Yesterday was such a fun, spontaneous day that I wanted to capture it. Capturing these fun days and moments are something I want to focus on. First, to formulate those feel good pathways in my brain, and second, to remember them!
We woke up yesterday to a cool, foggy, humid July morning. My first day off after a full five days. Nothing was on my agenda but maybe to do some messy yard work. The idea of taking a road trip to Michigan was kind of in the back of both of our heads, but we also kind of postponed it for later in the week so when Amy suggested Michigan, I wasn't mentally prepared. After a few minutes of thinking about it, I thought it sounded like the most perfect way to spend an overcast and cool summer day.
After packing ourselves some organic ham sandwiches and tossing some water in a cooler, off we went. No plans. No agenda. Just take a road trip and see what we see. These are often our most fun outings usually with fun surprises and few, if any, disappointments.
Neither one of us was dressed for the coolness of the day (lowest recorded temp from the car thermometer was 57 despite the forecast of a day in the high 70s). We had planned to get out to stretch our legs, take a few hikes, but the weather was not super inviting. We had wanted to sit outside somewhere beautiful to eat our brought-from-home food. Alas, our tummies and our body temperature had us settle for the parking lot of the Ironwood rest stop where we watched old people slowly walk into the building and back out again.
After that, our next spontaneous stop was non other than WAL-MART! This was actually fun, and we even bought a few things. Me: a new outfit for work. Her: a knee brace for her bum knee. Plus on the drive there, we got to go through a cool, old, downtown looking area of Michigan that was reminiscent of a ghost town.
One more stop to get what we could obtain legally from Michigan before heading back home. On our way we drove past a sign for Interstate Falls. Should we stop? Should we continue home? Amy had a bum knee, and I didn't have warm clothes to hike in 57 degree, rainy weather. We both figured, "what the heck, why not?", so I turned the car around and headed back to the trail head. This was not a mistake.
As luck and preparation would have it, I carry some extra clothes in my car that included a rain poncho, long pants, and my work jacket. Amy now had her knee brace which made walking a bit less painful for her. I was warm. She was mobile. The trail was short.
This foggy dampness only added to the beauty of the woods. Dewey moss, dripping leaves, trees, roots, unseen critters, and of course running water with mini waterfalls kept pulling us to adventure. Waterfalls are my medicine. I love them, find them healing, and am often called to play in them. After arriving at the big waterfall, I wanted to do just that, so play I did!
Outdoor temperature was chilly. Waterfall water temperature was sure to be cold, but something was calling me to play in the waters. I wanted to swim and play.....until I saw the crayfish. Or I should say "Michigan Lobsters".
These things were swimming and scattering all over the rocky bottom of where I wanted to play. Big. Creepy. Eerie. And so many! But I didn't let them stop me. After stripping down to my bra and undies, and screeching reluctantly for several minutes, I surveyed the water, reminded myself they likely were not going to hurt me, and took a dive right in. (Seeing strangers approaching from up above also expedited my dip in the frigid water as they were on their way down and I was half naked.)
It was a quick dip, but it was a full dip indeed! No crayfish got me and I emerged feeling victorious, proud, and rejuvenated. As a cosmic reward, the sun begin to shine and miraculously the temperature spiked up to 75 keeping me warm on the hike back to the car. One seldom regrets the things they do, but often regret the things they do not do. I left this trail without any regrets. Thanks to my lady for her photography and pep talk. Not sure I would have done it without her undying support and encouragement.
Our trip didn't stop there. We visited a small, but beautiful cemetery where we wondered about those who passed, and enjoyed the beautiful vegetation and insects along the border. Another stop in Ashland where I wanted to take another dip in Lake Superior, but opted against it while making plans to revisit in the very near future.
This was a wonderful, beautiful, day filled with spontaneous moments and mood lifting experiences. Waterfalls are healing indeed.
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