Solo Trip – Hauling Freight and Cabin Chores

This solo trip started with a load of furniture we wanted to get out to my daughter, so I packed the truck full and headed for Michigan. It’s a long haul — about 670 miles and 11 hours — with plenty of stops to make sure everything stayed strapped down. The visit was short, just a day and a half, but it was great to see everyone, gather some fresh eggs, walk the trail behind the property, and pick up a few supplies for the cabin. From there, it was another 8½‑hour push to the cabin. I wasn’t sure what I’d find when I opened the door. After deer camp, the front door had blown open slightly, and Mike discovered in December that the mice had moved in. He cleaned up and set a dozen traps, but after two and a half months of no one being there, I expected the worst. To my surprise, there was only one mouse in a trap and no new nests or droppings. A huge relief. I still set a few traps on the decks just to be safe. I had picked up some Lucky Buck and alfalfa in Michigan, so I put that out in the field before settling in. Dinner that night was Michigan‑style chili with corn chips, avocado, and cheese — perfect after a long day on the road. I also brought along a copy of Lonesome Dove I found a few weeks earlier, so I had something good to watch for the three evenings. The next day was all about fixing the door issue for good. I installed a new deadbolt and matching handle, something we somehow went forty years without needing. After dinner I enjoyed some time on the deck with temps in the sixties, but a cold front rolled in overnight and dropped everything back into the twenties. Winter wasn’t done with the place yet. On the last day, I put out more Lucky Buck, salt blocks, and alfalfa to help the deer through the tail end of winter. I also tested a mini chainsaw from TreXeen and was impressed with how well it worked. I used the wood I cut to start a nice warm fire in the wood-stove. I had it up in the 70’s in no time. Ended up with seven more mice in the traps on the front and back deck over the time I was there. I wrapped up the final evening with a little bourbon and the end of Lonesome Dove before making the last 315‑mile drive home. A few Amazon links: TreXeen Mini Chainsaw for use with Milwaukee M18 style batteries: https://amzn.to/3PaLGqH 3 left in stock on 03/23/26, there is one on this link that is exactly the same, but uses Dewalt batteries. Milescraft 1338 Lock Mate PLUS: https://amzn.to/4sIpEtI Whiskey Smoker Kit with Torch - 6 Flavors Wood Chips: https://amzn.to/4oYbqmB OLIGHT Baton4 Premium Edition EDC Flashlights 1300 Lumens with Type-C Charging Box: https://amzn.to/4aH1z0C Camera equipment used: GoPro Hereo10: https://amzn.to/3FxBlvG GoPro Hereo13: https://amzn.to/3Amk379 Amazon Store Front: www.amazon.com/shop/whiterook85 Amazon FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, it does not cost you anything extra to buy these items. It just means I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of my links. All money received from these purchases goes back into the Cabin. None of it is for personal profit. Thanks!