one month on the road !

It's hard to describe how incredible this experience has been so far and it's only been a month! I've never felt so free. I have no itinerary, no place I have to be, no particular time I ever have to be anywhere, no agenda, no schedule, no one else controlling the stereo. Each day is filled with new surprises, new friends, endless opportunity and quiet moments.   

Here I am, one month into my adventure and I'm STILL in Michigan! Haha How did this happen? I have a feeling this trip is going to take A LOT longer than I ever envisioned! I enjoyed my time in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but I was still trying to slow down and breathe. I'm finally breathing here in MI. It was a noticable moment when I filled my lungs and took my first deep breath. I had been so rushed and breathing so shallow for years, and I didn't even know it. 

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NOTE TO SELF: Carrot juice leaves a mustache like Kool-Aid! Check the mirror before talking to fellow campers!! Holy carrot mustache!!

Mike and Pete, my fellow campers, came over to chat. It seems like folks "watch" me for a while to see if "she REALLY is alone" and once they deduce that I am, they come on over. Two very funny things about this conversation 1) my ridiculous carrot mustache I didn't realize I had until I walked to the bathroom and 2) campers like to hear "your" story and all I want to do is hear "their" story! Mike was funny, he said "come on over later, we'd love to chat more, we're sick of hearing ourselves". Funny because I'm thinking the same thing! I'm sick of hearing myself talk and all I want is to be quiet and hear their story!! Guess we'll have to meet in the middle! :)

Back to the mustache... When I walked in the bathroom and saw my absurdly bright orange carrot mustache, I couldn't help but laugh out loud. When I was a kid, I loved to be outside with my brothers more than anything. So much so, I earned the nickname "bag-a-dirt" from my father. I much preferred building forts and playing in the dirt with trucks more than anything – anything outside and anything with my brothers. I cleaned up well, but you had to tie me down to brush my hair or take a shower (hence the nickname). Also, I loved my Kool-Aid! When we were kids, we played outside ALL day. You would come running in for dinner when your parents called, then run right back outside after eating and play again 'til dark. One day, when I was about 12 and finally started caring about what I looked like, I stopped in the bathroom and actually looked in the mirror before heading back outside to play. HOLY TOLEDO! I had an enormous, insanely bright pink Kool-Aid mustache. It went from ear to ear! I looked like the Joker. I went screaming to my mother and asked her why she didn't tell me!! "How could you let me go out like this!" She replied, "I didn't think you cared." Haha For many years I didn't, but eventually I did. Had that wonderfully funny flashback as I looked in the mirror. At least I'm healthier now and it was organic carrot juice instead of Kool-Aid!!!

I bet Mike and Pete are still laughing... 

HELP! This insane looking creature just landed on my tent!

I tried to swat it away and it hissed at me!! I think I just pee'd myself a little!! It looks like an alien and it's staring right at me!

salon saloon ! "you sip we snip"

Salon Saloon in Traverse City, Michigan! Had a great beer and they do great hair!! Love it!!

i was "adopted" by sailors on mackinac island !

Larry, my new friend from the Pink Pony Bar & Grill, walks me over to a waterfront, candle-lit dinner party on the lawn of the Iroquois Hotel to meet some of his friends. It was a scene straight out of the pages of the Great Gatsby. Wine, laughter, new friends... I don't want this moment to end. My 9pm ferry back to my tent in Mackinac City was creeping closer. I wish I could turn back the clock. It was at that moment one of my "new friends" asked why I wasn't staying on the island. I explained all the rooms were booked and that I was originally booked to stay at the Cloghaun, which is an intimate, beautiful B & B (owned by my friend Andy Bond's family (Andrew also moonlights as lead singer for NYC's incredibly popular band Hot Lava)), but no pooches allowed. That's when I got an offer I couldn't refuse. Apparently their sailing team, Team Talisman, has "extra rooms". Huh, hmmm, well, let me think about it... OK! After a (brief) discussion with Lulu, we decided to stay! Crazy maybe, but I could genuinely tell these folks were incredibly kind people wanting nothing more than to help a "lone traveler" (me!).

With Lu safely tucked away in her kennel at the Iroquois, we hit the town. What a fun night! Lots of singing, dancing and laughing. Life is good.  

My new foster family (Talisman) extended their offer for me to stay longer (again, couldn't refuse), so off I headed back to my campsite in Mackinac City to pack up my things and return to the island to create more memories. Team Talisman won their class in the sailing regatta, and tonight would be the team dinner at The Woods. I would be a Talisman for the night. 

Lucky for me, I stumbled upon the nicest, most incredible group of sailors. Genuinely nice and most important, PERFECT gentlemen. Life can't get much better... or so I thought! Turns out there's another sailing regatta in Harbor Springs over the weekend and the Talisman needs to return to port to get ready. They call it the "delivery." I was hoping to visit Harbor Springs and it looks like I'll be doing it in style! They invited me and lu to make the "delivery" to Harbor Springs! Lu and I will be cruising into Harbor Springs on a 58' luxury racing yacht, pinch me!! Gary, one of the sailors, needs to get back to his family in Chicago so he offered to drive my car to Harbor Springs so it would be there waiting for me when I arrived. Huh? Really?! So incredible!!

Sailing to Harbor Springs with my new friends was a magical moment lu and I will never forget!! They even let me "drive" under the Mackinac Bridge!!! Very cool experience!!

mackinac island (pronounced mackinaw)

After reluctantly leaving Benzie, I headed north toward Mackinac Island for a trip back in time (no motorized vehicles allowed, only bikes and horses), but not before stopping off to visit more of MI's beautiful towns. My first order of business was a quick stop for coffee and a sandwich at Bud's in Interlochen MI (great spot!), then onto Glen Arbor. Glen Arbor is close to perfect in my book. The Sleeping Bear Lakeshore and the towns that border Lake Michigan, and Glen Lakes are home to kayak loving, cycling happy, adventure seeking, healthy living people. I love it here. Who knew Michigan was so beautiful! After a walk through town, sipping my green tea from Great Lakes Tea & Spice, Lu and I decided to head further north to Leland. Leland is another picturesque town on Lake Michigan home to "Fishtown", an old shanty-like fishing village with quaint shops and eateries – a must see!

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grow benzie | top chef's hosea rosenberg

The folks of Benzie are simple, untainted, super friendly and down-to-earth. It's everything you think of when you think "small town." I felt like I was at a family reunion on steroids rather than a charity event. There's no doubt in my mind that GrowBenzie's first annual fundraiser would have been a HUGE success; however, it doesn't hurt to know people.

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volunteering at the growbenzie ho-down charity event!

I was blindsided by Benzie. With no plan or itinerary, I rolled into town 10 days ago, and I'm still here! I love Benzie, from the farm markets to the beautiful lakes, rivers and trails. I've made incredible memories and cultivated lasting friendships. Life is simple and serene here. PERFECT :)

A big "GrowBenzie" farm market sign caught my eye as I drove down M–115 on my way to Frankfort for yoga class. I wanted to learn more about the market, so I googled "GrowBenzie" when I got home (actually, back to my tent haha). GrowBenzie is more than just a "farm market"... 

"Grow Benzie is a community farmstead dedicated to enriching the lives of Benzie County residents by fostering self reliance through education in agriculture, nutrition, job training and life skills.  Our site is a demonstration and training center for sustainable gardening and is a symbol of hope from both our past and our future.  Our focus is on Growing Healthy Children and Communities, bringing people back to our “roots” of self sufficiency and taking care of each other.  We believe in the strength of individuals helping one another by bring the benefits of healthy foods through gardening to our community.  Please Join Us!"

I was immediately taken aback by their mission statement.Their ambitious efforts should be applauded. I want to help! I've loved my time here in Benzie and want to "give back" before I move on. I've organized enough charity events to know that you can never have enough help, so I dialed Cheryl Roth, one of the co-founders I found online through some google investigating. I left Cheryl a voicemail offering my assistance –– she returned my call almost immediately and accepted. 

I'm thrilled! I'll fill you in on details soon! (This Saturday July 24th! Details here!)

me & lu (at the market) buying fresh, fruit, veggies and bread! (pesticide free!)

crystal mountain resort & spa yoga

I googled yoga in the area and was thrilled to find Crystal Mountain offers "mountain top" yoga! I had just missed the class on July 10 by a few days, but the next class is July 21st – who knows, maybe I'll still be here!

Yes I was and yes I did!  

Location: Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa 12500 Crystal Mountain Dr. - Thompsonville, Michigan 49683 | (800) 968-7686
 

Cost: Free to guests. I was charged $10 - a bargain!

Venue: Beautiful, breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains!

Style: Hatha

Class size: about 10-12

Level: Easy/beginner

Summary:  My day could not have ended on a better note! With Lulu in tow, we rode the chairlift up to my first "mountain top" yoga class.  With the sun shining down on us and a light breeze in the air, it was an energizing and peaceful experience.  Life is good. 

Me & lu riding the chair lift up the mountain for yoga!
a moment of reflection at the end of class (this is our instructor) 

crystal lake fishing

My new "camping" friends took me fishing! A beautiful peaceful morning fishing for Perch. I think I caught the tiniest Perch alive, but man I'm proud!!

MORE PICTURES HERE!