Wisconsin Trip Recap Part 4: Days 7 & 8 in 2020 Vision

Man, I’ve been so tired since I got back from the road trip, but I’m slowly but surely feeling back to normal energy-wise....I think. I meant to be further along in my recaps, but work has been exhausting me as well since my return. We last left off on Sunday, August 9th which was the fish fry day with my mom’s side of the extended family

Day 7: Monday, August 10th

Monday I was finally starting to feel like I was relaxing. I felt a huge weight shift off my shoulders after They Young Buck had left for Ohio on Sunday. His visit was full of conflicting mixed signals, and made me really happy I didn’t follow him to Ohio. It also reminded me of why I’m not a huge fan of serious relationships. I always find myself being the one who tries to make sure the other person is happy at all times. I put full focus on it. With him gone, I didn’t have to worry about entertaining him and making sure his visit was good, didn’t have to worry about how he’d like my family and vice versa, AND I didn’t have to wonder if I’d be invited over to spend the night with him at his hotel. It was nice to just kind of have him…go away. At least until the signals become more clear, if they ever do.

On Monday, My sister, brother-in law, niece, nephew, and myself went to visit my grandpa and one of my uncles on my dad’s side of the family. My grandpa is 94 years old, and my uncle takes care of him. I felt super nervous and uncomfortable about seeing him because of the whole COVID thing, but everyone insisted and everyone wore masks, so yeah. It was a good visit though and we were outside the entire time. We were there for a few hours over lunch catching up.

Afterwards, my sister, her family, and myself went to a local park. My sister’s best friend from high school (who also lives in Washington like me!) was visiting her family in Wisconsin with her 1 yr old daughter and wanted to meet us there. So we met up with her, her mom, my brother-in-law’s mom, and my grandma from my mom’s side of the family once again, because she was on a walk (lives near that park), saw us and came over. So we had quite the herd at the park for a few hours. I know its the times of the COVID and all, but it feels soooo refreshing to see all of these familiar faces in an outdoor setting. I was checking off so many “People I must see” off my list in just the few days I was home.

Day 8: Tuesday, August 11th

Tuesday was the start of my “Tourist in Wisconsin” stage of my stay. Since I left Wisconsin in December 2006, many family and friends and posted cool spots they’ve visited in Wisconsin that I, in my first 18 years, never had a chance to visit. One of the big ones I wanted to see for some reason was one of the Great Lakes. Lake Superior is the closest one to where I grew up. So, Monday, my mom planned a mother/daughter day for us that began at a state park that is home to Wisconsin’s tallest waterfall (and 4th tallest east of the Rockies) and a trip up to Duluth, Minnesota to do some sightseeing and so I could finally see Lake Superior.

The first stop of the day was Pattison State Park home of Big Manitou Falls (Wisconsin’s highest water fall at 165 feet) and Little Manitou Falls. The hike to Big Manitou Falls wasn’t overly long, but it was hot, and we were sweating in no time

There was a trail that extended beyond the falls that led to the Black River. Lots of these rock statue things people made alongside the river. It was even warm enough that I dipped my lower half in.

Then we took my slightly longer trek to Little Manitou Falls on the waaay opposite side of the park. My mom didn’t seem to be overly interested in seeing it, but I did, and I think she appreciated the journey once we got there.

They had just redone the trail with new wooden bridges and groomed trails, so it was a really nice hike there (and back). All the bridges had that super amazing smell of freshly cut wood. If you know that smell, you know what I’m talking about. The trek to Little Manitou Falls, the time spent chilling down at the base of the waterfall (you could do it there, but not at the base of Big Manitou Falls), and the trek back to the car extended our time at the park by a few hours, which I was ok with.

Afterwards, we grabbed something to eat because my poor Mom was dying. Then we headed towards Duluth, MN, which wasn’t that far from the state park. Pretty much right across the state border.

Y’ALL!! I finally got to see a Great Lake!! Its crazy that someone who has seen the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Carribean Sea would be so excited about visiting a Great Lake, BUT I WAS!

My dog. It was still hot in the day (yes, even in Duluth!), so my dog enjoyed the opportunity to stand in the water. I went into it up to my shorts just to feel it. The only way to describe it is that the cold doesn’t hit you for the first 5 seconds, then its this sharp, searing cold in your bones, and then its a race to get out of the water before your legs numb up. It is sooooo cold.

After walking along the water for quite some time, we (mainly me) did some tourist shopping inside a few mom and pop stores. It was such a great day.

On the drive home, we stopped at the local VA cemetary to find my grandma’s (dad’s side) headstone. She was buried in 2013, and this was my first time visiting. Felt kind of awful that I hadn’t visited before. I DID go to her funeral though. I was there for that. Just not the actual burial part. So it was time to pay her a visit.

It was a very long day. We didn’t get back to my mom’s/step dad’s house until like 8:30. According to my app, we walked over 10 miles in the day, which I believed to be true.

Sorry, I know this entry is long, but even if not a single soul reads this, I want to document for my future self.