Road Trip Day 10


"Fear is that little darkroom where negatives are developed."
~Michael Pritchard~

I set out for Michigan in the morning, with plenty of time to get to my destination before nightfall.  I arrived in Traverse City around 6:30 pm, surprised to find that the city is truly a popular resort destination.  So much for leaving civilization.  I wrestled with the idea of staying in a hotel for the night, feeling like insecurity and fear were getting the best of me.    I finally decided on crashing at Interlochen State Park when I found out the cheapest hotel/motel would cost me at least $100 a night.  Screw that noise.  Ain't nobody got time for that!  Well, maybe some people do, but after driving through Traverse City I felt like a poor girl in a rich man's land.  Throngs of tourists littered the streets and sidewalks, and a good portion of the vehicles driving around had canoes and kayaks strapped to the top, boasting of adventure.  Resort hotels that easily cost $200+ a night flashed signs of "No Vacancy" as I passed by.  I admit, their view of the Grand Traverse Bay was magnificent, but certainly not worth that kind of money by my standards of financial living, so to speak.  

I chose a rustic site in the state park, forgoing my opportunity to have a shower house nearby.  $12 versus $26 a night.  Some might say I'm cheap; I prefer to think of myself as being thrifty.  I set up camp as the sun started to set, still uncertain as to how many nights I would stay.  Struggling with feelings of uncertainty, I considered my next move, and even thought of leaving early and cutting my trip shorter than I originally intended.  I've been feeling less than confident, and not really into the idea of risk-taking on this year's trip.  

As the skies began to grow dark sat by my campfire for a bit before I gave in to my anxiousness and retreated to my tent to call it a night earlier than usual.....

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