Dear friends,
Today is our last full day of camping. The days follow each other with no deadlines or schedule. We fall into our camp routine. We are far enough removed from our other life that we’ve left its details behind.
This morning, after a delicious egg omelette, bacon and potato breakfast, we hike along the beach out to the rocky point of Pancake Bay. As the sun beats down, we walk and wade along the edge, looking for stones through the clear water. Sadie swims out to retrieve sticks and, since here she can be off leash, saunters through the sand, following her nose.
After returning to the campsite to read, we go looking for the famous apple fritters made down the road. Our campsite neighbor mentioned them and Jim heard a few others talking about them. Sure enough, about five miles away, the Voyageur’s Lodge, Café and Grocery Store is buzzing with guests. Jim buys one apple fritter for us to share and that is plenty. It becomes our lunch, washed down with a cup of coffee. They’re almost as big as a plate and as delicious as described. Maybe they appeal particularly to us campers who’ve not had any baked goods in awhile!
In the afternoon, we lug our gear back to the beach for one last swim and dog play. In the shade of the beach umbrella, it’s hard not to fall asleep, lulled by the lapping water and the soft breeze. And since it’s our last day, we take the nature trail that follows the river and goes through the fen. Here, it’s again another world of twisted tree roots and gurgling streams and giant ferns and green moss. Until we reach the boardwalk out to the bog where cattails and Venus flytraps and wildflowers bloom. So glad we took this hike.
Back at the campsite, we make macaroni and cheese from scratch, serve it up with baked beans and applesauce, then play a few games of Yatzhee as night falls. The rumor is that rain is on the way so we pack up everything before we go to bed. We’ll be ready to leave first thing in the morning.
Sights of the day: the beauty of rocks, the smell of approaching rain, the moose sign along the road.
We reflect about trying to live in the moment, not letting the past be our measure of things to come, keeping our eyes focused on new opportunities and dreams ahead, looking for the positive.
Life is good!
Rachel
Is there anything more soothing than the sounds of the ocean, I would have been snoozing under the beach umbrella in no time. I admire your restraint!
I love swimming and then sitting to dry off, then doing it all over again.