Brian has complained to me that he often has a difficult time sleeping at night. This has been evidenced by emails that are sent at 3:00 or 4:00 A.M. I sometimes wonder if he is just making this up and that the clock on his computer is not set properly. Even though I normally fall asleep quite quickly, I have heard a roaring snoring noise emanating from his tent long before I nod off.

At Leelanau State Park we had secured a spacious “auxiliary” camp site even though the camp ground was officially full. After a satisfying meal including a desert of locally grown cherries and witnessing a beautiful sunset over Lake Michigan, we both settled in to our tents. I was asleep before the last light of dusk disappeared.

Sometime later (I don’t know the time because I don’t bring a clock when I tour) a noise awakened me. I unzipped the tent and saw that Brian’s bike was lying on its side and one of his panniers was several feet from the bike. I got out to investigate. My small bike headlight doubles as my flashlight and was still attached to my handlebars. As I went for the light, I caught sight of some movement to my left. Shining the light in the direction of the movement I spotted a defiant raccoon. I yelled at the raccoon and he retreated to tall weeds.

Brian’s bike had been pulled over by the raccoon tugging on his right rear pannier. He had actually pulled the pannier off of the rack. I shined the light at my bike and discovered that the raccoon had pulled the rain covers off of my panniers as well.

I figured that I would solve the problem by removing all of the panniers and relocating them under the vestibule of my tent. With that task completed I was soon asleep again.

I woke the second time that night to the realization that the raccoon was into the vestibule of my tent and was pulling the panniers out. As I emerged from the tent, my flashlight landed on Brian’s pannier about six feet away and a rather defiant raccoon about three feet further away. He gave me a look that said, “This is mine, I found it – twice.”

I stamped my feet and yelled again and the little thief retreated but not as far as before. I decided to find my clothesline and hang the panniers out of reach. As I strung the line between two trees, I had lost sight of the raccoon. I swung the light towards my tent only to find that he was heading back to my now open tent. I dropped one end of the line and ran back my tent. The invader retreated back to the bikes but never left the campsite. I scooped up all four panniers and finished hanging them like laundry from the clothesline. I threw a stick at my adversary and he wandered off as I climbed back into my sleeping bag.

Brian’s reaction to all of this activity was non-existent. The only thing emanating from him was the sound of an 18 wheeler idling at a truck stop.

When I emerged from the tent in the morning, Brian was sitting at the picnic table making coffee. He said that he noticed the panniers hanging from the trees. I explained my interrupted night and his only excuse was that he “thought” he had heard something, but thought that it was the wind in the trees and rolled over and went back to sleep.

I should have just put the panniers in the vestibule of his tent.

Wed