UP and Away

Summer came, and summer went, and just after Labor Day, Ray and I looked at each other and said, "Hey, we forgot to take a vacation."

Well, we didn't exactly forget. We just, you know, had stuff to do. So much stuff we thought, Get away? Oh, we couldn't possibly!

But have you noticed? Whenever you find yourself thinking, I couldn't possibly, that's exactly when you really, really need to.

So in spite of to-do lists, appointments, and other obligations, we found a stretch of blank spaces on our calendars, booked a campsite at Tahquamenon Falls State Park in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, packed up the RV, and headed north.

For six days, we hiked on wooded trails, cooked on the grill, took photos, read books, and drank Alaskan Amber by the campfire. Wait, you're saying, aren't those all things you can do at home in Newaygo? 

Right you are. We can do all those things at home, and often do. The difference was, for those six days in the U.P., there was nothing else to do. No phone, no internet, no domestic duties, no book launch details to attend to. Plus, views of rushing rapids and cascading waterfalls.

As a result, we truly relaxed for the first time in months, so deeply we couldn't even remember what we'd be obsessing about if we weren't too relaxed to obsess.

Happy campers

Of course, once we were back home, it took about a millisecond for realities and responsibilities to assert themselves. But somehow, even two weeks later, some of that getaway serenity has stayed with me. I'm back in to-do mode, but with a mellower mindset. And when I start to drift back into frenzy, all I have to do is look at photos from the trip to reset my calm-down button.

Care to join me?

The leaves were just beginning to turn when we arrived. We watched more change every day.

A viewing platform for the Lower Falls area is just a short walk from the campground

Not all the color was on the trees

Some visitors row boats across the river to the island for an up-close look at the Lower Falls

We took the boardwalk instead and were rewarded with this view. The golden color of the water is from tannins leached from the cedar swamps that the river drains.

The North Country Trail goes right through the campground where we stayed and connects the Lower and Upper Falls.

The blue blazes are a familiar sight

Found along the trail

Campground overlook

Upper falls with ever-present mist

What the sign doesn't tell you is that there are even MORE steps once you get down to the gorge.

A little stairway humor

Upper Falls from the gorge

Patient husband waiting for photographer to take several hundred more waterfall shots

Part of the enjoyment is seeing other people enjoying themselves

Like this guy, who celebrated his 84th birthday on our getaway. Happy birthday, Ray!