Thursday, October 27, 2011

A wonderful journey

After driving 8,200 miles to New Hampshire and back, Meg and I are home. We return feeling incredibly blessed to live in this country, and to be able to travel the way we did for six weeks. Our return trip took us across Ontario and into the States at Sault Ste Marie, a name that has resonated in my memory since fifth grade geography.  We enjoyed watching several freighters come through the Soo Locks.  The next day, we drove through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore of Lake Superior, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. From there through Wisconsin and into MInnesota to stay with Meg's college roommate/maid of honor on a lake near Bemidji. We had not seen her for forty one years, and we enjoyed long, deeply stimulating discussions as we caught up. Two long days of driving took us to Livingston, MT.  The fall cottonwoods were at their peak as we drove along the Yellowstone River, and entered Yellowstone Park at Gardner. Snow had fallen lightly the night before, but the day was sunny and crisp, making the trees and grass especially brilliant.

We feel a deep sense of joy and wonder at all we have seen and done.  So much of this trip took us to places we had only read about, often dating  back to elementary school.  This is an expansive country; it is good to have experienced it from ground level.

Garfield Lake, MN

Grand Marias, Upper Peninsula, MI

Itasca Lake, MN.  Where the Mississippi River begins

Lake Superior, MI

Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone NP

Prospect Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs

Miners Castle, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI

Munising Falls, MI

Meg, Paul Bunyan, and Babe.  Bemidji, MN

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore agates

Soo Locks

Yellowstone NP

Yellowstone River

No comments:

Post a Comment