Imke

About 5 years ago, I sat down to start a blog about my dogs.  I thought I'd introduce everyone to the pups in my life and then share stories of our lives together.  I started with Jake because he was my oldest at 14(nearly 15) and he was pretty sick at the time.  I knew he wouldn't be around much longer and I didn't want to forget anything about him.  I thought that writing it all down would guarantee that I wouldn't forget him.  It was silly to think that I'd forget him or take our time together for granted, but I was going to assure that I wouldn't forget his quirks and the awesome things I loved about him.  I know that when I wrote that post all of those years ago, I didn't remember to include everything about him.  I wrote it through tears.  He was lying next to me, thin and frail, loyal as always. I knew he was sick, but he'd had a good week and had given me a least a little hope that things were going to turn around and he'd stick around awhile longer.  Less than two weeks after completing that post, we had to let my little old man go.  It's been a long time since I wrote that.  I didn't share it with anyone, it just sat here published, but unread by anyone but me.  Finally all of these years later, I opened up the link to this blog and decided it was time to write again.  I read what I wrote about Jake and it made me smile.  I've posted several blogs since then, however,  I've decided that it's time to share a little about the girls in my life.

Imke came into my life when she was just a 7 week old puppy.  We were purchasing our first house and I wanted nothing more than to get a puppy.  We got her the day before we moved into the house, a tiny adorable little puppy with big paws and floppy ears, my first German Shorthaired Pointer.  For her first two days with us, she was an only dog.  She was with us when we got the keys to the house-I remember pulling up to the house with Nicol and Imke in the car to get the keys so we could start moving.   She was just this sweet, timid girl who I am sure was just trying to figure out what was happening.  She was tiny and helpless and afraid to walk up or down stairs so Nicol carried her everywhere.  I loved her from the minute I saw her.  Little did I know how much more I would grow to love her all of these years later.

Two days after bringing her home, we rescued a gorgeous 6 year old male, our Jake.  They became fast friends.  He helped her gain confidence and she followed him everywhere.  I'm sure he was annoyed by her at times, but he was always patient and he was a great teacher.  She learned a lot about being a good dog from Jake.  I like to say that he did the hard work of helping us raise a puppy. With the help of her new friend, it didn't take long until that shy and quiet puppy turned into the wild and crazy, wacky girl I have grown to love.

I am extremely fortunate to have one of the most sensitive dogs ever (I believe that it is an important trait of their breed, but this dog is more sensitive than I have ever seen a dog be).  She understands how I am feeling, she knows when I need her, and she knows when I am okay.  She senses when I need protection and when I just need someone to cuddle with to make me feel safe.  And although she loves walks and rides in the car, she seems to understand that there are times when I have to make myself the priority and she is patient and expects nothing from me.  I really believe if she could, she would do more to take care of me.

I sit here tonight with my sweet old girl, her beautiful face gray with age, listening to her snore softly. As I look down at that face, I reflect on all of our years together.  We've had nearly 14 years together so far and they've been pretty good.  Mostly when I look at her, I see love...I see someone I love dearly and I see someone who I truly believe loves me more than anything and loves me more than anyone else ever could.  We have a special connection this girl and I .  She would go anywhere and do anything for me.  She is the definition of loyal-faithful, true and devoted to me always.  She loves unconditionally...despite all of my imperfections.

Imke has been with me through some really bad times and some really great ones.  I have suffered losses and gained insight.  I have gotten lost in life and I have found myself again along the way. And the whole time, she stood by my side.  Together we experienced the losses of our dear Spunky and our beloved Jake.  She watched with me as Nicol grew up, graduated from high school, went off to college, graduated from college, and moved away from home for the final time as she went off into the world as an adult.  The losses I felt, I did not feel alone.  She was there, sharing in them too. They were her losses as much as they were mine.

We have traveled from coast to coast, East to West and North to South and have even ventured into a foreign country together.  She has been there conquering fears and seeing all of the amazing wonders this country has to offer.  She has been with me as I rediscovered my love of the Upper Peninsula...which somehow I lost through some of the crazier years.  She is always up for an adventure no matter where it takes us and she has always been an amazing co-pilot.

She has been even more amazing in her support of my rescue work.  Sometimes she misses out on time with mom because I am off helping to save the world, but she doesn't hold that against me.  And she greets each new foster dog that I bring into our home with a wagging tail and a joy that is unmatched. She is welcoming to them all and willingly shares her toys, her bed, her treats, and her mom.  She is an expert at teaching them all of the lessons that she learned from Jake on how to be a good dog and how to enjoy life.

I am truly thankful for every day that we've had together.  I am thankful for all of the adventures and all of the quiet moments we have shared.  I am very thankful for all of the life lessons she has taught me through all these years. I had no idea all of those years ago when we decided to bring a puppy home just how much of an impact she would have on my life.  I feel so much love for her and get so much love from her in return.  I know there are people in this world who would think I am crazy to say all of these things about a dog.  But she is not just a dog...she is my four-legged, furry child and my very best friend.  I am blessed to have her in my life... I owe her everything  

I'd rather be Up North

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Michigan.  This great State has so much to offer and we have decided that this summer we are really going to take full advantage of living here.  So like any good Michigander should do in the Summer, the last two Saturdays we have headed "up North."

Usually up North for me means the Upper Peninsula, but we are really lucky here in Michigan to have so much more "North" to explore.  From my experience, once you are North of Clare, the Northern experience really begins.  And the bonus is that I can be there in less than two hours. With fewer people, more wildlife, and a pine forests lining the expressway, heading to the Northern Lower Peninsula offers a quick day trip or weekend get-away for me when I need to get into the woods for some peaceful reflection and don't have the time to get to the U.P.

Claire, Eddie and Shauna with Maddie, Imke, Wynona, Annie, Jesse, Dylan and Joey

Last weekend, we had a special visitor, my Aussie friend Claire came to town. So it was decided that we would head North to visit our friends Shauna and Eddie and their pack.  We met up with them at Hartwick Pines for a great hike with the dogs.  It was a really nice afternoon for a hike in the woods-not too hot, not too cold, and almost no bugs.   And I was even more excited to get out for a hike since, after suffering with knee issues for the last several months, I was finally feeling no knee pain and I was really going to be able to enjoy the hike.

We hiked the Ausable River Trail which has a good mixture of Red Pine and Cedar and crosses the path of the river.  It is amazingly beautiful and there isn't much that I love more than a river running through the woods.  Maddie was excited to see the water and jumped right in.  She was joined by Imke, Jesse and Joey.  I think Jesse would have stayed in there swimming all day, but we had more hiking to do.  

Claire and Wynona were having a great time enjoying the North woods!  Wynona is Shauna and Eddie's foster dog and she was an excellent hiker!  

Claire and Wynona enjoying the hike.

Annie was loving our hike too!  Annie is living with Degenerative Myelopathy which has caused her to lose usage of her hind legs, but she doesn't let that stop her from living life!  Annie has her own set of  wheels-it's a cart that works to allow her the freedom to roam around on her own and explore the world, but because this hike was so long, she got to ride in style like a princess instead.

Annie!

I think that Annie's smile really sums up  how we all felt after our day on the trail.  It's pretty amazing what a good day out on the trail with good friends can do for you!

After a great time in the woods last weekend, we were ready for some more time in the woods this weekend.  When my original plans for this weekend fell through, it gave us the opportunity to get out and explore a new area of Northern Michigan.  And I jumped at the opportunity.

After a quick look at the map and a short "planning" session, we jumped in the Jeep and we were off! This weekend, I was determined to get out on the North Country Trail and make some progress toward my 100 mile challenge.  I'd been wanting to explore the Jordan River Valley portion of the trail which is just South of Petoskey.  So we were off to explore.

We arrived at the parking area for the Pinney Bridge State Campground and we were off up the hill and into the woods.  The sun was shining and it was another beautiful Summer day in Northern Michigan.  My goal was to complete a four mile hike and to reach the 45th parallel.

Imke loves a good run in the woods

But as is the norm with my daily life, the girls reminded me that life isn't about meeting a goal or reaching a destination; it's about living in and enjoying the moment.

Life is about stopping to splash around in the water.  It's about enjoying the company of your best friend.

It's about stopping and standing still...alone in the forest and hearing nothing but the wind rustling through the leaves, the birds chirping in the distance, and your own heartbeat.

And when you do reach your destination or goal, you should take a moment to reflect on your journey and appreciate all that it brought to your life. And spend a little time basking in that moment too.

We should never be too busy to stop and enjoy the moment we are living right now.  Because when you aren't paying attention life is passing you by and you could miss something beautiful along the way.

And there is beauty all around us if we just open up our hearts and minds and take the time to notice.

Imke and Maddie on the NCT

As we returned to the Jeep, the girls were still enjoying every minute of our hike.  Because even though we had been down this path before, there is always something new to be discovered.

Taking a swim

We had a great time together in the woods, but I had promised Maddie a trip to the beach so it was time to head to the Jeep and do some more exploring.

Pinney Bridge

After a slight adjustment to our plans, we found our way to the Lake Michigan shoreline to end our perfect up North Summer day.  Because we all know that no Michigan adventure is complete without a trip to the beach! And it's even better if that beach touches a Great Lake.

Enjoying some time at Lake Michigan

As we prepared to head home, we were all happy for the moments we had spent together.  I'm always thankful for the life lessons these girls teach me every day and for every minute I am blessed to spend with them, no matter where we go!

My girls

My handsome friend, Teddy.

This week was, well, it was tough.  I won't lie.  I've had a couple of bad days and some things happened this week that just can't be changed.  But after some time to reflect on the grand universe in which we live and some time in the woods with my girls and some of my awesome friends, I had time to put things into perspective.  I had time to realize that I need to appreciate all of the things that make each of our lives unique and special.  And no matter how much (or how little) time we have here on Earth, we can have an impact on others and we can make a difference...and sometimes you need to forgive yourself and move on because there are just things that are out of your control.

Teddy

There's no easy way to say it.  No sugar-coating it.  No making it seem better.  It is just the reality.  So I'll just say it,  Teddy died this week.  Teddy was a 3 year old hound that I met volunteering at the shelter and I immediately fell in love with him...like I do most hounds.  Teddy was sweet and lovable and had a big booming voice that he wasn't afraid to use.  He was beautiful and had a beautiful soulful look in his eyes and velvety soft ears.  And I was considering bringing Teddy home as my next foster.  But earlier this week, it was discovered that Teddy had a medical issue that would require him to be quarantined until he got better and right now at the shelter, that is not a good thing to have.

Right now, our shelter is dealing with the investigation of a dog-fighting ring and is currently housing several dogs while the investigation continues.  So our shelter is filled to the brim with dogs.  Our open-admission, county shelter which is required to house dogs through court-cases, required to house strays, required to take in any dog from any situation-healthy, unhealthy, aggressive or not, from an owner who no longer can care for their dog on their own, or from an owner who just wants to throw their dog away like trash.  Our shelter is there to take them in and give them care and shelter and, if possible,  to find them a new, loving family.

And when bad things are happening in the community and the shelter becomes over-crowded, some times tough decisions, heart-breaking decisions, need to be made.  That is the reality of our county shelters in this country.  Animal control comes first...and then as a secondary priority comes finding them new homes.  Thousands of dogs(and cats) die in shelters across this country every day.  And people are either unaware, don't care, or continue to blame the system or even worse, they blame the people working in the shelters.  Yes, the system has it's faults.  But those shelters are run with limited resources and little to no help from their communities.  And those shelter workers, from my experience, are not cold-hearted.  They love animals too and are doing what they can to help in a really tough situation.

I am lucky to volunteer at a shelter that is pretty good compared to other county shelters around the country.  We have a pretty decent volunteer program, we have a foster program, and community outreach programs.  We try to help people who are a little down on their luck keep their beloved pets. We try to find great homes for all of the dogs and cats that come into our care, but sometimes it's still not enough.  What our shelters and homeless pets need is more support from our communities.  We need to step-up and realize there is an issue in this country and we need to work together to make things better.

I've learned through the years that I cannot save them all, but I can save some and I can make life a little better for others while they wait at the shelter for their forever home.  I know that earlier this week,Teddy got a great walk with our volunteers and I gave him extra love and attention.  I know that I did what I could to make his short time here on Earth a little better.  I couldn't save him, but I like to think that his life was a little better because of me.  And I will go forward in my life knowing that I did what I could for him and I will never forget him.  And I'll continue to fight the good fight so maybe in the future, another dog like Teddy won't have to die.  In memory of Teddy, I fight on. His short little life will be remembered.

The routine life

This week was just a week of  normal, everyday life.   Nothing earth-shatteringly exciting happened, but I am still drawn to spending my Sunday morning writing.  Writing feels like the perfect way to spend some quiet time reflecting on what I've learned over the past week and contemplating what may lie ahead. And some undisrupted, peaceful, me-time is always a good way to focus some time on reflection and contemplation.  To focus on my journey, even the normal and mundane.  Because normal and mundane is what a lot of life is and that's okay.  It's not a bad thing to have an uneventful, ordinary, routine life...as long as that life is lived with joy and purpose.

   

Seidman Park NCT

Nothing gives me more joy than spending time with the girls out exploring the world around us.  So last weekend we went out to add some miles toward our Hike 100 Challenge on the North Country Trail. I decided to find a section of the trail we hadn't hiked before because I love exploring new areas.  And it was off to Seidman Park in Ada for our hike.  It is a lovely wooded area and the trail is well-kept and easy to follow.  We brought our buddy Bentley along for the hike, too. 

My hiking view

Before last year's Hike 100 challenge, I was aware of the NCT, but had no idea that the trail traveled through the lower peninsula or that it was relatively close to home.  Thankfully, I took the challenge last year and have discovered a lot of great new places and now hiking the NCT is just part of our weekly routine.  I think the girls approve.

Bridge over Honey Creek

We hiked 4 miles at Seidman park and saw lots of beauty along the way.  And I was even reminded of my childhood and my Grandma Adelberg when I saw this gem.  

I love wildflowers and can identify many, like this Black-eyed Susan.

Black-eyed Susan

But then I have no idea what others are, although I think these are beautiful little flowers.  I think I may need to get a wildflower identification book.

After four miles on the trail, my knees (and the dogs) had had enough and we headed home feeling happy and refreshed.  Spending time in nature will do that to you!  On Sunday, I decided we needed to get a couple more miles knocked out, so we headed off to the Lowell River Walk for a quick 2 miles.  We have spent a lot of time on this portion of the trail because it's close to home and this time we got to see the fancy new information kiosk put up by the NCT Volunteers.

We had had a great weekend, but now it was back to the work week and all of our other commitments-work, volunteering, dentist appointment, vet appointment, all the things the fill our ordinary weekly routine.  

Teddy the Redbone Coonhound

And this was the week that I officially met and got to spend some time with Teddy and Delores. Anyone who knows me will know how excited I was to have a couple of hounds at the shelter.  It has been awhile since we've had any hounds around (which is a great thing really), and I'm always excited to get to know them a little better and to pet those velvety, soft ears.  Delores was a bit more timid than Teddy, but they were both very sweet and loveable.  I even got to walk Delores on our Tuesday night walk!  Happily, Delores was adopted this week.  Poor Teddy is still waiting for his perfect home, but I'll be sure to give him plenty of love while he waits.

Delores, the Redbone Coonhound

In the ongoing saga of Imke's ear infection, we had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Peterson at the MSU vet clinic this week. I'm glad that Imke has such an easy-going, loving, and trusting nature. Because this girl LOVES going to the vet! And that makes these trips so easy for me.  They can poke and prod at her and she doesn't care in the least because she knows if she's a good girl, there will be treats at the end.  And for Imke, treats are life!  

And she is such a clever girl.  Travel somewhere enough and she learns the routine and the route we travel when going there.  Every time we take her to her normal vet, Dr. Kat, she starts barking with excitement the minute we get off of the highway.  This week officially marked the first time that she knew exactly where we were going on our way to MSU.  When we made that left turn off of Mt. Hope and onto Farm Lane, she knew!  And with her typical Imke enthusiasm, she had to let the world know.  So with her head out of the Jeep window and her big booming seal-like voice, she let the the MSU campus know she was there and she was ready to see all of her friends, and maybe even make a couple of new ones.   Now that we've been there enough, she is a well known patient too.  It's funny to be walking down the hall and have random staff say hello to her.  I guess she's memorable.  

Practicing patience while waiting for the Doctor

I really never know what to expect at these visits...but thankfully, there was no sign of the bacteria when they completed the exam, scope and cytology this week!  We must diligently continue to use an ear flush twice daily and monitor the ear closely and we will be back for another visit in 5 weeks.   And she'll be happy for another visit!  

 

And we ended the week just relaxing and enjoying a peaceful Friday at home. Best way to start the weekend!

On raising more confident daughters

A friend recently shared an article on social media about a mom and her 5 year old daughter who decided together to create their own magazine, Kazoo.  This magazine is targeted at young girls- to instill in them more confidence and self-worth; to help them realize their voice is important and should be heard.  What a great idea to help us grow a more confident generation of young women.

I also recently purchased the book The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for your Life of Epic Adventure by Caroline Paul.  This book is also geared toward younger girls.  It encourages girls to live a more confident life of fun and adventure.  Although it isn't meant for adults, I just had to have it!  And by reading this book, I have learned a little more about myself and the journey I am on in my life.

I've also read several other articles and blogs about raising strong, confident, brave daughters.  After all, as parents, we are, in large part, responsible for helping our daughters embrace their confident, brave selves.  We are responsible for encouraging them to believe in themselves and allowing them to do the things that will make them truly believe that they can do anything.  We must step back and allow them to fall and to fail and then encourage them not to give up.  Because through failure, we learn and eventually, if we keep trying, we can soar.  But our daughters will never soar if we don't allow them the freedom to explore and to learn on their own, to fall down and to pick themselves back up again.  We have to let them do for themselves...we can't try to protect them from everything nor can we do everything for them.

When I was growing up, I was taught to be careful, to be safe, to follow the rules, not to challenge things-not to challenge myself.  I was taught about obligations and duty.  And in some ways those lessons are important.  I think it is important to teach our children to care for others, to be helpful and courteous.  I think it is important to teach our children not to be reckless and to follow through on commitments.  I also think it is important to teach our children the importance of family.  But in addition, we need to teach them to be self-reliant and independent and a little bit fearless.

I was thinking recently that I wish I could go back in time and raise my daughter all over again.  Not because I think I did a bad job the first time, but because I feel like I could do it so much better now. Yes, I am guilty of feeling mom doubts.  I'm sure all moms have them at times, some of us are better at dealing with them than others are, too, I'm sure.  Like I said before, I don't think I did a bad job as a mom and my kid turned out pretty darn awesome.  But if I could go back with the knowledge and greater sense of self that I have now, I think I could have been a much better mom.

I wonder sometimes if I pushed her too much or too little; if I guided her in the wrong directions; if I forced her to do things she wouldn't have done if I would have allowed her to be true to herself.  I wonder if my insecurities made her insecure in areas too.  I wonder if I didn't support her enough or if, maybe, I supported her too much.  I wonder if I allowed her enough space to explore and discover her own inner beauty and her own self-worth.  Or did I force her to fit some sort of mold for the kind of life that I thought was best for her.

I wonder if I made it clear to her that I truly believed that she could be anything she wanted to be. She could do anything she wanted to do.  And more than anything, I wonder if she really understands how much she is loved and all that really matters to me is her happiness and well-being.

I would love to sit with her and ask her those questions and get real, honest answers from her...but I wonder if she'd be really honest with me or if she would keep some things from me for fear of hurting my feelings.  Or maybe I fear hearing the real answers because then I'd have regrets for raising her the way I did...and I'd be unable to "fix" what I did wrong.

But then I talk to her.  We have just a normal, everyday conversation and I am so proud of the person she is. I love the fact that she isn't afraid to speak her mind.  I love that she is opinionated and strong-willed and willing to think for herself.  She isn't afraid to be different or to think differently.   And she isn't afraid to tell me when I'm being ridiculous...or annoying.  She is kind and caring.  She has a big, loving heart.  She is a strong young woman who is out making a difference in the world just by living each day the way she chooses.

And who could ask for anymore for their child?

A small town 4th of July

After 10 days away from home, we had experienced lots of new things.  It had been fun, but after all of our adventures, I was exhausted.  I think Maddie and Imke had settled pretty well into our travel routine at this point and we were all happy to be back in the Keweenaw for the 4th of July holiday weekend.  We had chosen to stay in Eagle Harbor so we could enjoy a more peaceful and quiet weekend away from the tourist-filled Copper Harbor and I'm happy we did.

The first morning there was spent doing pretty much nothing.  We lounged in our room and relaxed. It was so peaceful and quiet.  But as early afternoon arrived, I was ready for lunch and decided we'd take a drive to find some.  Of course we needed some sweet treats from Jamsen's to make it through our day,  but where would we get lunch?

The Fitz

I decided we would make a big circle, driving to Copper Harbor, Eagle River, Great Sand Bay and back to Eagle Harbor for our day's adventure.  So we hopped into the Jeep and headed along the shore to Copper Harbor where we were lucky enough to show up as a fresh batch of turnovers was just about to come out of the oven!  What a treat!

Eagle River

Our next stop was Eagle River and The Fitz for the best brisket North of Texas and the best view to eat that brisket too!  It was a bit breezy and cool on the Lake, but we still enjoyed every bite of brisket and mac and cheese followed by a short walk on the beach!

Eagle River Store

 While walking the beach I noticed a couple with ice cream cones and decided that we were going to treat ourselves to some ice cream too.  So we were off to the Eagle River Store.  This small store is owned by an older, local couple.  It offers some limited necessities as well as a small selection of hot foods and, most importantly, ice cream.  The store is only open a couple months out of the year and had just opened for the season the weekend we were there.  They sell 16 flavors of Jilbert's ice cream and I learned that day that they never charge for doggy cups.  So I ordered a cone for me and got to select one of the 16 amazing flavors for the girls...all for just $3.   What a steal!

Great Sand Bay

It was now time to head to Great Sand Bay and some time at the beach!  This is an area Maddie and Imke know very well and we all love it here.  We parked and headed down the stairs to the public beach.  We hit the bottom of the stairs and off came the leashes at which point Imke headed directly toward the private beach area.  There was no stopping her and she wasn't looking back-she was headed to find our friends Bryce and Zi.  She trotted right down to Bryce's beach and stood at the bottom of his steps...waiting for Maddie and me to arrive so we could go say hello.

Imke enjoying the Lake

It took a bit to convince her that Bryce and Zi weren't home and that we'd just have to hang out on the beach by ourselves, but finally she decided to give up waiting and started to play.  She was running in and out of the water, biting at the waves, bringing me sticks to throw, and having an all-around good time.  I haven't seen her quite so playful at the beach in a long time.

Maddie enjoying the beach

Maddie, on the other hand, found the perfect spot in the sound to get a tan, complete with a rock pillow.  This is her preferred way to spend a day at the beach!

Of course, after splashing around in the Lake and getting herself covered in sand, Imke had finally decided it was time to relax in her favorite place to sit, my lap. And Maddie continued her lounging.

After a full afternoon on the beach, they finally both relaxed.  I still think Imke was hoping to see some friends though!

It had been a great day on the beach, but it was time to head back to "home" for the night  We made a quick stop at the Phoenix Store on our way...where we met another GSP lover and picked up a drink and snack for the evening.  And then we headed back to Eagle Harbor for the night.  

The Phoenix Store

It's Monday, July 3...the last full day of our trip before heading home.  And there were still adventures to be had!  After another slow start to our day, we once again headed in to Copper Harbor to visit Jamsen's for our last time this trip.  We were able to sit out on the dock and enjoy our turnover and a beautiful view...and Maddie was happy to see her friends the geese and enjoy some more of their delicacies.

Maddie watching the geese 

We then headed out to the beach at Bete Gris hoping to enjoy a little sand, sun and water.  Maddie found her perfect spot shortly after we arrived. But Imke, oh Imke was in one of her more obnoxious moods.

Maddie at Bete Gris

It took everything in my power to get her to pay attention to me and to enjoy a little time in the Lake. You see, there were people there. Lots and lots of people...and those people have food.  And my sweet girl believes that she is STARVING all of the the time!  As soon as we got to the beach, she made a bee-line for a couple sitting about 50 yards away from us...and her nose was in everything.  I was mortified!  I finally got her to come back and we had a little talk about her behavior, but then she saw people the other way...and they had kids.   Jackpot!   Kids always are easy targets to get some treats...oh Imke!  Thankfully most people just laughed at her and gave her some love, but I was getting no time to relax, so our time at Bete Gris was cut short so I could find a better, more remote location with fewer distractions.  

 

Imke at Bete Gris

I knew exactly where we needed to go!  And we were off! When we arrived at Pt. Isabelle, there were a few other people there, but I knew that they wouldn't stay long.  We were out of the Jeep and Imke was in the water almost immediately while this time Maddie disappeared into the woods to say hello to some new friends. 

Imke at Pt. Isabelle

This is a little more remote and less visited area, so there are lots of awesome things for the girls to sniff and explore.   And it's one of my favorite quiet places in the area.

Imke checking out a stump

We love to walk along the shore, right down in the water too. It's crystal clear and always refreshing. And the girls find plenty of interesting smells down here as well.

I was glad that we had decided to spend our last afternoon here.  Away from the crowds and at one with nature.  It is a truly amazing place.  

Imke and Maddie at the end of our Pt. Isabelle day

On our way back to Eagle Harbor, I decided we'd make one last stop, Central Mine.  Central Mine is an old mining ghost town which is a big part of the history of the Keweenaw.  I had driven by the sign for the visitor center many times, but had never stopped.  This time we decided to check it out.  

Church at Central Mine

There is so much history in this area and it is really awe-inspiring to think of all of the people who came before us and built their lives in this rugged and remote area.  It is a humbling experience.

Who Dat Brass Band

We ended our evening walking around Eagle Harbor after dinner and we were treated to an impromptu performance by the "Who Dat" Brass Band.  They drew quite a crowd and it was a nice relaxing way to end our relaxing day.

We've been on the road almost 2 weeks and, to tell you the truth, we aren't missing home at all.  This last day here made me realize how little I had thought about home.  I really could sell my house and by an RV and just live on the road.  The freedom to get up and move any time you want to anywhere you want sounds pretty amazing.  I've learned through my travels that home isn't really a place...it is a state of mind.  And as long as I have the best travel companions around with me along the way,  I can be at home almost anywhere.

Finally, July 4th had arrived.  We would be heading home today, but not before enjoying some small town 4th of July festivities.  On this peaceful morning in this quiet little town, the Eagle Harbor Township Volunteer firemen were there and ready to make sure we didn't forget what day it was.  At 8am the sirens sounded as they drove around town honking and sirening (and yes, I know that isn't a real word) and announcing to the world via loud speaker that it was time to get up!  It was the 4th of July!  And after that great jolt to start the morning, trust me, we were awake!

Maddie waiting on the beach for the parade

And so the preparations to leave began.  I was packing the Jeep and of course the girls knew we'd be leaving...so Maddie was my constant shadow every step I took.  She always so afraid I'm going to forget her, silly girl! After packing and visiting with the nice lady who had been our neighbor for the weekend, we were off for a walk around town so that we could get our prime location for the 4th of July parade.  

Eagle Harbor 4th of July Parade

The whole town was out and there was much fanfare.  There was a reading of passages from the Declaration of Independence and the singing of the National Anthem and then the parade was off.  I don't know how you can attend a parade like this in a small town and not feel patriotic.  Especially on this the most patriot day of the year!

And then it was over, the parade was done and we headed back to start our journey home.  And on the way there I spied these adorable GSPs...so I had to stop and say hello.

GSPs in Eagle Harbor!

Of course anyone who knows me, knows that there was no way we would drive home without at least one more adventure along the way!  After filling up with gas in L'Anse, we headed to Canyon Falls (the scene of my knee injury at the beginning of the trip) for one last hike on the North Country Trail before leaving the UP.

Rapids at Canyon Falls

It was a beautiful day for a hike and the girls enjoyed the time out of the car before our long ride home.  It was the perfect place for our final adventure of this amazing trip.

There's a squirrel over there, mom!

What a journey we had. 13 days away from home and so many new experiences, as well as the chance to revisit some of our favorite old familiar places.  We reconnected with some friends along the way and we made some new friends too.  I didn't really know how this whole journey would work out, but it was amazing and refreshing and just what I needed!  I can't wait for the next adventure!