we spent our first week on the upper peninsula in a little cabin on the au train lake. during that week, on every excursion to and from our cabin, we drove over two bridges that crossed the au train river, which lazily winds from au train lake to lake superior. on one particularly beautiful and sunny (but still not very warm) day, we decided to rent a small fleet of kayaks and set sail. well. minus any actual sails. but whatever it’s called when you go do boat like things.
it took us about three hours to make the 5.5 mile-ish paddle and it was mostly wonderful. we spotted an eagle(!!), a (maybe?) heron, some giant fish, and many turtle friends. (i was slightly obsessed).
there were also a few tear filled moments of learning to navigate out of branches or brush. definitely some bumping and crashing leading to boat rage and bickering (more than the usual). then, for the last half hour or so, when the sun went behind the clouds and a slight breeze picked up, and one small sized person had managed to get themselves soaked from head to toe, there was general despair (and exasperation for the parent in the immediate vicinity, who may or may not be me).
but everyone was content to not be hiking (me and anna because we were tired and the others because they hate hiking). also, since it was so close, we were able to have a relaxed morning before, and a late lunch in the cabin after, and not be running around like crazy people for just this one day.
(FYI: i 100% stole the above text from my instagram post if you happen to follow me there too).
anyways. here’s some pics from our day…
of course anna had to be weird and dramatic and on brand, testing out various unconventional floating, paddling, and seating situations.
a small sampling of the numerous turtle pictures i took:
we had a pretty lazy afternoon (as i recall it). there happened to be a quilt shop just down the road, so i walked over and picked up a few fabric souvenirs. we had a little campfire in our front yard, which turned into wrestlemania and then some crying and what looks to be a neverending family disagreement about who won that fateful night.
