tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181484792011-12-02T17:31:03.392-06:00Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.comBlogger771100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-58773099754785158942011-09-14T17:26:00.000-05:002011-09-14T17:26:00.564-05:00

It was supposed to be a 2½-day trip up north to bike the Sparta-Elroy Trail for Ann and me, but she revealed she’d taken Monday off work and could leave at noon on Friday, so I hatched a last-minute plan to turn a biking weekend into a total adventure weekend. All week we coordinated what to bring, and we both made probably the most important investments in our well-being for this trip: cycling

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-13211720265216169532011-02-28T16:29:00.000-06:002011-02-28T16:29:13.414-06:00

What do you do in the winter when you’re tired of shoveling snow, braving the cold, and being cooped up in the house for weeks on end, spending even more time in slower traffic and warming up your car for the dreaded commute? You harness up some gorgeous dogs and go for a dogsled ride! Ann and I started talking about going to Ely, MN to do an all-day dogsled trip, got curtailed by practicality

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-72175913625906865802010-10-23T17:26:00.002-05:002010-11-21T18:48:45.610-06:00

Occasionally a destination isn’t so much a place, but a connection. And sometimes that connection isn’t earthly or present, but a place in my heart and mind. Four and a half days, 1,000 miles, and hundreds of dollars later, I realized that I didn’t have to travel anywhere to visit my father after all. The plan, which was only vaguely set, was to drive to Natural Bridge State Park, in Slade, KY

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-60122216297186254922010-09-18T21:29:00.000-05:002010-09-18T21:29:44.696-05:00

On Sunday, September 12, 2010, Schwee and I set out on a new and different kind of trip: a bicycle trip. Having just re-started biking after a 20-year hiatus, I really wanted to combine my love of travel with my new love of biking, and the nearby Elroy-Sparta Trail seemed the perfect idea, particularly when you factored in my new love of camping. Cheap, close (but not too close) and fun: a

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-33429991304200131362010-06-07T21:38:00.000-05:002010-06-08T21:02:44.165-05:00

Epic trip.  3,600 miles.  120 gallons of gas.  9 days, 8 nights and more awesome than can be described.  Impossible to confine it to a blog post, but I'll do my best. I pack too much. It is my main travel flaw. However, this time there wasn't nearly as much as usual. Since I was going to be cooking for us for every meal, the entire backseat was food, in the cooler, in grocery bags, on the

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-77735168471080353012010-03-28T22:37:00.000-05:002010-03-29T23:03:35.585-05:00

It is ill advised to begin an adventure straight from a mind-numbing, 6-hour workday of seminars. Two hours of assertiveness (possibly the most useless seminar I’ve ever taken) and an hour of happiness (which only served to make me think about all the ways I sabotage my own happiness, that should make me grossly unhappy, yet I am not), and then cutting out early to avoid the Wii/games/funtime

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-11537400401012209942010-03-20T20:24:00.001-05:002010-04-16T21:26:34.262-05:00

Friday, March 12 Traveling alone and traveling with friends can be two totally different types of experiences, each with benefits and drawbacks, and company or lack thereof can be crucial, depending on the travel objective. This trip to Minneapolis/St. Paul was almost essential for me to have a buddy, and inviting Ann along seemed the most natural of choices. Wise decision on my part! Part of

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-33295138978908507972009-12-06T17:59:00.072-06:002009-12-06T20:22:58.988-06:00

Thursday, November 26, 20096:30 am: Rise and shine, sleepyhead. (Well, after a few hits to the snooze button.) There was still much to do since the freezing rain the night before had prevented me from packing the car up ahead of time. Much to my surprise, my car was covered in snow, though it was 40º already. The goal of hitting the road by 7 was looking impossible.7:44 am: Finally in the car

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-79299254290004633722009-10-19T18:46:00.002-05:002009-11-02T00:29:12.574-06:00

On Sunday, October 4, 2009, Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I set out on our annual fall trip to Munising, Michigan.Some of the noteworthy places we would like to share are as follows:Sunset Motel on the Bay, the only place we'll stay in Munising.Brownstone Inn, Au Train, Michigan -- a fabulous restaurant and essential stop.West Bay Diner, Grand Marais, Michigan -- out-of-this-world good food worthy

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-73444106107719292792009-04-17T19:16:00.000-05:002009-05-05T02:10:01.701-05:00

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009: Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I set out on an adventure somewhere new! Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, to see the Foremost Butterflies exhibit.This was difficult for me because I usually know where I’m going, but trying to find the cheapest hotel that wasn’t in a red light district or putting our lives in jeopardy seemed a

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-76812566837257896172008-10-17T18:59:00.001-05:002008-10-17T19:37:29.043-05:00

(Photos posted about this trip were taken both by Boyfriend Extraordinaire and me. Many links will lead to more photo albums of similar pictures at my Tabblo pages.)Friday, October 3 started as close to being on time as Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I can usually manage. Our 10 AM ETD was only off by about a half-hour, delayed further by a trip to the bank for cash, so we were literally on the way

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-74860755722258813992008-10-17T18:58:00.000-05:002008-10-17T21:49:55.993-05:00

Our first full day in Munising started off slow. It rained in the morning, though the weather predictions were, at the time, stating that it should have been sunny and warm. I sat in the room eating my English muffin, staring out at the wet and foggy Munising Bay, and I worried about the fact that we didn't bring any rain gear. Boyfriend Extraordinaire slept in quite late, which I let him do

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-22517099577050893972008-10-17T18:57:00.009-05:002008-10-17T23:15:11.330-05:00

Sunday, which is still a garage sale day to Boyfriend Extraordinaire, saw us escape our room at about noon, to search for more garage sales before heading down the highway to Au Train.We arrived at Forest Lake to find it mostly secluded and absolutely pristine.Though the leaves were just beginning to peak, the ground was covered with leaves already.We kicked around the shore for quite a while,

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-44000418652568804642008-10-17T18:56:00.007-05:002008-10-18T00:11:43.574-05:00

Monday we got up and out earlier than usual, which probably caused Boyfriend Extraordinaire much pain. (So sorry, Schwee.) With the hopes that the touristy areas wouldn't be as crowded on a weekday, we headed to Wagner Falls.I love this falls and will stay there for hours if I can. It's just magical.There are so many places where rocks protrude from the water, and it makes for perfect pictures of

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-85134102316548036202008-10-17T18:55:00.008-05:002008-10-20T22:03:08.282-05:00

We had big plans for Tuesday: get up early, drive to Grand Marais for breakfast (FRENCH TOAST!) at our favorite breakfast spot, the East Bay Diner, a visit to the Grand Marais sights, and a trip to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. The problem was getting Boyfriend Extraordinaire up early. When the alarm went off, I had this mental image of wrestling and arguing with him for an hour, trying in

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-30665316404677284982008-10-17T18:54:00.006-05:002008-10-19T00:28:27.017-05:00

Wednesday we planned to spend the day in Marquette because it was supposed to be rainy and gloomy, but it really wasn't. We went anyway.The drive from Munising to Marquette west on 28 was gorgeous. The trees were vibrant and it contrasted dramatically with the deep blue of the sky and the lakeshore. We were certainly seeing this area during its peak.Once in Marquette, we weren't quite sure where

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-80456496856772561402008-10-17T18:53:00.010-05:002008-10-20T19:44:17.983-05:00

The plan was to stay in Munising until Friday the 10th, even though we had the whole weekend off, but as always, we simply couldn't stand the idea of leaving already. Unfortunately, the Sunset Motel didn't have any open rooms so we could stay longer, and if we wanted to stay in town, we were going to have to find another place to stay. So, we did. I made a reservation at the Superior Motel off

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-31915030749740309472008-10-17T18:52:00.010-05:002008-10-20T21:58:17.732-05:00

We woke up early in Munising with the plans to check out at the Sunset and go to the Dogpatch for breakfast. I'd been a frugal girl all week and wanted some biscuits and gravy, dammit! Well, that didn't exactly work out. We got out of the room later than we hoped because we had so much stuff to bring to the car, and when I turned in my key, I chatted with the Sunset's owner, Carmon, for a while.

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-6972769234664043772008-10-17T18:51:00.011-05:002008-10-21T00:04:45.188-05:00

On Saturday we awoke with heavy hearts, knowing we were departing that day. We packed up our belongings, loaded up the car, turned in our key, and felt homeless. But we still had a few hours before we would have to hit the road, so again, we headed to the Navigator for breakfast. If you don't go to this restaurant for the awesome tables that look down upon the city marina, then the homemade bread

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-83471699688981679712007-08-26T01:23:00.000-05:002007-10-08T02:56:54.233-05:00

At mid-morning on August 4th, Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I set out on our second "trip of a lifetime" around Lake Superior.It was an uneventful drive, though the construction and traffic really irritated me and added to our drive time. Otherwise all was well.We lunched at the Hardee's on the Oconto River where we realized how low and stagnant the water looked. Apparently, the drought has been

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-68260414849332849922007-08-26T01:22:00.000-05:002007-10-08T02:56:04.345-05:00

The second day of the Circle Tour started early, after a disappointing discovery that the Munising Bakery was closed. We drove to Marquette for breakfast and then paid a visit to Presque Isle Park, which is always gorgeous. The rocky cliffs in Marquette are fairly typical of most of the shore around the lake, dramatic, dangerous and high.I don't know why this sign made me laugh so much. All I

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-37775879054554861692007-08-26T01:21:00.000-05:002007-10-08T03:08:05.503-05:00

The day started off well enough, but then we found ourselves in our third destination of Bessemer, Michigan, where we headed straight up Black River Road to see the waterfalls along Black River, which sounds like it would be nice, doesn't it?First I have to remind you that I'm afraid of heights, which is only partially true because I not really afraid of the height. I'm afraid of falling. I'm

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-68610646619677769002007-08-26T01:20:00.000-05:002007-10-07T21:36:03.360-05:00

It's quite strange how the cheapest motel we stayed in was one of the nicest. The Travelers Motel in Bessemer, Michigan is one I'll return to anytime. Leaving the next morning was not easy, but we did have to go.From Bessemer, we drove north to a beach called Little Girl Point, which is heaven for rock hounds like us. The temperature was somewhere in the 80s and the sun was so bright that the

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-39738328815044065302007-08-26T01:19:00.000-05:002007-10-08T03:11:34.613-05:00

Leaving Ashland, Wisconsin was something we did eagerly, though we were extremely tired making the trip up the Bayfield Peninsula to the town of Bayfield, WI.First we stopped at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center and we somehow engaged the nice woman in the gift shop with conversation, getting her to open up, and then she admitted she is one of the two authors of a recently published book

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-70172418089492044622007-08-26T01:18:00.000-05:002007-10-07T22:09:34.724-05:00

Bayfield, Wisconsin has much to offer tourists, from scenery to gift shops, but if you go, you must have breakfast at the Egg Toss Cafe. Mmmmm!It was a sunny day until we left the restaurant, and then the drizzling began. We drove to the marina and watched the boaters panic and bring their boats in from the water, which was scenic itself, but the storm was small and you could see the clear sky in

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-35488806548303632852007-08-26T01:17:00.000-05:002007-10-12T15:21:25.557-05:00

While staying at a very cheap hotel in Superior, I realized something that became a repeated theme of the trip: if you're staying in a dump, don't ask the staff to recommend a restaurant or they will recommend a food dump.So true. Proven repeatedly.**B.E. wants you to know he liked the dumpy restaurant in Superior, where he got two eggs and toast, which he said were good, and cost a mere $2. My

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-5545472924065485502007-08-26T01:16:00.000-05:002007-10-12T15:53:12.447-05:00

We escaped the grungy motel without any noticeable rashes or visitations by creatures with more than two legs. We expected them and they never came. We were relieved.I have always liked Duluth, and after 5+ years of looking for a job in the Munising/Marquette, Michigan area, without a single nibble, I had been seriously considering Duluth as an alternative. And then... we couldn't find a

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-34575089707435411452007-08-26T01:15:00.000-05:002007-10-07T22:50:52.380-05:00

Two Harbors is a great town! We had breakfast at the wonderful yet trendy Vanilla Bean Cafe, where businessmen in their late twenties, wearing cargo shorts and sandals, sat at tiny tables eating their Vanilla Bean's signature omelets and discussed the future of US economics. I learned that Portland is bunking the trend of the nation and is responsible for making Oregon the only state that is

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-34569173835025399642007-08-26T01:14:00.001-05:002007-10-07T22:56:28.558-05:00

ELY!We left Silver Bay completely pumped about going to Ely. The route was supposed to be laden with moose, and one book even said that if you drove along it at dawn or sundown, you were guaranteed to see a moose. This was our day for exciting wildlife, we decided.Well, the road was under construction. We were rerouted down dirt logging roads through the forest, for about 25-30 miles. Though the

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-27967321753075140072007-08-26T01:13:00.001-05:002007-10-07T20:41:49.112-05:00

Waking on Tuesday morning in Ely meant we needed to check out of our half-cabin, find a place to eat breakfast, and perhaps the most anticipated stop on the entire Circle Tour trip, we were gonna see some wolves!The International Wolf Center is a place I've wanted to visit for years! I've been everywhere on their website, I've read all the wolf logs, watched the videos, and spent ample time

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-49355973260042586252007-08-26T01:12:00.000-05:002007-10-07T23:14:53.657-05:00

After a restful night at the Mariner, we grabbed a quick breakfast at a local restaurant and I debated fiercely whether or not to tell Boyfriend Extraordinaire about a nearby attraction. Palisade Head is a 200-foot-high cliff that you drive up and can walk around on. The view is reputed to be spectacular, but I could not see myself enjoying that height one bit. I wasn't even sure I'd be able to

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-83874259449309513122007-08-26T01:11:00.000-05:002007-10-07T23:27:56.444-05:00

It was with heavy hearts that we parted our motel room at the Outlook Motel, overlooking the lake. Heavy hearts because we weren't there long enough to truly enjoy the locale. As we were leaving the property, Boyfriend Extraordinaire hopped out of the car to take a picture of the beach that is part of your privileges when you stay at the Outpost. What a beach! Photo taken by Boyfriend

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-51827013291560418362007-08-26T01:10:00.000-05:002007-10-07T23:35:39.017-05:00

We woke up in Canada feeling the effects of losing an hour to Eastern Time and a late night watching strange television programs. And, I still couldn't figure out what the weather was going to be. The word on the street was we were in for a cold spell and I was welcoming the prospects of actually feeling chilly.We drove around for a bit, looking for a place to eat, but couldn't find any

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-50712851111029899742007-08-26T01:09:00.000-05:002007-10-07T23:50:18.909-05:00

We left our motel in Nipigon and headed to town for breakfast, where we had the weirdest experiences of the trip.At the cafe, we ran into three guys on motorcycles from Ohio. Harleys. They were Harley men. We walked into the restaurant before them and when they walked in, I couldn't believe it was the same guys. They were scrawny little yuppies. And they sat at a table near us and talked loudly

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-23754940474883529882007-08-26T01:08:00.003-05:002010-01-21T16:41:56.856-06:00

Morning in Marathon left us with just as few choices for breakfast as the night before for dinner. There was one restaurant, a truck stop, on the highway just down the road from town, and it was the only place to eat. Breakfast was good and this time I was brave enough to try brown toast. You know what? It's just plain wheat toast and it's good. Our first destination was Pukaskwa Provincial Park

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-56488882603463855762007-08-26T01:07:00.000-05:002007-10-08T00:28:00.747-05:00

WHAT A LUXURY to have a 1 pm checkout time! I cannot strongly enough recommend The Northern Lights Motel in Wawa, Ontario. There were jokes to keep you entertained taped to the back of the bathroom door for when you were conducting bathroom business, complimentary ear plugs, toothpicks, Q-tips, bottled water and a rubber ducky for bath time. When I skipped out to show B.E. the rubber ducky, I

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-6264465322852901032007-08-26T01:06:00.000-05:002007-10-08T00:34:51.489-05:00

We woke up, ate breakfast, took one last walk to the beach at Batchawana Bay, and got in the car to go back to our homeland.As we were pulling out of the parking lot, there was a large bilboard-sized sign that announced we were only 45 minutes away from traffic lights, cement and all the other unpleasantness we had completely forgotten we'd been living free of for the past few days. Well, that

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-41924805225671231562007-08-26T01:05:00.000-05:002007-10-08T00:50:50.373-05:00

It was an early morning wake-up at the Long Ships Motel, and there was much activity as we loaded up the car to leave at 10 am. A gigantic ship was in the closest lock, moving ever so slowly toward us, and the closeness was quite surprising.We were watching the Algolake ease its way into the first lock, and it looked as if it was driving down a third lane of traffic on Portage Street in downtown

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-60381515022676717182007-08-26T01:04:00.000-05:002007-10-08T01:13:08.584-05:00

Ahhh: waking up in Paradise! We had Harley-riders for neighbors and there was a hummingbird fight outside. I've never heard screaming hummingbirds before and it was the weirdest thing to watch.Thankfully, there were two restaurants to choose from in the morning for breakfast, and we had a mediocre meal at one. I gave B.E. a choice: go back to Whitefish Point for a while or head straight to Grand

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-65805254249889732902007-08-26T01:03:00.000-05:002007-10-08T01:28:00.636-05:00

The very best thing about Grand Marais is breakfast at the West Bay Diner, namely, the French toast and bacon. Despite our early check-out time at the delightful Hilltop Motel and Cabins, we were eager for the world's best breakfast. This was, literally, something we looked forward to for the entire trip.We arrived at the West Bay Diner to find out that due to the proprietors having car trouble

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-8147330571619302612007-08-26T01:02:00.000-05:002007-10-08T01:32:02.608-05:00

My plan was to wake up early enough in the morning to get to the Dog Patch for breakfast, but B.E. had other plans to sleep. By the time we got to the restaurant, breakfast was no longer being served. We drove through town, and on a hunch, B.E. told me to drive by the Munising Bakery.Much to our delight, the bakery was NOT closed down. It was for sale, but it hadn't closed its doors. YAY! B.E.

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-91700342057129379962007-08-26T01:01:00.000-05:002007-10-08T01:35:32.533-05:00

Getting up and checking out of our last motel on the last day of our trip was hard. Very hard. I did not want to go.We made it to the Dog Patch for breakfast that morning and made a decision to visit Sand Point Beach one more time before we headed home.The weather was warm, absolutely perfect, and when we got to the beach we decided to get wet! The sand bar is so inviting because you can walk

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-46056690572685937592007-02-20T00:52:00.000-06:002007-02-20T02:30:05.223-06:00

On a cold, snowy weekend in February, Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I ventured out into the country wilderness and came upon a corral of horses who were just itching for some human contact.By far, one of the largest horses I've ever seen, this beauty, named Tiny, towered above the other horses. He reminded me of a viking with his shaggy blonde mane and enormous stature.There were three folks on

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1168667644946744342007-01-12T23:33:00.000-06:002007-01-13T01:40:06.206-06:00

Boyfriend Extraordinaire arrived on Christmas Day for our two-week vacation together over the holidays, to be closed with a sweet four-day stay at our favorite B&B in Galena, Illinois to celebrate our five-year anniversary. We hoped for snow, but Mother Nature had something much different in store for us.Our first outing was to the Racine Zoo on New Year's Day, which we chose because we expected

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1161651995860560762006-10-23T20:01:00.000-05:002006-10-23T23:01:03.270-05:00

Early on the morning of Friday, October 13, Boyfriend Extraordinaire hit the road on the long trip north to Munising, Michigan. It was a cold day, around 40º, and the forecasters mentioned a big snowstorm due the night before for the entire Upper Peninsula. We wouldn't see any of that snow because the 8" that fell in areas like Ishpeming had all melted when the sun was out for a couple hours that

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1157409004702943462006-08-07T16:58:00.000-05:002006-09-04T22:39:15.020-05:00

On August 4, 2006, I took my mother on our second trip together to Michigan. The original plan was to search for an apartment, because I was planning my immediate relocation, but the plans changed and the trip turned into a visit for the sheer enjoyment of it.The first stop is almost always Rapid River Falls, which is a delightful little river with small rapids. It's a gorgeous area where you can

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151196395703906402006-06-24T19:22:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:42:49.886-05:00

On 6/9/2006, Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I embarked on our summer trip to Munising, Michigan, my favorite place on earth. With an unusual luxury of renting a house for the stay, we were spoiled and lazy most of the time, filling in the long days with some adventures and some basking. The weather was great, despite my complaints about the heat, sun and my uncharacteristic tan, and I really

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151265698343578982006-06-24T14:59:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:44:10.790-05:00

Boyfriend Extraordinaire and I departed my humble abode in IL very early to head north to Munising, Michigan and Lake Superior. It is a love affair we two have with this area, which never disappoints. The drive was long, and our departing weather was in the 60s, so I was looking forward to a cooler climate and some much-needed peace.Boyfriend Extraordinaire is a garage sale junkie, so the amount

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151265885415532952006-06-24T14:58:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:44:32.253-05:00

Our first full day in Munising was very leisurely. We slept late, got moving late, and it was afternoon before we even saw the first sight.First up is almost always Sand Point. Sand Point Beach is fantastic, and behind that is the Sand Point Marsh Trail, which B.E. and I refer to as the Bog Walk. The trail is about a half-mile of boardwalk through the marsh and forest, where educational signs

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151266192033005862006-06-24T14:57:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:45:06.610-05:00

Since almost everything is closed in the Upper Peninsula on Sundays, it was the perfect day to see and do things completely unrelated to commerce.First we went to a scenic beach in Au Train.Given that the temperature was still in the 50s and 60s, B.E. was bundled up like it was the middle of winter. He stood out a little bit on our expeditions in his down coat over multiple layers of clothing.

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151273937476483472006-06-24T14:56:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:45:33.906-05:00

Originally, we had planned on spending Monday in Marquette, but the weather was predicted to be overcast and cloudy, so I insisted we postpone the Marquette trip until Tuesday and visit some waterfalls while the sun and shadows were not going to ruin my pictures. It was warming up considerably (upper 60s with a chance of breaching the low 70s), so I was able to finally dig out the shorts I

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151280534803624482006-06-24T14:55:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:46:09.143-05:00

Sticking with the plan to go to Marquette on Tuesday, I was enormously disappointed that it turned into a cloudy day. Those clouds were supposed to be there for my waterfall shots!Anyway, it looked like we were going to be rained on and we wore our warmer clothes just in case. B.E. had his down coat, to be on the safe side again. How anyone can wear a down coat in June, when the temperature is in

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151283008551588532006-06-24T14:54:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:46:36.390-05:00

With the promise of another overcast day, we awoke again to find it sunny and warm. What in the world happened to the weather in Munising? Every other trip I've made up there was mostly overcast, rainy, foggy or cold. This trip was nothing but sun and warmth. And I was angry!Horeshoe Falls is a delightful area, privately owned, with a waterfall, garden and pond full of large rainbow trout. The

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151294236715774662006-06-24T14:53:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:47:09.100-05:00

It was hot on Thursday. I was not happy. And it was sunny again. Some people like this on vacation.I AM NOT SOME PEOPLE!There is a very scenic route to Grand Marais along H-58, but it is a rough drive in any vehicle. More than half of it is unpaved, unimproved dirt and gravel road, with potholes that make the ones in IL seem puny. We didn't drive to Grand Marais partially because a portion of the

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151305089974092022006-06-24T14:52:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:47:43.046-05:00

Friday morning we got up early (sorta) and headed east for Paradise. It was a longer drive than we expected and by the time we got to Newberry, we were overheating, hungry and ready for a nap. It was extremely hot and humid, and there was a haze in the air so dense it looked like fog, but it was not. I could not have been more frustrated with the weather! But there was something really exciting

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It was our last full day and night in Munising and we were determined to spend it leisurely.With the temperature at 86º on Saturday, and being worn out from the previous day's activities, we decided to spend a day lounging at Miners Beach, the best beach around.You'd think that in the middle of June on a Saturday afternoon, there would be more people at the beach than this. Weird.Where is

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151311710977050902006-06-24T14:50:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:52:50.806-05:00

The plan was to be out by 10 am, which didn't work out so well. We finally checked out at 10:30 and then had a quick breakfast in town before hitting our last tourist attractions in the area.Destination #1 was the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. We'd never been there and I was excited about seeing some wildlife. Honestly, they should rename it the Seney National Swan Refuge, because HOLY COW,

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1151347022213929172006-06-24T14:49:00.000-05:002006-06-26T13:53:21.843-05:00

Our unexpected extra day in Michigan was wonderful. We started out driving all around Escanaba, grabbed some donuts for the road for breakfast, and then resumed our route home.We stopped everywhere our curiosity beckoned since we were in no hurry, and it was a wonderful drive.Marina Park in Menominee was really cool. It was a gorgeous day in the 70s, with clouds and sun in the sky, so we hung out

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1142224961465947082006-03-12T22:42:00.000-06:002006-03-13T00:33:18.126-06:00

Melanie and I departed work at 2:30 PM, Friday, on our long-awaited trip to Munising, Michigan. Our reservations at the Sunset Motel on the Bay were made, despite the big Ski-Doo snowmobile rally going on, so we were prepared for a perfect, winter weekend on Lake Superior. I'd purchased extra thermals and packed all my warmest clothes in anticipation of the weather being cold, and we were shocked

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1129948430296614952005-10-23T02:33:00.000-05:002005-11-04T04:00:06.846-06:00

Starting point: Munising, Michigan, home of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and my favorite place on earth! To me, most of the good things in my life saw a beginning in Munising.This is a view of West Munising Bay and Grand Island, taken from a high vantage point on a steep cliff that hugs the shore.

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130123938563985742005-10-23T02:32:00.001-05:002005-11-04T03:59:47.696-06:00

Before beginning our two-week trip around Lake Superior, we stopped at some of the local attractions and chatted with some familiar friends. The most important element of visiting Munising is being able to stay at my favorite motel, The Sunset Motel on the Bay. With a room there, I know the view will be spectacular, even when I'm sitting in bed looking out the window! It's primo! And an absolute

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130125446230491102005-10-23T02:31:00.001-05:002005-11-04T03:59:27.173-06:00

The previous pictures were what my boyfriend calls "Chamber of Commerce Shots," which means generic photos found in tour guides and on postcards. They don't reflect my vision much, so here are a few samples of what I saw.The autumn leaves, just starting to change.My boyfriend silhouetted at the scenic lookout, with Munising Bay, Grand Island and the Pictured Rocks visible in the background.My

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130131585111308742005-10-23T02:30:00.001-05:002005-11-04T03:57:55.373-06:00

The morning of Sunday, October 2, we left the beauty of Munising to start the Circle Tour. We drove west (a clockwise trip, for fellow Circle Tourists) through Marquette, Ishpeming and into unfamiliar territory for me. We skipped the Keweenaw Peninsula because I didn't feel like we had enough time for it, and I was right.It was mid-afternoon when my boyfriend required his daily coffee break,

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130133708799438462005-10-23T02:29:00.001-05:002005-11-04T03:55:58.440-06:00

Monday morning we woke up, and after watching The Weather Channel for an hour or so (which is an addiction of mine), we had a fantastic brunch at a local cafe, and headed up Black River Road.What a gorgeous drive! It looked like this all the way to Lake Superior. The Black River is on the western edge of the Porcupine Mountains, riddled with waterfalls and old growth trees. Due to the topography,

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130395727025582282005-10-23T02:28:00.001-05:002005-11-04T03:55:22.373-06:00

We awoke in Ashland to a cloudy, windy, rainy day, and The Weather Channel promised a near monsoon to compliment our day. This was okay, because I had slotted the day to visit Ashland shops and drive up to Bayfield, where we'd settle in for the night.Not so surprising if you know me, we zipped through most of the shops and found ourselves spending a costly long time in a particular shop where we

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130402792152369482005-10-23T02:27:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:54:39.596-06:00

It rained and rained and rained and rained....When we got up, there were stories of floods all over the Bayfield Peninsula. Roads were washed out and travel was dubious at best. We ate a fantastic breakfast at The Egg Toss Cafe. Well, I did. My boyfriend got boring oatmeal. Who eats oatmeal at a restaurant when you're on vacation? It boggled my mind!Then we shopped and picked up some goodies, bid

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130482496281528322005-10-23T02:26:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:54:12.940-06:00

Cold. So cold. The night was frigid and without heat, it was hard to get out of bed the next morning. But I did it only because I knew I had heat in my car, and the sooner we got out of the room and into the car, the sooner I'd warm up. Showers are temporary and often a hot shower will leave you colder when you return to the freezing temperature of a room. Needed to get into car! Particularly

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130486527981023072005-10-23T02:25:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:53:41.880-06:00

The town of Two Harbors looked much more ample in the sunny morning light. We ate a tremendous breakfast at The Vanilla Bean Bakery & Cafe, where we started to realize that we absolutely love American fries with eggs for breakfast. Some places do it better than others, and this place did it best!Two Harbors had a sweet lighthouse, fire engine red, but we had so much to do that we didn't stop for

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130732207517055192005-10-23T02:24:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:53:15.220-06:00

Perhaps due to the first warm night we'd had in a few days, or maybe the unexpected quietness our neighbors displayed in the early morning, but something left us so well-rested and comfortable that we overslept a bit. Once we got our stagnant butts moving, we found that breakfast at The Pie Place was one of the best breakfasts we've each ever had. I had the caribou eyes (a first for me, and NO,

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130743059342892752005-10-23T02:23:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:52:39.956-06:00

The sunrise in Thunder Bay was sweet! This is the view from our motel room and there is a tiny little fragment of Lake Superior visible on the horizon.We skipped breakfast and drove straight out of the city to get to the area of the amethyst mines. The drive northeast was great because the sun was still relatively low in the sky to the east, still hovering over the lake, and it provided some cool

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130754578703504522005-10-23T02:22:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:51:49.716-06:00

The television came on at 7:30 AM as needed, so we were happy to get moving on time. But there was a surprise awaiting us.It was Thanksgiving in Canada!The weather was phenomenal, with the promise of 70s by mid late afternoon. On October 10th. Interesting weather, considering we'd just been through some violent storms, seen snowflakes outside a Walgreens in Duluth, and now we were overdressed in

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130838495332329662005-10-23T02:21:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:46:25.143-06:00

We woke up and ate cold pizza from the night before and headed out for the Provinical Parks and the border. We weren't in a hurry to leave Canada, but I'd filled up with my last tank of gas at $4.25/gallon USD and was determined to get back to the US for some cheaper fuel. Never again will I complain that I spent $3.15/gallon at the peak, when I left for Michigan, and now that the price is back

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130881436924719702005-10-23T02:20:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:41:20.576-06:00

Ah, to wake up in the US again... it was... no different.Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan is so cute! We had a quick breakfast at the Lock View Restaurant and then had another look at the locks, where another boat was being raised and sent to Lake Superior. It's much more fun at night, I must say.The shops in town are too cool. I walked up and down the street, going in gift shop after gift shop, much

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130918546531491112005-10-23T02:19:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:40:23.793-06:00

We had trouble parting with our comfy little cabin in the woods. For my boyfriend, it was idyllic and the exact kind of vacation he likes to take. I think he'd hoped for a cabin the whole trip, and only now were we able to make it happen.Breakfast was not so good at a different restaurant in town, so I won't even dwell on that one.While I would've liked to spend another day at Whitefish Point, we

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130924003495673992005-10-23T02:18:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:38:57.300-06:00

Some way, somehow, in the morning light, our view was just as gorgeous as it had been at sunset. I was kind of hoping we'd go rowing again, but it appeared that I was the only one in the mood. Maybe my new rowing muscles needed a break anyway.We drove out of Curtis and headed north, bypassing Seney and going straight to Grand Marais, Michigan.It was sunny and warm, absolutely delightful weather

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1130925379301106072005-10-23T02:17:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:37:35.063-06:00

The only thing that would get me out of bed after a difficult night of sleep is the promise of the world's best french toast!The West Bay Diner in Grand Marais, Michigan has the best breakfast in the world. The french toast alone is worth the trip, but if you're lucky to arrive on a day when they're serving the breakfast buffet, you can expect a cornucopia of pleasures that will make you wish you

Doggie Extraordinaire's Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04138977309007607488noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18148479.post-1131002307211072302005-10-23T02:16:00.000-05:002005-11-04T03:36:23.653-06:00

Our last day -- what a difficult day it was to begin.We packed up all our stuff and I finally threw away the remaining two rock-hard donuts that my boyfriend had insisted on keeping because he might eat them. These donuts were from Thunder Bay, mind you. They were over a week old. Bluck. I threw out a lot of things at this last motel and it felt good to clear some space in the car for our last

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