It’s one week away and I’m beyond psyched. [obviously. I can’t stop talking about it.]
It will be a lot of driving but glorious time away.
Oh, beautiful day.
Vacation will start with a wedding on Friday in the Cities. Seminary friend, Frank, is marrying his Kate. And I’m bringing the cakepops. [They hired me to make 300. Yum yum.]
I’ll stay a night with BFF Sara in her new home [which she shares with a boy. eww. gross. boys.] and then drive to Dawson the next day for graduation festivities. And maybe a Sunday of worship at Grace? [I hate to be that person … but any Dawson friends have a couch I could crash on Saturday night? My usual couch-to-crash-on is at the house of one of said graduation parties. Needless to say, they will be otherwise engaged and busy. Any suggestions?]
From Dawson, I may swing down to Sioux Falls to visit my college roommate and her husband for a night or two. It’s been a long while since I’ve played with Joe and Amanda!
I’ll return to the parsonage for a night to unpack and repack for the second leg of the adventure. I’m buying a state park pass and hopping my way north to Grand Marais, where I have a two night reservation at a bed and breakfast. I’ve never been north of Duluth and it’s been over 10 years since I was even that far north. I’m excited to see lighthouses, hike, read, and relax. And most of all –
I’m excited to kayak. To go kayaking is a long time dream of mine. I’ve never been and I just know I will love it. I love a good canoe trip and I have a feeling kayaking will be just as wonderful. I have signed up for a guided kayak tour out and about on Lake Superior and I’m so thrilled at the thought.
You might wonder, Are you going by yourself? Yes. I recently came to the realization that if I keep waiting for someone to have these adventures with, I may never do it. My friends are busy. My friends have other friends. Some of my friends don’t even have the same interests. And so I go by myself. I learned from my Alaskan adventure last summer that traveling along isn’t so horrid. It even has some perks. I don’t mind being alone. [which sounds really sad. but it’s okay. really. well, most days anyways.]
there's no place like gnome. 
For the girl who doesn't mind being alone… our house is up for grabs next weekend. We will be gone [so sorry to miss seeing you!!!] but there will be 4 empty beds, one empty crib, three empty pack-n-plays, and two lonely couches, whatever you are comfortable sleeping on. Yours for the taking if you have no other offers.
As a constant solo traveler, I will say traveling solo is the only way. You can do what you want when you want.