Staycation. Vacation. Embracing life.

Happy Sunday!  I hope you're enjoying your day as much as I am enjoying mine. As promised after last week's late blog post, I'm getting back on track this week.  And I'm doing it while enjoying a quiet day at home with the girls.  I committed to staying home and resting today.  It just seems like the perfect way to end my week of vacation.

While I had originally planned a week of sight-seeing and North Country Trail hiking in Ohio for my week off, once my dad started having issues with his breathing a few weeks ago, I knew that those plans would probably have to change.  I just can't be hours away if something were to go wrong or if my mom needed help.  I thought maybe I'd stay home for the long Easter weekend and then try to get away for a few days mid-week.  I had really been looking forward to some of the hikes I had planned and mid-week seemed like a good alternative.  Then dad ended up in the hospital, and I knew those plans wouldn't work either.  As much as I needed to get away, the time with my dad and helping my mom where I could were just more important.  

When I visited my dad on Easter, I told him I'd be back for a visit on Monday.  Since my mom always likes to be at the hospital with him during the day, I knew I would have most of the day at home before I had to leave for a dinner-time visit.  So I spent most of the day at home doing things around the house, but just before noon, I made the drive out to the shelter to take one of the shelter dogs out on a little adventure.  Shenron is a cute little 9 month old Pitbull puppy and he really needed some time out of the shelter, so I was excited to get him out and check out a new spot. 

Have you heard of Sniffspots?  A sniffspot is basically a private "dog park."  It reminds me of an AirBnb kind of set up, where you sign up online and pay to bring your dogs to someone's private property for an adventure.  There is a local Sniffspot host that has offered 3 hours on Monday afternoons for shelter volunteers to bring shelter dogs to enjoy their space at no charge.  Since I'm normally busy with work on Monday afternoons, I haven't been able to check out this space before, so I was really interested in getting to check out this 15 acre fully fenced area to let a shelter dog run.

There were toys and towels for our use, a pond, and lots of space to run.  It took Shenron a while to feel comfortable enough to leave my side, but he loved playing ball for awhile and then spent time sniffing and exploring.  He even accidentally ended up in the pond and had a little swim.  It was a super windy day, but the sun was shining and it wasn't too cold so it was nice to be outside enjoying the day with a dog I knew was really going to appreciate this fun time away from kennel life.  It was a fun hour, and I'm really glad that I got to check out this spot and spend some time with this adorable little guy.

I headed out to visit my dad later that afternoon and, of course, the girls came along for the ride.  We made a stop at the Owosso dog park for the girls to get in a nice run and some fun before I headed to the hospital, grabbed some dinner from the cafeteria, and headed up for dinner and a visit with my dad.  We had a nice visit, but he was a little tired so was a bit quieter than usual.  We still had a really nice visit and I stayed a couple of hours before I headed home.  We were hopeful when I left that he'd be heading home on Tuesday, and if not, my brother had let me know he'd visit dad on Tuesday, so either way I wouldn't have to make the trip back on Tuesday.

Since we had no real plans for Tuesday and no need to visit my dad, we had the day to do whatever we wanted.  I decided to start the day with a trip to Okemos to meet up with a small group of fellow geocachers for an event at the mall, then after a nice visit, we headed out for some short hikes and a little geocaching in the area.  It was a great day to be outside finding some interesting new spots to explore.  We ended our day of adventure in Patriarche Park in East Lansing with a nice walk through the woods.  I was so glad that we stopped for a walk here because the Trout Lily were in full bloom, covering the forest floor.  It was absolutely beautiful.  We had such a fun day.  I love days with no plan and no responsibilities!

Throughout the day Tuesday, I heard from my mom with updates on my dad-what the doctors were saying and the likelihood of him going home (or not).  Some days it seems like I spend a lot of my day on the phone getting updates and then giving updates to Nicol.  Ultimately, he didn't get released on Tuesday because his oxygen levels were dropping too low, even with him being given oxygen, when they did a walk test.  His team of doctors discussed several options, but none of them were going to get him home that day.  So he settled in for another night at the hospital.

When Wednesday morning arrived, I was really longing for a road trip, even just for the afternoon.  I debated on several options, but I just wasn't sure if we should leave the area.  Then I heard from my mom, and the doctors had made a plan that looked promising to get dad home that day, but he was still going to be in the hospital for several hours and there was nothing I could do to help.  So it was settled.  The girls and I were going to head out on the road to visit somewhere new.  

I loaded the girls in the car with everything we'd need for our day trip and off we went.  The traffic was light and the road construction wasn't bad, and before we knew it, we had arrived at our destination for the day-Indiana Dunes National Park.

I was excited to get the girls out for some hikes to explore the park, but mostly I was excited to get to the lakeshore so we could spend some time on the beach and maybe even stick my toes into Lake Michigan.  I was also excited for the girls to become B.A.R.K. Rangers and earn their first B.A.R.K. Ranger tag.  The B.A.R.K. Ranger program is a way to teach people how to safely explore the National Parks with their dogs and comes with a cute passport, stamped with a paw print, and the optional tag that you can purchase with a small donation to the park.  Not all of the National Parks have this program, but it is fairly new and continually expanding to more National Parks and historic sites.   I've decided to make earning these tags a new goal to see how many we can get in the years ahead as I travel more with Mina.  I can't wait to see where we will go and what we will discover together in our future travels.  I love traveling with a goal.

Our first stop was the park Visitor Center.  After I got the girls' passports and purchased my park pass, I got the girls out for a walk around the grounds there, then we headed out on the Dunes Kankakee Trail which is a bike trail that leaves from the Visitor Center.  It was a good starting point to let the girls stretch their legs, take a potty break, and burn some energy before we headed out for more interesting hikes.

Then we were off to explore other areas of the park.  We spent a big chunk of our time hiking the trails at the Bailey Homestead and Chellberg Farm.  The trails in this area were beautifully wooded and coming to life with new leaves and spring flowers.  There was also some interesting history along the way.  

So many Trout Lily and other flowers were in bloom, but I especially enjoyed these deep purple Trillium that were just starting to bloom in the area.

I also really enjoyed all of the Redbud trees blooming in the area.  The girls didn't care about the flowers, but they definitely enjoyed all of the new smells and interesting spots along the way.

After several stops and about 5 miles of hiking, we finally headed out to the beach.  Since it is still the off-season, we were able to find a parking spot right along the lake and didn't have to worry about the 15 minute parking time limit.  There were a few other people on the beach, but mostly we had the area to ourselves.  

We immediately headed directly to the Lake so that the girls could get a good drink.  I left my shoes in the car and just walked barefoot on the beach, so of course, I had to stick my feet in the Lake.  Boy oh boy was that water COLD!

While we walked along the beach, we could see Chicago in the distance.  I love that we could be that close to the city but still feel like we're just enjoying a lovely spot in nature.  It was such a beautiful day to be at the beach and we all enjoyed our stop here.  Before leaving the park we made a couple other quick stops, including a stop at Mt. Baldy, which is a huge sand dune.    

As we were pulling out of the parking lot at Mt. Baldy, I got a call from my dad.  He had been released from the hospital and was happy to be home.  He was all settled in with oxygen, which he'll need to be on for the foreseeable future until his lungs and breathing improve, a small wheelchair to help him get around without exerting too much energy, and his chemo and radiation treatments back on track.  He had already had a radiation treatment before he went home that day, and would be back to his daily Monday-Friday treatments for the next three weeks.  These treatments should help him eventually feel better and improve his lung capacity.  He sounded great and I was happy that he was so happy to be back home again.

As I drove home Wednesday night, I started to think that maybe we could do a quick overnight trip to get out of town for Thursday and Friday.  My dad would be busy with doctors appointments and radiation the next couple of day, and by the time he and mom are home for the day, they are both tired and just need some rest.  I feel like visiting them during days like this is just too much for them, so I figured I could give them a break and get away myself.  

Since I had already done some planning for a trip to Ohio and we really needed to work on our North Country Trail miles for this year, I figured a quick trip to Ohio would be perfect.  So when we got home from the Dunes, I quickly pulled together everything I'd need for the girls for a couple days away, and then, I packed a bag for myself.  I packed enough for two nights away in the event that we ended up staying more than one night, and then I was off to bed to rest up for our next day's travel.

As we drove toward Ohio and the Lake Erie shore, I decided to make a short detour to Michigan's Lost Peninsula.  This small piece of land is part of the State of Michigan, but based on the state line boundaries settled upon after the Toledo war, it is cut off from the rest of the state of Michigan.  You can only get here by boat or by driving through Ohio.

There isn't much to do or see here, but I had to visit.  There is a marina and a restaurant that is open seasonally.  Unfortunately, we were there at lunch time and the restaurant wasn't open until dinner or I would have eaten on the deck.  So we made a really quick stop, got some pictures of the girls at the state line, and then continued on our journey.  I'll definitely go back some day for dinner at the restaurant.

As we traveled east, I stayed off the toll road and tried to stay off the highways when I could so that we could take the slow roads along the lakeshore and have a more scenic drive.  Eventually we arrived in Port Clinton where we stopped for a walk at a local park. 

We learned a little about the history of the area and stopped for some pictures at the lighthouse, which is one of the oldest lighthouses on Lake Erie. 

Then I finally let the girls go down to the Lake.  This was Mina's first visit to Lake Erie, her fourth of the five Great Lakes.  I'm sure one day I'll get her to Lake Ontario, but for now I'm happy that she's visited all of the Great Lakes that touch Michigan. 

It was such a beautiful day along the lakeshore.  Temperatures were in the mid-70s and the sun was shining and we stayed close to the shore as we continued to drive, making some stops along the way.  There were so many pretty spots to stop for the view.

Finally we made it to the Marblehead Lighthouse State Park and got out to explore.  Of course, I made the girls sit for a picture in front of the lighthouse.  

Then we walked around learning about fossils in the area, the glacial history of the area, and how Lake Erie is prone to seiches.  There was a lot of interesting information here.

While we were looking for fossils in the rocks, we also saw Cedar Point across the Lake. 

We had had a full day of exploring and I was ready to find a place to settle in for the evening.  I tried to find somewhere nearby, but didn't have much luck with finding a dog-friendly spot that didn't break the bank.  Then I realized that without much of a drive, I could be back in the greater Toledo area, and I knew of a few places that we could stay there.  So I got online and got a room in Perrysburg, and then started our drive through the farmlands westward toward our room for the night.

I checked in to the hotel and got a restaurant suggestion from the nice girl working at the front desk, then drove to the restaurant to pick up my take-out order.  When we got back to the hotel, I fed the girls and sat down to eat my amazing sandwich that I had ordered.  It was huge and delicious, and I had enough left for lunch the next day.  The girls made themselves comfortable and were soon snoring away.  It had been a really good day.

Friday morning, we were up early, and after getting the girls out for their potty break, I grabbed my breakfast from the hotel, fed the girls breakfast, and then sat down to finalize our plans for the day.  We would be spending time on the North Country Trail and I wanted to find the perfect spot to spend our time.  There are a lot of small towns in the area where the trail passes through, following the Maumee River and old canal tow paths.  There is a ton of interesting canal history in these towns and some of them I had visited previously, so I wanted to find a new spot to visit this time.  I finally settled on the town of Defiance.  Boy am I glad that I picked that spot.

While we lounged and took our time getting ready, we left the hotel by around 9am for the drive to Defiance.  With storms forecast for later in the afternoon, I wanted to make sure we had time to get some good miles before that happened.  We arrived at Pontiac Park which includes one of the trailheads for the NCT where it runs concurrently with the Buckeye Trail system.  We started our hike at the marker for the Birthplace of Chief Pontiac located just off the parking lot at the edge of the park.

While this part of the trail was in town and paved, it was was a beautiful spot along the river, rich in the history of the area.  The Redbud trees flowering all along the trail were beautiful and we even saw our first lilacs of the season here.

We also picked up some geocaches along the way, and due to the heat, our walk was slow and leisurely for Peaches. 

Mina happily posed for some pictures along the way at some of the interesting points of history.  She was just so happy to be out for a walk.

We also took a short detour off the trail to visit the County Courthouse and Veteran's Memorial where the girls happily took some time to lounge in the grass.

I loved the cute fire hydrants all around town too.  There is a lot of early American and War of 1812 history here, so they were very fitting.

We stopped a few times along the way to enjoy the views, say hello to new friends, and just enjoy the time on the trail

Eventually we turned around and made it back to the park where the girls got a good drink and laid down in the car for a little rest.  We had walked 2 miles on the trail and another 1/2 mile off the trail in 1 hour and 37 minutes.  We definitely weren't breaking any speed records, but boy did we enjoy this walk.

I drove across the street to get some gas and some more water and to give Peaches some time to rest up for our next hike.  Then we were off to the Independence Dam State Park a few miles down the road to continue our hike.  

This part of the trail had more natural path which was nice.  We parked the car and headed out with plans to get another 2 miles.  We started at one end of the park, and walked east along the river for about three quarters of a mile before we turned around to head back, walked past the car and reached the portion of the trail where it leaves the park and starts a road walk.  Then we walked back to the car.  

When we reached the car, I gave the girls another drink.  The heat of the day was probably at it's peak in the mid-70s, and that is a lot for Peaches, so I wanted to give her some time to recover, but I also wanted to get in at least one more mile before we left the area.  

We drove down the road to another entry point at the park.  The driveway here actually crosses part of the old lock system from the canals that were prevalent here in the early 1800's.  I parked the car about a quarter mile from where we had stopped hiking previously, and planned to walk the quarter mile and then back to the car, then continue a quarter mile in the opposite direction and back to the car to complete another mile.

The trail here literally just followed the grass along the river in the park.  As we walked, the sky in the distance was getting dark, and eventually, I heard some rumbles of thunder.  We hurried along the way to ensure we got back to the car before the storm got any closer, and I was thankful that I had planned to never be more than a quarter mile away from the car.  

We made it back to the car before the rain arrived, and I had to make Mina pose for a picture in this cute little car on the playground.

Then, with five and a quarter miles on the trail under our belt for the day, we got in the car, got another drink, and the girls settled in for a little drive.  I had really enjoyed the hike here and decided to drive through the rest of the park to check it out before we left because some day, we'll be back to hike here and finish hiking the trail through the park.  As we drove, it began to sprinkle.

Less than 10 minutes after we had finished hiking, the rain moved in with a downpour that made it hard to see while I was driving.  The rain was coming at the car sideways at points and falling hard.  I still can't believe how close we were to being caught in that. 

We now began our journey toward home.  I had hoped to stop one more time along our drive in one more trail town and get another mile on the trail, but the rain did not slow down to allow for us to do that, so we just kept driving.  Before I knew it, we were back in Michigan and I was ready for dinner so I was happy to to be driving through Hudson where I could make a stop for dinner at a local spot I had been once before and had really enjoyed.  I ate a delicious burger for dinner, and then when I was done, I fed the girls dinner in the car before we continued our drive toward home.

I arrived home to my Weeping Cherry in full bloom, which made me smile.  We had been gone less than 36 hours, but it was such a nice overnight get-away.  I took in so much spring beauty along the way, enjoyed the lake, had some lovely hikes, and made progress toward our 100 miles on the NCT for the year.  Most importantly, I had enjoyed some quality time with the girls.  While it was a short trip, it was a very much needed break from life.  It was really just what I needed.

On Saturday, we did a few things around the house in the morning before heading out for a walk.  We were planning a visit to my parents, so we headed toward Owosso for a walk along the Fred Meijer CIS trail in the area.  We did a couple of short walks in a couple of different areas along the trail to burn a little energy before I made it to my parents. 

Then we made the drive to the country to visit mom and dad.  We visited for a while, then mom and I got the dogs outside for a walk around their property.  It was a good break for my mom and she enjoyed spoiling the girls a bit.  They loved sniffing and exploring, and Mina found a ground hog hole that she was determined to dig and make big enough to squeeze into it herself.  She really wanted to catch that ground hog!

Before we went back inside to visit with dad again, we spent some time working on our listening skills.  I'd love for Mina to be able to go off leash at my parent's. but I just can't trust her currently, so I try to take the opportunity to work on this every chance I get. 

Finally we went back inside to visit with dad a little longer before heading home.  I did a little geocaching on the drive home, picked up a pizza for dinner, and then had a quiet Saturday at home.

Our Sunday has been spent quietly at home, resting, and preparing to head back to work tomorrow.  The girls have been excellent, spending time lounging in the yard in the sun or napping inside, and I've watched a lot of Food Network and done some meal prep and planning for the week.  When they got a little restless, I gave them both a Kong to keep them busy and then they headed back outside for more fun in the sun.  It was the perfect end to my week of vacation.

Tomorrow, we return to the grind of work and life, and while this week was nothing like what I had planned originally, it really did work out well and give me time to just take a break and enjoy some time doing the things that I enjoy.  If I've learned anything over the last couple of years, it's that life is short and we need to make the most of every minute that we have.  I feel like I did just that.