I spent the last week in Harbor country in Michigan with a few good old friends. I have written about the other side of the lake many times (here, here, here, here, here, here, here and the very first time here) and it never fails to be a trip that makes me feel good about life itself. A couple of years ago I had a mini-reunion with some of my very favorite people from when I lived in Boulder. At the end of that trip we promised to try to get together every other year for another trip. We weren’t all able to make it this time (we missed you R & R), but I was so happy to get to share this place with the lovelies who could. (they also were totally game with helping me cross off a few items off my list…huzzah!)
A recap.
Tuesday
I packed my car, overfed my cat and headed out for Michigan late morning. It’s only about a 1.5-2 hour drive to get to the town we’d be staying in so I was there by lunch time. I was going to be there by myself for the first night and got the opportunity to check out the house a bit on my own before anyone else arrived
The place was a cozy, cabin-y place with 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a deck and a screened in porch. It was perched on a hill with a great view of the lake. I spent that first day unpacking and laying about reading the book I brought.
Wednesday
The day Beth was to arrive! I woke up a little out of sorts having not slept that well (I get a little nervous sleeping alone in cabins in the woods). I was so out of sorts that I basically hit a tree when I tried to back my way out of the very steep driveway. I had an audience in the neighbors across the street who just kind of watched me all judgmental like (I think). My car and the tree lost just about the same amount of bark. meh.
Thankfully, Beth arrived late afternoon bearing contraband from Canada!
#3 - eat or drink 10 things I’ve never tried before (8 of 10 complete)
Ketchup chips! The taste like ketchup, for real.
Beth and I ate dinner, went for a swim and watched a movie before snuggling in to our rooms for the night.
Thursday
The rest of the ladies arrive! They got in late afternoon as well and after bringing up their bags also headed down to the beach
while I went out to buy BOOGIE BOARDS and got dinner ready. yes. boogie boards.
#7 Have 4 seasonal dinner parties. (Winter, Spring, Summer – complete)
I have been making this Black Bean enchilada recipe since I was about 23 – when I bought my first cookbook. The book is now coming apart at the binding and is filled with food stains and love
It is my fail-safe meal for a crowd. We ate it up.
We were lucky enough to eat every meal out here on the porch.
Friday
Every time I drive up to this spot in Michigan I pass a sign beckoning me to pick blueberries. But I hadn’t answered the call until this weekend. We piled into the car, got some buckets and headed into the blueberry patch
And this is what 12 lbs of blueberries looks like.
We spent the rest of the day at the beach: swimming, sunning, reading magazines, trying out the boogie boards on the nearly still water.
#31 – Learn how to swim with my face in the water COMPLETE
Beth is a good swimmer. She is training for a triathlon. She walked me through swimming with my face in the water. I’m not super comfortable still, but I think I’ve figured out the secret: stop thinking so much about it and just let the breath out. The trick, she said, was to slowly exhale through your nose when your face was underwater. I found it hard to stop holding my breath and force out an exhale, but when I stopped thinking so much about it it started to work. It’ll take some practice, but I‘ve got the technique.
Late in the afternoon I had a middle of the lake pow-wow with some Michigan friends who live/stay down the road
During this pow-wow the chance to borrow a paddleboard was offered and accepted.
#1 – Try paddleboarding* COMPLETE
#40 – Help someone else reach a goal COMPLETE
Okay. Let me explain the asterisk. The “paddleboard” we tried was actually an abandoned windsurfer without the sail. But they did have a paddle and had been successfully using it as a paddleboard. The second reason for the asterisk? I could barely get up on the thing. It took all 3 of my friends, plus one 10 year old to either hold the board still or coach me while I tried to climb up on to the thing. Inevitably I’d get up on my knees, shoo them all away, paddle once or twice and promptly fall off into the water. I think I tried 3-4 times to get going to no avail. Ah well. I TRIED. The experience did not fulfill my fantasy of paddling around Lake Michigan, but I tried which was the goal. And I’ll try again. And next time I’ll use an actual paddleboard which might be a bit easier. Side note: my friends were all successful in getting up and paddling around! This ended up being a two-fer for the list as Beth trying paddleboarding was a goal of Beth’s. And she got up and paddled! yay!
Saturday
Our last day of vacation. Amy took the kids down to the beach while Anna, Beth and I headed over to help braid the tail of a dragon. Turns out I don’t have pictures of this exciting event, but you can take my word for it that the dragon was long and fierce and made of bushes. He will be named ABE.
I spent the rest of the day doing a little shopping. All along the red arrow highway you’ll find little outposts of antique shops, flea markets and unique home stores. I go to see if I can find a gem and to get a little inspiration. My favorite place to stop by is Sojourn in Sawyer. I also usually stop by Lakeside Antiques in Lakeside. That is where I found this lovely lady
She is soon to be reframed and hung with care.
FIND OF THE TRIP: Nani’s Café and Beach Shop. Hells yes. They make amazing hot dogs and root beer floats. I had the BLT dog. oh my sausage-god.
garlic mayo, gourmet dog, bacon, arugula and tomato. amen.
The last night of the trip was spent down on the beach.
I had two more items from the list to check off and there was possibly a meteor shower to witness (too cloudy). Just as the sun began to dip below the horizon Amy, Sadie, Beth and I stripped down to our bathing suits, grabbed the boogie boards and jumped into the water to
#11 – Kayak or paddleboard BOOGIE BOARD in Lake Michigan at sunset
It was beautiful and peaceful and just wanted I wanted it to be. After riding a few waves we got out and took our seats on the beach to watch the sun make it’s colorful exit for the night.
#35 – Go Swimming at night
There are no photos of our nightswim and I’m kind of glad. it was magical. It made me feel alive and in love with my friends. It was more than I could have hoped for and I wish all vacations have a moment like that one.
So that was our trip. It was one of the best.
this is for you Anna, Nadya, Beth, Amy and Sadie (and the Toomey’s for introducing this part of Michigan to me). xoxo
