Upper Peninsula, Michigan

After making my way to the U.P. I first stayed at Lake Gogebic State Park! My camper was right on the water and so incredibly beautiful! Paddle boarding right from camp was such a treat!   I had a friend come up for a visit and we went up to Copper Harbor, another wonderful spot. The water of Lake Superior looks like the ocean. It was a stormy day the second night we were there, but oh so beautiful and the sounds of the waves crashing against rocks just soothes your soul. Then we headed back down to the lake for one last night there. It is interesting as I meet people; I find it difficult to transition to being alone. This is something I am sorting through.

I also recognized that when I really enjoy a place, there is a sadness that I take when it is time to leave. It is as if I get so comfortable that it makes it hard to leave all the beauty around me. The fear then sets in, as well as excitement to explore a new area. I believe it reflects life. ..

We get comfortable in our ways and become familiar with our routines and ourselves. Then something in life happens (good or bad), and we need to adjust to that newness. This could either leave us in a “stuck place” or a “growing place”, either one, we are changing… and change can be hard and terrifying. I believe more and more that we will miss who we were or how we felt in that familiar place, therefore leaving it, leaves us feeling  “off” or “sad” to leave.  

As I left Lake Gogebic and headed to Marquette and Munising, I found so many hikes and places to explore! Munising completely grabbed my heart with the beaches, lighthouses, and hikes. The people are so genuine and kind! I highly recommend this stop! I then headed up to Whitefish Point, the weather was awful but the views still amazing! I made a long drive from there down to Mackinac, where I took the ferry with a new friend to Mackinac Island. Wow this was a cool little island! No motor vehicles are allowed (except for the fire dept). You ride in a horse carriage, horse or ride a bike. The town is absolutely beautiful with its waterfront stores to browse, hotels to admire and all the beauty the island offers on a carriage ride! Shorty sure loved those horses hahaha.

I feel I have explored the entire Upper Peninsula and all the beauty it has to offer. Yet I feel I am ready to move on across the bridge (Mackinaw Bridge) and onto new adventures! The bridge is crazy to haul my camper across (bigger than the San Francisco bridge), but I did it with hands gripped to the wheel lol!

As I leave, I am leaving friends I have made that I have come to care so much for. I know I will not be seeing them for quite some time, and this brings me a sweet sorrow. It is amazing how we can come to love people we have known for such a short time. The experiences and stories shared remind me how precious life is, challenges and all. One particular beautiful human I met, had an accident and broke his back. He was not supposed to walk yet has pushed himself and has overcome so many obstacles.  The reminder of how life can truly test our will to live and overcome so much thrown at us is so beautiful! The strength he shows empowers me to be a better person.   I do know however, there are new friends and places along the way, yet I will miss the warmth I have found in this beautiful area and the most amazing people and stories humans have shared with me, will never be forgotten. I definitely will return here at some point.