Beehive Basin Hike near Big Sky, MT

First major hike in Gallatin National Forest, Beehive Basin, MT

Fargo to Big Sky

Yesterday was our LONG driving day and a scorcher. There were heat advisories all along our drive. Is it ever not blazing hot in North Dakota in the summer? We left Fargo and headed west -- all the way across the state of North Dakota and all the way across the state of Montana (almost). We made several short stops, including the one below at a Theodore Roosevelt National Park overlook. 

Frank & Susan moving over for the view at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND

Lake Country & A Change in Plans

Today's trip took us from Duluth to Fargo via Itasca State Park in Minnesota. A shorter day on the road and a lovely day. We hiked on the Brower Trail at Itasca State Park and visited the Mississippi Headwaters. Dinner at Lucy's North China Cuisine was really delicious!

Itasca Lake at Itasca State Park, MN

And a change in plans. Okay, now the itinerary looks like this: 
Charlevoix, MI to Duluth, MN
Duluth to Fargo, ND
Fargo to western Montana (2 nights and at least 1 Jason Isbell concert)
western Montana to Canmore, AB?
Canmore to Jasper - arrival September 10

To keep up with us, be sure to check here on the blog and Road Trip 2013 and fordam.shutterfly.com.

The UP

Yesterday, we drove across the UP. From Charlevoix, we crossed the Mackinac Bridge and were treated to spectacular views of Lake Michigan and later Lake Superior at Munising and Marquette, MI, and Ashland, WI, particularly. The landscape changed from wild to lake shore to more "mountainous" and some beautiful interior lakes to more of a farm feeling in Wisconsin. We were glad to get in just in time for some live music, cider, beers, and pizza at The Thirsty Pagan in Superior, WI. 

Susan & Frank at Lake Superior in Ashland, WI

Diving on the bay at Ashland, WI
Looks ready for use, but is it deep enough for diving?

Road Trip 2013

Nancy and Frank -- about to sail, Charlevoix, MI

Frank and I left Chicago on Sunday, September 1 and headed east to go west. Road trip plans as of now...
Chicago to Charlevoix, MI
Charlevoix to Duluth, MN
Duluth to Itasca State Park, the Mississippi Headwaters, and Bemidji, MN
Bemidji to Saskatoon, SK
Saskatoon to Edmonton, AB
Edmonton to Jasper

A picture to get you started...Frank enjoyed sailing yesterday.

Vacation - finally!

View all pictures at Fordam.Shutterfly.com.

Frank at Tandem Ciders, Suttons Bay, MI on 7/21

Views from the Leelanau Trail, near Suttons Bay, MI on 7/22

Frank & Susan on the Leelanau Trail on 7/22

Jordan River trip on 7/24

Little Traverse Bay from Little Traverse Wheelway

Todd & Kathleen on Lake Charlevoix, MI

Polecat, Charlevoix, MI

Frank & Susan at Chateau Chantal, Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, MI, 7/26

Todd, Kathleen, Susan & Frank on the Sturgeon River, near Burt Lake, MI, 7/27

Kathleen & Susan in action on the Sturgeon River, near Burt Lake, MI on 7/27

Memorial Day Weekend in Northern Michigan

House sold! Time to celebrate! We headed to Northern Michigan for a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. Temperatures in the 60's and 70's and sunny skies made for fantastic hiking and rollerblading. First stop: the Manistee River Trail in the Manistee National Forest. We followed the meandering river for about a 4 hour/8-9 mile hike, taking time to sit out and enjoy the sun and the river. Lovely.

 

After our hike, we purchased some local morel mushrooms (expensive, but delicious) and headed north to Traverse City for dinner at North Peak Brewing Company - always a favorite. Sunday and Monday left ample time for hanging out with family in Charlevoix, rollerblading 21 miles on the Little Traverse Wheelway, and checking out another hike south of Boyne Falls. From Deadman's Hill Overlook, you can make a 3-mile loop through the Jordan River Valley. Check out the trail blanketed in cottonwood seed like snow and other trail views below.

 

Manistee River Trail views, Manistee National Forest, MI

Frank & Susan on Manistee River Trail, MI

blankets of cottonwood seed
Deadman's Hill Loop Trail, south of Boyne Falls, MI

View from Deadman's Hill Loop Trail

Weekend Trip: Savanna & Galena, IL

Yesterday morning Frank and I headed out west. - destination: Mississippi Palisades State Park, in Savanna, IL, for views of the Mississippi River from the bluffs above. After we got in a couple miles of hiking on the only two trails NOT closed for turkey hunting, we headed out to the former Savanna Army Depot, which is an odd abandoned area with lots of defunct buildings and barracks now being converted into a wildlife refuge site. More views of the river before heading north via Blackjack Road to Galena.

Susan & Frank at Mississippi Palisades State Park, IL

 

View of Mississippi at Black Oak Dune Overlook, near Savanna, IL

Galena was much bigger than I expected with a quiet river trail and a bustling downtown, which sort of reminded me of Harper's Ferry (except much bigger) and Annapolis (for period architecture). We had a lovely low key dinner at the Galena Brewing Company, where I got the two best beers I've had in a long time, a Honey Bock and a Barley wine (the Dementor). A great weekend day.

Belvedere Mansion (far right), Park Avenue, Galena, IL

Campaign Charlevoix, July 22-29

Sailing, lounging on the beach, swimming, canoeing, biking, roller blading, farmer’s markets, wineries, breweries, stunning sunsets and views…what’s not to love.

Photos to entice you.

Frank and his cousin, Nancy, preparing to sail off the dock at Polecat (the house) 

Sunset on Lake Charlevoix from the beach and dock at Polecat

View from Chateau Chantal Winery, near Traverse City, MI (about an hour away)

  

View from the Little Traverse Wheelway (great biking, running, roller blading) of the Little Traverse Bay near Petoskey, MI (less than 30 minutes away)

Distance from Baltimore to Polecat/Charlevoix, MI: 11 hours, 47 minutes; stop part way there in Ann Arbor at Zingerman’s Deli.

Digital Scrapbook

Frank and I have been spring cleaning recently, and we have continued to update our digital scapbook. Some favorite images are posted below.

 

Frank's knitting and childhood animal figurines

Letters to/from Frank & Susan

Post cards to commenmorate Susan's summer in Death Valley National Park, 1998