Co-Pilot Conspiracy

June 23-26

Everyone knows I have been trying to get to Utah, but this year with so many family celebrations, I decide to stay mostly east of the Mississippi... AgAiN. A certain 10.5 year old talked me into Niagara Falls and with a fourth of July celebration in Ohio seemed like a viable trajectory with my co-pilot Halyn. Somehow, she talks me into Hershey's Chocolate World in Pennsylvania. Little did I know it is so much more than a chocolate factory tour! But first....

After Sara's graduation party, Halyn and I, with van packed, make a stop at Portillos for lunch and then make our way through Chicago to Indiana Dunes National Park.. only a 2 hour drive with traffic. Drives will be short and hikes longer these first few days. The Indiana Dunes National Park is the result of natural processes that are not duplicated on this scale anywhere else on earth. Nowhere else is there a 300 mile long lake taking glacial sand from its east and west sides, then depositing that sand in 250 foot high dunes under the power of strong north winds and waves rivaling the ocean. The resulting environment is a unique series of long dunes separated by marshes. It is hard to reconcile the beauty of this fragile environment with the industry that dots the lakeshore and threatens its health- United Steel and NIPSCO, a nuclear power plant. The National and State Parks have quite the task being watchdog. Rain threatens our hike over the dunes and Halyn suggests we put on our swimsuits... smart girl. We overnight at the National Park Campground and I get to use my senior pass for the first time. The sites are primitive (no hookups) and $12 with my pass. They have great CLEAN shower house with HOT water and great pressure, but that is lost on Halyn, she is down for the count at 6 pm!

Day two starts out with Halyn's favorite breakfast, crepes and we don't have much to pack up to get on the road, we pretty much collapsed the night before after hiking those dunes. The drive to the Michigan Dunes is only an hour up the lake shore.

This dune has no stairs to help us climb up. The dune formation rises 260 feet above the lake and offers us a spectacular view and a great workout. The park has three miles of shoreline, six miles of hiking trails. Rain with distant lightening allows us only to climb the dune and not walk the beach. We won't be overnighting in the park, but we will be heading slightly north and staying at a boondockers welcome site. Once settled in with our host, the rain clears and we set off for a walk to the lakeshore and Halyn is brave enough for a swim. Think great lakes cold...brrr.

I am already feeling our pace may be a bit too fast. I guess I always feel like that when I realize how much there is to explore

I always talk about how I won't use the interstate, but without hopping on here and there, our drives will be 5 hours or more taking back roads. I realize 3-4 hour drives is about the longest time I should be on the road with this young lady. This day takes us across the entire state of Michigan to St. Clair Shores to visit my next door neighbors at their summer home. What a great visit with Patty and Michelle and their three border collies; Slugger, Slyder and Flash. They live right on the water with access to a private beach that offers up sea glass and freshwater shells. A swan moves in to visit with us. Halyn is in 7th heaven with Lake St. Clair. Dinner and great conversation at a local water spot fills out the day.

Back at the house, Patty provides dessert, making us Vernor's floats. Vernor Ginger Soda is a Michigan thing. I don't like ginger ale, but this is good!

Michelle is concerned with Slyder's past experience with another little girl who teased Slyder. But Slyder becomes quickly enamored with Halyn as Michelle teaches Halyn how to run Slyder through her agility tasks and scent training. I think Slyder misses Halyn even now. Everyone is looking forward to spending time together come December when Halyn will be back in Florida.

Patty makes Halyn crepes with a strawberry compote in the morning before saying our goodbyes and today we head for Ontario, Canada. Halyn's excitement about crossing the border is almost palpable.

Onward,

Catherine and Halyn

“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of the experience.” – Francis Bacon