Memorial Day Weekend
James and I left on Saturday with Scooter to go to the Porcupine Mountains even farther north than we live now. We decided to go backpacking and sleep out on the trail for 2 nights, and that was the best Memorial Day Weekend I have ever had. Not saying it was easy, just fun. :)
On the first night, we didn't get on trail until 8pm. We still had about 2.5 hours of sunlight, which really helped us. We went about 3 miles up the ridge over Lake of the Clouds. We stayed at a rustic sight there. The hike up was difficult on a small trail, a ridge, and wind blowing directly across us at about 25+mph.
It was so windy we couldn't even take a clear picture.
So we set up our tents and made dinner in the dark. We had foil packets with ground beef, potatoes, and corn. It was really delicious. We had a nice size fire and sat around and talked until 1am or so. About that time the wind changed directions and wasn't as bad. It was actually kind of freaky, but I was happy because then I knew I could sleep without the tent sounding like it was going to implode.
The next day, we walked down the ridge and over to the Lake Superior trail. I thought most of it would be along the shore, but we only caught glimpses of the Lake throughout the day. Those glimpses sure were beautiful though.
Near the end of our 12 or 13 miles that day, I was really hurting. When we walked along the rocks on the trail, my achilles hurt every time my foot would flex. I was wondering how I was going to feel the next day, but I managed to trudge along until we made it to a cottage. James and Scott thought there were rustic sights ahead, so they left me sitting on a big rock to rest while they scoped it out. It was a perfect sight so they came back to get me.
Our sight was right along Lake Superior and we got to see some amazing views of the water, the sunset, and the stars later that night.
After we ate our bagel sandwiches for dinner, which are way better than croissants from Burger King, we went out to a big rock by the shore and attempted to sleep out there. We ended up laying on the rocks and talking for a good hour. We were watching for images in the clouds, we talked about LIfe, and the Universe, and what we thought about "life out there." When we did try to go to sleep, our sleeping bags were sliding down the rock. It would have been warm enough, but we wouldn't have stayed up there. James and I went into our tent, and Scott went onto the flat small rocks to sleep.
We thought the sun would wake us in the morning, but we still slept til 8. Those 2 nights in the tent were some of the best nights of sleep I've had in a long time. I must have been really tired. :)
Our third and final day, we hiked about 9 miles back to the Scott's truck. Since we had 2 vehicles, we didn't have to walk out and back which was great. We were all really sore. My shins, calves, and quads were tender even to the touch. But we had fun along the way, singing or just talking. Somehow I smiled through the pain.
So did the boys.
I smiled even more when we finished. :) We all climbed into Scott's truck and I ached just sitting still. We drove back to our car without saying a word to each other. We were just so happy to be done, but so proud of ourselves too.
Scott left and went to Houghton, and we went to the Tourist shop. Then we went to the beach by Lake Superior. I was so happy to see sand and not rocks.
Even though the sand was perfect, we had to test the water. Superior is known to be cold, but holy crap!
James was yelling for me to hurry.
I pretended it didn't hurt.
We went into the woods for 3 days, we were stinky, sweaty, and sore but we still love each other. Now that's something. :)
As we were driving home, we saw a sign for Bond Falls. When James did his bike tour, he stayed at the campground there. He wanted to show it to me, so we stopped and looked around. The Falls were beautiful... the walking almost killed me though.
Today I am just trying to recover, clean up our stuff, and put our camping gear back into storage. I think I should start running on trails before our next adventure when we go to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore later this summer.
On the first night, we didn't get on trail until 8pm. We still had about 2.5 hours of sunlight, which really helped us. We went about 3 miles up the ridge over Lake of the Clouds. We stayed at a rustic sight there. The hike up was difficult on a small trail, a ridge, and wind blowing directly across us at about 25+mph.
It was so windy we couldn't even take a clear picture.
So we set up our tents and made dinner in the dark. We had foil packets with ground beef, potatoes, and corn. It was really delicious. We had a nice size fire and sat around and talked until 1am or so. About that time the wind changed directions and wasn't as bad. It was actually kind of freaky, but I was happy because then I knew I could sleep without the tent sounding like it was going to implode.
The next day, we walked down the ridge and over to the Lake Superior trail. I thought most of it would be along the shore, but we only caught glimpses of the Lake throughout the day. Those glimpses sure were beautiful though.
Near the end of our 12 or 13 miles that day, I was really hurting. When we walked along the rocks on the trail, my achilles hurt every time my foot would flex. I was wondering how I was going to feel the next day, but I managed to trudge along until we made it to a cottage. James and Scott thought there were rustic sights ahead, so they left me sitting on a big rock to rest while they scoped it out. It was a perfect sight so they came back to get me.
Our sight was right along Lake Superior and we got to see some amazing views of the water, the sunset, and the stars later that night.
After we ate our bagel sandwiches for dinner, which are way better than croissants from Burger King, we went out to a big rock by the shore and attempted to sleep out there. We ended up laying on the rocks and talking for a good hour. We were watching for images in the clouds, we talked about LIfe, and the Universe, and what we thought about "life out there." When we did try to go to sleep, our sleeping bags were sliding down the rock. It would have been warm enough, but we wouldn't have stayed up there. James and I went into our tent, and Scott went onto the flat small rocks to sleep.
We thought the sun would wake us in the morning, but we still slept til 8. Those 2 nights in the tent were some of the best nights of sleep I've had in a long time. I must have been really tired. :)
Our third and final day, we hiked about 9 miles back to the Scott's truck. Since we had 2 vehicles, we didn't have to walk out and back which was great. We were all really sore. My shins, calves, and quads were tender even to the touch. But we had fun along the way, singing or just talking. Somehow I smiled through the pain.
So did the boys.
I smiled even more when we finished. :) We all climbed into Scott's truck and I ached just sitting still. We drove back to our car without saying a word to each other. We were just so happy to be done, but so proud of ourselves too.
Scott left and went to Houghton, and we went to the Tourist shop. Then we went to the beach by Lake Superior. I was so happy to see sand and not rocks.
Even though the sand was perfect, we had to test the water. Superior is known to be cold, but holy crap!
James was yelling for me to hurry.
I pretended it didn't hurt.
We went into the woods for 3 days, we were stinky, sweaty, and sore but we still love each other. Now that's something. :)
As we were driving home, we saw a sign for Bond Falls. When James did his bike tour, he stayed at the campground there. He wanted to show it to me, so we stopped and looked around. The Falls were beautiful... the walking almost killed me though.
Today I am just trying to recover, clean up our stuff, and put our camping gear back into storage. I think I should start running on trails before our next adventure when we go to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore later this summer.