Better Late than never.... Michigan road trip

In Early April Rick & I celebrated our 43rd anniversary

We decided to head to the UP of Michigan

We had never been to Michigan and especially wanted to visit the UP

We started our trip near Houghton MI at a sweet little VRBO cottage on Portage Lake.

It was still WINTER in  upper Michigan but I wasnt mad about it!

It served up well

Living area

Kitchen

coffee bar

The recliner was the deciding factor on this place

extra bedroom

Portage Lake

This was our home base for 3 days as we explored the area.

We traveled up the left side hitting all the little towns and some sites to see.

I had recently torn a few muscles and ligaments in my Left hip area so there wasn't a lot of extended walking or hiking on this trip! Still, everything was beautiful

Windy and cold

The lake was active

Got to see a few lighthouses,snow and waves

All the way to the top, Cooper Harbor

After a few days we ventured to Marquette...

We stayed at this super nice hotel right on the water, 

we walked out to the end of the pier several times.

Another lighthouse

 

It was fun to find NMU

The Super Dome!

It is always open to the general public for walking...so we did

Long jump pit

Presque Isle Park

The photo doesn't do this area justice, it was so pretty

I wanted to find a unique place to eat, after talking to some locals we ended up at "The Vierling"

This Historic restaurant has been a focal point in downtown Marquette for over 140 years.

We enjoyed the ambience...

and the food

We highly recommend it

Despite the fact that I was a little laid-up, we had a great time exploring the UP of Michigan, 

Next time we will go in the fall when the colors are know to be spectacular.

Anniversary Roadtrip and more...

Rick and I had a little "Anniversary get-away" last week to one of our favorite destinations,

"Breezy Point cabins on Lake Superior" near Two Harbors MN

(The view out our cabin door)

We were hoping to be where winter still resided, and we found the jackpot as Northern Minnesota still had plenty of snow, the temperatures were mild, so it was perfect for some outdoor activities.

We were excited to try our new snow shoes

When hiked in a forest where we were the only humans around, 

it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop in the snow.

"Demonstration Forest"

Plenty of snow to trudge through....

 I found out the day after that snowshoeing gives you a good abdominal workout :)

We had a good mix of activity and rest...

Our mornings we just like this

Getting a little Vitamin D

We spent 3 night at our cozy cottage, it was a perfect winter/Anniversary getaway

* * * * * *

Yesterday was our official Anniversary...

We decided to hit-up one of our favorite small towns

Red Wing, MN

Red Wing is a beautiful River city,

 We went on a walk along he river, spoting lots of guys in their boats, 

 some were even fishing along the shore.

This is an photo that I just love of Rick and I! 

It's a good depiction of who we are when we are together (and alone) 

41 years ago we said "I Do"  

Our marriage isnt perfect, but it's perfect enough for us...

 It's our story and we're sticking with it.

God is in our story, he has taken good care of us and our sweet family.

We have depended on him through good and bad... happy and sad.

We are grateful he saw us fit to be together and we plan on "forever".

We are happy as clams and loving life!

 

Experiencing the Gales of November...

Lyrice form Gordon Lightfoots, "The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

"The Legend lives on from the Chippewa on down

of the big lake they call Glitch Gumee

Superior, they said, never gives up her dead

When the gales of November come early"

Rick and I got to experiance the "Gales of November" as we visited the North Shore a few weeks ago.

We happened to to be there on November 10th, the anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. 

 

 Lake Superior was angry, pounding the shore with a force I had never seem in all the times we have visited the North Shore. The sound of the giant waves crashing in the the rocks below our cabin was eerie, the best I can descibe it was like a loud boom. 

Some of the waves we saw coming in we guessed to be 10 -12 feet high.

A camera can not bring in the depth or magnificence of what we 

heard with our ears and saw with our eyes

I could have sat all day on our balcony and just watched... it was spectacular.

Away from the lake one afternoon, Rick and I did some hiking in  Gooseberry State Park

It was a beautiful afternoon to enjoy nature with this guy

A look from the back side of our cabin #4 . 

We love staying at Breezy Point Cabins on Superior,

It was our 4th time... Our Go-to place between Two Harbors and Duluth. 

A look northeast from our deck

Our get-away to the North Shore was relaxing and good for the soul. 

We left the day after we buried Dad...

There was a peace of mind in knowing Dad was now free of this world, and a weight lifted 

off my shoulders as I no longer had to watch him endure the wrath of Dementia. 

Winter/Spring get-away Part 3

Can we just talk about....the waves 

On a recent trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior we were lucky enough to see some significant waves. Rick guessed some were reaching 6-8 feet.

BIG waves for a lake but in many way mimics an ocean.

This was a chilly windy day at Stoney Point, a popular surfers delight

At least for Minnesota surfers.

They wear a "Dry Suit" to keep the frigid water out. 

Coverings also cover their feet and hands, the only thing exposed is the face.

Can you spot that surfer dude inside the wave?

This photo was taken with my "zoom lens", he was quite a ways out.

We sat for over an  hour watching the strength and power of this great lake,

she did not disappoint! 

The sound is like no other.

I was hoping for upload a video of the crashing waves but no such luck :(