A Place Like Home

On the second (and last) day of our mini-vacation, we went to a place that I've loved forever.

I wrote about it years ago, and it remains true--

I somehow get reunited with part of my heart whenever I visit Gooseberry Falls.

Not only the falls, but just as importantly, the path down to the lake and beyond. 

Oh my, we have some good memories there.

I figured we would be ahead of the peak of fall leaf color, 

but I didn't realize how amazing the wildflowers would be.

As I always say, here's to the late bloomers!

Lee wanted a photo of me in my happy place.

We zipped through Duluth, 

a place that actually was home for me, once upon a time.

Now it's mostly all under construction.

The seagulls don't care.  Thankfully some things never change.

Last stop was Enger Tower, the place to really see the harbor and the rest of the world.

This is just the tiniest taste of the views.  The grounds around the tower are also stunning.

This year 2020 has thrown all of us a lot of curve balls.

I'm so thankful that when it began, 

when the anticipation of the grandest adventure (the one we didn't go on) was beginning to build,

I wasn't wishing away my year thinking this one dream trip would make my whole year worth living.

 I'm quite capable of doing that. But I didn't.

Many years ago I realized this verse wasn't a get rich quick scheme.

It's a promise from God,

 a promise that he can actually satisfy me regardless of my circumstances.

He can enable me to want his presence more than anything--

so that in disappointments, I'm not coming away empty-handed, but hand-held.

He frees me to find him in every kind of moment,

and know that he is what my heart really wants, above all.

The View From Here

"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans."

~Allen Saunders

In March I was filling out our passport applications, when the world stopped turning. Or so it felt. 

If we hadn't cancelled our reservations, we would be leaving this weekend 

for a dream trip that I hope to write about--and photograph!--in a year or two. 

But since we aren't even promised tomorrow, we decided to do what we could--

which was return to a place that feels like home, to enjoy the view from here. 

You know, our other itinerary seemed a lot more spectacular while we were planning, but this one?

Not too shabby.  I would do some legitimate traveling to come here, if I had to.

So here it is, not the itinerary of our dreams, but the itinerary of our means, northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.  

First up, Wisconsin, Pattison State Park. Home of Big (and Little) Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall in Wisconsin! It's just outside Superior. Look at that, it's their 100th anniversary year! Glad we could celebrate with them.  

You know what makes for a great getaway?  This guy.  Wherever.  Doesn't matter.

He even carries a camera for me and shoots too. That's love. He makes me smile.

Waterfalls also make me smile.

Next up a bit of the scenic route beyond Duluth and up the shore.

The north shore.  

Of Lake Superior.

Not a bad scenic overlook, just after the Silver Cliff Creek tunnel!

If you know the shore, you know Gooseberry Falls is next, but the lot is FULL,

full of vehicles from all over the country.

Our secret is out guys.

So on to the Split Rock lighthouse.  Pretty manageable crowd here.

Obligatory hike to the bottom so you can say that you're not old yet. Ahem.

Quick stop at Black Beach.  It's hopping. 

End of the line for the day is Palisade Head.

(a.k.a. Hellacious Overlook, apparently. News to me.)

Here's what's going on.

This is why we never make it farther up the shore.

You feel like it really couldn't get any better.

Back to Two Harbors in time for sunset.

And feeding time.

And sleep.

The rest of the story is coming soon.

Until then, I'm reminding myself (pretty much daily)

to focus not so much on what I can't do,

but on what I can do.

The view from here is pretty good.