Michigan Camping Trip

So far I’ve been enjoying the warmth and sunshine of Arizona…and the summer isn’t actually that bad. Then again, I’m loving the heat with minimal humidity. As great as it is to be here, I was able to fly home for a brief visit and spend time with my family over Memorial Day weekend. 

It was nice to be home for a little bit, except my family decided that camping in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) on Lake Superior would be fun. I would have found it much more enjoyable if it wasn’t so COLD!!! I left sunny Arizona and my 90-100 degree weather and the first night we camped it was 35! For pretty much the entire weekend I was in layers with a winter coat and hat. I could not get warm. The day we left the U.P. it got to high 70’s and that was much better. 

One day some of us went out to do some sightseeing. It ended up that we spent most of the day driving around the area and visiting several different waterfalls. For the most part they were easily accessible with a short walk, but there were a couple that involved going down several steps for a better view of the waterfall. 

Miners Falls (1.2 miles round trip)

Munising Falls (1/4 mile round trip with a paved trail)

Sable Falls (1/4 mile with 168 stair steps each way)

Tahquamenon Falls (the upper fall)

Our campground was pretty much right on Lake Superior, and so the last night some of us went rock collecting and then I went back later to take some pictures of the sunset. 

Rocks on Lake Superior beach, many people collect the unique rocks from the shoreline

I had fun playing with some different camera setting and enjoying the skyline. 

Lake Superior Sunset

Since I’ve started travel nursing I really haven’t spent my summer’s in Michigan. I forgot how green and beautiful it can be. When I initially left the state and started my nursing career in Pennsylvania I never thought that I would ever move back to Michigan. 

Ultimately God had other plans, I left for about to 10 years before moving back. I was back for a few years and now I’m back to traveling a living life on the road. It is still nice to have my own place to go back to on my breaks…but who knows where the path of my life will take me over the next several years. 

Arizona

Wow, it’s been too long since I updated my blog. I really enjoyed my time at home over the holidays, part of me didn’t feel like it lasted long enough but another part of me knew that I needed to get back to work. I finally did start looking at new contracts and ended up settling on one in Arizona. It took a lot of effort and motivation for me to pack up all my stuff, load the car and start driving across the country. 

Now that I’ve been here several months, I have done some sightseeing but not as much as I would have liked by this time. One day I went and visited the Botanical Gardens in Tucson. It was relaxing to walk around a take pictures of the desert flora, and zen garden they had.

It was a lot different than some other gardens I've been to. 

This plant was tall!

Zen or rock gardens like this are always some of my favorites 

While I was walking around the garden, I noticed several bee's collecting the nectar from different flowers. I really only stopped at one place I stood there for several minutes taking pictures. Personally I think some of them are really cool. 

After I left the garden I went to watch the sunset, it was a pretty cool sunset. 

The next day I drove up into the mountains a little bit. That was an interesting experience, I went from starting out in the desert to being up 8,000 feet in about 26 miles (the catalina highway)...it was a steady drive up but there were lots of amazing views. 

I found snow towards the top!

The pictures really don't do it justice. While I was driving up the mountain, I passed a lot of people biking. I can only imagine that it's great training! I'll admit I was a little jealous of their ability, but I have to respect the dedication and work they put in.

I still have to make it north and visit the Grand Canyon, I just have to figure out when it works for me to go. I'm hoping to visit soon...maybe within the next month.