Madeline Island 2022: An Even Better Souvenir

Last year while vacationing on Madeline Island I acquired the best souvenir, a new friend. Well, this year I had an even better souvenir, I gained an entire village. All in five days at Big Bay State Park.

There are sixty campsites, give or take. If, on average, say, each campsite has four people, that makes 240 people, give or take, living together in a relatively small space. Remarkable that all of these people, myself included, were all different, unique, and came from all variations of lifestyles and backgrounds. A representative of every type of person could be found at the campground.

I had to share a bathroom, road, beach, trails and all space in between. I passed many of them daily and some on many occasions. The mom in campsite #14 knew the secret that I had. The bathrooms at the far end of the campground had hardly ever been used by anyone. It made it less stinky and dirty. We passed each other often on our way to and from the women’s bathroom, an all-knowing nod shared between us.

The man in his seventies who looked to be traveling alone had his morning coffee in the early start of the day down at the beach. We would share small talk while watching the sun rise over Lake Superior every morning.

The blended family who occupied two sites were by far the most colorful of the campground. One of the women left secret painted rocks hidden throughout the campground.  

But the best part, the greatest gift to all of us camping, had been the simple fact that we all got along. Politics, religion, how you identified, none of that mattered. We looked past all of our differences and co-existed in such a manner we were all left with nothing to do but enjoy our time there on the island.

For five entire days I lived in Peace and harmony with total strangers. What if we could all do that? Or at the very least, try? I felt a little restored hope for mankind. The bombardment from new medias and social outlets are loud and discouraging to say the least. I was left with the belief that there is more good in the world than we offer credit to. My souvenir this year was a village full of restoration that mankind can be great.