackinac Straits State Park St. Ignace (just over the Mackinac Bridge) DNR said this was open all year. Bathrooms/Showers?

Little Brevort Lake State Campground Charming town of Brevort DNR said maybe you could get in, even though it’s closed We hate campgrounds

Garnet Lake State Forest Naubinway (an hour west of St. Ignace) Nobody answered when we called for information What happened to the survivors at the summit?

Alternatively, because we are sleeping inside the truck after-all, we just find a spot and claim it as ours.

When we arrived in St. Ignace, we found that the Straits State Park was closed. Little Brevort, for as thrilling as it sounded, might be closed as well, and Garnet Lake was too far away. So we drove around, using our HemaMaps app to look for trails and roads that led to the coast. Sure enough, we found a spot near the Kewadin Casino, that was right on the coast of Lake Huron! It was down a dirt trail that nobody had been on in the last few snows so it appeared, and eventually turned into some deep frozen tracks that we’d need to safely maneuver to get to the point.

Finding the spot isn’t even half the battle though. When the temperatures are at 20 degrees, and the windchill is strong enough to cut even that in half, there’s still a lot of work to do. This was the first time, Maia and I, had ever camped during the winter. Sure, as kids we can each remember staying out in our snowforts well after the sun had set, but this time nobody would have a hot bowl of soup ready for us when we were done playing. 

The most important and initial step in this one-night escape would be beer and dinner, in that order. Usually we’d cook, but we had an unshakable taste for pizza. On our way out of B.C’s Pizza in downtown St. Ignace, we asked the delivery driver with the lifted Jeep Grand Cherokee, where we could find firewood. Due to the danger of emerald ash borers, an invasive ash-tree murdering beetle, it’s illegal to transport wood from the lower peninsula, into the upper peninsula, but luckily there was a “guy.”

Jim, who’s retired, but sells firewood on the road just before you reach the Quality 8 Hotel, has a red and white spaniel with a nub for a tail. It’s a delightful dog, and will even open the door of Jim’s mobile home to say hello to you if you’re in need of lumber, before Jim is even aware you’re at his home. I had interrupted his night of women’s basketball, a sport he repeatedly told me he enjoys watching. That’s great Jim, but why? Why does this sport fascinate you to the point you’re explaining to me who’s playing who while standing in freezing cold temperatures in your pajama pants as your spaniel also has it’s own fascination with sniffing crotches and poking butts? Jim finally admitted that he likes women’s basketball because it’s slower and easier to watch; part of me feels like he may have come to this conclusion because he doesn’t pause men’s basketball when it’s on television.

Nevertheless Jim was a huge help in finding cedar, that would light quick, and burn hot for us while we setup the truck. Maia was set on bringing a thousand blankets and sleeping bags. I argued before we left, it would be a waste of space to carry that much, and the camp-detector-test determined, I was wrong.

When you winter camp, everything you attempt takes a few extra steps. Unlike previous camps, we couldn’t just throw things on top of the truck overnight, or else they would freeze or blow away. Running around barefoot, was also an obvious, but big, no-no. Peeing; the second night I had to pee so bad, but the temperatures were so cold, I just said fuck this I can wait. I later regretted waiting when I had to bend my body to put pants and shoes on, with a painfully-full bladder.

As Maia built the fire with wood potentially sponsored by the WNBA, I began building the bed. We would end up sleeping in the truck for two nights this weekend, experimenting with bed setups both times. This night though, we had our usually foam padding across the platform, a comforter above those, each of us sleeping in one sleeping-bag inside another sleeping bag, with a comforter on top of that. The rear passenger windows, would have a blanket hanging against them on each side to help knock some of the cool air down. The seats up front, a thick comforter laying across it hung from the ceiling to create a small fort/room in the back to keep us warmer. 

It would drop to 10 degrees with the windchill where we were parked, and although all the blankets and bags keep body warms, if you don’t fall asleep before the temp in the truck drops, the cold air creeps into the cabin in a suspicious way, like a warm fart works its way around a dining room table when the in-laws are over. It takes its time, its in no rush to escape. Everything exposed, your face, your hands, and each breath of cold air you take burns your lungs a little. It’s pretty awesome. I don’t know how people do this in tents (no I’m not going to use a pun here, but I’m aware I could).

Having a fire while you setup is an amazing mood-booster, even if it’s too cold to enjoy like you normally would in the summer. The heat coming from that flame, is so important, and you’re using it for more than just entertainment or a place to melt marshmallows. We had enough wood to burn a fire before bed, and again in the morning as we got ready to head out. For breakfast, we had a dehydrated bag of Biscuits and Gravy with a hot chocolate. With 2,000mg of sodium, it would leave us thirsty for the rest of the day. But it was delicious!

On our way out, as soon as we started to head west of St. Ignace, the snow flurries began. The lower parts of the UP didn’t have too much snow on the ground, but as we navigated further north on country roads, the the snow on started to pile up!

Many of the country roads up there, like many of the ORV routes, become snowmobile only. Not because of laws, but because of conditions. Narrow unplowed roads that still curve and dash between tall pines and cedars can become pretty tough to navigate through without getting stuck. And some of the trails, we learned, would become too narrow to even turn around in once you do go too far down the unbeaten path. But how will you ever really know how far your rig can make it if you don’t try it? Try it!

We attempted to reach the coast of Lake Superior, at the mouth of the Two Hearted River where we planned to crack open a few ice-cold Bell’s Two-Hearted Ales, and call it a night. The further north we went, the worse it became. In fact the only other traffic we ran into were folks on snowmobiles. Without even a lifed Jeep in sight, we kept going, but only made it a few hundred feet passed an enormous sign that read END OF PLOWED ROAD. They weren’t kidding. With the last little bit of light left in the day hitting the snow in a way that made it seem as though you were driving through a friendly cloud, when the trail went from road, to all snowmobile trail, I could feel the traction from the gas pedal lose grip on the land below, as we the Xterra began to dig its own grave.

Once we became slightly stuck, I took upon myself to set the truck into 4LO, and dig us even further down, in a sort of fighting fire with fire sort of way. The snow had gone above the lower control arms, and at that point there’s not much you can do but dig yourself out. We did, thanks to our handy full-size shovel, it wasn’t too much work, but once freed from that tragedy, I somehow managed to back us further off the trail, and down into the ditch, where the truck would sit for roughly an hour, with all four wheels spinning.

Luckily for us, some snowmobilers we had passed earlier returned to help push us out of the ditch! We turned around, and went back to the Lower Tahquamenon Falls for the night! This is a campground that’s open all-year round, and even has electricity hookups. We were one of three people staying there for the night, and the only ones without an RV or snowmobile. For food, we just heated canned soup. It’s easy to pack, cheap, and doesn’t require much clean up. For drinks, the Two-hearted Ale we wanted to enjoy at the Two-hearted River went quick.

Sleeping in the truck that net wasn’t as cold as the previous night. For this sleep, we unzipped both sleeping bags, and spread them flat across both our bodies. With this technique, we’d have shared body heat, and even if the tips of the blanket did become cold, the extra pair of legs was helpful in keeping those spots far and few between.

In the morning the truck was covered in a thick blanket of snow, and we used our last few logs of firewood for breakfast, and heat, while we packed the truck. Soon we’d be ready to backtrack a few miles to the Lower Tahquamenon Falls, that still had a surprising number of people visiting it, especially since most weren’t traveling via snowmobile.

Once in Marquette we checked into a hotel because we needed a shower big-time. Can you smell that smell? It was us. You know you’ve gone far too long without touching the ivory cellphone when you can smell your armpits without lifting your arms, and they smell a lot like wet feet. More beer was also inorder.

It’s here we would celebrate the new year! Marquette, MI has a cute ball-drop downtown, where they play music from what I assume is a Now Thats What I Call Music 13 compact disc. It’s all in fun, especially when you’ve been drinking. 

InAnXterra is a blog about two people in Michigan with a Nissan Xterra from Craigslist as they journey to the Dakotas!