My title isn’t actually correct, but we spent most of the summer staying around home. With family, the pool and the cabin, it isn’t difficult to entertain ourselves.  As many of you know, my Father passed away in June, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him.  Going to the cabin and enjoying the Mississippi River is where I feel the closest to him.

We did purchase some kayaks this summer and have been “practicing” throughout the area.  We bought some inexpensive ones, to find out if we would really use and enjoy it, and I must admit, it is fun.  Yesterday we kayaked the Rock River.  Although it was windy, we were able to hug the shoreline.  We started in Grand Detour, and finished in Dixon.

Early September we did go canoeing in Quetico (the Canadian equivalent to the Boundary Waters).  It was a wonderful trip to the “Falls Chain” area.  A week without any internet, phones, TV… Just beauty and serenity, and physical effort.

We went with out good friend John and Terry.  It was Terry’s first time, and she was a real trooper!  Handling the portaging and paddling with ease.

Next week we are leaving for a Yosemite National Park Tour.  Meandering our way out west and stopping at a few sites along the way, that we missed in the past.  We are also going to take 2 lane highways as much as possible.  Some of the stops before Yosemite will be the Royal Gorge and Arches National Park.  I will be blogging as we go.