How well do you read maps? Do you know how to navigate without any GPS, Satellite or Internet service? This skill of map reading and navigation was vital in upper Wisconsin. I had forgotten the big atlas and had only a small map of the individual 50 states.
The WiFi or Internet service was spotty, our GPS navigation non-existent, and the Satellite picked up our car, but without entering the destination before we lost service, that was useless.
How do you plan your travel? Are you dependent on wireless devices, cell phones, GPS?
We were running out of time to find a place to stay in the middle of nowhere northern Wisconsin. Darkness is coming, there are no cars, and we have no internet service. Zero bars for an hour.
If we did not find lodging soon, we had to backtrack to larger towns on the other side of the upper peninsula of Wisconsin. We had passed an expensive Motel 6 ($180) near Duluth in Superior, WI which was now two hours south of us.
On the car satellite, we saw one small town coming into view in five miles. Our ultimate destination was Bayfield, WI, which was another two hours away. Go back to Duluth? Go to Bayfield?
We decided to try to make it to the town of Port Wing, WI before dark. There was one gas station and fish market, a few dark cabins, some campers, and a person on a riding lawnmower at 7:55 pm.
Port Wing, Wisconsin
He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:24 NLT
We stopped and asked if the cabins were available. He had to go check with the lady on the lawnmower. He asked us to “Watch the store while I am gone.” What? Where are we?
Desperation creased our foreheads, and he said, “Yes, she will rent it for one night. Normally, it is only for a week. Our cabins are nice too. A queen bed, TV, WiFi, small refrigerator, and a toilet and sink inside the cabin.” Heaven to not have to sleep in our car or drive exhausted.
Then the scary question, “How much?” We had paid $250 for the previous night and depleted our three-night budget in Ely, MN. He said, “Is $40 too much?” I told him I had prayed for one hour for a place to stay and that it would not cost a fortune. He was my answer to prayer.
If we had been five minutes later…. He closes the store at 8:00 pm. Whew!
I taught my grandson how to read a map using this story.
When have you had a miracle happen with your car or your lodging when you traveled? What are your backup plans?