I’m up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for a couple nights, hoping for a clear sky to practice Milky Way photography. On my drive up I stopped for a break at Otsego State Park.

I had just made it through a driving rainstorm, the kind where everyone slows down and turns on their emergency blinkers because you can’t see anything. It was stressful, so I figured I’d look at a state park I have never camped at and get a little walk in too.

Though it wasn’t raining, the sky didn’t look promising for night sky photography. I didn’t stay long, wanting to get to the UP and my destination camp site.

But once over the bridge, the sky turned even more ominous.

It was sprinkling when I got to my camp site, so I waited in the car for the sun to come out. And it did.

But then, halfway through my tent set up, the sky suddenly and with no warning let loose with a downpour. I managed to get the rainfly up over the exposed tent and then I dashed for the car.

And hoped.

Would the rainfly keep the inside of my tent dry?

Would I ever get a clear night to try to find the Milky Way?

You’ll have to stay tuned to find out.